Latest news with #Asics
Tom's Guide
a day ago
- Business
- Tom's Guide
Forget Prime Day — You can still save on these 21 running shoe deals on Brooks, Skechers, Asics and more at Amazon
Prime Day may be over, but you can still find plenty of great running shoe deals on Amazon hanging around. Some of our favorite pairs are seeing stellar discounts right now, but you'll have to run, not walk, to snag these deals before they're gone. I'm talking Skechers deals from $13, Brooks for under $100, and up to 30% off the best running shoes from Asics. Amazon is one of my favorite places to go for Skechers deals, and while it's hard to pick just one, I highly recommend the Skechers Go Run Elevate 2.0 on sale from $43 at Amazon. In our Skechers Go Run Elevate 2.0 review, we praised their bouncy and comfortable feel underfoot and called them a great pair for beginner runners. I'm more of an Asics girlie myself, so my top pick is the Asics Novablast 4 on sale from $99. It's bouncy and lively enough to help you pick up the pace on your tempo runs and speed sessions, while still being cushioned and comfortable on long runs and easy days. Just keep in mind that the prices vary based on your choice of size and color, so check out the different color options in your size to score the best deals. For more savings, see our Amazon promo codes coverage. Score these comfortable Skechers sneakers starting from $14. They feature a Skechers memory foam footbed and come in four stylish color options. Reviewers on Amazon say these are sturdy and fit true to size. The Skechers Tantric are on sale for a super-cheap price, although the discount doesn't apply to all sizes and colors. These are super comfortable to wear thanks to their soft perforated footbed and canvas strap. These creatively-named Skechers wedges are on sale for a steal in certain sizes and colors! These sandals are super comfortable to wear thanks to their stretchy strap and Memory Foam footbed. I love the color option with the sparkly jewels on the strap! Score a great deal on these Skechers Nampa Groton. These simple shoes look smart and have a super comfortable Skechers Memory Foam footbed. They're also slip resistant, making them a solid choice for work days. Looking to save on a comfortable and secure sandal now that the season's winding down? You can't go wrong with this Skechers slide sandal that features a lightweight upper with adjustable buckle straps, a contoured cushioned footbed and podiatrist-certified arch support. These are the best Skechers slip-ins we've tested, so they're the ones to get if you want a super easy way to put your shoes on. They're lightweight, stretchy and breathable. In our Skechers Slip Ins Dazzling Haze review, we said they're perfect for low-impact activities like walking, light resistance training and dance cardio. If you prefer the classic slip-on look, the Go-Walk 5 Skechers have a soft, breathable, knitted upper that is comfortable across the top of your foot, whether you're wearing socks or not. They are machine washable, comfortable underfoot, and by design, extremely easy to slip on and off. These Skechers loafers are both smart and comfortable. They blend in well everywhere, from the office to the beach! With air-cooled memory foam underfoot and a stretch knit upper, your feet will be supported, and there's no chance of blisters. These Skechers sandals are the perfect summer shoe. They have Skechers' iconic comfortable midsole, paired with breathable, adjustable straps for a supportive fit, wherever you're walking this summer. They are vegan, and machine washable, with one customer writing, "Most comfortable sandals that I have ever bought. Bought one pair a year ago and had to buy another one this year cause they were that good." Now is a great time to buy, as the shoes are discounted in the two most popular colors: sand and black. If you're hitting the road, these Skechers are an excellent choice. Our Skechers Go Run Elevate 2.0 review said that these are great for beginner runners thanks to their affordable price point, bouncy and propulsive soles and breathable design. We rank these shoes as the best Skechers for novice runners. These extremely light and breathable shoes are supportive, durable and come in at an affordable price point. However, we noted in our Skechers Go Run Lite review that you'll eventually want to upgrade to a shoe that is engineered for running longer distances if you do get serious about the sport. Did you know Skechers also makes running shoes? If you're obsessed with the soft cushioned comfort of Skechers, but want to run in them too, give these a try. This Tom's Guide staffer recently tested them and wrote, "I didn't know that I was missing a whole other level of comfort until I tested the Skechers Max Cushioning Elite 