ASICS Gel-Contend 10 Review

Softer than it has any right to be, and heavier than it should be

The ASICS Gel-Contend 10, listed by ASICS as the GEL-CONTEND 10, is the cheapest running shoe the brand sells in the United States. It sits below the GT-1000, a long way below the Gel-Cumulus and further still below the Gel-Nimbus. This is the shoe that fills the wall at big-box stores, and the one plenty of people buy as their only pair of sneakers.

Two things separate it from the usual budget shoe. The first is the midsole, meaning the layer of foam under your foot: ASICS uses AMPLIFOAM PLUS here, with a GEL insert in the heel to take the sting out of landings, and it has added roughly 2 mm more foam than the previous version. That is a small number that makes a real difference to how the shoe feels on hard ground.

The second is the width range. Between the standard fit, the wide and the extra-wide 4E, the Gel-Contend covers feet that most $80 shoes simply do not accommodate. If you have been told you need a wide shoe for walking and have been quoted $150 for the privilege, that matters. What follows covers how it fits, how it rides, how it handles walking and where the weight becomes a problem.

Specs

Here are the specifications for the ASICS Gel-Contend 10:

Pros

These are the reasons the Gel-Contend 10 earns its place:

• The extra 2 mm of foam is the most useful change ASICS could have made here, and it takes the hard edge off walking on concrete.
• The GEL insert in the heel softens the moment your heel lands, which is the part of the step walkers feel most.
• Widths run all the way to 4E in men’s sizing, which is close to unheard of at this price.
• The mesh upper has few stitched overlays, so there is little to press on a bunion or a wide forefoot.
• It is a real ASICS, built on a familiar last, so if the brand has always fit your foot, this will too.

Cons

These are the limits you are buying into:

• It is heavy. Listed weights put it well above most road shoes, and you notice that once you are out for more than a couple of miles.
• AMPLIFOAM PLUS is a sensible everyday foam, not an energetic one, so the shoe does very little to push you along.
• Published drop figures do not agree between ASICS’ own listings and retailers, which makes it harder to know exactly what you are getting.
• The upper is plain and fairly dense, so it runs warm in summer compared with better-ventilated shoes.
• There is no support structure, so feet that roll inward get no help here.

What is new versus the ASICS Gel-Contend 9

The change that matters is underfoot. ASICS has added about 2 mm of foam compared with the Gel-Contend 9 and specified AMPLIFOAM PLUS in the midsole, which is a softer version of the compound the line has used for years. On a shoe that was previously criticized for feeling thin and hard, a small increase in foam depth has a bigger effect than the number suggests: it is the difference between feeling the seams in the sidewalk and not.

The GEL unit stays in the heel. This is ASICS’ oldest piece of cushioning technology, a soft insert set into the rear of the midsole, and its job is simply to absorb the impact of the heel landing. It does that, and in a shoe this inexpensive it is a meaningful inclusion rather than a marketing line.

Above the midsole, the upper is cleaner. ASICS has cut back the stitched overlays in favor of engineered mesh across the front of the shoe, which improves both airflow and flexibility, and is kinder to a wide or awkwardly shaped forefoot. The weight, unfortunately, has not come down.

Who should buy the ASICS Gel-Contend 10

This is a shoe for people who want one comfortable pair of sneakers to do everything: walk the dog, get through a shift, run errands around town and cover the occasional easy mile. It does not pretend to be a training shoe and it should not be bought as one, but as general-purpose footwear at $80 it is hard to argue with.

Wide feet are the strongest reason to choose it. The 4E option in men’s sizing is genuinely rare, and it is a real width increase rather than a longer shoe. Anyone with bunions, a broad forefoot or swelling that changes through the day will find more room here than in almost any other shoe at this price, and the minimal overlays mean there is less to rub.

It also suits anyone who already knows ASICS fits them. The brand’s shoes tend to share a family shape, so if a Gel-Cumulus or a Gel-Nimbus has always felt right and you simply do not want to spend that much this time, the Gel-Contend gives you the same familiar feel with less foam and a lower price.

