New Balance 1012 vs. ASICS GEL Evolution 5 review
Learn what the difference is between New Balance 1012 and ASICS GEL Evolution 5 in this review, and compare prices to find the best deal on these two motion control running shoes.
In two previous articles I wrote about the ASICS Gel Evolution 5 and the New Balance 1012 motion control running shoes for women.
If you're looking to switch from wearing New Balance running shoes to ASICS running shoes or vice versa, you would probably like to know that the New Balance 1012 is the counterpart of the ASICS Gel Evolution 5.
So theoretically speaking the ASICS Gel Evolution 5 should stack up against the New Balance 1012, although the New Balance 1012 is the new and improved version of the New Balance 1011, which means that it has better features and makes use of more advanced running shoe technologies.
The ASICS Gel Evolution 5 and the New Balance 1012 are made by two different running shoe manufacturers, so they will naturally be different. Let's compare them and take a look at where these running shoes are similar and how they differ.
Looking at the ASICS Gel Evolution 5 and the New Balance 1012 side-by-side gives a good comparison of the two types of motion control running shoes.
Looking at the outsoles of the running shoes, it is clearly visible that both the New Balance 1012 and the ASICS Gel Evolution 5 follow the natural curve of a foot, but that the ASICS Gel Evolution 5 has a broader heel and sort of a "crash pad" on the inside of the heel. This means that the ASICS Gel Evolution 5 will also tend to stop the back of your feet from rolling inward too much.
Another visible difference between the heels of the New Balance 1012 and the ASICS Gel Evolution 5 motion control running shoes is that the heel of the ASICS Gel Evolution 5 has flex grooves, which will make it very flexible in the heel area for runners who tend to be heel-strikers (runners who land first with their heel before transitioning onto their forefoot). ASICS running shoes tend to emphasize the heel striking area a lot.
The amount of flexibility in the forefoot area is similar in both running shoes, but since the New Balance 1012 has more flex grooves, it is also expected to offer more flexibility than the ASICS Gel Evolution 5 in the fore foot area. In addition, unlike the ASICS Gel Evolution 5, the New Balance 1012 has a flex groove on the outside of the forefoot, meaningthat it will be more flexible as you land on the outside of your feet and transition to the inside as overpronators tend to do.
Another thing that is visible from looking at the outsoles of the New Balance 1012 and the ASICS Gel Evolution 5 is that the forefoot and the heel are completely separated in the ASICS Gel Evolution 5, while these two areas are joined under the midfoot in the New Balance 1012. Again this means that the ASICS Gel Evolution 5 would provide more flexibility, in this case, when transitioning from heel-strike to toe-off, thereby giving you a smoother ride than the New Balance 1012 if you're a heel-striker.
If you're not a prominent heel-striker, the New Balance 1012 might be a better option for pronation control, because it offers enough flexibility where needed and then minimizes pronation where needed.
Both running shoes have a plate in the midsole that is designed to keep the foot in a neutral plane during the gait cycle. This is typical of all motion control running shoes, so there are no differences there, except for the fact that New Balance may have improved their technology with their new New Balance 1012.
The difference in the midsoles of the two running shoes will most likely be in the amount of cushioning provided and the way they feel on your feet when you run.
The difference in the uppers of the two running shoes lies in the amount of space provided in the toe box. ASICS tend to make shoes that fit snugly around your foot, and which follow the natural top line of your foot. New Balance tends to give you more room in the toe box, so the New Balance 1012 might be more suitable for people wearing orthotics and thus require that extra space.
The New Balance 1012 and ASICS Gel Evolution 5 differ by 11 grams (0.4 oz) in weight with the ASICS Gel Evolution 5 being the lightest of the two motion control running shoes.
If you're a heel-striker (look at the wear pattern at the bottom of an old pair of running shoes to see whether the heel areas are very worn out), the ASICS Gel Evolution 5 might be better suited for you.
On the other hand, if you have broad feet in the toe area or wear orthotics, and are looking for a shoe that provides great support and cushioning while you're running in addition to optimal flexibility in the forefoot, you could go with the New Balance 1012.
The ASICS Gel Evolution 5 is not only a lighter motion control running shoe than the New Balance 1012, but it is also ligher in price being almost a $10 cheaper motion control running shoe.
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Disclaimer: This running shoe review on www.motioncontrolrunningshoe.org is based on personal research and analysis, and is not claimed to be accurate and/or complete. While the information presented in this review is intended to help you better understand the differences between running shoes, we shall not be held liable for any purchasing decisions you make based on this information. Please use your own good judgment before making a purchase. The owner of this website receives a small compensation whenever you buy a product after clicking a product link on this website; that's how we keep this site online. Read our full disclaimer.