This page is for runners and sneaker shoppers looking for alternatives to ASICS — either a different cushioning feel underfoot or the same archive-runner look for casual wear. The closest performance swaps are HOKA, Brooks, Mizuno and On; for the Gel-1130 / Gel-Kayano 14 side of ASICS, look to New Balance, Onitsuka Tiger (ASICS' own heritage label) and Puma. Most sit in the same mid-tier price band, so the choice comes down to ride and fit rather than budget.
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#1
Hoka One One
85% match
Athleisure$$ · More premiumAnnecy, France · est. 2009Made in China, Vietnam
French-born, Deckers-owned running brand known for maximalist, heavily cushioned shoes like the Clifton, Bondi and Speedgoat.
Why it's similar. Hoka One One shares a similar athleisure style and focuses on performance fabrics for athletic activities.
Athleisure$$ · Similar priceNew York, United States · est. 2017Made in Asia
Direct-to-consumer men's training apparel brand known for its performance shorts, technical tees and a deliberately narrow, durability-focused product line.
Why it's similar. Ten Thousand emphasizes performance and durability in its athletic wear, aligning closely with ASICS' commitment to high-quality materials and functional design. Both brands cater to active individuals with a focus on comfort.
Athleisure$$ · Similar priceOsaka, Japan · est. 1906Made in Asia
Osaka sportswear and equipment maker founded in 1906, known for Wave-cushioned running shoes, baseball gloves and archive-driven Sportstyle sneakers.
Why it's similar. Mizuno is similar to ASICS in its focus on performance and high-quality athletic apparel, particularly in running. Both brands share a commitment to advanced fabric technology and comfort.
$$ · More premiumVancouver, Canada · est. 1998Made in Asia
Vancouver-founded technical athleticwear label known for Align leggings, Scuba hoodies and ABC pants in proprietary performance fabrics.
Why it's similar. Like ASICS' apparel side, Lululemon builds around proprietary performance fabrics (Luon, Nulu, Swift) and covers running and training, at a similar mid-tier price.
$$ · More premiumHerzogenaurach, Germany · est. 1948Made in Multiple
German sportswear company making football, running and motorsport gear plus retro lifestyle sneakers such as the Suede, Palermo and Speedcat.
Why it's similar. Puma pairs Nitro-foam performance runners with retro lifestyle silhouettes like the Suede and Palermo — the same performance-plus-archive split as ASICS Sportstyle, at slightly lower prices.
$$ · Similar priceBeaverton, United States · est. 1964Made in Asia
American sportswear giant behind Air Force 1, Air Max, Dunk, Jordan and Converse, now rebuilding around a sport-led strategy.
Why it's similar. The largest direct competitor to ASICS in performance running, with the Pegasus franchise as its daily-trainer answer to the Gel-Nimbus, plus a huge lifestyle sneaker range.
$$ · More premiumBolton, UK · est. 1958Made in Multiple
British-founded, Boston-based sportswear brand owned by Authentic Brands Group, known for Club C and Classic Leather sneakers, the Pump and Nano training shoes.
Why it's similar. Reebok covers the same retro-sneaker and training ground as ASICS Sportstyle via Club C, Classic Leather and Nano trainers, at a lower price tier under Authentic Brands Group ownership.
$$ · Similar priceBoston, United States · est. 1906
Boston-founded, family-owned athletic brand making performance running shoes and lifestyle sneakers such as the 990 series, 574 and 2002R.
Why it's similar. The closest Western parallel to ASICS: Fresh Foam and FuelCell performance running alongside archive lifestyle runners like the 990, 574 and 2002R that scratch the same Gel-1130 itch.
$$ · More premiumBaltimore, United States · est. 1996Made in Multiple
American performance sportswear label known for HeatGear compression layers, training and running gear, and the Curry Brand basketball line.
Why it's similar. A performance-first sportswear brand spanning training and running, with HeatGear compression layers competing directly with ASICS' technical apparel at a lower price point.
$$ · Similar priceHerzogenaurach, Germany · est. 1949Made in Asia
German sportswear giant behind the three stripes, known for Samba, Gazelle and Superstar sneakers, football kits and designer lines like Y-3.