2.0. They are so comfortable to wear even just for walking around, but when I took them on a run for the first time I set a new PR for my 3-mile run." The Novablast 4 is on sale! Cycle through the different options to find the best deal in your size. My colleague runs marathons pretty much for a living, and it's one of her favorite pairs of Asics shoes. The Gel Venture 10 is a waterproof trail running shoe that comes in 11 different color options and is Amazon's #1 bestseller. We price-checked against Asics, and although they are running a sale, this is the lowest price available. Although a fairly modest discount, this shoe is currently at its lowest price in 30 days. It's regarded as a comfy and versatile sneaker that suits neutral runners in particular. Not fussed about the 26? I've had this running shoe for a few years, and I still trot out the 10Ks in them. They're so breathable and comfortable, and I feel like I'm basically running on teeny tiny puffy clouds. Plus, I quite like the slightly garish bold color pops. The Gel Cumulus 26 isn't the latest in the Gel Cumulus range, thanks to the Gel Cumulus 27, but this is a handsome deal to snap up if you don't care about having the latest shoe. It also saves you a lot of money, given that we only rated the 27 with 3 stars, and this one is far more worth the money. I personally love and still run in the Gel Nimbus range, and a 31% saving on the Gel Nimbus 26 is an absolute steal. Plenty of lightweight cushioning and a breathable upper make this the perfect shoe for longer miles, in my opinion. We're huge fans of the Gel Kayano 31 at TG. A generous slice of cushioning in the midsole and rearfoot PureGEL technology for a softer, bouncier ride. What's not to love? Right now, the men's Brooks Ghost 16 in this grey colorway is down to $99 in the Prime Day sale. You'll have to cycle through the different options to find the best deal for you in your size. The Brooks Ghost 16 is also on sale in the women's shoe at $99. Again, you'll have to look through the different colors to find the best deal in your size.
Euractiv
3 days ago
- Business
- Euractiv
Beware of the bazooka!
Journalism has many rules: be accurate; be balanced; protect your sources. Donald Trump, however, has apparently prompted EU hacks to endorse yet another edict: never – ever – write about the US president's tariffs without mentioning Brussels' 'trade bazooka ' . This propensity has dramatically intensified since last Saturday, when Trump threatened to hike the baseline US levy on European exports from 10% to 30% from 1 August. Indeed, reporters – many of whom appear to have spent their youths overindulging in explosion-filled Arnold Schwarzenegger films – now seem incapable of writing about US trade policy without mentioning the likely imminent activation of the 'anti-coercion instrument', or 'ACI'. (Full disclosure: I've also written about the ACI, and I also love Arnie.) Typically, journalists are careful to couch their language in such a way as to ensure their claims are almost tautologically true: the Financial Times , for instance, recently claimed that the 'bazooka' tool [is] being considered ' by Brussels – an assertion that would, strictly speaking, be correct if Björn Seibert fleetingly pondered its use while tying his Asics sneakers. Other, similarly vacuous ways of describing Brussels' attitude towards the ACI include 'floats' and 'mulls' ( Bloomberg ); the clunkier 'looking to use' (also the FT ); and the hilariously in correct 'agonises over' ( Politico ). (Arguably, the image of vapid Eurocrats 'agonising over' whether or not to fire a bazooka is reminiscent of George Carlin's joke about the inventor of flamethrowers: 'Gee, I'd sure like to set those people on fire over there – but I'm way too far away to get the job done.') Jokes aside, there are three key questions for us to, er, consider. First, what is the ACI? Second, will it be used? And third, should it be? Ironically, the ACI was actually conceived as a direct result of Trump's policies during his first term. In particular, the US withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal in 2018 prompted EU officials to develop an instrument that would protect the bloc from US 'secondary sanctions', which Washington threatened against firms and countries that continued to trade with Tehran. The efforts were subsequently turbocharged by China's imposition of export controls on strategically critical minerals on Lithuania in 2021, after the Baltic nation upgraded diplomatic ties with Taiwan, a self-governing island whose independence Beijing refuses to recognise. According to experts, the instrument, which came into force in 2023 but has never actually been used, is undoubtedly Brussels' most powerful – and versatile – trade weapon. 