Comments: This shoe is for someone who has flat feet and best for race walking. That is how I found this shoe selection, so others will have some problems with this shoe.
From: Will, Detroit, MI, USA
Comments: Incredible shoe! Passed the acid-test for a racing flat. A thick-legged guy w/ narrow, high-arched feet, I had badly botched heel-spur surgery in '05 that permanently damaged L heel nerves. I re-habbed slowly to start running again in '09 and only got back to serious racing again this past year while torching off 60 lbs. My scarred foot is VERY picky; 90% of shoes I can't even WALK in without serious pain, even with my orthotics. As a trainer, Nike Structure works nicely but I couldn't find a good racer - until now.Even at Clydesdale weight, track work feels great in Tarthers. Ran Shamrock 8K under 32 minutes, just did 12:05 in an Army fitness test yesterday and even managed a HM under 1:40 through heat and hills in January. Horrified they are discontinuing; I'm hoarding 4 pair today.
From: Tom, Carlisle, PA, USA
Comments: Out of the box I found this shoe as comfortable as I have found any. Although I've been a runner for quit a while, I'm 46 and have to be careful about running in a minimalist shoe, but with the Tarther no problems so far. Its fast, with great feel, yet my foot and legs still feel protected and not beat up after a run. Although I haven't yet, I see no issue with using this shoe for a up coming 13.1. As far as longevity, that I will have to wait and see.
From: Andrew, Lockport, LA, USA
Comments: Great shoe which I have logged about 170 miles. Very light but still provides support. Unfortunate they are discontinuing.
From: Mark, OK, USA
Comments: I just got my first pair of these only to discover that Asics is discontinuing this model in the US. I've used the shoe a couple times on maintenance runs of 12 miles each time. The shoe felt like it was part of my foot which allowed me to just run. It's a little softer than the adios in the forefoot and about the same in the heel. Overall I've been quite pleased with the shoe but am not sure if someone of my weight (165-170 lbs) could push this shoe much beyond a 1/2 marathon? I was originally thinking of running a full marathon in these but the firmness of the adios is more to my liking for a longer run like a marathon. The bottom of the shoe has a similar tread pattern to the adios but the material is quite different. I'm guessing that I will get about 225-280 miles out of these shoes which is similar to what I get for the adios, green silence, and the nike lunaracer and lunaracer 2.
From: Jeremy, Carmel, CA, USA
Comments: Best pair of flats I have ever owned! Every time I wear these shoes I feel like I am flying down the roads and trails. I would highly recommend buying this shoe if you wear any type of asics trainer. Also, I have Achilles problems, like the person who commented below, (I would like to say thank you for that person because that comment helped me make my decision to buy these shoes) and I have to say, I have not felt any strain on my Achilles! On top of all that, the price makes me love the shoes even more. Can't wait for my second pair to arrive!
From: Evan, CA, USA
Comments: great shoe and often overlooked. Fantastic cushion to weight ratio and holds up well at marathon distance. I ran the 2011 Boston Marathon in them and re-qualified in them. The responsive cushion isn't as mushy as some racers yet offers more
protection than most of the others. I have tried most of the other shoes in this category and each racer has it's positives but the Tarther to me was the best choice.
From: Don, Wisconsin, USA
Comments: I had a similar experience as James from CA. After 30 miles I couldn't even walk in the shoes due to the "beveling". Fortunately I purchased them from Rogue Running in Austin, TX. They understood my discomfort and replaced the shoes, no questions asked.
From: Matt, TX, USA
Comments: I'm on my second pair of Tarthers, after ~400miles on the first pair. I'm a flat-footed midfoot striker, though I weaken to heel-striking after 15 mile mark, which makes the modest cushioning in these relatively light shoes appreciated. My favorite feature of these shoes is the sole material, which is a composite of a hard coating over a soft substrate. This sole allows the foot to skip along a paved surface, rather than stick and cause a stumble -- which seems a small thing, but beneficial for marathons. These also fit my feet well: thin heel and big toe box for toe splay, so no blisters. These are a bit heavier than the hyperspeeds and VFFs that I've also run in, but only for short distance training.
From: Chris, Portola Valley, CA, USA
Comments: Overall, a well made shoe. Pros include nice weight, and ample cushioning, especially in the heel. However, I found a few things I disliked about this shoe. I've realized that I have normal arches, and thus can usually get away with almost any shoe. Nonetheless, my feet tend to be a little more linear than some shoes, resulting in a slightly off fit, as is the case here. Not only did I dislike the fit, but being a forefoot striker I appreciate sufficient cushioning in the forefoot, which seemed a bit lacking here. To add injury to my complaints, since using them, I've struggled with a bit of Achilles pain, and sockless (whichI prefer), I ended up with blisters. The worst thing, however, I've saved for last. Perhaps it was a defect, but I found that my pair were actually a bit "beveled" in the sense that the medial outsole sloped away from the ground, while the lateral side seemed flatter and more stable. Standing in them, this resulted in an imbalance, such that I felt I was actually being FORCED to pronate - a purely uncomfortable situation. So, though I had high hopes
From: James, CA, USA
Comments: I've used this shoe since the spring as a trainer (I'm on my second pair as of early October). I both supinate and pronate (my arch collapses a bit) on one foot and I've had a very hard time finding a pair of shoes that work for me (I've gone through dozens the past few years since my knee started hurting). For me, too much cushioning strains my knee, but too little (like the hyperspeed) just slams up my knees. These shoes have worked the best. They are light and fast so that my stride is fluid (so that I feel like I'm running, not plodding), they have control, and yet they have enough cushioning and support that they work for me. I've gotten about 250-300 miles off of a pair. They fit to size and they are relatively inexpensive. I would very much recommend them.
From: RD, Bloomington, IN, USA
Comments: Just wish to echo the previous comment. I'm a high-arched neutral-supinator who find most 'performance trainer' shoes too substantial and most racing flats too insubstantial for daily trainer, but the Tarther seems to have struck the right balance.
From: Anonymous, USA
Comments: Great shoe! I was using the Asics Hyperspeed for my training. But, the heel is a bit low, causing some strain on my
Achilles. Also, it's a bit too firm for daily training. The Tarther has just enough responsive shock absorption and heel
height to effectively deal with my over-supination. Thanks Asics for bringing the Tarther to the United States. Please
keep it around.
From: Anonymous
