Asics Gel-Contend 10 Review

Don't let the low price or plain-Jane styling fool you. Though the Asics Gel-Contend 10 is constructed with lower-quality materials compared to other premium walking shoes, it achieves an impressive balance across all of our testing metrics. That's because it doesn't try to be anything more than it is — a high-value, simple walking shoe.

Comfort

The Asics Gel-Contend 10 feels somewhat flat under your foot, but strides have been made to improve its comfort. Compared to the previous model, Asics added 2 mm of foam to the midsole. While that may not sound significant, we tried on both pairs one after the other, and the extra cushion is noticeable.

The Gel-Contend 10 midsole is comprised of the brand's Amplifoam+. All in all, it's a rather uninspiring foam. There's no real energy return to encourage your foot forward to its next step, and there's not much underlying structure giving it much of a shape. It's just kind of there, but it's more comfortable than standing directly on pavement.

However, the “gel” in the Gel-Contend 10 is in reference to the gel cushioning that lies in wait underneath the heel to absorb your foot's impact with the ground. And it does absorb heel strike shock decently well. Again, there's no bounce back or guidance provided, but the step is made more comfortable thanks to its existence.

It's also a relatively easy-to-use shoe, given how simple it is. The laces and lacing eyelets are standard for a budget shoe. The engineered mesh uppers are a bit rough, but impressively breathable.

Of note, the whole putting them on and taking them off process is a bit clunky, but not more so than any other budget shoe would be. The tongue isn't gusseted, so it sags into the shoe when the laces are loosened. Also, the heel tab isn't very pronounced, nor is there a finger loop or anything else to grab onto so you can yank the shoe onto your foot. You'll have to settle for shoving your fingers inside to help your foot slide in.

Support

Unlike shoes that incorporate rigid plastics and dense pockets of foam or rocking horse-like rockers, the Gel-Contend 10's support comes from its simplicity. It doesn't provide much structural assistance in the traditional sense.

We previously mentioned how the shoe feels “flat” regarding comfort, but that plays as a strength regarding stability and support. The shoe simply sits relatively flat, and the low-drama platform, with its sizeable 4.9-inch width, provides a solid base for your footing.

We measured a relatively high 10 mm heel-to-toe drop, which is enough of a lean from the back to the front of your foot to nudge you forward ever so slightly. Paired with the modestly rockered design, with just a touch of upward outsole angle at the toe and heel, the guidance this shoe provides is gentle — like a whisper.

But despite that heel drop and rocker shape existing, you don't really feel them. Though, you don't feel much of any support. There's no design architecture really preventing lateral movements, so those who overpronate or supinate won't find the support they need to correct their improper foot movements.

Durability

We didn't experience any noteworthy damage or wear during our testing period, which is encouraging. Generally, the Asics Gel-Contend 10 should hold up well for its price, but we do have some material and construction quality concerns.

The outsole rubber overlay feels relatively durable itself, though a lot of the midsole foam is exposed. Rocks or other loose materials may easily damage these unprotected sections of the outsole. It's nice that the outsole rubber does fold up over the front of the shoe to the toe box, but coverage there is minimal. So be careful not to kick rocks, either.

As for the uppers, the middling-quality jacquard knit material is fairly abrasion resistant, and it is further protected in areas that may see more abrasion by the logo overlay. The lacing eyelets are reinforced, but only by the same overlay material as the mesh — not a harder plastic or rubber often seen on more premium shoes. No specific weak points pop out, but overall the quality is on par with the price of the shoe.

Traction

As we tested the Asics Gel-Contend 10, we walked across many different indoor materials, such as tile, hard carpet, and wood floors, as well as outdoor terrains like gravel and dirt trails. Traction proved better on flat, even surfaces.

The outsole has a little bit of depth and tread segmentation to it, but not much. It can handle well-maintained gravel paths and hard-packed dirt, but you'll want to avoid anything rougher than that.

But this is really more of a pavement and linoleum type of shoe. Grip was pretty strong across these surfaces when we went to the mall, movie theater, grocery store, and other such daily-errand type of locations. Wet grip isn't all that great, though, so make sure to steer clear of any bright yellow janitor triangles.

Weight

The Gel-Contend 10 gained a little weight over its previous version — 1.03 ounces per shoe by our measurements. That's primarily due to the added midsole foam that increased the comfort in the latest model.

Our men's 10.5 shoes weighed in at 10.99 ounces each. That's fairly typical of most of the top walking shoes out there, and is delightfully light for a wallet-friendly shoe. Usually, the lower-quality materials used in budget shoes are thicker and heavier, so the fact that Asics kept the Gel-Contend as light as they did is appreciated.

Should You Buy the Asics Gel-Contend 10?

If price is your primary concern, then the Asics Gel-Contend 10 is a sure bet. It's a well-rounded, capable shoe that impresses for its price. But it's not the most comfortable, most supportive, or most durable — if you desire more from your shoe, there are certainly better options to consider.

What Other Men's Walking Shoes Should You Consider?

For those wanting to stick to a budget, the Under Armour Charged+ Assert 11 is worth a look at. This shoe is priced similarly to the Gel-Contend 10, but offers enhanced comfort and durability, though it's a little less stable. But if you can afford it, the Altra Experience Flow 3 is an upgrade that's on an entirely different level with vastly superior comfort and support.