The Gel-Contend 8 running shoe provides excellent cushioning for runners seeking a combination of durability and support.
The Gel-Contend 8 running shoe provides excellent cushioning for runners seeking a combination of durability and support.
The Gel-Contend 8 running shoe provides excellent cushioning for runners seeking a combination of durability and support.
The Gel-Contend 8 running shoe provides excellent cushioning for runners seeking a combination of durability and support.
Last updated at 01/31/2026 15:51:36
originally posted on asics.com
I've owned three pairs of these sneakers, which I've used for running/jogging, walking, the gym, and everyday wear around town. Although less cushioned than higher priced shoes, I actually prefer the lower stack height and firmer ride as I have a weak ankle that sometimes starts to roll a bit and get achy with shoes that have softer mid-soles, higher stack height (esp. in the heel), and/or lack stability.For me these shoes have been really stable, comfortable, and versatile. I've worn these shoes for a variety of runs (easy runs, strides, long runs, and some speed work) and walks (up to 9 miles) on different surfaces (trails, treadmill, but mainly pavement) and they've worked fine. I also find them to be stable enough to do heavy squats and lunges in at the gym. ... MoreI've owned three pairs of these sneakers, which I've used for running/jogging, walking, the gym, and everyday wear around town. Although less cushioned than higher priced shoes, I actually prefer the lower stack height and firmer ride as I have a weak ankle that sometimes starts to roll a bit and get achy with shoes that have softer mid-soles, higher stack height (esp. in the heel), and/or lack stability.For me these shoes have been really stable, comfortable, and versatile. I've worn these shoes for a variety of runs (easy runs, strides, long runs, and some speed work) and walks (up to 9 miles) on different surfaces (trails, treadmill, but mainly pavement) and they've worked fine. I also find them to be stable enough to do heavy squats and lunges in at the gym. They're really breathable and fairly lightweight.I just wish they had more durable mesh in the upper and slighter harder, more durable rubber in the outsole. These were two areas that experienced premature wear on the first pair of these that I owned.These shoes seem fairly "true to size" and standard in their sizing. I have a men's "size 10.9, width C" (slightly narrow) foot and can wear these in either a 10.5 or 11 (Medium, Standard, "D" width) but the size 11 gives my toes plenty of extra room so that's what I wear currently.
originally posted on asics.com
Very good quality shoe for the money its a great value for someone looking for a serious running shoe and cant afford anything better. The greatest thing abot it is I beleive this shoe is going to be the best your going to get for this money compared to everything else at the same price. This is a good training and conditioning shoe that is light enough to race in if you had to but of course there is better more expensive options out there for a race shoe. I rate this shoe 5 stars especially for the value you get out of this one. What I like most about it is the classic look of the shoe that is not over the top crazy looking like a lot of other shoes out there are.
originally posted on asics.com
Decent shoes at this price point, but the Gel-Contend line is getting slightly less well made with each new generation. I still have some 5s and they seem more substantial than these even though they're a few years old now. One major place I notice it is in the tongue, it seems thinner now and doesn't seem quite as wide either. Because of this, when the laces are fairly tight, the Gel-Contend 8 is less comfortable than the Gel-Contend 5. I hope this trend of cost cutting the construction to maintain a price point doesn't continue much more, I'd rather have the price go up some if it means keeping the quality of the materials and construction high.
| Clasp type | Laced up |
| Type of surface | hard |
| Foot type | neutral |
I've owned three pairs of these sneakers, which I've used for running/jogging, walking, the gym, and everyday wear around town. Although less cushioned than higher priced shoes, I actually prefer the lower stack height and firmer ride as I have a weak ankle that sometimes starts to roll a bit and get achy with shoes that have softer mid-soles, higher stack height (esp. in the heel), and/or lack stability.For me these shoes have been really stable, comfortable, and versatile. I've worn these shoes for a variety of runs (easy runs, strides, long runs, and some speed work) and walks (up to 9 miles) on different surfaces (trails, treadmill, but mainly pavement) and they've worked fine. I also find them to be stable enough to do heavy squats and lunges in at the gym. ... MoreI've owned three pairs of these sneakers, which I've used for running/jogging, walking, the gym, and everyday wear around town. Although less cushioned than higher priced shoes, I actually prefer the lower stack height and firmer ride as I have a weak ankle that sometimes starts to roll a bit and get achy with shoes that have softer mid-soles, higher stack height (esp. in the heel), and/or lack stability.For me these shoes have been really stable, comfortable, and versatile. I've worn these shoes for a variety of runs (easy runs, strides, long runs, and some speed work) and walks (up to 9 miles) on different surfaces (trails, treadmill, but mainly pavement) and they've worked fine. I also find them to be stable enough to do heavy squats and lunges in at the gym. They're really breathable and fairly lightweight.I just wish they had more durable mesh in the upper and slighter harder, more durable rubber in the outsole. These were two areas that experienced premature wear on the first pair of these that I owned.These shoes seem fairly "true to size" and standard in their sizing. I have a men's "size 10.9, width C" (slightly narrow) foot and can wear these in either a 10.5 or 11 (Medium, Standard, "D" width) but the size 11 gives my toes plenty of extra room so that's what I wear currently.
