GT-2160

The GT-2000 series

The ASICS GT-2000 series goes back as far as the 1990s, when it was introduced as an alternative to the Gel-Kayano. Like the shoes in that premium line, GT-2000 models were stability running trainers built for comfort and support. By the early 2010s, the series had established itself as a popular option for both sporting and everyday activities, while stylistically, it fit into the classic mesh-runner aesthetic which had been around since the turn of the millennium. The decade began with the respected GT-2150, and in spring 2011, the GT-2160 came out, but before even a year had gone by, this high-quality running shoe had been replaced by its successor, the GT-2170. However, although its original release was short-lived, the GT-2160 was not forgotten; it was merely awaiting its masterful return.

Early recommendations

The original GT-2160 was a well-crafted running shoe and the lightest member of the GT-2000 series at the time, coming in at a lower weight than even its much-heralded Gel-Kayano counterpart. Its overall design was most suited to mild and moderate overpronators, especially those with narrower or shallower feet. In fact, it was so good in this regard that some podiatrists recommended the shoe to their patients, both for simple elements like its seven pairs of eyelets, which allowed the wearer to achieve excellent lockdown, and for its more advanced features.

A high-tech sole unit

Most of the high-tech components on the GT-2160 could be found in its sole unit, whose DuoMax system combined two different types of EVA foam. A soft, compressible one was used in the forefoot and heel, where it was accompanied by plush Gel inserts for shock absorption, cushioning and comfort. Meanwhile, a firmer, non-compressible foam through the midfoot increased stability by preventing the arch from collapsing inwards, thus reducing overpronation. This effect was enhanced by the brand’s Space Trusstic System – a TPU shank spanning the arch of the foot to deliver torsional rigidity and prevent unnatural twisting during movement. Visible along the sides of the midsole, this component reached further up the sides of the women’s version to better support the shape of the female foot.

The Guidance Line

Many of these elements had been present on the GT-2150, but the GT-2160 had a new feature called the Guidance Line that allowed it to perform better than its highly regarded predecessor. Consisting of a deep groove running vertically through the centre of the forefoot and curving towards the medial toe, it mirrored the natural shape of the foot to encourage symbiotic movement and correct forefoot flexion. This seemingly simple component had several positive effects, improving fit, increasing comfort and easing stress on the joints.

Other supportive features

Yet more flex grooves emanated out laterally across the sole to create even more freedom of movement, and the whole structure was supported by a solid rubber outsole with a decoupled heel for powerful shock-absorption and a complex tread pattern for excellent traction. On its interior, the shoe’s ComfortDry sockliner had antimicrobial properties for added hygiene, and the plush memory foam around the heel produced top-level comfort, thus completing the shoe’s outstanding performance features.

A dynamic outer

The shoe’s upper boasted a base layer of lightweight, breathable mesh and durable synthetic overlays. Aesthetically, it was smooth and flowing, with curvaceous overlays sweeping across it and sleek ASICS stripes bringing a touch of elegance to the flanks. Arcing panels delivered durability and style to the toe and heel, where Gel text announced the brand’s distinctive cushioning. This was echoed by a crescent-shaped panel on the tongue with an ASICS logo in the centre, while the name of the model was proudly displayed on the lateral heel overlay, which itself created an intriguing effect, sloping downwards before visually transitioning into the midsole via a meandering line that curved back up to connect with the forefoot overlay. Here, the line cut back on itself, forming a dynamic arrow shape at the toe. More wavy grooves on the midsole mirrored this effect, and two globular pods of visible Gel in its heel presented a captivating aesthetic alongside the fin-shaped shank through its midfoot. Together, these elements gave the GT-2160 a sporty yet technical look that would eventually contribute to its magnificent comeback.

The return of the mesh-runner

On its original release in 2011, the GT-2160 was well-received, but it soon fell away after the introduction of its successor. Fast forward a decade, and ASICS was experiencing a huge boom in success driven by the growing trend for Y2K-era mesh-runners. Following the return of the Gel-Kayano 5 in 2018, the brand relaunched several other models from the Kayano line, including the popular Gel-Kayano 14, precipitating the return of more heritage silhouettes from the late-noughties and early 2010s. As well as bringing back designs such as 2008’s Gel-1130, ASICS also created new shoes that fit the prevailing trend, most notably the stylish Gel-NYC. Many of these became highly sought-after, so the brand delved into its archives to find other models that could be used to provide a wider range of options for fans of the retro look. This led to the revival of the GT-2160, its lightweight, comfortable design and compelling throwback aesthetic making it the perfect complement to the Kayano, the NYC and the 1130.

