ASICS turns the GT-2160 into a breezy sandal-inspired summer sneaker

ASICS took one of its most familiar sportstyle shapes and opened it up for summer, turning the GT-2160 into a breezier hybrid that looks part runner, part sandal, and far more considered than a simple mesh refresh. The GT-2160 BREEZE keeps the model’s wavy forefoot sculpting and early-2010s-inspired line, then cuts ventilation into the underlays and heel so the shoe reads lighter on foot without losing the GT-2160’s technical posture.

That balance is the point. ASICS framed the BREEZE as a “tech-credible sandal,” and the description fits the design language. The oval-net mesh, pull tabs and speed-lace application make it feel built for motion rather than nostalgia alone, while GEL technology inserts and a segmented midsole preserve the cushioning and split-sole look that made the GT-2160 line a retro-running favorite. The shoe lands in the exact space summer wardrobes often struggle with: more covered than a sandal, less stifling than a standard runner, and visually sharper than either in the city.

For hot-city commuting, the BREEZE makes the most sense when a regular mesh sneaker starts feeling too sealed off and a sandal feels too exposed. The cutouts should help the foot breathe on train platforms, long walks and airport days, while the speed-lace setup is a practical touch for anyone who wants easy on-and-off wear without leaning into a full slip-on. On a packed travel day, that kind of convenience matters more than marketing language. The shoe is also one of the better examples of the current bulky-runner-to-hybrid shift, because it changes the upper enough to justify its existence instead of simply repainting the same silhouette.

ASICS has also pushed the BREEZE beyond a one-color summer novelty. It has shown up in White/Pure Silver, BLACK/PURE SILVER, PURE SILVER/ASICS BLUE, CREAM/PURE SILVER and PIEDMONT GREY/SEPIA BROWN, with fresh 2026 colorways giving the line a cleaner, more wearable range than a loud seasonal drop usually gets. In Australia, the GT-2160 BREEZE is listed at A$180, while standard GT-2160 models in the United States sit at US$130 and US$140. That premium is not trivial, but it buys a more radical reinterpretation of the base shoe rather than a routine material update.

The verdict is straightforward: if the goal is airflow with structure, the GT-2160 BREEZE is one of the few hybrid runners that earns its cutouts. It is more useful than a standard mesh runner in sticky weather, and more polished than a sandal when the day still demands a sneaker.