Every morning I start my day with a journey across the city. Living south of the river, but working north, my commute involves a not-insubstantial walk, as well as a stint on the Northern and Elizabeth lines. As such, by the time I've made it into the office, not only have I finished a podcast episode or two, but I've laid eyes on the outfits of hundreds of Londoners.
For a while, these commutes were peppered with the familiar flashes of white and black Adidas Sambas that seemed to dominate train carriages no matter which route I took. Recently, however, I've noticed a little more variety on my morning journey. Picking up on a few of the shoe trends that are capturing the hearts of Londoners in real time, this season it's been hard to ignore the growing popularity of Asics GT-2160 trainers.
Suddenly contending with Samba's success, these trending trainers are set on a thick, rubber sole that ensures a comfortable and durable finish, and makes them perfect for those with a hefty step-count ahead. Complete with a mesh finish and faux-leather detailing, the trainers have a sporty energy that sees them style well with straight-leg jeans, while also pairing well with leggings, shorts and tennis skirts for a sporty silhouette.
While Asics is a legacy trainer brand that has produced trending designs for decades, it seems to be having a particularly big moment right now. A social media favourite, their chunky, Y2K-inspired designs pull at the heartstrings of fashion's nostalgic dressers. Last year, trainer multi-retailer StockX noted that Asics were the fastest-growing trainer brand across the platform, and having secured buzzy collaborations with big names, including Cecilie Bahnsen and Kiko Kostadinov, it's clear that the trainer brand's growth won't be slowing down any time soon.
While slim-sole trainers have dominated shelves for the past few seasons, for their chunky design, that extra bit of height and a bolder, more structured finish, thick-soled trainers will always appeal to me the most.
To get ahead of the growing trainer trend that's slowly taking over London's streets, read on to discover the Asics GT-2160 trainers here, as well as our other favourite Asics trainers below.
SHOP ASICS GT-2160 TRAINERS:
The subtle pop of green adds a playful energy to these sporty shoes.
Style with leggings or pair with straight-leg jeans.
Classic white trainers will always have a place in my wardrobe.
The thick, cushioned sole ensures a lasting comfortable finish.
The low-profile design makes these easier to style with with wider range of hem lengths.
Add a subtle pop of colour to your spring rotation.
SHOP OUR OTHER FAVOURITE ASICS TRAINERS:
The Asics X Cecilie Bahnsen collaboration is one of my favourite trainer collabs in recent years.
The blue, white and red colour pallet gives these a retro energy that makes them so fun to style.
These also come in a beige base.
The metallic finish gives these such an elevated edge.
The bright yellow finish makes the so fun to style.
The beige colour pallet makes these so easy to slip into a capsule wardrobe.
-
Experienced Sneaker Shoppers Know: These 5 Trends Are Officially Dated (and These 5 Are In)Required reading before shopping.
-
If You Want to Look Like a Chic Fashion Person, Wear This Shoe Trend With Cropped PantsSelena Gomez is on board.
-
Did Foot-Jewelry Shoes Just Become the Biggest Trend of 2025?Anklets and toe rings are on hiatus.
-
This Fall, Say Goodbye to Ballerinas Because This New Flat-Shoe Trend Is Taking Its PlaceAnd it's even more sophisticated.
-
The Results Are In: These Are the Designer Shoes Dominating Summer 2025Sneakers, sandals, and more.
-
All Five Toes Are In—5 "Weird" Shoe Trends to Try This SummerChic foot pics loading here.
-
Low-Rise Jeans and Ballet Flats Look Dated Compared to This Trending Jeans-and-Sneaker ComboConfirmed by Dakota Johnson and Natalie Portman.
-
Sneakers Are the Real MVP of the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale—These 29 Cool Styles Are ProofNew Balance, Asics, Converse, and more.
