Our verdict
Pros
- Top-tier durability
- Highly breathable
- Springy cushioning
- Excellent lateral stability
- Very secure foothold
- Fairly flexible
- Great grip but slides well too
- This £55 Asics shoe won our best value shoe award
Cons
- A bit heavier than average
- Tricky to put on
Audience verdict
- asics gel kayano 14 white glacier grey hard court tennis shoes
Comparison
The most similar tennis shoes compared
+ + Add a shoe | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Audience score | 89 Great! | 87 Great! | 91 Superb! | 81 Good! | |
Price | $170 | $140 | $170 | $170 | |
Shoe type | Hard Court | All CourtHard Court | All CourtHard Court | Hard Court | |
Construction | Speed | Speed | Speed | Speed | |
Breathability | Breathable | Breathable | Moderate | Moderate | |
Weight lab | 13.8 asics men s gel nimbus lite | 10.9 oz / 309g | 14.2 oz / 403g | 14.3 oz / 406g | |
Lightweight | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | |
Drop lab | 8.2 mm | 9.8 mm | 8.6 mm | 10.4 mm | |
Toebox width at the widest part | Medium | Medium | Medium | Medium | |
Toebox width at the big toe | Medium | Narrow | Medium | Narrow | |
Midsole softness | Firm | Firm | Balanced | Firm | |
Stiffness | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | |
Torsional rigidity | Moderate | Moderate | Flexible | Stiff | |
Heel counter stiffness | Stiff | Stiff | Flexible | Moderate | |
Scarpe ASICS Gel-Pulse 13 1012B035 Black Barely Rose 002 | Very narrow | Narrow | Narrow | Wide | |
Midsole width in the heel | Wide | Average | Narrow | Average | |
Outsole durability | - | Good | Good | Good | |
Heel padding durability | - | Good | Decent | Bad | |
Collaboration | Novak Djokovic | - | - | Novak Djokovic | |
Heel stack lab | 28.8 mm | 28.3 mm | 28.8 mm | 32.2 mm | |
Forefoot | 20.6 mm | 18.5 mm | 20.2 mm | 21.8 mm | |
Insole thickness | Average | Average | Average | Average | |
Removable insole | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
Heel tab | None | Asics Women's Gel-Excite 7 | None | None | |
Toebox durability | - | Good | Good | Good | |
Outsole hardness | Average | Average | Average | Average | |
Outsole thickness | Average | Thin | Very thick | Thin | |
Ranking | #6 Top 24% | #8 Top 37% | #1 Top 5% | #13 Bottom 40% | |
Popularity | #15 Bottom 40% | #7 Top 32% | #5 Top 23% | #2 Top 10% |
Who should buy
In our opinion, the ASICS Asics Gel Lyte V Legion Blue 95€ au lieu de 127€ chez is an outstanding pair for players who need:
- a speed-oriented shoe with sufficient stability for rapid movements
- an outsole with a strong grip that also lets you slide
- Asics Gel Lyte 3 OG Aquarium Shocking Orange 30th
Who should NOT buy
The Asics Gel Lyte V Legion Blue 95€ au lieu de 127€ chez is a little heavier than average. If you prefer speedy shoes that are super light on the feet, we recommend the ASICS Solution Speed FF 2 instead.
And if you find the Asics Gel Lyte V Legion Blue 95€ au lieu de 127€ chez's price point too high, there is an excellent option in the same category called the ASICS Scarpa sportiva GEL-CHALLENGER 13 bianco blu.
Breathability
If you are considering the Asics Gel Lyte V Legion Blue 95€ au lieu de 127€ chez for the hot summer season, you won't be disappointed. In spite of its thick upper overlays, this ASICS shoe breathes like no other!
To demonstrate its ventilation capacity, we pumped smoke through the shoe's upper, and all of it passed through in a matter of seconds. As you can see from the video below, the smoke escaped not only through the tongue but also through the shoe's toebox.
On a 1-5 scale where 5 is the most breathable, the ASICS Asics Gel Lyte V Legion Blue 95€ au lieu de 127€ chez deserves a solid 4.
Trying to figure out how the shoe does that, we put its upper against a source of light. Seeing how transparent the mesh is on the tongue, the toebox, and the side panels made it clear.
Taking it a step further, we also used our microscope to zoom in on the shoe's upper design.