'The term 'bazooka' is trendy in Brussels, but it's also pretty accurate,' said Tobias Gehrke, a senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations. 'The range of potential responses is unrivalled: hypothetically, you can do a lot of damage.' This potential damage includes imposing investment restrictions, withdrawing intellectual property protections, suspending individual companies' licences, banning access to EU public procurement markets, and sanctions targeting specific individuals, he said. Crucially, the ACI can legally empower the European Commission, which oversees EU trade policy, to impose countermeasures targeting not just a 'coercing' nation's goods but also its services . This is important for two reasons. First, because the EU, which has already threatened to slap retaliatory levies on €93 billion worth of US goods, is now running out of goods to target. Second, because unlike trade in goods, the bloc runs a substantial deficit in services with the US – thus in theory giving it 'escalation dominance' over Washington in this area. Thus, it would seem that the ACI could be the perfect tonic for Brussels' transatlantic malaise: at a time when Trump is continuing to escalate his tariff threats, a bazooka blast might be just what the trade doctor ordered. Trigger-happy journalism Unfortunately – and unlike with an actual bazooka – there are numerous practical, political, and strategic obstacles standing in the way of the ACI's use. The first is timing. The first stage of the ACI's activation involves a four-month investigation by the Commission to determine whether 'coercion' has actually taken place. Then, member states can take up to two and a half months before voting on the Commission's findings. Then, if member states approve, the Commission has six months to negotiate with the coercing party and outline potential countermeasures if talks fail. In short: even if member states were keen on loading it, it would probably take a year, if not more, before the bazooka could fire. By that point, Trump may have succeeded in cowing the EU into submission – or, if we're lucky, market forces may already have forced him to back down. Second, it is far from clear whether member states do , in fact, want the bazooka to be loaded. Activation of the ACI requires the support of a 'qualified majority' of EU member states, or 15 of the bloc's 27 countries, which collectively represent at least 65% of the bloc's population. As it stands, however, no countries are currently in favour of triggering the ACI, according to three diplomats briefed on EU ambassadors' closed-door discussions this week. Instead, only a handful of countries – including France, Spain, and Portugal – are open to more explicitly threatening to use the ACI during negotiations with the US. A couple more countries are similarly open to exploring the possibility of targeting services using other, less powerful trade defence tools (e.g. the Enforcement Regulation). This, in turn, suggests that Bloomberg's 'scoop' earlier this week that a 'growing number' of member states 'want the bloc to activate' the ACI if trade talks with Washington fail is largely false, insofar as it conflates the threat of using the ACI with actually using it. Moreover, it is similarly likely that Bloomberg confused invoking the ACI with the EU's increasing openness to targeting services – something the FT and Politico separately 'scooped' earlier this week and which, in fact, is true. Unfortunately, it is also not a scoop: the Commission publicly admitted earlier this week that it is drawing up ways of targeting US services. Leopoldo Rubinacci, a senior Commission official involved in US trade negotiations, told the European Parliament's International Trade Committee on Monday that Brussels 'is practically ready on also considering [trade] measures that do not cover goods ( sic )'. He also denied that these measures would be imposed under the auspices of the ACI. 'We will decide when the time comes whether we need to use, also, the anti-coercion instrument,' he said. (Interestingly, Rubinacci also denied that the Enforcement Regulation allows for retaliation against services – which raises the question of what the Commission's legal justification for targeting US services actually is.) 'A dangerous escalation'? In addition to legal and political difficulties, however, there are also huge geoeconomic risks associated with triggering the bazooka – namely, the possibility of massive US retaliation. In a recent note, Deutsche Bank warned that triggering the ACI could constitute 'a dangerous escalation' of the EU-US trade war and 'has the potential for enormous self-harm if directed at US tech services in particular'. 'Europe is highly dependent on these service imports,' Deutsche added. 