Very good quality shoe for the money its a great value for someone looking for a serious running shoe and cant afford anything better. The greatest thing abot it is I beleive this shoe is going to be the best your going to get for this money compared to everything else at the same price. This is a good training and conditioning shoe that is light enough to race in if you had to but of course there is better more expensive options out there for a race shoe. I rate this shoe 5 stars especially for the value you get out of this one. What I like most about it is the classic look of the shoe that is not over the top crazy looking like a lot of other shoes out there are.
Decent shoes at this price point, but the Gel-Contend line is getting slightly less well made with each new generation. I still have some 5s and they seem more substantial than these even though they're a few years old now. One major place I notice it is in the tongue, it seems thinner now and doesn't seem quite as wide either. Because of this, when the laces are fairly tight, the Gel-Contend 8 is less comfortable than the Gel-Contend 5. I hope this trend of cost cutting the construction to maintain a price point doesn't continue much more, I'd rather have the price go up some if it means keeping the quality of the materials and construction high.
I am picky with shoes, but hey, I'm in my 40s now, and life is just too short to spend any time wearing shoes that make me even the slightest bit unhappy.Here is what is important to me, more or less in order of priority: a flexible upper that does NOT dig into the top of my foot when it bends with my steps (it's shocking how many shoes do this—does that go away after breaking them in? I prefer not to bother trying to find out), at least some arch support, wide enough for my wide feet, breathable, overall comfort, good look/style (not too flashy, ideally something mostly neutral with some accents), able to slip on and off without tying/untying, the tongue doesn't slide too far to the side, holds heel in place, good for walking/everyday use (not for running; I work ... MoreI am picky with shoes, but hey, I'm in my 40s now, and life is just too short to spend any time wearing shoes that make me even the slightest bit unhappy.Here is what is important to me, more or less in order of priority: a flexible upper that does NOT dig into the top of my foot when it bends with my steps (it's shocking how many shoes do this—does that go away after breaking them in? I prefer not to bother trying to find out), at least some arch support, wide enough for my wide feet, breathable, overall comfort, good look/style (not too flashy, ideally something mostly neutral with some accents), able to slip on and off without tying/untying, the tongue doesn't slide too far to the side, holds heel in place, good for walking/everyday use (not for running; I work in an office but some of my work requires a lot of standing and walking and hauling equipment), lightweight.I usually have two pairs of shoes I alternate between each day. After three years of the same two pairs of shoes, it was finally time to find some more.I set my budget at a maximum of one hundred twenty dollars for each pair.Over the past few weeks, I tried 20 different pairs of shoes. Of those 20, only three were acceptable, and from there I narrowed it down to two: this Asics Gel Contend 8 (size 11 extra wide), and another pair from a different brand from a different website.The sole is cushiony. These shoes are very lightweight and breathable—I owned a pair of Asics a bunch of years ago, and I got sick of how non-breathable those were, but this pair is great. Basically, this shoe checks all of my boxes and I'm very pleasantly surprised at how much less they cost compared to other shoes.My only potential qualms are that there seemed to be a mild imperfection in the left heel that made it so I could feel the edge where the insole met the material under it, but that seems to be going away as I wear them more and I'm no longer concerned. Also, there's a bubble of heel support that is maybe a little aggressive for my usage (sitting at a desk 80% of the time), but it's certainly not enough to steer me away, and I'm guessing it would feel good for a runner. Also, the tongue slips a tiny bit to the side, but, again, not enough to be an issue or even feel it when it's happened.In order to be able to slip them on and off without tying/untying, I unlaced it from the top lace. I was worried this would make them feel too loose, but no, they stay in place just fine.I only just barely made my final decision two days ago and took them out on the town for the first time today. It went very well. So, you're not getting an "I've worn these for six months and here's my report" review from me here, but I hope someone out there still finds value in this. I recommend you give these a try.