In between the thick and sturdy overlays, we see incredibly thin threads with huge ventilation pores.
Asics Gel Lyte V Legion Blue 95€ au lieu de 127€ chez | 4 |
Average | 3.1 |
Durability
Outsole hardness
ASICS' AHAR rubber has a stellar reputation for its abrasion resistance and longevity. We were able to experience that ourselves after many hours on the court. That material is simply indestructible.
A key parameter that indicates durability is its hardness.
Using a durometer to measure how hard the AHAR rubber is, we got a reading of 86.3 HC. This is indeed on the hard side of the spectrum.
![ASICS Asics Gel Lyte V Legion Blue 95€ au lieu de 127€ chez Outsole hardness](https://cdn.runrepeat.com/storage/gallery/product_content/33045/asics-court-ff-2-outsole-hardness-20290546-main.jpg)
Asics Gel Lyte V Legion Blue 95€ au lieu de 127€ chez | 86.3 HC |
Average | 85.8 HC |
Outsole thickness
Measuring the rubber thickness with a calliper, we also found this layer to be quite thick. At 3.8 mm, it is a solid average for a tennis shoe.
However, despite being satisfied with the outsole's durability, we think that a durability guarantee would still be a nice touch at this price point.
![ASICS Asics Gel Lyte V Legion Blue 95€ au lieu de 127€ chez Outsole thickness](https://cdn.runrepeat.com/storage/gallery/product_content/33045/asics-court-ff-2-outsole-thickness-20290538-main.jpg)
Asics Gel Lyte V Legion Blue 95€ au lieu de 127€ chez | 3.8 mm |
Average | 4.1 mm |
Weight
There is a bit of discrepancy between the shoe's weight on the scale and how it actually feels on the court.
On the scale, we got 13.8 oz (392g) per shoe which is a whole ounce heavier than the average weight of our lab-tested tennis shoes.
But in practice, the weight wasn't bothersome at all! We never felt as if the shoe was holding us back throughout the playtest.
Asics Gel Lyte V Legion Blue 95€ au lieu de 127€ chez | 13.83 oz (392g) |
Average | 12.84 oz (364g) |
Cushioning
Heel stack
Checking the shoe's heel stack height, our calliper shows 28.8 mm. This is the average heel thickness for a tennis shoe.
Asics Heren kleding Sokken.
Asics Gel Lyte V Legion Blue 95€ au lieu de 127€ chez | 28.8 mm |
Average | 29.3 mm |
Forefoot stack
Measuring the shoe's forefoot stack, we also got a fairly average reading of 20.6 mm. That's a standard height for a tennis shoe.
![ASICS Asics Gel Lyte V Legion Blue 95€ au lieu de 127€ chez Forefoot stack](https://cdn.runrepeat.com/storage/gallery/product_content/33045/asics-court-ff-2-forefoot-stack-20290547-main.jpg)
Asics Gel Lyte V Legion Blue 95€ au lieu de 127€ chez | 20.6 mm |
Average | 19.7 mm |
Asics Gel Lyte 3 OG Aquarium Shocking Orange 30th | Drop
The difference in stack heights gave us a drop of 8.2 mm. This is a notably lower number than the brand's officially stated 10.5 mm.
As we mentioned before, the shoe feels more grounded rather than cushioned, so a higher drop doesn't seem to be the case in the Asics Gel Lyte V Legion Blue 95€ au lieu de 127€ chez.
![ASICS Asics Gel Lyte V Legion Blue 95€ au lieu de 127€ chez Drop](https://cdn.runrepeat.com/storage/gallery/product_content/33045/asics-court-ff-2-drop-20290549-main.jpg)
Asics Gel Lyte V Legion Blue 95€ au lieu de 127€ chez | 8.2 mm |
Average | 9.7 mm |
Midsole softness
The shoe uses FF (FlyteFoam) as the primary cushioning in the Asics Gel Lyte V Legion Blue 95€ au lieu de 127€ chez. We found it to be pleasantly responsive and springy.
Using a durometer, we found that at 32.6 HA, the FF foam is more on the firm side.
But in this case, the lack of plushness is what makes the shoe feel so agile and stable.
The shoe's cushioning is enhanced with the brand's famous Gel inserts in both the forefoot and the heel. And even though these units are not very abundant, we could definitely feel the added impact protection.
