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Glideride Max 2
Max-cushion rocker trainer for smooth protected long miles.
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Price history
Our verdict
The Glideride Max 2 is Asics at its most protective: a max-cushion road running shoe with a big 46mm heel and an aggressive rocker built to roll you through easy miles when your legs have nothing left to give. At 261g it is not light for the class, and it never pretends to be a speed tool. What it does is soak up impact and keep you moving with minimal effort, which is exactly what you want on a recovery day or the back half of a long run. The 6mm drop and tall stack put you high off the ground, so the ride feels smooth and floaty rather than snappy. At £225 it sits at the premium end of the daily-trainer market, and you are paying for maximum protection over versatility. We rate it as a specialist. If you run high mileage and want one shoe to guard your joints, this earns its place. If you want a do-everything trainer, look lower down the range or at the Superblast 3.
Key features
- Max-cushion 46mm stackSoaks up impact on long runs and protects your legs when your form starts to fade
- Aggressive rocker geometryRolls you smoothly through toe-off so your calves and ankles do less work over the miles
- Wide, planted baseKeeps a tall shoe feeling stable and secure underfoot on straight roads
- 6mm dropSits low enough to feel natural while keeping plenty of protective foam under the forefoot
- Plush padded upperWraps your foot in comfort and stays hot-spot free even after a couple of hours
Who it suits
Who should buy it
- High-mileage runners who want maximum joint protection on easy days
- Recovery runs where you want to take load off tired legs
- The back half of long runs when your form starts to break down
- Neutral runners after a soft, protective daily cruiser
Who should not buy it
- You want one versatile shoe that can also handle tempo and fast work
- You are on a budget, as £225 buys a lot of shoe elsewhere
- You need genuine pronation control and medial support
- You prefer a low, connected ride with plenty of ground feel
Best uses
Extra information
Fit & sizing
The Glideride Max 2 runs true to size for most runners, so order your usual Asics size and you should be set. The fit is a standard medium width: secure through the midfoot with a moderate toe box that gives your toes room to splay without feeling sloppy. The heel hold is firm and the collar is well padded, so lockdown at the back is reliable even on longer efforts. If you have a wider foot you may find the forefoot a touch snug once your feet swell late in a run, and there is no wide version to fall back on, so try before you commit if width is a known issue for you. Runners between sizes should stick to the smaller of the two, as the upper has a little give and the shoe holds better when it is not swimming. For a roomier front end, the Gel Nimbus 28 is the safer pick.
Performance breakdown
Ride & feel
This is a smooth, rolling ride rather than a lively one. The tall stack and pronounced rocker do the work, tipping you forward through each step so your calves and ankles do less. On easy runs it feels protective and almost effortless, and that is the whole point. Try to pick up the pace and the shoe pushes back a little. The height and weight mean it does not turn over quickly, and it never feels sharp or fast underfoot. Hold an easy to steady effort and it comes into its own. The higher you climb off the ground the more you trade ground feel for cushioning, and here you get very little road feedback in exchange for a lot of protection. For most easy miles that is a trade worth making.
Cushioning
Cushioning is the headline here and it delivers. With a 46mm heel and 40mm forefoot the Glideride Max 2 sits at the deep end of the max-cushion class, and the payoff is genuine impact protection late in a run when your form is fading. The foam feels soft and forgiving without collapsing into total mush, so you still get some structure to push against. This is a shoe that shines when you are tired: the deeper into a long run you go, the more you appreciate how much it takes off your legs. It is not a bouncy, energetic foam that returns energy at pace, so do not expect it to make you faster. Expect it to let you run longer with less damage.
Stability
The Glideride Max 2 is a neutral shoe, so there is no medial post or dedicated support structure for overpronation. That said, the very wide base and the sidewalls that cradle your foot give it a planted, stable feel for a shoe sitting this high off the ground. Tall stacks can feel tippy, and while this one manages the height well on straight roads, you will notice some sway on cambered surfaces or sharp corners. If you are a neutral runner it holds you securely through the gait cycle. If you need real pronation control, this is not the shoe: look to a dedicated stability trainer like the Gel Kayano 33 instead.
Upper & comfort
The upper is built for comfort on long efforts. A soft engineered mesh wraps the foot with enough structure to hold shape while breathing reasonably well for a max-cushion shoe. The tongue and collar are generously padded, so hot spots and lace bite are rare even after a couple of hours on your feet. The heel counter is firm and holds well without digging in. Breathability is good rather than exceptional, so in peak summer heat your feet will feel it, but for typical UK conditions the ventilation is more than enough. Overall it is a plush, forgiving upper that matches the protective intent of the shoe underneath.
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FAQ
Specifications
| Category | Max Cushion |
| Surface | Road |
| Drop | 6mm |
| Heel Stack | 46mm |
| Forefoot Stack | 40mm |
| Weight | 261g |
| Carbon Plated | No |
| Stability | No |