A Sportstyle revamp

Released as part of the ASICS Sportstyle line, the revamped GT-2160 looked much like the shoe that inspired it. It had the same sporty look, with minor adjustments to technology, including a different type of outsole rubber more suited to streetwear and an updated Trusstic system optimised for walking rather than high-mileage running. The initial colourways were inspired by original designs from the 2011 release, and the overall aesthetic was curated to have a stronger focus on fashion than other more technical Sportstyle models.

An uplifting launch

All of this made the GT-2160 an excellent lifestyle sneaker, but ASICS still needed to prove this to the wider sneaker community. So, at Paris Fashion Week in 2023, the brand revealed the shoe at a pop-up event centred around the theme of ‘Nothing feels better than moving with ASICS’. Hoping to connect directly with sneaker fans, they organised an exhilarating launch party to start the week-long event, and prepared an uplifting brand experience zone where people could learn about the brand’s culture and values. Alongside this was a boutique showcasing both general release versions of the GT-2160 and a number of exciting collaborations.

Carefully chosen collaborative partners

Throughout the early 2020s, ASICS became known for collaborating with a vast group of creative entities, from local Japanese boutiques to global fashion labels. To assist with the relaunch of the GT-2160, the brand turned to collaborative partners both old and new, asking them to craft designs for its pop-up show. Three were chosen to bring their own unique vision to the shoe: Danish designer Cecilie Bahnsen’s self-titled label, Montreal skateshop Dime and artisanal Los Angeles brand AIREI.

Cecilie Bahnsen and Dime

Bahnsen focused on comfort and feminine styling, completely reworking the GT-2160 into something resembling ballet footwear or a so-called ‘Mary Jane’ shoe. Secured with a Velcro strap instead of traditional laces, it had a casual, slip-on feel, with elegant floral graphics decorating the upper. Images of the design were displayed in Cecilie Bahnsen’s section of the exhibition space depicting models across Tokyo wearing both formal apparel and relaxed, everyday clothing with her GT-2160 in a stylish demonstration of its versatility. Meanwhile, Dime’s co-owners, Vincent Tsang and Phil Lavoie, described their ‘Arctic Wolf’ colourway as a modern take on the 2160 which still maintained the retro vibes of the original. Aiming for a broad appeal, they used classy neutral tones alongside eye-catching colour gradients for added intrigue, while their part of the exhibition paid homage to skating culture.

A unique collaborative sneaker

Perhaps the most distinctive GT-2160 at the event was the one created by AIREI. The brand’s founder, Drew Curry, handcrafts unique fashion items with deconstructed, unconventional design elements, and for his ASICS collaboration, he covered the top part of the shoe in an experimental plaster coating. Nicknamed ‘Crafts by Mind’, it featured saffron-coloured highlights as a nod to Curry’s childhood years spent in India and Southeast Asia, where the spice is said to symbolise fire and purity. He wanted to infuse his version with these same notions while also preserving a certain level of perfection through its plaster covering. Just fifty pairs were made, Curry’s unique handmade elements making each a one-of-a-kind fashion item, with some of the money going to a charity supporting underprivileged kids through sport.

A growing list of collaborations

With such stunning designs on show, the ASICS Sportstyle pop-up event gave the GT-2160 an outstanding launch, and collaborations became a particular strength of the silhouette in the months and years that followed. By the end of 2023, the shoe’s list of creative partners had increased substantially, incorporating various fashion labels from around the world. Beginning close to home, ASICS teamed up with Japanese luxury towel manufacturer, Fujitaka, crafting a shoe made from a variety of plush towel-like fabrics. In China, they approached Shenzhen’s COSTS, who produced a colourway named ‘Shao Ji’ after the Chinese woven bamboo basket traditionally used for tasks such as washing rice. Following these themes, COSTS decorated the insoles with pictures of the basket in its various styles, while the mesh on the upper was designed to look like a bamboo weave.

Traversing the globe

Meanwhile, Australian streetwear boutique Above The Clouds returned for a third collaboration with ASICS. They developed the ‘Shamrock Green’ colourway, giving it a partly translucent upper made from experimental yet practical materials like Nexkin and a colour scheme inspired by Japan’s natural and man-made environments. Over in the United States, ASICS combined with Ronnie Fieg’s popular lifestyle brand, Kith, to release a pair of neutral colourways with contrasting highlights, the ‘Scarab’ featuring rich green accents, and the ‘Solar Power’ vibrant bursts of yellow. Josué Thomas’ Los Angeles clothing label, Gallery Dept., then designed the ‘ComplexCon’, which had multi-coloured paint rebelliously splattered across the outer, and New York streetwear brand Hidden NY worked with specialist designer JW Customs to craft the eye-catching ‘Crystal Pine’.

