MEN (shown)
Price: $90
Weight: 13 oz.
Sizes: 6-13, 14

WOMEN
Price: $90
Weight: 10.8 oz.
Sizes: 6-11

Ideal foot types: Neutral, pronated and supinated
Best surface: All

Final analysis: Gel cushioning in the midsole has been a staple of Asics shoes since the 1980s. You’ll find it in the new Challenger, along with a foam called Solyte. Together, the two technologies absorb shock without causing the shoe to feel cumbersome. The midfoot is secured by plastic straps on the upper that squeeze your foot when you tighten the laces. We found the shoe’s flex point to be exemplary, meaning it bends where your foot bends, and liked the arch support. Weartesters said the shoe was stable and light on their feet. Their complaints were about the fit of the shoe, which felt stiff at first and slightly insecure in the toe box once broken in. Otherwise, the Challenger is a dependable performer.