ASICS is a running brand. That is not marketing, it is the company's whole history, and it is why searching for "ASICS running clothing" throws up thousands of results. What most people actually end up buying, though, is the Core range: everyday sportswear made by a running brand, which is not quite the same thing as running kit.
Some of it genuinely suits road running. Some of it is lifestyle clothing that happens to look sporty, and we would rather tell you that than sell you a pair of woven trousers for a 10k. Here is the honest split. If you want the wider picture first, start with our complete guide to the ASICS men's range, then come back.
What "Core" and "Road" mean before you buy
Core is the range name that covers most of what we stock: t-shirts, vests, woven shorts, woven pants, half-zips and the windrunner. Road is the smaller, running-led tier that sits above it on price. We break the whole thing down piece by piece in the ASICS Core range explained.
The short version: if a piece is badged Road, running is the point of it. If it is badged Core, running is one of the things it can do, and for some pieces it is not the thing it does best.
The pieces that genuinely work for road running
Road T-Shirt, Foggy Teal, £49.99
The Foggy Teal Road T-Shirt is the most running-focused top we carry. It is heavier than the Core tee and it is built around running rather than around looking good with jeans, which is why it costs £15 more. The colour is muted enough to wear off the road, so it is not a single-use purchase.
If you only buy one ASICS top to run in, this is it.
Core Vest, from £27.99
A vest is the most useful thing you can own for summer road running, and ASICS do three: Black and Brown Stone at £34.99, and Aegean Blue at £27.99, which is the cheapest way into the range full stop.
Vests are the piece people are least sure about, so we wrote a full guide to the ASICS vests covering fit and when to wear one. For running specifically: buy the Aegean Blue if you are testing whether you like running in a vest at all, and the Black if you already know you do.
5in Core Woven Shorts, £39.99
Length matters more than anything else in a running short, and 5in is the running length. It leaves your stride alone. The 7in is a better gym and everyday short and a slightly worse running one, which is the entire argument of our 5in versus 7in comparison.
Four 5in colourways: Black, Grey, Sandstorm and Brown Stone, all £39.99. Black and Grey are the two that disappear under anything.
Core Windrunner, from £59.99
Not a running top, but the right layer for the ten minutes before and after a cold run, and for the runs where the weather turns. The Steel Grey Windrunner is £59.99 and the Black is £89.99. Our windrunner guide goes deeper on fit and styling.
The pieces that are lifestyle kit in running clothing
The Core T-Shirt at £34.99 is the range's everyday top. It comes in seven colours, it is the piece most people buy first, and it is genuinely good. It is not the piece we would pick for a hard summer session over the Road tee, and it is not sold as one. Read the Core T-Shirt guide if that is the one you want.
The Core Woven Pants, the half-zips and the tracksuits are the same story. They are excellent for the gym, for travelling and for the walk to the track. Searching "ASICS running pants" and buying woven trousers to run in is how people end up disappointed. For everything indoors, our ASICS gym wear guide is the more useful read.
The honest verdict, piece by piece
| Piece | Price | For road running |
|---|---|---|
| Road T-Shirt, Foggy Teal | £49.99 | Yes. The running top in the range |
| Core Vest, Aegean Blue | £27.99 | Yes. Best value summer option |
| Core Vest, Black or Brown Stone | £34.99 | Yes |
| Core Woven 5in Shorts | £39.99 | Yes. The right length |
| Core Windrunner | £59.99 to £89.99 | As a layer either side of a run |
| Core Woven 7in Shorts | from £31.99 | Fine for easy runs, better in the gym |
| Core T-Shirt | £34.99 | Everyday top first, running top second |
| Core Half-Zip | from £29.99 | Warm-up and travel, not a running layer |
| Core Woven Pant | from £39.99 | No. Buy these for everything else |
Prices correct at time of writing.
Two kits that cover most of the UK year
Summer, £67.98. Aegean Blue Core Vest at £27.99 and Black 5in Shorts at £39.99 is £67.98, or swap the vest for the Black at the same £34.99 if you want it tonal. Add a second vest and you are over £100 and into free UK delivery.
Cold starts, £149.97. Road T-Shirt at £49.99, Black 5in Shorts at £39.99 and the Steel Grey Windrunner at £59.99. Free delivery, and the windrunner earns its keep for the other eleven months.
A word on the trainers
We stock the Gel Kayano 14, the Gel-1130 and the Gel NYC, and they are the reason a lot of people find ASICS in the first place. They are silhouettes people buy for how they look, and how they look with this kit is very good. Choosing between them is its own question, answered in which ASICS Gel trainer should I buy, with the full range in ASICS trainers. If you want a shoe chosen specifically for your running, talk to us through contact rather than guessing from a photo.
Quick answers
What is the best ASICS top for running?
The Foggy Teal Road T-Shirt at £49.99. It is heavier and running-led, which is what separates it from the £34.99 Core T-Shirt. In summer, a Core Vest from £27.99 is the better call.
Is there an ASICS running set?
Yes. The Foggy Teal Road T-Shirt Set is £89.99 and pairs the running-led tee with matching shorts. The Core sets at £74.99 are the everyday versions. Buying the pieces separately usually gets you a more useful wardrobe, which we argue in building an outfit from separates.
Can I run in ASICS Core Woven Pants?
We would not. They are woven trousers built for everyday wear and the gym. For running, shorts and a wind layer will serve you better in almost all UK weather.
Which shorts length should I run in?
5in. It is the length that stays out of the way of your stride. The 7in is the better all-rounder if the shorts are doing gym duty too.
What size should I order?
All ASICS apparel here runs S to XL. Check the sizing guide or read our ASICS sizing guide before you order.
The full ASICS guide series
- ASICS Clothing UK: The Complete Men's Range Explained
- ASICS Core T-Shirts: Every Colourway, Fit and What They Match
- ASICS Vests: Core Vests, Sizing and When to Wear One
- ASICS Woven Pants and Trousers: Fit, Sizing and Colourways
- ASICS Shorts: 5in vs 7in, and Which Length to Buy
- ASICS Half-Zips: The Core and Sport Half-Zip Compared
- ASICS Gym Wear: Building a Training Kit from Separates
- ASICS Running Clothing: What Works for Road Running
- The ASICS Core Range Explained: Every Piece and What It Costs
- How to Build an ASICS Outfit from Separates, Not a Set