Asics Gel-DS Trainer 26 Shoe Review

Asics Gel-DS Trainer 26 shoe

image courtesy of RoadRunnerSports.com

The Asics Gel-DS Trainer 26 is now available! I have worn this shoe on and off over the last 15 years, which should tell you how I feel about this longstanding shoe from Asics. The shoe is great out of the box and great for most distances.

The changes to the latest version are mainly the upper portion of the shoe so if you are a fan of the previous version you like the DS Trainer 26’s. 

Sizing Recommendation: I would recommend ordering a 1/2 size up when buying the Gel-DS Trainer 26.

I was a huge fan of the bright yellow option, which was much better than the red Asics Gel-DS Trainer 25 shoes from last year. At the time of this review, there were four color options available.

Here are a few pictures of the Gel-DS Trainer 26 shoes.

Below are a few pros and cons of the DS Trainer 26 running shoe. They remain the same as the DS Trainer 25 shoe.

Pros Cons
  • Lightweight Stability
  • Responsive
  • Price (Retail $130)
  • Color Options
  • Sizing (Order 1/2 size up)

Asics Gel-DS Trainer 26 Verdict

Our Rating:
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Just like the DS Trainer 25, the Asics Gel-DS Trainer 26 continues to be an excellent choice for tempo runs, speed work, and racing. The updated knit upper is extremely comfortable, making it a shoe I plan to use for my next race.

The DS Trainer 26 continues to utilize the Flytefoam midsole making it lightweight and responsive. The shoe remains similar to the Asics Gel-DS Trainer 25, with the exception of the redesigned upper.

This Asics Gel-DS Trainer shoe continues to be value priced at $130. 

The DS Trainer 26 is a little lighter than last years model, making it feel even faster. While I wouldn’t wear this for my longer runs, you can certainly race in the DS Trainer 26 for distances up to the marathon.

If you are looking for a performance stability running shoe, give the Asics Gel-DS Trainer 26 a try.

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About the Asics Gel-DS Trainer 26

The DS Trainer shoes continues to be the ideal shoe for speed efforts and tempo runs, all for $130. Those shoe provides incredible value, but also enough stability and support right out of the box.

There aren’t many updates to this shoe compared to the Asics Gel-DS Trainer 25 other than the redesigned upper. I thought the DS Trainer 25 upper was a bit constricting while the upper on the DS Trainer 26 was comfortable with plenty of stability. Almost had a sock like feel with a bit of support.

The shoe continues to be an 8mm drop, which I prefer for faster efforts. Like previous versions of this shoe, the DS Trainer 26 continues to be great for races of all distances, from a 5k to a marathon.

Asics Gel-DS Trainer 26 Shoe Specifications

  • Weight: 8.5 oz (men’s size 9)
  • Shoe Type: Performance Stability
  • Stack Height: Heel (28mm), Forefoot (20mm)
  • Heel-To-Toe Drop: 8mm
  • Forefoot: Medium Width
  • Heel: Medium Width
  • Previous Model: Asics Gel-DS Trainer 25

Asics Gel-DS Trainer 26 Initial Thoughts

When I first opened the box, I immediately noticed how light these shoes were. The DS Trainer 25 shoes were light, but these felt a little lighter. Pair that with the bright yellow, I was excited to give these shoes a try.

The soft knit upper was soft and comfortable from the first time I put these on. The sole provided just enough support, making it great from the first step.

I first wore these on a 6-mile training run. As expected, these shoes felt comfortable, light, and really felt fast. For how light these are, they provide more support than you would expect, which is why I plan on wearing these for my next race.

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Asics Gel-DS Trainer 26 Sole

The sole for the Asics Gel-DS Trainer 26 did not change much from the previous version. The shoe continues to use a similar Flytefoam sole to Asics Gel-DS Trainer 25. These shoes also continue to utilize the standard DuoMax Support System and Impact Guidance System (IGS), which provides additional support for runners who overpronate.

The Propulsion Trusstic System helps promote toe-off movement, which all runners appreciate. The one thing to note is that these shoes have a vertical groove in the sole called Guidance Line. This improves gait efficiency and encourages a natural running movement.

The heel continues to have a high abrasion rubber compound designed to improve the durability of the sole. If you are used to some of the foam shoes, you will notice that the height of these soles are much lower than say Hoka, Adidas Boost, and New Balance foam shoes.

Below are a few pictures of the sole on the Asics DS Trainer 26 sole.

Asics Gel-DS Trainer 26 Upper

The upper part of the DS Trainer 26 similar, but different. The redesigned knit upper is comfortable, supportive, and breathes well. It is a one piece upper, but lighter than last years version.

If you compare the upper of the Asics Gel-DS Trainer 25 to the DS Trainer 26, you may not notice a big difference other than the thickness and weight of this part of the shoe. 

The updated knit upper is lighter than its predecessor, reducing the overall weight of the shoe.

The shoe continues to have a comfortable heel support and sleeve, something I was a big fan of with the DS Trainer 25. Overall the updates to the upper are minimal with a slight reduction in weight.

Below are a few pictures of the upper portion of the Asics DS Trainer 26.

Buy the Asics Gel-DS Trainer 26

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If you need help finding deals on this shoe, contact me!

Asics Gel-DS Trainer 26 Shoe Ratings

  • 9/10
    Overall Rating - 9/10
  • 9/10
    Upper - 9/10
  • 9/10
    Sole - 9/10
9/10

Asics Gel-DS Trainer 26 Feedback

Please provide any feedback or experiences you have while running in the Asics Gel-DS Trainer 26 running shoes by leaving a comment below or sending me a message.

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