ASICS Gel Resolution 6 Men's Review

Price:

€

Upsides

All-around performance
Comfort
Stability
Durability

Downsides

Nothing to really complain about here

Summary

We have come to expect exceptional performance from the Asics Gel Resolution, now in its sixth iteration. This modern classic has become synonymous with all-around performance, exceptional comfort, stability and great durability. Needless to say, we were champing at the bit to take the Gel Resolution 6s to the courts to see how they stacked up against their predecessors. The familiar fit and feel are there, but a new midfoot support system and external heel collar help with the rigidity of the shoe and resist it from twisting as much. This caused a little bit of a fit issue for our narrow-footed playtester. He found the shoes didn't quite flex as naturally with his feet as previous versions. However, the other two testers found the shoe to be exceptionally stable and supportive and had no real complaints. Bottom line: This version of the Gel Resolution continues to offer excellent all-around performance and remains one of the best options available for the serious tennis player.

Asics Gel Resolution 6 Scores
Overall Comfort	4,7/5
Ventilation	4,4/5
Arch Support	4,4/5
Foot Support/Stability	4,3/5
Overall Sole Durability	4,1/5
Toe Durability	4,7/5
Traction	3,8/5
Weight	3.9/5
Overall	4,5/5

Comfort – Score 4,7/5

From the initial try on our playtesters were impressed with the comfort of the Gel Resolution 6. Taking them the courts we noticed they were ready to go from the first ball and required no break-in. The uppers offered a soft, yet supportive feel and flexed naturally with the foot, while the Gel cushioning in the midsole provided protection from harsh landings and relief for long days on court. One tester noted the perfect blend of cushioning and court feel - they felt plush without making you feel too elevated off the court.

Ventilation – Score 4,4/5

Every tester took note of all the mesh used in the upper of the Gel Resolution 6 and how it provided more than enough breathability during play. There were no issues with hot air getting trapped inside the shoes and causing our feet to get extra sweaty. Even our one tester who normally wears two pairs of socks had no problems with ventilation.

Arch Support – Score 4,4/5

The Gel Resolution 6 continued to impress our testers when it came to arch support. Offering a fairly substantial arch and a rigid, stable midfoot, it was a nice fit for our testers that require good support through that area. We even had one tester who normally wears aftermarket insoles but didn't need to during this test.

Foot Support/Stability – Score 4,3/5

For the most part, our testers found the support and stability to be excellent in the Gel Resolution 6. We found the shoes locked in our feet in the forefoot area, especially during aggressive lateral cuts, and the stiff midfoot shank resisted twisting quite well. The slightly roomier fit through the toebox also provided a wide, stable base. However, our narrow-footed playtester had some issues with his heel slipping around during play. He tried different lacing techniques but ultimately struggled to get a locked-in fit and feel. Other than that, though, he found the support and stability to be 'top notch.'

Overall Sole Durability – Score 4,1/5

All of our test pairs of the Gel Resolution 6 held up quite well throughout the duration of the playtest. Every tester found fairly typical wear patterns as the test wore on, but they all still had plenty of life left in them. One tester took note of the deep grooves that allowed for heavy use before the tread pattern started balding. While they aren't the most durable shoe on the market, they certainly held up well enough to earn our playtesters' stamp of approval in this category.

Toe Durability – Score 4,7/5

The team was even more impressed by the durability of the toe area on the Gel Resolution 6. Even our toughest toe dragger couldn't do any damage to the toe area throughout the test. He even noted that not only was the toe area built up for durability, but it wasn't too stiff or uncomfortable in that area either, which could normally result in some toe jamming issues.

Traction – Score 3,8/5

Our testers found the traction of the Gel Resolution 6 to be a tad on the slippery side, although this wasn't as much of an issue as one would think. One tester found they were slick at first, but once the shoes broke in and the first layer of rubber wore through, the shoes got stickier. The other testers appreciated the little bit of give when moving aggressively to take a bit of the load off of their joints, and the shoes wouldn't stick when going for an aggressive slide on the hard courts. If you like really sticky shoes, this probably wouldn't be your cup of tea, but otherwise they worked out just fine for us.

Weight – Score 3,9/5

Though the Gel Resolution 6 is more of a durable, stable shoe, the weight never got in the way of our playtesters' movement on court. The heft was hidden throughout the shoes in a way that didn't slow us down at all. The level of cushioning, support, stability and durability that they had to offer was exceptional given that the weight never was an issue for any of the testers.

Overall - Score: 4,5/5

Likes

Chris - I liked the comfortable ride, durability, traction, style, cushioning and fit through the forefoot.

Granville - Cushioning, comfort, and durability.

Andy - Almost everything! With this update, I think the Gel Resolution continues to be the best all-around performance shoe on the market.

Dislikes

Chris - I struggled to find a secure fit at the heel area of the shoes. The shoes were so stiff in the midfoot shank and heel counter that they did not flex and move with my feet as well as some other shoes.

Granville - Needs a better insole for some kind of arch support.

Andy - If I'm being super picky, I'd like to sit a little lower in the shoe (like the Gel Resolution 4) for even more stability. However, these did ride lower than the Gel Resolution 5.

Comparison:

Chris - I would position this shoe between the Gel Resolution 4 and 5. I was very happy with the overall ride and comfort. If you've been a fan of the Gel Resolution line, then I feel you should like this update. Comparable shoes would be the adidas Barricade 2015, Nike Zoom Cage 2 and Lotto Raptor Ultra IV. All of those shoes are top of the line when it comes to combining stability, durability, traction and comfort. However, there are some differences in fit. I found the Lotto to fit narrowest, the Asics and adidas shoes in the middle and the Nike widest.

Granville - These seem more durable than most. I'd recommend this shoe to my closest friends.

Andy - The feel of the Gel Resolution line hasn't really changed too dramatically over the years, and this one is no exception. If you like the previous versions you can be confident you'll like this update. It feels more like the Gel Resolution 3 and 4 than the 5 did, since it sits a little lower to the ground and a little stiffer through the upper (in a good way).

Playtester Foot Types:

Chris - Narrow width / Medium arch

Granville - Narrow width / Medium arch

Andy - Medium width / Low arch

Review date: February 2015. If you found this review interesting or have further questions or comments please contact us: information.en@tenniswarehouse-europe.com.