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My last Asics pickup were the Kodamatsu pack. While those were somewhat low key, these are super bright. The Asics Gel-Lyte 3 Tourmaline is a new colorway of the “OG” line. I’m pretty sure the Tourmaline nickname refers to the official colorway. Tourmaline is actually a type of gem that displays a greater range of colors than any other gemstone. It comes in every color of the spectrum. Asics chose the name appropriately here as these have like every color on them.
Many people confuse the Gel Lyte OG with the Gel Lyte 3 OG. The Gel Lyte OG is actually a different model that released a couple years before the 3 and is basically the Gel Lyte 1. The “OG” in Gel Lyte 3 OG designates the overall shape and build being based on the original pairs of the 3 that released in 1990.
While a lot of people sleep on the Asics brand these days, many colorways actually sell out. Most don’t realize that even a GR like this is produced in way fewer numbers than some of the more hype, popular kicks. This colorway in particular has been hard to get and has been selling out on the few sites they have released so far.
I Had To Get These!
I saw pickup photos of these around social media from people overseas and immediately knew I had to have them. Thus, I kept my eyes peeled for a US drop. I saw these come out on Oneness the day they had them on their site and immediately got my pair for retail.
While I like a low key kick as much as the next collector, certain flashier or more colorful kicks catch my eye all the time. I really like these for that. The orange mesh on the tongue combined with the shade of blue and green used on the shoe provides for something that’s nowhere else in the collection. I’m guessing this is the type of shoe you just won’t see a lot of people with.
To be fair, I could see how this type of a colorway wouldn’t be for everyone. Truth be told, these types of shoes can be intimidating to rock. My tip on a shoe like this is to choose a relatively low key rest of the fit and let the sneakers pop.
While I wouldn’t say these are a daily type shoe, I could see wearing these on a nice summer day when I’m in an especially good mood. A colorful shoe like this reflects that type of playful vibe outward.
Details/Materials
Starting off we have an orange mesh split tongue with red mesh ankle liner. We have suede eyelets that are green at the top and purple at the bottom. The toebox is green mesh with a blue mudguard. We have the typical GL3 3M hits on the side of the toe.
On the side we get the Asics stripes in leather with 3M piping on top of some lavender mesh. This is alongside more orange, blue and green suede panels. Towards the back we see Gel Lyte 3 printed onto the sneaker in yellow. Down below we have the Asics logo embossed on the midsole.
On the back we see Asics in yellow on a yellow suede hit. Just below that we have Gel in blue on an orange 3M piece. All this is above a blue suede panel and under an orange mesh backtab.
The insole is green with a blue Asics logo and the outsole is black and red with the Asics logo in the middle. These ship with flat purple laces and come in the brown Gel Lyte 3 OG box. The only other thing these come with is the typical Asics care tag.
So, just the shoes and the box basically here. These are a GR though, so I’m not surprised. At $120 we’re getting the basic level of treatment with these, and all attention is on the OG shape and the colorway.
How is the Quality on the Asics Gel Lyte 3 Tourmaline?
The materials here are ok, but aren’t quite as buttery as the Kodamatsu pack I reviewed earlier this year. To be fair, these use a lot of different colored suedes. So rather than have the materials individually be super soft, Asics is having to use lots of different pieces to construct the shoe.
The 3M and mesh is typical Gel Lyte 3 quality. Instead of the shinier nylon type mesh on the actual OG colorways, we get their current mesh style, which is also good. The leather used here is minimal and likely synthetic. It’s just a quick hit on the Asics stripes and not enough to really critique. When I get up close I can see some grain there though which is nice.
Mainly the shoe uses suede, and the suede is kind of soft, but not as soft as the Kodamatsu pairs. It’s not bad, it doesn’t seem cheap, it just isn’t as premium and doesn’t have a backstroke to it.
The QC seems nice as far as craftsmanship on my pair. So I think overall, the main point of the shoe is the colorway and the materials are good enough to get a pass. You won’t be blown away feeling the suede on here, but as a total package the quality seems good for the price point.
How Do They Fit?
I normally wear a size 10 in most Asics. A size 10 is what I consider my true Asics size. I also get a 10 in most Nikes and Jordans for comparison. By default, I got these in a 10 and they fit the same as any other Gel Lyte 3. My advice in general is whatever you normally get in Asics, stick with that same true to size.
I find that the split tongue makes these easy to slide on and off – and is probably the part of the shoe that most sneakerheads need to get used to if they’ve never worn this model before. Those with particularly wide feet may struggle here as they may have to size up to get the tongue closed over their feet. This may result in the shoe being too long depending on how extreme of a size is needed to fully lace the top.
Comfort
Still, the shoe is very comfortable if you can get the sizing right. The uppers being mesh and suede make them very pliable and comfortable. Even if they feel a bit snug at first, the shoes break in very quickly thanks to that suede all around the mudguard. As long as you get these big enough to be able to lace the top closed, these should feel fine as far as the upper.
Underfoot, the Gel Lyte 3 is and has always been a very comfy shoe. The gel cushioning in the midsole is comfortable for me in a similar way to the other technologies from the 90s. Step in comfort is there and the shoe is supportive in a solid way with just a little bit of give. This for me is a shoe that can be worn all day thanks to this. I still really like the recrafted Air Max 3 just a bit more for long walks. However this kick that originally came out the same year as the AM3 gives it a run for its money.
Overall, I’d say the Asics Gel Lyte 3 Tourmaline low is very comfy shoe. I can easily recommend it, as long as you can stand the way the tongue is set up and can find a fit that looks and feels proper.
Final Thoughts
As usual, I’m always on the hunt for a dope GL3 colorway. This colorway is certainly unique and while it won’t be a daily go-to, it definitely is a sneaker to suit a certain mood.
Most sneakerhead types probably won’t even notice this shoe release as not many still check for this brand. That’s a shame because there are some real gems out there, just like these. Asics has been low key killing it with these Gel Lyte 3 colorways. Since they get slept on and don’t release in very high numbers vs some of the more hype sneakers from other brands, they go under the radar even though they’re dope. And just like that, they’re gone.
I definitely didn’t want to be regretting passing on a shoe like this so I was all over these as soon as I heard of them. I find the materials to be not quite as good as some other recent 3s I’ve picked up, but they are still decent enough. The colorway here is clearly the point.
As far as comfort, no surprises here for anyone familiar with the model. If you’re a fan of these, they’re just as comfy as any other GL3 you’ve worn in the past and fit similarly. Best of all though, they look great on feet!
Where To Cop the Asics Gel-Lyte 3 Tourmaline
As of the writing of this article, you can find these on eBay or shop new Gel Lyte 3s on Asics website.
Colorway: Tourmaline / Tourmaline
Style Code: 1201A429-300
Year of Release: 2021
MSRP: $120