ASICS GEL-DS Trainer 18

Name: ASICS GEL-DS Trainer 18
Brand: ASICS
Rating: 4.1 (37 reviews)

Daily trainer · Stability · Road · 7.6 oz (men's) · 27/17mm stack · 10mm drop

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

How it ranks

The ASICS GEL-DS Trainer 18 trails most daily trainers in our data. Cushioning and durability are its strongest sub-ratings. The rating is based on 37 runner reviews and 8 other rated shoes in the GEL-DS Trainer product line.

Bottom-tier

Overall

Bottom-tier 50

Durability

Bottom-tier 55

Cushioning

Bottom-tier 55

Appearance

Bottom-tier 53

Value

Bottom-tier 52

Comfort

Bottom-tier 50

Confidence

How settled the rating is against every other rated shoe. A shoe can rate high on confidence with relatively few reviews of its own when its product line has a long record and external ratings from retailer sites agree. Confidence is low when we have few ratings or when runners disagree.

See the product line's history

Confidence

94 High

High 94

Based on

The bars show roughly how much each source contributes to this shoe’s rating. Their influence depends on how many reviews we’ve collected, how many earlier versions are in the product line, and the external ratings available.

Our ratings
Brand rating
External ratings

What runners say

“Stable enough for trail running, cushioned enough for roads. Fast enough for speed work.”

5/5 Full review 35 mpw training for a half marathon

“They have a very low weight yet great stability and just the right amount of cushioning.”

5/5 Full review 70 mpw training for a half marathon

“It has a firm feel so you don't feel like you're running on marshmallows.”

5/5 Full review 30 mpw training for a half marathon

“The only pair of shoes that I have been able to simply pull on, and run in straight away—without any fear of blisters.”

5/5 Full review 70 mpw training for a half marathon

“That part of the shoe tends to wear completely down and then just rubs the hard outer part of the shoe against my heel.”

5/5 Full review 65 mpw training for a marathon

“This shoe is perfectly trail-worthy and you don't feel all the rocks.”

5/5 Full review 70 mpw training for a half marathon

“I have had a few pairs that have started to rip below 300 miles on the inside of my big toe.”

4/5 Full review 65 mpw training for a half marathon

“Since version 18 I have been experiencing more wear and tear on the inside, back part of the heel.”

5/5 Full review 65 mpw training for a marathon

“They are too roomy in the forefoot, which makes my foot slide around.”

4/5 Full review 70 mpw 7,300 miles in this shoe training for a half marathon

“Offering a nice amount of support, without feeling like they are overly heavy—especially on a long run.”

5/5 Full review 70 mpw training for a half marathon

“It's light but provides support for an overpronator.”

5/5 Full review 30 mpw training for a half marathon

“This becomes the solid, durable trainer that supports a solid mileage week with long runs and slow tempos.”

4/5 Full review 60 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Mizuno Wave Elixir 8

“The stack height is not ridiculously high, but is high enough so you don't put too much strain on your calves.”

5/5 Full review 30 mpw training for a half marathon

“I would not run more than 300 miles in them.”

5/5 Full review 25 mpw training for a half marathon

“The recent versions have gotten too bulky, especially in the forefoot.”

4/5 Full review 70 mpw 7,300 miles in this shoe training for a half marathon

“This shoe requires a certain amount of foot strength to replace a daily trainer.”

4/5 Full review 60 mpw training for a half marathon came from the Mizuno Wave Elixir 8

“The shoes were clearly narrower at the front than the DS Trainer 17.”

4/5 Full review 50 mpw 1,738 miles in this shoe training for a marathon came from the ASICS DS Trainer 17

“Their value should be $20–30 less than current retail.”

5/5 Full review 25 mpw training for a half marathon

“Wear is higher than normal.”

4/5 Full review 40 mpw came from the Nike Air Pegasus+ 30

“After 400–500 miles that I usually have to replace the shoe.”

5/5 Full review 35 mpw training for a half marathon

“The back seems overbuilt compared to the front.”

