New Balance 1123 vs. ASICS GEL-Foundation 9 review
New Balance 1123 is a maximum control trainer that gives you lots of mileage and is ideal for runners or walkers with low arches. ASICS GEL-Foundation 9 is a maximum support running shoe for overpronators who require cushioning as well as support. Read this review to learn more about how these two motion control running shoes compare against each other.
In two previous articles I reviewed the ASICS GEL-Foundation 9 and New Balance 1123 motion control running shoes.
The New Balance 1123 is a popular New Balance motion control running shoe that is in its own lane in that there is no other shoe manufacturer that makes one like it. ASICS GEL-Foundation 9 is the second best motion control running shoe from ASICS.
Theoretically speaking the New Balance 1123 and the ASICS GEL-Foundation 9 should differ a lot, but let us compare them and take a look at where these two motion control running shoes are similar and how they differ.
Looking at the New Balance 1123 and ASICS GEL-Foundation 9 side-by-side gives a good comparison of the two types of motion control running shoes.
While the uppers of both running shoes consist of breathable mesh, the ASICS GEL-Foundation 9 has slightly more mesh than the New Balance 1123. And while this might make the ASICS GEL-Foundation 9 slightly more breathable than the New Balance 1123, you can expect to get a more secure fit from the New Balance 1123, since much of its mesh has been replaced by synthetic overlays.
But while the New Balance 1123 may have slightly more overlays than the ASICS GEL-Foundation 9, it must be said that the synthetic overlays on the ASICS GEL-Foundation 9 wrap your feet in a similar way than those on the New Balance 1123, that is, from the back of the heel towards the midfoot, and around the midfoot to keep your feet locked down on the platform.
Both the New Balance1123 and the ASICS GEL-Foundation 9 have a device in the midsole to control overpronation, and while the technology may differ in name, the ultimate result of stabilizing your feet when running is the same or similar. What also is similar is the fact that this pronation control device runs just past the midfoot in both running shoes.
The biggest difference between the New Balance 1123 and the ASICS GEL-Foundation 9 manifests itself in the outsole and its shape. Starting with the shape, the contour of the outsole of the ASICS GEL-Foundation 9 follows that of the normal shape of a foot, while the contour of the outsole of the New Balance 1123 looks more suitable for flat feet.
Another difference lies in the structure of the outsole under the heel. The ASICS GEL-Foundation 9 has a crash pad at the back of the heel, so is a running shoe that is suitable for people who tend to land on the backs of their heels where most of the shock absorption is likely to take place.
The New Balance 1123 does not have separate crash pads anywhere on its outsole. The outsole forms a whole rather than consists of parts. This also means that there is no concentrated area where shock absorption takes place, which makes this shoe better for walking than running.
The last difference between the outsoles of the New Balance 1123 and ASICS GEL-Foundation 9 lies in the forefoot area, where the New Balance 1123 is expected to provide you with slightly more flexibility than the ASICS GEL-Foundation 9, especially as you move more towards the toes.
Where the women's running shoes are concerned, the New Balance 1123 weighs approximately 329 grams (11.6 oz), while the ASICS GEL-Foundation 9 weighs 303 grams (10.7 oz), which makes it a 26 grams (0.9 oz) lighter than the New Balance 1123 when you compare motion control running shoes by weight
If you're looking for a flexible motion control running shoe that gives you a secure fit and which you would like to use more to walk in than to run in, the New Balance 1123 might be the running shoe to go with.
If you're looking for a lightweight motion control running shoe that provides good stability and absorbs shock well in the heel area, the ASICS GEL-Foundation 9 might be a better option.
The New Balance 1123 comes at a suggested retail price of US $147.99, while the ASICS GEL-Foundation 9 is almost $48 cheaper at US $100 when you compare motion control running shoes by price.
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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.