Finally found my sneakers.I had midfoot fusion on right foot. Left is close to needing done. Been searching over a year. I tried all the brands Brooks, New Balance, Hoka, and on and on. Went through three other styles of Asics. I found out you don't need to spend a fortune the Contend 8 X-Wide was what I needed all along. I own four pairs just to switch it up and they feel great. I did add a Dr Scholls no sock insert on top of other inserts, just do to my feet difference's from surgery. Shoes are top notch in my book.
I am a woman who wears a women's size 9.5, which is the equivalent of a men's 8. I tried on dozens of women's sneakers, determined to fins a pair I could use for long hikes without hurting my feet. As I walked through DSW, I saw these Asics. They are terrific! Plenty of padding, excellent support and wide toes. I love the mesh top , which allows me to wiggle my toes in every direction. I wore them for 8 hours or more, and my plantar fasciitis did not bother me.I will wear them a few more days, and probably order at least one more color.
I am a sneaker collector and bought a pair of Asics and it was shipped in a shipping bag instead of an outer box so the custom shoe box came destroyed. When I contacted Asics they had 3 or more different people emailing me the same message on the same thread despite me already sending them the story along with pictures but more associates just kept emailing me like it was the first response again. I asked about returning and if they would cover return shipping since it is a damaged product but they just sent me some generic information and avoided the question. It was super frustrating and I won't be buying from Asics again which is too bad because I been using Asics sneakesr for over 30 years. The organization has terrible customer service and the shoes themselves ... MoreI am a sneaker collector and bought a pair of Asics and it was shipped in a shipping bag instead of an outer box so the custom shoe box came destroyed. When I contacted Asics they had 3 or more different people emailing me the same message on the same thread despite me already sending them the story along with pictures but more associates just kept emailing me like it was the first response again. I asked about returning and if they would cover return shipping since it is a damaged product but they just sent me some generic information and avoided the question. It was super frustrating and I won't be buying from Asics again which is too bad because I been using Asics sneakesr for over 30 years. The organization has terrible customer service and the shoes themselves are not what they used to be. The tongue is super thin with minimal padding and it feels like there is minimal stability when wearing the shoe like I'm only wearing a sole. I know it sounds odd to be upset about a destroyed box but I could get that type of shipping from Amazon for half the price and for other sneaker collectors out there they will understand the box is a part of the overall product like the outer jacket that a vinyl music record comes in. It's just cheap, sloppy shipping practices to save money. I tried to work with them but it went nowhere so I'm leaving this review as an alternative.
Many moons ago, I bought the very first Gel Contends (2012 model) and remember finding them mostly fine, but too thinly cushioned. Looks like things haven't changed -- these Contend 8s felt comfortable enough in the store, but I soon found out they don't cut it for serious use. I went on a 10-mile walk and woke up the next day with something called Achilles Tendinitis, forcing me to visit a doctor, miss work, and limp around with a cane for days.If you're on a budget, I'd go with the Gel Venture instead (just a few dollars more), though I've had better experiences with their mid-range models like the GT-1000 and GT-2000.
I bought a pair of these last week at a local FF store. I tried them on for size in a 9.5. , and the fit seemed good. After getting them home, I started looking more closely at them and found the construction/assembly to be very sloppy. The toe cap overlays were cut in different shapes, the side graphics weren't correctly aligned, and the molded rubber trim along the bottom edges weren't the same width. I returned them the next day. I've owned several Asics over the years and always loved them. Quality has gone drastically downhill since then. Very cheap-looking shoes!
I've never spent a lot of money on shoes. I'm so glad i bought these. They weren't as expensive as I thought they would be. I tried on several different pair that day, expecting to pay well over $100. I was very surprised to find the most comfortable pair were in the middle of the price range. These shoes are so very comfortable. And they look great! There aren't any wild colors or gimmicks. Just a really comfortable shoe.
| Clasp type | Laced up |
| Type of surface | hard |
| Foot type | neutral |
