Daaaaaaamn, Hanan. Back at it again with the sneaker posts!

That was a reference to the viral white vans meme that’s going around social media. A guy named Daniel got his friend to film his outfits for the week, and his friend commented, “Daaaamn, Daniel! Back at it again with the white vans”. I don’t understand how this video got so viral, but it’s blowing up. I am foreseeing that I will be writing about White Vans being a new trend very very soon.

Meanwhile…

Let’s talk about this ‘hypebeast’ trend that’s slowly but surely gaining popularity. I’m talking about the ASICS Gel Lyte Series.

ASICS Gel Lyte Speed ‘Stealth Camo’ (SGD$229)

Aren’t these just stunning?! I first saw a pair in Perth and was intrigued by its unique shape and design. After a month or so, I began to see ASICS Gel Lytes popping up in stores like Leftfoot and Seek. More and more people started wearing them out and it was amazing to me because I have never really looked into ASICS as a brand before this series of sneakers came out.

ASICS are well known in the sports industry, particularly among runners for their impressive support and structure. Their trainers offer lightness without sacrificing durability whilst offering support for the feet. The main reason why I have never purchased one, or even glanced at their trainers was due to their classic “sporty” design. I would argue that their previous designs were rather dated. They would not catch your eye, looks-wise when they are stacked in a shelf with other competitor brands. Which is a real shame considering how coveted they are in the sports industry.

The main problem was that their sports shoes TRULY looked like sport shoes and they could not transcend that specific look. It was tough to integrate their previous designs into outfits. On the contrary, the ASICS Gel Lyte III and its variations (ie. Speed, etc) are versatile and much more up-to-date in terms of design. Once given the nod of approval from the Hypebeast team, you know these babies are gonna blow up.

A unique quality to this series is the tongue, or rather the lack there of. It’s called the ‘split tongue’ design, unique to this brand. It’s not only a cool design feature, but also very practical as it’s easy to slip your feet in and out. They have quite a substantial midsole, meaning it will give you added boost in height. Whether you need it or not, that extra inch in height feels nice. They are also rather weighted, compared to other sneakers. You can definitely feel these on your feet, but that means it is also very durable.

With its sleek minimalistic design, it is the details that make these stand out. I love the understated leather ASICS logo on the side and the cool reflective accents on the laces. This particular pair was limited edition. It has a speckled design on the midsoles and a barely there camo gloss on suede and grey mesh. Its a great unisex sneaker that makes any outfit cool.

ASICS Gel Lytes tend to be more readily available for males and I had a difficult time finding a pair in female sizes. Fortunately, as they are gaining popularity, female sizes are becoming much easier to find. Its cool, edgy and sporty at the same time. Pair them with any outfit and make people go,

“Daaaaaaamn”