Who should probably skip it

Anyone running with any regularity should spend more. The weight is the reason: a heavy shoe costs you effort on every stride, and over a half-hour run that adds up into tired legs and a slower, more laborious feeling. Combine that with a foam that gives very little back and you have a shoe that makes running harder work than it needs to be.

It is also the wrong pick if your feet roll inward as you walk or run. There is no guidance built into this shoe at all, so a foot that wants to collapse toward the arch will do exactly that. And if you want a lively, springy sensation underfoot, the Gel-Contend is simply not built for it.

If any of that applies, these are better places to start:

• Nike Winflo 12: a lighter budget trainer with an air unit underfoot, in wide and extra-wide, for anyone whose running is more than occasional (check price | read review).
• ASICS GT-1000 15: the affordable ASICS support shoe, with a wider base and real guidance for feet that roll inward (check price | read review).
• Saucony Triumph 24: deep, soft cushioning for anyone whose priority is comfort on hard ground rather than saving money (check price | read review).

How does the ASICS Gel-Contend 10 fit?

The Gel-Contend 10 fits like a classic ASICS: a secure midfoot, a heel that holds well and a toe box that is neither generous nor cramped in the standard width. Where it gets interesting is the width range, which is broader than almost anything else at the price. Here is what to expect.

Fit and sizing

Order your usual size. ASICS builds this on a conventional shape and it neither runs long nor short. If you usually size up half a size in running shoes for toe room, do the same here.

The widths are the headline. Men get standard, wide and extra-wide 4E, and women get standard and wide. That range is worth knowing about even if you are not shopping on a budget: plenty of people with broad feet end up in ill-fitting shoes simply because nothing in their size exists, and this is one of the few cheap options that solves it. Widening the shoe rather than lengthening it is the right fix, and it is what ASICS has done here.

Upper and step-in comfort

The upper is engineered mesh across the front of the foot with very few stitched pieces laid over it. That is good news if you have a bunion or a prominent joint, because there is less hard material sitting in a place that can rub. The tongue and collar carry a reasonable amount of padding for a shoe at this price.

Step-in feel is soft rather than firm, which is a change worth noting for anyone who found the older Contend unforgiving. The mesh is fairly dense, which helps it survive a year of daily use but means it does not breathe as well as a lighter shoe in hot weather.

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How does the ASICS Gel-Contend 10 perform?

Performance here is a story of comfort against weight. The shoe is softer and more forgiving than its price suggests, and it is genuinely pleasant for the first couple of miles. The heft is what stops it being more than that. The sections below unpack how it behaves.

Cushioning and ride

AMPLIFOAM PLUS gives a soft, slightly muted feel underfoot. It is not deep cushioning by the standards of a modern trainer, but the extra couple of millimeters ASICS added make it comfortable on concrete and other hard surfaces, which is where most of these shoes actually spend their lives. The GEL insert under the heel takes the harshness out of heel landings.

The ride is even and unremarkable in the best sense. Nothing surprises you, nothing feels unstable, and the shoe does not tip or roll. It is a shoe you stop thinking about, which for everyday wear is exactly the point.

Ride and running performance

On a short easy run the Gel-Contend 10 is comfortable and unobjectionable. Beyond that, the weight dominates. Every ounce on your foot has to be lifted and swung forward thousands of times, and this is one of the heavier road shoes on sale, so a 5 mile run in it feels harder than the same run in a lighter trainer.

There is also nothing here designed to create forward motion. No plate, no pronounced curve at the front of the sole and no springy foam, so the shoe stays neutral and passive while you do the work. That is fine at a gentle pace and frustrating at anything quicker. Keep the running short and it is a perfectly good shoe.

Stability and support

This is a neutral shoe, which means it contains no structures intended to influence how your foot moves. It does not have the firm medial post or the raised sidewalls that a support shoe uses, and it does not claim to. What steadiness it has comes from the fact that the foam is not especially soft and the platform is not especially tall.

If you have been advised that you need support, or you can see the inside edges of your old shoes wearing down faster than the outside, this is not the shoe to buy. Stay within ASICS and the GT-1000 is the affordable answer: same price bracket, real guidance built in.

