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GEL-DS Trainer 23

ASICS GEL-DS Trainer 23

Name: ASICS GEL-DS Trainer 23
Brand: ASICS
Rating: 4.4 (8 reviews)

Daily trainer · Stability · Road · 8.4 oz · 10mm drop · 24/14mm stack

Discontinued — we no longer see this shoe in stock. The ASICS GEL-DS Trainer 24 replaced it

How it ranks

The ASICS GEL-DS Trainer 23 rates in the 6th percentile overall among daily trainers. Its strongest dimension is value (23rd percentile); its weakest is comfort (2nd).

Based on 8 runner reviews.

Below average

56/100

Overall

Below average 56

Value

Value rating

We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.

Better Shoes Rating

Average (66/100)

Compared To Other Shoes

Scores better than 23% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

The shaded band shows the rating range we think is most likely.

Average 66

Cushioning

Cushioning rating

Better Shoes Rating

Average (61/100)

Compared To Other Shoes

Scores better than 13% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

The shaded band shows the rating range we think is most likely.

Average 61

Appearance

Appearance rating

Better Shoes Rating

Below average (56/100)

Compared To Other Shoes

Scores better than 6% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

The shaded band shows the rating range we think is most likely.

Below average 56

Durability

Durability rating

Better Shoes Rating

Below average (56/100)

Compared To Other Shoes

Scores better than 4% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

The shaded band shows the rating range we think is most likely.

Below average 56

Comfort

Comfort rating

Better Shoes Rating

Below average (52/100)

Compared To Other Shoes

Scores better than 2% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

The shaded band shows the rating range we think is most likely.

Below average 52

What runners say

“Light and responsive, probably best suited to racing and interval/tempo”

4/5 Full review

“Running in the shoe on easy days caused pain in my calves”

ultimatemissy 4/5 Full review

“Although the shoe is light, it is very firm and takes awhile to get used to”

ultimatemissy 4/5 Full review

“It seems to make my feet hotter and I get a bit more calf soreness the next day”

4/5 Full review

“Cushioning is good enough to stop me suffering from joint problems”

4/5 Full review

“They run slightly narrow”

5/5 Full review

“Wears out more quickly”

4/5 Full review

“The mid foot lasts a lot longer than the 20-22 versions”

Racket 4/5 Full review

“They are a very supportive shoe all around, and wrap the foot well”

5/5 Full review

“Does work well for tempo runs and track work-outs”

ultimatemissy 4/5 Full review

Prefer this shoe over another

29% 2/7

Where to buy

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No offers available

Pros & Cons

Pros

Popular shoe among LetsRun.com readers.

Cons

Rated below average overall.
Rated among the bottom 10% of shoes on comfort.
Rated among the bottom 10% of shoes on cushioning.
Rated below average on durability.

Reader Ratings

9 reader ratings

5/5

4/5

3/5

2/5

1/5

Runner reviews

Write a review

Still a great lightweight support option but not as good as the previous 19-22

Anonymous runner · Aug 14, 2019

4/5

Overall

I'm not a fan of the more traditional, overly-cushioned, built-up, detached road shoe, so had settled nicely into the DS trainer for all of my training and the DS racer for when the safety pins came out. The level of support is fine for someone who over-pronates and cushioning is good enough to stop me suffering from joint problems. They're light and responsive, probably best suited to racing and interval/tempo for someone looking for options and transitioning away from shoes for heavier folk (I'm 5'11'' and approx 150lbs btw). One negative on the 23 compared to the previous incarnations is it seems to make my feet hotter and I get a bit more calf soreness the next day. Might be slightly firmer ride?

Comfort: 4/5
Cushioning: 4/5
Durability: 5/5
Appearance: 5/5
Value: 5/5

with achilles pain

Anonymous runner · Jul 18, 2019

5/5

Overall

Overall it was very good for all my trainings - long run, fartlek, tempos, race. But with my Haglund deformity I cut out the heels from shoes. Now I use them again. I have two pairs of them.

Comfort: 5/5
Cushioning: 4/5
Durability: 5/5
Appearance: 4/5
Value: 5/5

Fast and firm shoe

ultimatemissy · Jul 11, 2019

4/5

Overall

The DS-Trainer required a few miles of break in time before feeling comfortable. Although the shoe is light, it is very firm and takes awhile to get used to. Running in the shoe on easy days caused pain in my calves. However, the DS-Trainer does work well for tempo runs and track work-outs. I also wore these shoes for my last marathon (and PR'd by nearly 30 minutes).

Comfort: 3/5
Cushioning: 4/5
Durability: 5/5
Appearance: 5/5
Value: 4/5

Back to basics, I love this shoe.

Anonymous runner · Jul 3, 2019

5/5

Overall

My College was sponsored by Asics so this was my go to shoe, but I have gotten away from them in the last few years. ogt back to them recently on sale and reminded why I loved these shoes. Lightweight, good grip, does not hurt my feet. Only issue was durability, I felt like I got more miles out of them back in the day.

Comfort: 5/5
Cushioning: 4/5
Durability: 4/5
Appearance: 3/5
Value: 5/5

Light multipurpose trainer

Anonymous runner · Aug 21, 2018

5/5

Overall

These, alongside my Brooks Ravenna 9’s, are the current running shoes in my rotation. These shoes are less cushioned, but still comfortable enough for running on hard surfaces. Simply put, these shoes have a light feel compared to other neutral shoes. These are great on roads, but excel at trail running. I’ve also ran in these on hard packed sand at the beach and they were very comfortable. They are a very supportive shoe all around, and wrap the foot well. I would say they run slightly narrow. If you are purely a road runner, there might be a better shoe out there for you. If you run on trails, beaches, roads, grass, etc, this shoe will perform very well for you.

Comfort: 4/5
Cushioning: 4/5
Durability: 4/5
Appearance: 3/5
Value: 4/5