You can trust Coach We give honest reviews and recommendations based on in-depth knowledge and real-world experience. Find out more about how we review and recommend products.

It’s a balance most everyday running shoes aim to find – getting the right amount of cushioning to be comfortable without making the shoe too heavy. Everyone wants to be supported and stable when running, but no-one wants to feel like they’re lugging around lead weights on their feet.

With the DynaFlyte, Asics has gone all out to create a shoe that walks this fine line. Coming in under 300g (270g for a men’s size 9), the DynaFlyte feels light enough to take to the track, but the cushioning provided by the FlyteFoam midsole makes it supportive enough for long road runs too.

The upper on the DynaFlyte is designed for a close fit. In fact if you have especially wide feet, it might feel a bit tight, but I found it pleasantly snug, though I still prefer the looser, sock-like fit of knitted uppers that allow the toes to splay a bit more. I did wonder if the snug fit would make the DynaFlyte unpleasantly warm on longer runs, but this was not the case – the upper is very breathable.

The Best Running Shoes

It took a couple of runs for the DynaFlyte to break in – I found them quite hard the first few times I ran in them. However, once broken in, it is a very comfortable shoe to run. The shoe almost seems to disappear on the foot, leaving a very responsive feel that encourages you to push a little faster.

You may like

My favourite runs in the DynaFlyte were pacy 5Ks and 10Ks. In particular, the shoe really shone at my local Parkrun in Alexandra Palace, where the terrain is a mix of Tarmac and trail paths. The DynaFlyte had enough cushioning and stability to feel secure on the bumpy terrain, but is also light enough to pick up the pace over a 5K race.

It also performed well over both a longer, steady run of around 10 miles and fast hill sprints. Simply put, it’s a great all-round shoe that shines at the distances most people will run regularly.

The only downside to this all-rounder status is that for more serious runners, it might not be light enough for track sessions. Also, if you prefer a very cushioned shoe for training runs over half marathon distance, the DynaFlyte might be a bit short on support. £130, buy on asics.com

TOPICS

Nick Harris-Fry is a journalist who has been covering health and fitness since 2015. Nick is an avid runner, covering 70-110km a week, which gives him ample opportunity to test a wide range of running shoes and running gear. He is also the chief tester for fitness trackers and running watches, treadmills and exercise bikes, and workout headphones.