Finally, there is a thin Solyte layer (the yellow one) that completes the shoe's midsole. According to the brand, it is meant to help with the "bounce-back." From our experience with the shoe, the energy return was quite noticeable, whether it was coming from the Solyte or not.
Asics Gel Lyte V Legion Blue 95€ au lieu de 127€ chez | 32.6 HA |
Average | 29.2 HA |
Insole thickness
This ASICS shoe features a unique wavy pattern that caters to Novak Djokovic himself. As an aggressive player, he needs an outsole that would allow sliding and pivoting but would also stop on a sixpence.
And that is exactly what we experienced with the ASICS Asics Gel Lyte V Legion Blue 95€ au lieu de 127€ chez. With its efficient grip, moving quickly and changing directions rapidly felt very safe.
![ASICS Asics Gel Lyte V Legion Blue 95€ au lieu de 127€ chez Insole thickness](https://cdn.runrepeat.com/storage/gallery/product_content/33045/asics-court-ff-2-insole-thickness-20290553-main.jpg)
Asics Gel Lyte V Legion Blue 95€ au lieu de 127€ chez | 4.7 mm |
Average | 5.3 mm |
Stability
Lateral stability test
What we enjoyed most about the ASICS Asics Gel Lyte V Legion Blue 95€ au lieu de 127€ chez is how much it helped us speed up while remaining very stable. The shoe's lateral support is just excellent!
The shoe uses a whole bunch of features to create that kind of support. That includes the sturdy Twisttruss holding the midfoot, the extra thick overlays on the upper, and a stiff heel counter.
Torsional rigidity
The risk of twisting your ankle in the ASICS Asics Gel Lyte V Legion Blue 95€ au lieu de 127€ chez is very close to zero. The Twistruss system paired with the firm sole and sturdy upper makes it nearly impossible to twist the shoe.
Rating the shoe's torsional rigidity on a 1-5 scale, we believe that it deserves a solid 4 (but very close to 5, which is the stiffest).
Asics Gel Lyte V Legion Blue 95€ au lieu de 127€ chez | 4 |
Average | 4.2 |
Heel counter stiffness
The shoe's heel hold is phenomenal! We rated the heel counter with a maximum of 5 out of 5 for being super rigid.
It made us feel securely locked in at all times, no matter what manoeuvres the game called for.
Asics Gel Lyte V Legion Blue 95€ au lieu de 127€ chez | 5 |
Average | 3.9 |
Scarpe ASICS Gel-Pulse 13 1012B035 Black Barely Rose 002
In the widest part of the forefoot, we measured this ASICS shoe's sole at 105.3 mm. That's a pretty standard width across the board.
![ASICS Asics Gel Lyte V Legion Blue 95€ au lieu de 127€ chez Scarpe ASICS Gel-Pulse 13 1012B035 Black Barely Rose 002](https://cdn.runrepeat.com/storage/gallery/product_content/33045/asics-court-ff-2-midsole-width-in-the-forefoot-20290555-main.jpg)
Asics Gel Lyte V Legion Blue 95€ au lieu de 127€ chez | 105.3 mm |
Average | 111.7 mm |
Midsole width in the heel
The heel, on the other hand, is more on the wide side. Our calliper shows 93.4 mm in its widest part.
![ASICS Asics Gel Lyte V Legion Blue 95€ au lieu de 127€ chez Midsole width in the heel](https://cdn.runrepeat.com/storage/gallery/product_content/33045/asics-court-ff-2-midsole-width-in-the-heel-20290557-main.jpg)
Asics Gel Lyte V Legion Blue 95€ au lieu de 127€ chez | 93.4 mm |
Average | 89.7 mm |
Flexibility
Stiffness
It was quite surprising for us to discover that with all that support, the Asics Gel Lyte V Legion Blue 95€ au lieu de 127€ chez still remains fairly flexible.
Using a force gauge, we measured that it takes 34.6N of force to bend the shoe to a 90-degree angle. This is less than it normally takes for a tennis shoe. It is also 14% more flexible than the ASICS Scarpa sportiva GEL-CHALLENGER 13 bianco blu, for example.
That kind of pliability made the transitions feel very smooth and helped our footwork be more precise.
