ASICS Gel Resolution 8 Women's Review

Comfort - Score: 4.3

With the addition of FlyteFoam cushioning to the midsole, the Asics Gel Resolution 8s tested well on court. Our playtesters are no strangers to the Gel Resolution family. Michelle has been lucky enough to playtest many of this update's predecessors. She said, "I remember I had some break-in issues with the previous version. I often get numb toes and rubbing at the ankle collar in brand-new Gel Resolutions. Luckily, none of those problems manifested here, and the 8s instantly felt great on my feet without any weird rubbing or numbness. The addition of FlyteFoam was welcomed, and these shoes had that signature responsive, plush feel underfoot. The uppers fit just right for my medium-width feet and felt supportive and comfortable. They were breathable as well. I really have no complaints at all in this department. I was impressed and happy with this long-awaited update!"

Like Michelle, Brittany has plenty of experience with this line of shoes. She added, "Having playtested several generations of the Gel Resolution over the past 10 years, I had a general idea of what to expect with this update. Other playtesters in the office got early samples of the shoes, so I had heard a lot of positives. I was worried they might have hyped up the shoes too much, but I can gleefully say the 8s lived up to their reputation. I did have a break-in period on my very first wear, but I was expecting this. Somewhere between hours one and two I had an 'ahhhhh' moment, when I felt like the shoes broke in and started to mold around my feet. The cushioning underfoot is plush and responsive without feeling clunky. The fit is a snug medium, which was perfect for my narrow feet, and the arch support hit in just the right spot. However, I was taking the shoes off pretty soon after completing my hit since they ran a little warm."

Our resident wide-footed playtester, Tiffani, also had a break-in period before her pair fully adapted to her feet. She said, "I took a break from the line with the Gel Resolution 7 because it felt a bit too narrow for me. With the Gel Resolution 8s, the fit felt slim through the forefoot, but the uppers opened up some after I hit in them for a couple of hours. After that initial break-in period, I didn't have any issues with comfort on the court, but I would need to take them off once I was done playing because I felt them squeezing my feet in the toe box. I wish I had the opportunity to test the wide version since these fit me better. As is generally the case, I liked the soft and responsive feel of the cushioning underfoot. The shoes are a bit stiff out of the box, so it took a couple of hours for the arch support to mold to my feet and for the shoes to gain a good heel-to-toe flex. I thought these shoes felt about average when it came to ventilation."

Foot Support/Stability - Score: 4.6

The Gel Resolution 8s scored top marks with our team in the support and stability category. Brittany had high expectations for this category and was not disappointed. She said, "Whenever I think of a Gel Resolution, I think of high support and stability; the eighth generation is no exception. My feet fit inside the shoes really nicely, and there wasn't any extra room inside for them to move around. I did use the extra eyelet to get my heels locked in place. The true test of how a shoe performs for me occurs a couple of hours after a hitting session. If my ankles are not sore or stiff, the shoes have enough stability. I can happily say that the Resolutions met my needs in this area."

"These shoes are top of the class in the support and stability department," continued Tiffani. "I did use the last eyelet to shore up the fit around the ankle. I laced it through even before I hit the court to play since it's something I do with all Asics shoes. Once laced up, I didn't look back. I was always confident moving laterally, and my feet were securely held in place, so I had no issues with toe jamming or moving around inside the shoes."

Michelle agreed with the other playtesters. She said, "The Gel Resolutions are known for their high levels of support and stability, and this version keeps that heritage going. I loved feeling confident when moving aggressively in these shoes. I felt locked in from the very first hit, and I remained supported and stable even after the shoes opened up some."

Overall Sole Durability - Score: 4.6

Another standout feature of the Asics Gel Resolution 8s was durability, both in the outsole and toe areas. Tiffani was impressed. She explained, "These shoes come with a six-month durability guarantee that I don't think I'll need. Living up to their reputation, the Gel Resolution 8s are more than durable enough for my needs. These shoes show minimal wear after 10 hours on the hard courts, and the toes appear more durable than I recall."

Brittany put more than 10 hours on these shoes. She said, "Most of the time I was doing singles drills and moving a lot on a gritty indoor court. Just like past versions, these Resolutions held up really well, both sole and toe. If I had to inspect the shoes under a microscope, I might see a little bit of smoothing under the big toe on my right foot. Otherwise, I have plenty of life left in these shoes, and the six-month outsole durability guarantee is the cherry on top."

After a month-long playtest, Michelle only saw slight wear. She said, "I was excited to put these shoes on and give them a true durability test. I saw some solid smoothing on my outsoles, mainly around the big toe and pivot areas, but that is to be expected after a month of serious wear. Plus, there aren't that many shoes that come with an outsole durability guarantee anymore, so that was a welcome feature."

Traction - Score: 4.3

Our playtesters appreciated that the Gel Resolution 8s held onto the best aspects of the line's traction while improving the formula where needed. Michelle described, "I like that Asics hasn't drastically changed the outsole pattern in these shoes. I know a lot of other companies have been playing around with new patterns, and I enjoy the integrity of the Gel Resolution outsole and what it offers. I never slipped in these shoes, and they held me upright for the entire playtest. They offered the right blend of traction for someone like me, who doesn't slide into her shots but still lands hard and pushes off strong to get to the next shot."

Tiffani had rave reviews when it came to the Gel Resolution 8's outsole, even noting some improvements. She said, "One complaint I've had in the past with Asics shoes is a really squeaky outsole. The Gel Resolution 8s were not perfectly quiet, but it was a definite improvement over the Court FF 2s. I also appreciated the blend of traction I got from the outsole. I was pivoting out of my shots nicely and stopping when I wanted, so I'm once again pleased with the performance."

Brittany was in the same boat. She said, "The modified herringbone tread pattern did a great job of helping me feel connected to the court and trusting my movement. It achieved the delicate combination of being grippy for most of my movements but having that little give when I needed it on an out-wide ball. I will note that like a lot of other Asics shoes, they are a little squeaky."

Weight - Score: 3.9

Though they weighed slightly more than the previous iteration, the Asics Gel Resolution 8s still felt just right to our playtesters — not too minimal and not too bulky. Even though Brittany generally prefers lightweight shoes, she appreciated the weight of the Gel Resolution 8s. She said, "The Resolution series has never been in the lightweight category, and I don't expect it to be. With this iteration, the weight is correctly distributed throughout the shoe. Although they don't feel light, they don't feel clunky or heavy. I moved seamlessly in them, and I never felt slowed down."

Michelle found the weight to line up with her expectations. She said, "In all honesty, I didn't find these to be too heavy or too light. They felt just like a Gel Resolution usually feels on my feet. I never felt weighed down, but this shoe definitely isn't as quick as a Solution Speed. There was enough weight to hold up in terms of stability."

Tiffani's comments echoed the other playtesters. She added, "These Gel Resolution 8s don't feel super light around the court, but they're not necessarily meant to, either. With the durability, support and stability offered, the weight in these shoes is warranted. They feel streamlined and quick for such protective shoes."

Overall - Score: 4.5