'Any counterresponse by the US to curb access to tech services would be massively disruptive to business in Europe. This is an escalation that only has downside for the EU.' To further bolster Deutsche's point, it is possible – if not likely – that any EU push to target US service providers could prompt other forms of US retaliation. Trump could, for instance, step up attempts to annex Greenland, threaten to withdraw US military support for Europe, or even pull out of NATO. Other analysts, however, argue that such warnings are based on a fundamental misconception of the ACI's nature and purpose. 'You can't generalise that the ACI will massively backfire because you can take a million different measures,' said Gehrke. 'You can withdraw entire licenses and take away intellectual properties protections – that's obviously a nuclear bomb. Or you can be very limited and just crank up some regulatory hurdles here and there to make life more difficult or costly for these companies.' Other analysts stress that the main goal of 'triggering' the ACI is precisely for the threat of countermeasures to boost the EU's chances of a trade deal during the six-month negotiation process. 'The ACI wasn't designed to be used, but rather to be threatened to be used,' said Arthur Leichthammer, a policy fellow at the Jacques Delors Centre. The Commission appears to be thinking along similar lines. 'The anti-coercion instrument is not an end in itself,' Rubinacci said on Monday. 'The anti-coercion instrument is an instrument.' In short: to journalists' likely dismay, use of the bazooka remains exceedingly unlikely. Moreover, even if it were used, only a worst-case scenario would see the bazooka eventually firing an explosion of trade countermeasures. However, such countermeasures would not only take many months to be imposed, but would also carry risks of severe political and economic blowback. This, of course, is a truth that all Arnie fans instinctively recognise: bazookas can cause enormous explosions – but they can also massively backfire. Economy News Roundup Brussels proposes largest long-term EU budget in the bloc's history. The post-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) should amount to €1.98 trillion, or 1.26% of the bloc's gross national income (GNI), the European Commission said on Wednesday. This is well above the current budget, which was pitched at 1.11% and negotiated to 1.05% GNI. If implemented, the plan – which must be approved by all 27 member states – would also merge historically separate farming and regional spending programmes into country-specific national plans and create a €451 billion fund to boost ailing industry. Read more. The Commission's plan was widely criticised, including by members of von der Leyen's own centre-right political family, the European People's Party. 'We, the [European Parliament], cannot accept that the budget of the European Union becomes the sum of 27 national, eventually conflicting different agendas,' Siegfried Mureșan, the EPP's lead rapporteur for the MFF, wrote on Twitter on Wednesday. Dutch Finance Minister Eelcon Heine also warned that the Commission's proposed MFF 'is too high' and that 'difficult choices' (i.e. cuts) must be made. See our must-read explainer. Europe's wine sector condemns Brussels' plan to wine on €72 billion US retaliation list. Ignacio Sánchez Recarte, who runs CEEV, a Brussels-based lobby group, told Euractiv that US and EU wine groups have 'made it clear' that wine should be 'kept out of trade disputes'. Other American-made spirits, including bourbon, are also on the Commission's list, which must still be approved by member countries. The EU has also already drawn up a retaliatory package targeting €21 billion worth of US goods, including motorbikes, diamonds, and soybeans. Read more. Donald Trump's threatened 30% tariff on European exports would "practically" end EU-US trade, warns EU trade chief. Maroš Šefčovič said the US president's latest tariff threat, announced on Saturday, would have 'super negative' consequences if it enters into force on 1 August by disincentivising EU exporters from shipping goods to the US. "30% or anything above 30%... it has more or less the same effect: practically, it prohibits trade," Šefčovič told reporters ahead of a meeting of EU trade ministers in Brussels. Read more. US is urging EU to adopt Washington's more hawkish policy on China, says Brussels. Leopoldo Rubinacci, a European Commission official involved in US trade negotiations, said Washington has urged Brussels to 'follow us 100%' vis-à-vis Beijing, despite the EU's insistence on forging independent ties with the world's second-largest economy. The remarks amid growing speculation that the bloc could impose tougher measures on Beijing in order to clinch a trade deal with the US. Read more.
