Quick Overview
COMFORT
SUPPORT
QUALITY
COST
Pros
Cons
What is a better form of a workout than running? You can feel the wind in your face and the ground underneath your feet.
It’s one of the most thrilling and rewarding experiences ever. Then, why is it that you have sore feet and aching calves after every run?
Well, it’s not because of running. Chances are you are wearing the wrong kind of shoes for running.
Now, obviously, you can’t give up running, so the next option is to change those shoes. Luckily for you, we know exactly the ones you should go for!
With the ASICS Men's Gel Sonoma 3 Running Shoes, your runs will feel better than ever. Its comfortable fit would make you want to wear it all the time.
Continue reading this ASICS Gel Sonoma 3 review to find out what else it has to offer.
ASICS Gel Sonoma 3 Review
ASICS was founded in 1949 by Kihachiro Onitsuka in Kobe, Japan, and the brand name is an acronym for Anima Sana In Corpore Sano, which is Latin for "You should pray for a healthy mind in a healthy body."
More importantly, it is an excellent way to sum up what the whole company is about, and that is, it aims to encourage young people to have a healthy lifestyle through sports and its specially designed athletic shoes and gear.
Over the past seventy years, ASICS has launched many different shoes, expanded into different regions, opened flagship stores worldwide, and more.
They have a whole team of scientists and researchers who are continually trying to find the best solutions for their customers, so it’s safe to say that when you get a pair of ASICS shoes, you’re not getting a simple pair of shoes.
You’re getting decades of dedication to a strong vision and, subsequently, a high-quality product. Similar is the case for the ASICS Men's Gel Sonoma 3 Running Shoes, as you’ll see in this detailed review.
Who Are These Running Shoes For?
A lot of people assume running to be an elementary and straightforward form of a workout; you just put on a pair of shoes and start running in any direction.
While that is true to some extent, it’s quite an oversimplification because even within running, there are different types, and it can get quite technical as well.
There are trail runs, road runs, and more, and within those, you have tempo runs, progression runs, recovery runs, and more.
Thus, there are several running shoe models that you can find in the market.
That said, if you regularly drive to a destination to start running on a specific trail among the woods or forest or any unpaved road, the ASICS Men's Gel Sonoma 3 Running Shoes is for you.
These running trails are on rough terrains, but the ground itself isn’t that hard; it’s quite soft.
So, instead of the ground, you should be worried about the obstacles in your way, such as loose earth, rocks, and branches.
Also, sometimes, some trails have sloping ground, so you need to be extra careful of your foot placement.
If all this sounds familiar, then you’ll benefit from the ASICS Men's Gel Sonoma 3 Running Shoes since it has excellent traction to prevent any slips.
Running on hard roads and pavements leads to more impact on your foot, so it requires more cushioning.
Even though the Gel Sonoma 3 are running shoes, the rearfoot Gel cushioning system means you can use them as road running shoes.
You can also use these shoes for normal road running or even on the treadmill, but if you’re fond of hiking, these shoes might not be the one for you.
Hiking requires tougher boots with water resistance, which these shoes don’t offer.
What’s Included?
The ASICS Men's Gel Sonoma 3 Running Shoes comes in a typical shoebox with tissue wrapping inside to protect the shoes from any dirt or dust.
With these shoes, that’s all you get. There aren’t any additional items or accessories.
If you do want other items such as socks, running clothes, and extra laces, you’ll have to order them separately.
Overview of Features
With this features section, you’ll understand why we’ve been raving about these shoes in this ASICS Gel Sonoma 3 review.
The upper layer of the ASICS Men's Gel Sonoma 3 Running Shoes consists of 100% synthetic material and some mesh lining.
The synthetic material gives the strength and durability of the shoe to last you a long time.
What’s more, they also help in protecting your feet on those harsh terrains.
On the other hand, the mesh lining helps keep the shoe light but doesn’t provide as much ventilation as we’d like.
You’ve got the typical laces on the top along with an extra lace hole to properly tie the shoes to get the perfect fit and feel.
There’s also a loop on the back of the ASICS Men's Gel Sonoma 3 Running Shoes to help you quickly pull it on.
Diving a little deeper into the specifications, the Gel Sonoma 3 has an eight millimeters heel-to-toe drop for that cushioning and extra support during running.
There’s also a unique SPEVA foam midsole that offers great bounce back and helps bring energy to your feet.
It also adds to the durability of the shoe since it prevents the midsole from breaking down.
At the back, you’ll find ASICS’ rearfoot gel cushioning system to protect your feet and knees from shocks and hard impacts.
At the very bottom, there’s an excellent outsole with reversed lugs that provide great traction and grip on various surfaces and terrains.
The ASICS Men's Gel Sonoma 3 Running Shoes comes in several colors and available in several half-sizes to get the perfect fit, although some users did find the shoes a bit tight around the toes.
How to Get the Most out of These Running Shoes
Since the ASICS Men's Gel Sonoma 3 Running Shoes are trail running shoes, the best way to make the most of them would be to wear them during trail running.
Some of the features, such as the gel cushioning, do make them good enough for road running as well.
However, all workouts and exercises require different footwear, so we would not recommend using these shoes for a lot of other exercises except running.
You can wear the ASICS Men's Gel Sonoma 3 Running Shoes occasionally for road running, walking, and more, but they’re not suitable for hiking or gym workouts.
Alternatives
If on the slight chance you were not convinced by this ASICS Gel Sonoma 3 review, no need to worry.
We’ve got some fantastic alternatives for you so that you can comfortably do those trail runs.
Altra Men’s Lone Peak 4.5 Running Shoes
First up, we have the Altra Men’s Lone Peak 4.5 Running Shoes, which is great for runners who go out on harsher terrains and want something firmer in the cushioning department.
The upper features synthetic material and mesh all around the foot for ventilation and to keep the shoes dry.
It has dual-layer EVA midsoles and equally balanced and moderate cushioning to protect your feet from shocks while also giving you a firmer feel while running.
The Altra Men’s Lone Peak 4.5 Running Shoes also has a great foot shape so that your toes don’t feel squished while the rest of the shoe fits snugly.
Additionally, the outsole has a unique design. There are canted lugs positioned all along the foot so that you have an excellent grip even on the roughest terrain.
What’s more, the lugs underneath the toes provide great traction in every direction and on various surfaces.
Other than that, the Altra Men’s Lone Peak 4.5 Running Shoes doesn’t have excellent ankle support, which can make it a bit hard for long runs.
Arc’teryx Norvan SL Shoes
Secondly, we have the Arc’teryx Norvan SL Shoes. If you’re into a minimalist style, you’ll probably fall in love with these shoes.
The shoes are incredibly lightweight, with a weight of fewer than seven ounces, but all that lightweight comes at the cost of cushioning.
These trail running shoes don’t have a lot of cushioning and are quite firm, but there is a light EVA foam midsole that provides some padding and shock absorption.
The top of the Arc’teryx Norvan SL Shoes features mesh all around, which not only provides an excellent fit for the feet but is also quite breathable.
Lastly, the shoes' taller tongue and collar prevent dirt and debris from collecting inside the shoes.
Verdict
As great as those alternatives sound, we can’t help going back to the ASICS Men's Gel Sonoma 3 Running Shoes.
Its cushioned and comfortable feel makes us want to wear it all day, every day!
It also offers a brilliant grip for running on rough and slippery trails, and even if you’re not a runner right now, these shoes will make you want to head for a run anyway.
Overall, the Gel Sonoma 3 is primarily trail running shoes with a unique design and features that make it great for rough terrains, nature trails, and normal roads.