Asics makes some of the most comfortable shoes on the planet. Their gel technology is unrivaled by the industry. The soles make each step seem like walking on marshmallows. There is one flaw, however, their style.

Asics aren't exactly the coolest sneakers out there. Companies like Nike and Adidas make badass looking shoes that while comfy, are not at the level of Asics. There needs to be a middle-ground between Asics and more stylish brands out there.

My mom got me started on Asics. She was a personal trainer and aerobic instructor. The shoes offered support for her feet and also were compatible with her orthotic sole insertions. Being an active profession like a personal trainer meant she was moving around a lot on her feet, up and down and side to side. The gel soles cushion the impact and make the movement almost imperceptible.

My first pair was in elementary school. They were probably the most conservative pair I've had - grey with a blue accent along the base of the sole. As the years went on I switched over to Nike for my shoe needs. Years had passed before I decided to buy a white pair with red and black accents in high school. Let me tell you why this was a bad idea: I worked at an ice cream shop.

Knowing how comfortable my Asics were, I decided to wear them to work since I'd be on my feet all day. Little did I anticipate an accident happening. A customer came in asking for a chocolate milkshake and I had to oblige. Milkshakes called for a lot of ice cream, about 4 scoops depending who you ask. That meant a lot of coming and going between the cup on the counter and the ice cream in the freezer. It also meant I would be traveling with a fresh scoop of chocolate ice cream in my spoon. A drip fell from the stainless steel scooper and landed right on my new white Asics and thus our relationship parted ways...

Until now. I needed a new pair of running sneakers and figured I'd do it right if I did it at all. Asics are the best you can buy. It was time for my third pair. Shopping around brought me to Dicks Sporting Goods, where they were selling last year's flagship model for less than half the usual price. The offer was too juicy to pass up and a week later I was running around campus in them.