Forbes
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Novak Djokovic Receives Special Sneaker Delivery During Wimbledon
A pair of Asics Japan S shoes customized by Swithadot for Novak Djokovic. Novak Djokovic received a special delivery while in London for Wimbledon 2025, a pair of white Asics sneakers with custom art, another project in a line of personalized sneaker designs from Swithadot Studios. Founded by Satja Grabuloski and based in North Macedonia since 2016, he's grown his business to 30-plus in-house artists located across the world, designing custom art on sneakers for the likes of Djokovic, Cristiano Ronaldo, LeBron James and plenty more. While soccer has been a key sport for Swithadot, the move into tennis excites Grabuloski. 'Tennis is a space we're planning to focus on much more moving forward,' Grabuloski tells me. 'My favorite so far has to be the OneOfAKindS pair created for Novak Djokovic. It is unmatched in every way.' The goat symbol on a pair of customized shoes for Novak Djokovic. In the recently delivered pair of shoes, Swithadot used an all-white Asics Japan S as the base and the art focuses on two Serbian double-headed eagles across mismatched color paint spatters in Serbian colors. There's also a goat mark—it's exactly the same as used on pairs done for Ronaldo and James—and a nod to Djokovic's foundation placed on the back tabs. While Swithadot has created for other tennis players, such as Donna Vekic, another memorable project in 2025 was a pair created for tour pro Aljaz Bedene and delivered during the Australian Open. This one featured Australian koalas and golden wattle flowers. 'The studio has had a strong presence in soccer for years, alongside basketball and handball. The next bit step is bringing color and storytelling into the traditionally 'white' sports of tennis,' Grabuloski says. 'The future of garment design and luxury shopping in general lies in hyper-personalization as a way of adding sense and value, and we're pushing forward in many directions to be part of that future.' A pair of Swithadot customized shoes for LeBron James commemorating Space Jam. Grabuloski started his studio 'with nothing more than a Sharpie and a £2 pair of white canvas sneakers.' His first big break came in 2017 within the world of handball and then in soccer in 2018 when a pair of cleats featuring Marvel's Hulk got noticed. 'That moment sparked real interest among athletes who wanted to tell their personal stories through their footwear,' he says, 'and set everything in motion.' Now commissions come from all directions, sometimes directly from a celebrity or their team, other times through agents or management. With the growth of content creation culture, there's also a surge in demand to use the art as a gift during content videos. 'We work closely with brands looking to celebrate sponsored athletes,' he says, 'or add a unique creative moment to an event or rollout.' Most of the requests for athletes come for performance shoes, but casual sneakers and apparel are a close second. Lately Swithadot has seen an uptick in request for custom running shoes. Common themes include celebrating a home country or city, along with family tributes and personal favorites, from movies to foods. A McDonald's Happy Meal customization for Tigran Barseghyan. 'My creative process always begins with the client's idea, no matter how nonspecific it is,' Grabuloski says. 'That is the magical part of the process, as the refining through visual mockups is done together with the client, until the story is captured perfectly. At the end of the day, we're storytellers and that's what makes this work so fulfilling.' To make it all last, Grabuloski invested to develop a paint formula to give Swithadot a paint that could not only stand up to the pressures a pro athlete puts in their shoes—after-market paint is known to dissolve in minutes—but also standardize the artistic process. Now Swithadot Studios has its own 'Colors' formula. 'Everything we apply by hand is nearly as durable as what comes off the brand's production lines,' Grabuloski says, adding he plans to sell the paint by the end of 2025. For now, the special paint pairs with custom art, helping tell stories for athletes and celebrities, including Djokovic at Wimbledon.