Why it's similar. Runs the same dual model as ASICS — Ultraboost and performance running on one side, Samba, Gazelle and Superstar archive sneakers on the other — in the same mid price tier.
$$ · Similar priceKobe, Japan · est. 1949Made in Asia
Japanese heritage sneaker and lifestyle label owned by Asics, best known for the retro Mexico 66 trainer.
Why it's similar. ASICS' own heritage label, founded in the same Kobe workshop in 1949, offering the low-profile retro trainers (Mexico 66, Serrano) that echo ASICS Sportstyle reissues.
$$ · Similar priceAnaheim, United States · est. 1966Made in China, Vietnam
American skate footwear and apparel brand, founded in Anaheim in 1966 and owned by VF Corporation, known for the Old Skool and Sk8-Hi.
Why it's similar. A lower-priced casual alternative for the lifestyle half of ASICS — Old Skool and Sk8-Hi in suede and canvas — though vulcanised skate soles, not running cushioning.
$$ · Similar priceBiella, Italy · est. 1911Made in Asia
Italian-founded, Korean-owned sportswear brand known for retro tennis styling, bold logos and chunky sneakers like the Disruptor II.
Why it's similar. Another heritage sports label mining its own archive, with chunky retro sneakers like the Disruptor II and Echappe covering similar streetwear ground to ASICS Sportstyle at lower prices.
$$ · Similar priceMalden, United States · est. 1908Made in China, Indonesia, Vietnam
American sneaker brand behind the Chuck Taylor All Star, Nike-owned since 2003 and currently working through a steep multi-year sales decline.
Why it's similar. A heritage sneaker brand for the casual end of the ASICS wardrobe, built on the Chuck Taylor and Chuck 70 rather than performance running tech.
$$Encinitas, United States · est. 2015Made in China
American activewear label from Encinitas, California, making surf- and yoga-inspired technical knits sold direct-to-consumer and through its own growing store network.
American running brand owned by Wolverine World Wide, known for PWRRUN-cushioned performance shoes and Originals reissues of its 1980s runners.
Why it's similar. Like ASICS, Saucony pairs mid-priced cushioned performance runners — Endorphin, Triumph, Ride — with an Originals line reissuing 1980s archive models such as the Jazz and Shadow 5000.
$$Annecy, France · est. 1947Made in Vietnam & China
French outdoor brand from Annecy known for ski and trail-running gear, whose XT-6 and Speedcross shoes became gorpcore streetwear staples.
Why it's similar. Salomon matches ASICS as a running specialist mining its own catalogue for fashion, swapping GEL road silhouettes for Gore-Tex trail models like the XT-6 and Sense Ride.
Disco ranks brand alternatives using style overlap, category overlap, price tier, fit, colour palette, and cultural context. Scores are directional, not absolute. Read the full methodology →
<h3>What brand is most similar to ASICS?</h3>
<p>HOKA scores highest here at 85 — both are mid-priced performance running specialists, though HOKA's maximalist, rockered midsoles feel bulkier than ASICS' GEL and FF Blast setups. Mizuno is the closest cultural match: another Japanese maker, founded in Osaka in 1906, with the same performance-plus-Sportstyle split.</p>
<h3>Are Onitsuka Tiger and ASICS the same company?</h3>
<p>Yes. Onitsuka Tiger is ASICS' heritage lifestyle label, founded in Kobe in 1949 by Kihachiro Onitsuka and relaunched as a fashion brand in 2002. ASICS plans to transfer the business to a wholly owned subsidiary, OT Group, on 1 January 2027.</p>
<h3>Which alternatives are cheaper than ASICS?</h3>
<p>Puma, Reebok, Fila, Vans, Converse and Under Armour all sit in a lower price tier than ASICS, as does Ten Thousand for training apparel. HOKA, Brooks, Mizuno, On, Nike, adidas and New Balance are broadly the same mid-tier pricing.</p>
<h3>What's the best alternative to the Gel-1130 or Gel-Kayano 14?</h3>
<p>For the same retro mesh-and-suede runner look, try Onitsuka Tiger's Mexico 66, New Balance's 2002R or 574, or Mizuno's Sportstyle line, which reworks its own archive runners for the streetwear market.</p>
<h3>Is HOKA better than ASICS?</h3>
<p>Neither is objectively better — HOKA leans on oversized cushioning and rocker geometry, which many long-distance and recovery runners prefer, while ASICS offers a wider spread from plush Nimbus to firm Metaspeed racers plus a large Sportstyle range.</p>