Asics Gel-Terrain 'Clear Jade/Black'
This was a model that I was really looking forward to trying out. The gel-terrain gives me the impression of a modern trail runner mixed with a re-release of the Kiko Gel Burz 2 with some modernized upgrades. Thank you to the crew over at @drifthouse for making this possible.
Materials: The upper of this pair is similar to the Kayano 14 from the Earthenware set. The upper has a cushioned feel to it & is shaded in a mint color with a diamond pattern throughout it. The other panels throughout it are done in a black & in a darker shade of mint.. Something I found unique was that this model has essentially no stitching to it besides on the back heel panels. If you compare it to another design with minimal stitching, I would say it's pretty similar to the Lunar Roam. A subtle detail I noticed was the lace pocket at the top of the tongue, which is similar to other trail runners &, imo, compliments the Trail Runner aesthetic nicely. Overall, I feel like they did a nice job recreating the Gel Burz design with some modernized tech advances.
Comfort/Sizing: the Gel-Terrain has a pretty soft overall feel on foot. I wouldn't say it's as squishy as a Kayano or 1130, but it has a plush feel when you step & has some nice padding on top of your foot. In terms of sizing, I got these in a US 8 (tts) & from a length perspective, they fit perfectly, but my mid-foot feels snug (I will note, once they break in it does feel better) I have a pretty high arch as it is, so that's most likely my issue. If you have a flat or normal width foot, you would be fine with tts. Wide or high arch folks, go up half size.
Overall Opinion: I know this isn't the exact same as the Gel-Burz model, but it does have some close similarities to satisfy those who missed out. These give me a trail running feel with streetwear aesthetics & comfort. I wouldn't personally take these out on a trail, but for streetwear & gorp, I feel like they compliment that niche well. If you did miss out on the Gel Burz pack and are looking for something similar, I feel like this would compliment that void well