Asics Gel Resolution 7 Women's Review

Overall Comfort - Score: 4.5

With their new upper materials, the Gel Resolution 7s felt more flexible and less bulky than previous versions. The uppers paired nicely with Asics' signature Gel cushioning, and we were fans of these shoes in no time. Michelle has tested three previous versions of the Gel Resolution and was excited to begin this playtest. She started, "They definitely need a break-in period, but this has become common for me when it comes to Asics shoes. The first hour and a half on the court in these shoes resulted in numb toes the entire time. The second hour I wore them was better, but my toes were still a bit numb. By the third and fourth hour I had more or less broken them in. While I have experienced similar break-ins with Asics shoes before, I think this break-in took a while longer because the new uppers had a slightly narrower fit than the previous generation. I would recommend giving these shoes a solid week of break-in time. Since I was familiar with this issue, I bent them by hand off the court to get the break-in to go a little faster. In the past I've experienced some serious rubbing at my ankles with the Gel Resolutions and the Gel Solution Speeds. No matter how high my socks were, they would rub my ankles for at least a week or two and begin to bleed, but I can happily say this was not an issue at all in this update. Aside from the break-in, the supportive comfort enveloped my feet, keeping me comfortable for hours of court time."

Hannah had never worn Gel Resolutions before, but she had heard a lot of positive things about them and was thrilled to play in these shoes. Once she put them on she found them to be some of the most comfortable shoes she's ever worn. She explained, "The cushioning was really something to brag about. I now understand why they are referred to as some of the most comfortable tennis shoes on the market. The cushioning was not too soft or built up, which is what I liked the most. They felt very natural and formed to my feet without the bulk I expected from so much cushioning. The narrow fit through the uppers added to the exceptional comfort. They were flexible and light enough that my feet didn't feel too warm or locked in, but they provided good security around my forefoot."

Foot Support/Stability - Score: 4.0

The high levels of support and stability are one of the many reasons players trust the Gel Resolution line of shoes. The Gel Resolution 7s felt as stable, if not more so, than previous iterations. Michelle stated, "I loved the high levels of support and stability from these shoes. I was able to be aggressive and push my footwork to the limits. I felt completely confident these shoe would keep me upright when I was pulled wide, and I didn't have to ease up on my footwork. If it's possible, I think this update is even more stable than the Gel Resolution 6s."

Hannah had trouble keeping her heels in the Gel Resolution 7s. She said, "The support was tainted by the extremely shallow heel. This was the biggest knock I had on these shoes. Using insoles was almost impossible because my heel slipped out almost completely on directional cuts. My ankle was only halfway covered through the heel section when I used the insoles I use in all my shoes. The Gel Resolution 7s offered a better fit around my heels when I tried them without insoles, but the fit still wasn't great."

Overall Sole Durability - Score: 4.6

Our team was fortunate enough to have a couple months to put the durability of Gel Resolution 7s to the test. Hannah had few signs of wear throughout the playtest. She noted, "There was slight smoothing on the toes, but it was barely noticeable."

These shoes have always been a super durable pick for Michelle, and she found the update to be no different. She commented, "Similar to the Gel Resolution 6s, I spent months in these shoes and didn't see much wear. I appreciated how the outsoles remained tacky even after a significant amount of use. I'm not a toe dragger, but the toe guard seemed extra durable, and I had no wear in that area. I would definitely put these shoes in the most durable category for women's footwear!"

Traction - Score: 4.3

While some players like slick outsoles, players who prefer a bit more tack will enjoy the performance of the Gel Resolution 7s. Michelle explained, "I prefer more tack when it comes to traction, and these shoes offered that. I recall having some slippery moments in the Gel Resolution 6s, but I never worried about slipping or sliding on the court with this update. The traction was perfect for what I needed. As I mentioned, the traction levels remained consistent several weeks into the playtest."

The traction of the Gel Resolution 7s both helped and hindered Hannah during this playtest. She said, "In one instance I sprinted forward and got stuck in my own tracks. Other than that, the traction was a plus and complemented the cushioning."

Weight - Score: 4.0

We expected the Gel Resolution 7s to be lighter than the 6s because of a quicker, sleeker feel and new uppers. Michelle was a little surprised when she compared the weight to the Gel Resolution 6s. She stated, "They came in at practically the same weight. I assumed that the new uppers would take some weight out of 7s, but they didn't. Despite what the scale said, these shoes did feel slightly less bulky than the previous version, so I will take that as a small win in the weight category. I've never complained about the weight of these shoes, and I like that they're stable and substantial without weighing me down or making me feel slow."

For extremely cushioned shoes, the weight of the Gel Resolution 7s didn't affect the playability in Hannah's opinion. She said, "I didn't feel dragged down by these shoes. I wouldn't want them to be any lighter for stability reasons. Overall, the weight distribution from the uppers to the outsoles was on target, and they felt very natural on my feet."

Overall - Score: 4.4