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The Gel Lyte III's entire design is one preoccupied with weight - in suede and mesh it's one of the finest ASICS creations there is, and it's no surprise that it shifted from cultish appeal among runners and Steep Tech sporting Brooklynites alike with tastes for superior performance and oddball design respectively. We've been assailed with makeups of the shoe lately since it reappeared quietly circa. 2006, and from pop to shades of offroad, it never struck us as logical to weigh it down with premium leathers like a Flimby-made New Balance 576 or 577. The meat and potatoes looks of those models could adapt to something more hardwearing, but this was more of a question mark. But guess what? It really works.

Some Lurpak-soft buttery leather on the upper, monotone (down to the emboss branding) uppers, minimal contrast stitching, pigskin lining and the merger between an off-white midsole and outsole does the job. Gel is still a technology that works for us, so this becomes a casual shoe that still feels state-of-the-art on the feet. These are set to drop in the Crooked Store later this month, and are available to pre-order <a href= 'http://www.crookedtongues.com/store/preorders/'>here</a>. An unlikely triumph, and there's plenty more Gel gems on the horizon, as ASICS look set to keep the less obvious classics coming in 2010.