Asics Gel Lyte V Legion Blue 95€ au lieu de 127€ chez | 34.6N |
Average | 30.1N |
Grip / Traction
This ASICS shoe features a unique wavy pattern that caters to Novak Djokovic himself. As an aggressive player, he needs an outsole that would allow sliding and pivoting but would also stop on a sixpence.
And that is exactly what we experienced with the ASICS Asics Gel Lyte V Legion Blue 95€ au lieu de 127€ chez. With its efficient grip, moving quickly and changing directions rapidly felt very safe.
Size and fit
Asics Gel Lyte 3 OG Aquarium Shocking Orange 30th | Toebox width at the widest part
First seeing the shoe's tongueless design with burly overlays, we were worried that it would fit too tight. But luckily, for our medium-width feet, the Asics Gel Lyte V Legion Blue 95€ au lieu de 127€ chez provided a comfortable contoured fit after a short break-in period.
Measuring the widest part of the shoe's toebox, we got 98.3 mm. That's a pretty standard width for a tennis shoe.
![ASICS Asics Gel Lyte V Legion Blue 95€ au lieu de 127€ chez Toebox width at the widest part](https://cdn.runrepeat.com/storage/gallery/product_content/33045/asics-court-ff-2-toebox-width-at-the-widest-part-20290558-main.jpg)
Asics Gel Lyte V Legion Blue 95€ au lieu de 127€ chez | 98.3 mm |
Average | 101.2 mm |
Toebox width at the big toe
Our toes didn't feel cramped either as the toebox allowed enough space for splaying. Measuring its width H44GK-4880 the big toe, we got a reading of 76.9 mm - also an average for tennis shoes.
![ASICS Asics Gel Lyte V Legion Blue 95€ au lieu de 127€ chez Toebox width at the big toe](https://cdn.runrepeat.com/storage/gallery/product_content/33045/asics-court-ff-2-toebox-width-at-the-big-toe-20290559-main.jpg)
Asics Gel Lyte V Legion Blue 95€ au lieu de 127€ chez | 76.9 mm |
Average | 76.8 mm |
Tongue: gusset type
With the shoe's Mono-Sock design, the tongue is fully integrated into the upper.
This kind of upper makes the shoe feel like an extension of your foot, wrapping H44GK-4880 it for a secure fit. Actually, it felt like tying the laces wasn't even necessary.
![ASICS Asics Gel Lyte V Legion Blue 95€ au lieu de 127€ chez Tongue: gusset type](https://cdn.runrepeat.com/storage/gallery/product_content/33045/asics-court-ff-2-tongue-gusset-type-20290560-main.jpg)
Asics Gel Lyte V Legion Blue 95€ au lieu de 127€ chez | Bootie |
Comfort
Tongue padding
The shoe's tongue has just enough padding to buffer the instep from the laces. But it's not too thick to compromise the sock-like feel that makes the Asics Gel Lyte V Legion Blue 95€ au lieu de 127€ chez so cosy.
![ASICS Asics Gel Lyte V Legion Blue 95€ au lieu de 127€ chez Tongue padding](https://cdn.runrepeat.com/storage/gallery/product_content/33045/asics-court-ff-2-tongue-padding-20290563-main.jpg)
Asics Gel Lyte V Legion Blue 95€ au lieu de 127€ chez | 6.0 mm |
Average | 7.8 mm |
Heel tab
Given the shoe's bootie-like upper, it would've been very handy to have a pull tab or a loop to hold onto when getting the foot inside.
![ASICS Asics Gel Lyte V Legion Blue 95€ au lieu de 127€ chez Heel tab](https://cdn.runrepeat.com/storage/gallery/product_content/33045/asics-court-ff-2-heel-tab-21466168-main.jpg)
Asics Gel Lyte V Legion Blue 95€ au lieu de 127€ chez | None |
Removable insole
The ASICS Asics Gel Lyte V Legion Blue 95€ au lieu de 127€ chez comes with a removable insole. It is easy to take out and replace with any other insert you need.
![ASICS Asics Gel Lyte V Legion Blue 95€ au lieu de 127€ chez Removable insole](https://cdn.runrepeat.com/storage/gallery/product_content/33045/asics-court-ff-2-removable-insole-20290564-main.jpg)
Asics Gel Lyte V Legion Blue 95€ au lieu de 127€ chez | Yes |