Arab News
6 days ago
- Business
- Arab News
SFA President Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed ‘sees promise' in new community partnership with Asics
RIYADH: As part of a three-year partnership signed in January 2025 with the Saudi Sports for All Federation, sports equipment manufacturer Asics has announced a new competition aimed at delivering business solutions in the sports industry. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport Asics Ventures is looking to accelerate innovation in sports through investment in and collaboration with cutting-edge technology startups globally. So far, Asics Ventures has hosted six accelerator programs in Japan, Europe, and India over the past seven years and has established many networks and invested in startups around the world. Now, it is set to expand into the region by welcoming the SFA as a co-hosting partner of its newest pitch event, titled 'Asics Innovation Pitch in Collaboration with the Saudi Sports for All Federation.' The connection is accepting proposals from Saudi startups until July 30. 'The Saudi Sports for All Federation is proud to work closely with Asics Ventures to enrich the sports ecosystem in the Kingdom,' said Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed, president of the SFA. 'We are looking for digital business solutions that cater to the sports segment. SFA has a good relationship with Asics, and we are proud to build on this with our latest collaborative program 'The SFA is mandated to work with private sector partners, and our work with Asics shows that these partnerships can be structured to generate and support real-world solutions applied here in our country,' he added. The SFA had entered into a three-year strategic partnership agreement with Asics KSA, the Saudi subsidiary of the Japanese multinational sportswear corporation, to prioritize sport as a key contributor to the Saudi economy. The agreement was signed by Shaima Saleh Al-Husseini, SFA managing director, on behalf of the federation and Yohei Takahashi, general manager of Asics KSA, in the presence of senior representatives from the two entities. Under the terms of the agreement, SFA and Asics will collaborate on hosting sports initiatives and promoting health and fitness efforts across Saudi Arabia in line with Saudi Vision 2030 to enhance the quality of life for Saudi citizens and residents. Al-Husseini commented: 'We are thrilled to partner with Asics, a global leader whose dedication to the value of sports matches our vision. This partnership enables us to elevate the experience of participants across the Kingdom by bringing world-class expertise and resources to our grassroots initiatives. 'Our collaboration with Asics underscores our commitment to increasing physical activity and creating unparalleled opportunities for the community and sports enthusiasts,' she added. 'Together, we will inspire and support communities throughout Saudi Arabia to embrace a more active and healthier lifestyle, in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.'
Tom's Guide
6 days ago
- Tom's Guide
Forget Prime Day — I review running shoes for a living, and my favorite Asics sneaker is still on sale
I test running shoes for a living, so it's rare that I get a chance to revisit old shoes. Yet despite the influx of new shoes through my door each week, some remain firm favorites, and one of these pairs is the Asics Novablast 4, which is currently on sale for $99 on Amazon. That's the lowest price in 30 days, and a saving of nearly 30%! The shoes are a fantastic, comfortable everyday running shoe, with a great amount of versatility. This shoe can pick up the pace when you need it to, and has a decent amount of responsiveness underfoot. Plus, for less than $100, now is a great time to buy. The Novablast 4 is on sale in several different sizes and colors right now on Amazon. You'll need to cycle through the different options to find the best deal in your size. The men's Asics Novablast 4 is also discounted to $99 right now. If you're looking to buy one running shoe that'll cope with all of the different runs on your training plan, the Asics Novablast 4 is a good place to start. It's bouncy and lively enough to help you pick up the pace on your tempo runs and speed sessions, while still being cushioned and comfortable on long runs and easy days. I've run over 100 miles in this shoe, and it's still one I reach for when I'm heading out for a long run. I've run over 100 miles in this shoe, and it's still one I reach for when I'm heading out for a long run. The shoe has Asics' FlyteFoam Blast+ foam in the midsole, and while it doesn't have the same sink-in comfort as shoes like the Asics Gel Cumulus 27, this isn't a bad thing. It's bouncy, responsive, and the slightly firmer midsole gives the shoe a lot more versatility. The shoe has since been replaced with the Asics Novablast 5, but don't let this deter you. Asics didn't change much between the two models, so you're better off saving money right now and buying the Novablast 4. I definitely would! On the design front, the shoe looks amazing, and right now it's discounted in a bunch of different colors to suit every style. The shoe dropped to $99 in the Amazon Prime Day sales, and it's amazing that it's stayed at this all-time low!
