This ASICS GEL-LYTE release has something for both the runners and sneaker historians

While it’s now commonly associated with performance running shoes, ASICS has sneakerhead heritage dating back to the late 1940s.

Before it became ASICS, the company was founded in Japan in 1949 as Onitsuka Tiger, named after designer Kihachiro Onitsuka. Its mission was a wholesome one: to “promote healthy lifestyles through sport and athletics” in order to raise the spirits of Japanese youth in the wake of World War II.

Onitsuka was an innovative brand from the start. Seeking more grip on the basketball court, the designer was inspired by the suckers on a tentacle in his octopus salad.

The brand even featured in the early days of Nike: founder Phil Knight built his fledgling Blue Ribbon Sports around the sale of Onitsuka Tiger track shoes in Oregon in the 1960s.

Fast forward to the 70s, and the brand we now know as ASICS was born of a merger between Onitsuka and clothing manufacturers Jelenk and GTO. With that came the development of GEL cushioning technology in 1986, and the birth of the first ASICS GEL-LYTE, a performance shoe touting a 9.9-ounce weight (in size 9, at least) which utilized the silicon GEL shock absorption system.

While the first two GEL-LYTE iterations were popular on the track, it was the GEL-LYTE III that really bridged the gap between athletics and streetwear. The GEL-LYTE III features a funky split tongue that almost looks like the upper is being pulled around on each side from the heel.

Since that 1990 release, ASICS has released countless sharp collaborations with brands ranging from Asahi to WOEI and even in shades inspired by Japan’s famous Kobe beef.

Now you can get your hands on your own pair of sneaker history, with the GEL-LYTE XXX launching on Finish Line.

The GEL-LYTE XXX is a more performance-centric take on the iconic III OG, incorporating ASICS’s FLYTEFOAM midsole and more tech features aimed squarely at those who like to go fast.

It’s available now in White/Flash Coral and White/Black colorways for the perfect addition to your summer rotations.

Pick up your pair of the ASICS GEL-LYTE XXX at FinishLine.com today.