4/5 Full review 25 mpw

“Excellent for speed/high intensity workouts.”

5/5 Full review 5 mpw training for sprints

“I had to go up half a size.”

4/5 Full review 50 mpw 1,738 miles in this shoe training for a marathon came from the ASICS DS Trainer 17

“The shoes have lasted pretty long (400 miles).”

4/5 Full review 65 mpw training for a half marathon

“I prefer the versions with slightly less midsole.”

5/5 Full review 5 mpw training for sprints

“The previous model had a softer sole.”

4/5 Full review 50 mpw 1,738 miles in this shoe training for a marathon came from the ASICS DS Trainer 17

Where to buy

No offers available

Affiliate links included. They never affect our ratings.

Prices updated daily. Last checked Oct 22.

Pros

At 7.6 oz it is well under the 8.9 oz median for daily trainers for sale, and five reviewers call it light while still supportive.
Four reviewers have run the DS Trainer line for eight years or more and call it reliable.
Three reviewers like the firm ride for speedwork and tempo miles.

Cons

Three reviewers report the upper tearing at the big toe or the inside of the heel, two before 300 miles.
Three reviewers replace them between 300 and 500 miles.
Two reviewers find the forefoot too roomy and their foot sliding in it.

GEL-DS Trainer 18 rates 50. This shoe has high confidence. See how we rate shoes.

Better Shoes Rating of prior versions of the ASICS GEL-DS Trainer

Each dot is one version of the GEL-DS Trainer, placed by its rating and release year. The gold dot is this shoe.

Rating

40 60 80 100

50 2014 55 2014 63 2016 60 2016 62 2017 59 2018 58 2019 66 2020 77 2021

Release year

We use the reviews of past versions to inform this shoe’s rating. See why.

GEL-DS Trainer 26

2021 · 10 reviews

77 Decent

78 Confidence
GEL-DS Trainer 25

2020 · 3 reviews

66 Below average

71 Confidence
GEL-DS Trainer 24

2019 · 4 reviews

58 Bottom-tier

81 Confidence
GEL-DS Trainer 23

2018 · 9 reviews

59 Bottom-tier

88 Confidence
GEL-DS Trainer 22

2017 · 7 reviews

62 Below average

85 Confidence
GEL-DS Trainer 21

2016 · 3 reviews

60 Below average

79 Confidence
GEL-DS Trainer 20

2016 · 9 reviews

63 Below average

89 Confidence
GEL-DS Trainer 19

2014 · 45 reviews

55 Bottom-tier

96 Confidence
GEL-DS Trainer 18 This shoe

2014 · 37 reviews

50 Bottom-tier

94 Confidence

Runner Ratings

37 ratings

5/5 14

4/5 18

3/5 2

2/5 2

1/5 1

See written reviews Write a review

Specs & fit

Sizing and ride details at a glance.

Weight: 7.6 oz (men's)
Release: 2014
MSRP: $115
Stack: 27/17mm
Drop: 10mm

Runner reviews

Write a review

5/5

Overall

I have 5 pairs of these on my shelf right now. One is exhausted (~340 miles). One is at 250. One is at 20 miles. They're awesome every day shoes. Stable enough for trail running, cushioned enough for roads. Fast enough for speed work. Love them.

seaunter · Aug 29, 2014

35 mpw training for a half marathon

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

4/5

Overall

deafischer · Aug 28, 2014

30 mpw training for a half marathon

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

3/5

Overall

Great weight, poor longevity

Anonymous runner · Aug 28, 2014

30 mpw training for a half marathon

Comfort: 4/5
Durability: 2/5
Appearance: 5/5
Value: 2/5

4/5

Overall

Anonymous runner · Aug 28, 2014

25 mpw training for a half marathon

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

5/5

Overall

Good quality relatively light weight training shoe. Good on road and hard trails, not mud. Comfortable, and reasonably durable (my last pair lasted over 500 miles)

Anonymous runner · Aug 28, 2014

50 mpw training for a half marathon