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ASICS

GEL-DS Trainer 21

GEL-DS Trainer 21
Daily trainer · Stability · Road
Below average (54/100)

Shoe details

Weight
7.1 oz
Release
2016 Q3
MSRP
$120
Stack Height
26mm heel - 16mm toe
Drop Height
10mm

Ratings & Reviews

Below average (54/100)

Based on product-line history, external ratings, and 3 runner ratings.
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This score rates worse than 97% of shoes.

Our ratings use detailed reviews from knowledgeable runners, ratings for shoes in the same product line, and reliable product information from trusted retailers.

Review a shoe.

Rating breakdown

Better Shoes score out of 100. Shading shows the expected rating range.
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Rankings combine runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, direct comparisons to other shoes, related product-line performance, and trusted external ratings.

The darker band shows the central score range. The lighter band shows a wider range of reasonable outcomes. More reviews for this shoe usually narrow both bands.

Overall

Below average (54/100)

Overall ranking

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.

Estimate

Below average (54/100)

Rank

Ranks above 3% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

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

Cushioning

Good (70/100)

Cushioning ranking

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.

Estimate

Good (70/100)

Rank

Ranks above 33% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

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

Value

Below average (63/100)

Value ranking

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.

Estimate

Below average (63/100)

Rank

Ranks above 14% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

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

Appearance

Below average (61/100)

Appearance ranking

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.

Estimate

Below average (61/100)

Rank

Ranks above 12% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

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

Comfort

Below average (57/100)

Comfort ranking

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.

Estimate

Below average (57/100)

Rank

Ranks above 6% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

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

Durability

Below average (51/100)

Durability ranking

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.

Estimate

Below average (51/100)

Rank

Ranks above 1% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

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

25%

1/4

Prefer this shoe over another.

Reviewers said this shoe was better than another shoe they ran in.

All Running Shoes

Worse than 97% of 2,541 running shoes ranked.

Below average (54/100)

Daily Trainers

Worse than 96% of 1,841 daily trainers ranked.

4%

ASICS

Worse than 95% of 260 ASICS shoes ranked.

5%

Compared to other shoes

See how this shoe compares to others like it.

ASICS GEL-DS Trainer 21
Shoe image placeholder
ASICS SUPERBLAST 2
GEL-DS Trainer 21
GEL-DS Trainer 26
SUPERBLAST 2
Current shoe
Lightest
Newest / Best overall / Best comfort
Shoe properties
Type
Daily trainer
Daily trainer
Daily trainer
Pronation
Stability
Neutral
Neutral
Weight
7.1 oz M Lightest
8.5 oz M
—
Stack
26/16mm
28/20mm
—
Drop
1mm
8mm
7mm
Release
2016 Q3
2021 Q2
2024 Q2 Newest
MSRP
$120 Lower MSRP
—
$200
Best price
—
—
$149.99
Ratings
Overall
Bottom tier (3%)
Average (51%)
Exceptional (>99%) Best overall
Comfort
Bottom tier (6%)
Below average (30%)
Exceptional (99%) Best comfort
Cushioning
Below average (33%)
Above average (68%)
Exceptional (99%) Best cushioning
Durability
Bottom tier (1%)
Bottom tier (17%)
Exceptional (99%) Best durability
Appearance
Bottom tier (12%)
Average (53%)
Excellent (96%) Best appearance
Value
Bottom tier (14%)
Above average (63%)
Very good (85%) Best value
Specific shoe

Search for the exact model to add to this comparison.

Where to buy

No offers available

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Reader Ratings

3 reader ratings

Review a shoe

Showing 1–3 of 3 written reviews

Nice lightweight trainer

Anonymous runner · Jul 3, 2019

4/5

Overall

I'm a guy with a history of plantar fasciitis (thankfully that was a long time ago, but I still had it), but I liked the idea of getting a lightweight trainer, so years ago I started using an older version of this shoe. This version is pretty good, as it is light and comfortable. I don't remember how much it cost, so my score for value is honestly invalid. My one complaint is one layer of the cover of the toe box ripped pretty quickly in one of the shoes, which I found pretty disappointing.
Comfort
5/5
Cushioning
5/5
Durability
3/5
Appearance
5/5
Value
3/5

Staple Shoe

Anonymous runner · Jul 2, 2019

5/5

Overall

I have used this as my primary training shoe for over 20 years through its various modifications. Relatively lightweight and neutral trainer which is good for any recovery runs. All editions are pretty much the same, but I liked some of the older versions better. I also haven’t really had an injury for the entire period I have been running, despite putting in 100 mi/week+ for years.
Comfort
5/5
Cushioning
5/5
Durability
4/5
Appearance
4/5
Value
5/5

Reader review

Anonymous runner · Feb 6, 2018

4/5

Overall

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