Asics Gel Venture 9 'Graphite Grey Spice Latte'
Colorway: Graphite Grey/Spice Latte · Style code: 1011B486-021 · Release date: January 2023 · Price: $2682 · Availability: Available now
More colorways: Asics Gel Venture 9 'Triple Black' (1011B486-001) · Asics Gel Venture 9 'Black Blue Sage' (1011B486-002) · Asics Gel Venture 9 'Black Lime Zest' (1011B486-003) · Asics Gel Venture 9 'Black Illuminate Mint' (1011B486-008) · ASICS GelVenture 9 Sneakers (1011B486-009)
The GEL-Venture is the ASICS trail shoe that has never pretended to be a racer. The ninth version weighs around 11.1 ounces and stands 33.3mm at the heel against 22.9mm at the forefoot, a steep drop of over 10mm that suits heel strikers and walkers more than it suits a light forefoot runner.
The midsole is AmpliFoam rather than any of the FlyteFoam or FF Blast compounds used higher in the range. It is soft and gentle underfoot with little rebound, which is the correct choice for the shoe's actual use: gravel paths, fire roads and hikes where comfort matters more than energy return. The outsole carries full-length rubber in multidirectional chevrons at 3mm depth, shallower than a dedicated trail shoe, trading mud grip for usable traction on hard-packed and mixed ground.
At around $80 it sits well under the usual asking price for a trail-capable shoe from a major brand, and the specification is honest about where that money went.