Outsole, grip and durability

Rubber covers the heel and forefoot in the areas that see the most wear, with exposed foam in between to save a little weight and cost. Grip on dry pavement, indoor floors and treadmill belts is dependable. In the wet it is adequate rather than confident, which is typical for a shoe in this bracket.

Durability should be good. A denser foam and a plain, heavily built upper both age well, and the part of the shoe most likely to fail first is the exposed midsole between the rubber pads if you walk on gravel a lot. The usual 300 to 500 mile figure is a broad guideline rather than a promise, and how long any shoe lasts depends on your weight, stride and the surfaces you use.

Is the ASICS Gel-Contend 10 good for walking?

Yes, and walking is where it makes the most sense. Walking loads a shoe far more gently than running does, so the weight that holds it back on a run barely registers when you are strolling, and the GEL insert under the heel is aimed squarely at the part of the step walkers feel most. Add the soft AMPLIFOAM PLUS foam and you have a comfortable everyday shoe.

The width range is what really makes the case. If your feet are broad, swell through the day or need room for a bunion, the 4E option is a rare thing at this price and it matters more to walking comfort than any amount of foam. For a full shift standing on concrete, a deeper-cushioned shoe will still feel better after eight hours, but for errands, travel days and a few miles at a time this is a sensible, inexpensive pick that also takes a thin orthotic without complaint. If you use an insert, our guide to insoles and shoe inserts explains the main types and where each makes sense.

ASICS Gel-Contend 10 vs. ASICS Gel-Contend 9

Here is how the two generations compare:

Buy the Gel-Contend 10 when you want the extra foam, the cleaner upper or the wider width options, all of which make it a better walking shoe than the 9.

Buy the Gel-Contend 9 when you find it heavily discounted and you liked the firmer feel. Just be aware you are giving up the extra cushioning that makes the newer one nicer on hard floors.

ASICS Gel-Contend 10 Alternatives

If the Gel-Contend’s weight is what puts you off but you want to stay with ASICS, the Gel-Cumulus 26 is the natural move. It is a proper daily trainer with far more foam under both ends of the foot and a much lighter build, so it stays comfortable over the distances where the Contend starts to drag. It costs roughly twice as much, which is the honest trade.

Sticking to a similar budget, the Brooks Revel 9 is lighter and noticeably more planted, with a wide, firm base that suits anyone who feels unsteady rather than uncushioned. It is a firmer shoe overall, so it is the better choice if you like knowing what surface you are on.

For the cheapest option of all, the Saucony Cohesion 19 undercuts the Contend and puts its money into a tough outsole and a tall heel that flatters people who land heel first. There is far less foam under the front of the foot, so it only works if your walking and running are both gentle.

• ASICS Gel-Cumulus 26: the lighter, deeper-cushioned ASICS for anyone actually running regular miles (check price | read review).
• Brooks Revel 9: a lighter, firmer budget shoe with a broad and very steady base (check price).
• Saucony Cohesion 19: the cheapest of the three, with a hard-wearing sole and a tall heel that suits heel strikers (check price).

Price and value

At ASICS’ $80 list price, the Gel-Contend 10 buys real cushioning, a GEL heel insert and a width range that runs to 4E. Judged as everyday and walking footwear that is strong value, and the widths alone make it worth knowing about for anyone who has struggled to find a shoe that fits. Judged as a running shoe it is less convincing, because the weight puts a low ceiling on how far you will want to go in it. Buy it for the walking and treat the running as a bonus.

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Final verdict

Best for: walkers, people who want one comfortable everyday sneaker and anyone with broad feet who needs a wide or extra-wide fitting without spending much.

Avoid if: you run regularly, you need support for feet that roll inward, or you want a light and lively shoe.

Fit: true to size on a conventional ASICS shape, with standard, wide and 4E in men’s and standard and wide in women’s.

Verdict: the extra foam has turned the Gel-Contend from a shoe you tolerated into one you can recommend, so long as you are buying it to walk in rather than to train in. Check the latest price.

Frequently Asked Questions for ASICS Gel-Contend 10