European connections

In Europe, Cecilie Bahnsen delivered two more floral GT-2160s: the ‘Habanero’, with its colourful pink accents, and the ‘Midnight’, which featured a pair of adjustable Velcro straps adorned with various blue flowers. ASICS then brought together nine European brands, challenging them to collaborate on one sneaker. Organised directly after Covid, it was the first face-to-face meeting held by ASICS since the global pandemic, allowing different brands to share creative ideas with the goal of telling one common story. Their work was based around the theme of “Kogarashi” – a Japanese term literally translating to “death of the trees” but actually referring to the feeling aroused by the change of seasons when sunny weather gives way to colder times. As such, the resulting GT-2160 ‘Tomo Curation’ was decorated with rich red and icy blue accents inspired by the colours of autumn, while the project itself acted as a compelling symbol of cooperation.

A powerful representation of Māori culture

By 2024, the GT-2160 had become one of ASICS’ most popular lifestyle sneakers, beloved for its blend of comfort-giving features and its classic mesh-runner style. Expanding the range, the brand released a variant called NS with a no-sew upper that offered a smooth look and a sturdy feel, while the already vast array of collaborative designs grew even further. Above The Clouds added several more colourways to its 2023 sneaker, including the suave ‘Black’, the elegant ‘Pure Silver’ and the richly toned ‘Chocolate Brown’, before fellow Australian label Earls Collection released its own GT-2160. Founded by former New Zealand rugby league star Lewis Brown, the luxury clothing brand put together a unique sneaker with a powerful story referencing his Māori heritage. His ancestors came from the remote Chatham Islands, and for 16 years, his grandfather wore ASICS shoes to protect his feet after suffering an injury to his Achilles. In honour of his grandfather and his Polynesian heritage, Brown referenced various aspects of traditional Māori culture both through the shoe’s design, beginning with its name – ‘Ngāwari’ – which translates as “tread softly”. Its mesh upper paid homage to harakeke weaving techniques, while its brown and green colour scheme symbolised marae wood carvings, pounamu necklaces and the Ngāi Tahu tribe from which he is descended. Completing the design was a sockliner featuring a colourful graphic that captured the iridescent tones found on the shell of the edible Pāua sea snail, which Brown often enjoyed eating with his grandfather.

More strong collaborative designs

Other collaborators came from further afield, including Canadian design studio JJJJound, who produced a collection of three bold colourways, and Copenhagen’s Wood Wood, the contemporary fashion brand referencing its first ASICS collaboration from 2017 on the GT-2160 ‘Cream Oatmeal’. Kith also returned for another collaborative effort, this time bringing in Marvel as the pair combined on a duo of comic-book-themed sneakers: the ‘Venom vs Spiderman Pack’ and the ‘Green Goblin’. ASICS also continued its productive partnership with Bulgarian creative Kiko Kostadinov and his innovative design studio. Throughout the year, Kostadinov released a series of colourways in three different variants, each displaying signature details like an eccentric tongue loop. They were also decorated in captivating colours such as the deep greens and browns of the UB6-S ‘Grey Floss Jade’, the striking orange of the UB7-S ‘Lava Orange’ and the contrasting brown, pink and cream tones of the UB8-S ‘Pale Oak Truffle Grey’. 

Homegrown partnerships

Back in Asia, ASICS got together with Bangkok retailer Carnival to design the ‘Concrete Bloom’, whose earthy tones were inspired by flowers growing through cracks in concrete, before going on to work with a number of Japanese companies. With luxury jewellers Tasaki, they created a series of graceful sneakers adorned with the brand’s trademark pearls, while with streetwear boutique atmos they designed the sleek ‘Tapetum’ colourway, its bold black outer highlighted with reflective silver logos. Clothing brand BEAMS was part of an international partnership with Parisian café owner James Didri’s sneaker concept, Papergirl, that crafted the elegant ‘Silver Polka Dots’ colourway. At the end of 2024, ASICS even connected with the makers of popular Japanese anime series Bleach to celebrate its 20th anniversary via a bold colourway based on and named after the show’s protagonist, Ichigo Kurosaki. 

Capitalising on success

In 2025, the popularity of the GT-2160 showed no signs of waning as fashion magazines rated them as a top casual sneaker for the upcoming spring and summer months, placing them alongside other classy models that had become part of the contemporary trend for retro running shoes. Capitalising on this hype, ASICS launched a host of new general release colourways alongside fresh collaborations, including a rugged, adventure-ready version of the GT-2160 designed with atmos and fellow Japanese company Grip Swany, which is known for its high-quality outdoor gear.

A remarkable story

The ASICS GT-2160 has been on a remarkable journey since its original release in 2011. Despite being around for just a few short months before being replaced by a newer model, it was selected from the entire GT-2000 series as a retro sneaker for the modern age. With its functional design and heritage look, the GT-2160 represents one of the brand’s most successful comeback stories, much of which has been told through the creativity and inventiveness of ASICS’ collaborative partners. It’s a tale that has captivated a whole new generation of sneaker enthusiasts, ensuring a long-lasting legacy for this memorable lifestyle silhouette.