ASICS GT-2160 Sizing: Does It Run Big, Small or True to Size?

The ASICS GT-2160 fits true to size. Order the US size you normally wear in Nike or New Balance and you will land on the right length. What you should expect is a snug, contained feel at first, not a roomy retro runner, so the real decision is about width and socks rather than length.

That snugness is the reason some buyers hesitate and size up. Most of them do not need to. Below you will find who should stay put, who should add half a size, how the GT-2160 lines up against other popular pairs, and the ASICS chart so you can check the numbers yourself.

The short version by foot type

• Narrow or average feet: your usual size.
• Slightly wide feet: your usual size, and give the shoe a few wears.
• Very wide or high-volume feet: half a size up.
• Between sizes: either can work, so pick based on how snug you like your sneakers.
• Anyone: do not size down.

That last point matters. The GT-2160 already feels close on the first try-on, and a half size down turns close into cramped. The consensus among wearers is that the length feels a touch short for the first few outings and then settles as the collar and upper soften.

Why it feels snug but is not small

The GT-2160 is built on a stability running platform from the early 2010s, and that heritage shows up in the upper. It is layered mesh and overlays wrapped fairly tightly around the midfoot. You get a firm heel hold and a close forefoot, which is exactly what a stability trainer is meant to deliver.

The toe box is the part people tend to like. It flares slightly toward the outside edge, so the little toe has somewhere to go, and slightly wide feet usually do not feel pinched. It is still more contained and less airy than the Gel-1130. If you have tried both, expect the 2160 to feel tighter overall even though the numbered size is the same.

Length, width and volume

Length

Length tracks your Brannock size. The ASICS chart puts a men's US 9 at 27 cm, and ASICS asks you to match your measured foot to that number; Nike's chart puts the same US 9 at a 26.2 cm foot. If your foot measures between two half sizes, take the longer measurement and then use width and sock thickness to break the tie.

Width

Standard width is what most retailers stock. ASICS marks widths with letter codes: for men, B is narrow, D is standard, 2E is wide and 4E is extra wide. For women, 2A is narrow, B is standard, D is wide and 2E is extra wide. Lifestyle colorways of the GT-2160 are usually released in standard width only, which is why wider feet end up going up half a size instead.

Volume

High insteps are where this shoe can feel tight, more than the width does. If the lacing eyelets pinch over the top of your foot, loosen the top pair or try a different lacing pattern before you give up on the size. A thick aftermarket insole will use up volume quickly, so skip it or go up half a size.

How the GT-2160 compares to other shoes

These conversions come from the commonly reported consensus. Where fit differs by person, we say so.

• Gel-Kayano 14: very similar fit, same size. See our Gel-Kayano 14 guide.
• Gel-1130: the 1130 has more volume and a more forgiving toe box, so the same size feels roomier. The Gel-1130 sizing guide covers it.
• Gel-Lyte III and Gel-Lyte V: usually the same size, although the remastered Gel-Lyte III can feel tighter than the 2160.
• Nike Zoom Vomero 5: similar length and fit, same size.
• Nike Dunk: your normal Dunk size carries over for length. Check our Dunk sizing guide if you are unsure of that number.
• New Balance 990, 1906 and 2002R: true to size in those translates well.

Overall, if you wear the same size across ASICS, Nike and New Balance runners, the GT-2160 will not break that pattern. For the wider picture, read the ASICS sizing guide.

Collabs and special editions

Most GT-2160 collaborations, including the Kith releases and various boutique drops, fit like the regular release, so stay with your standard size. The one reported exception is the JJJJound pair. The length is the same, but the upper is noticeably snugger with less volume, which people link to a thicker, less forgiving mesh. It is still wearable at true size, though wide feet should seriously consider half a size up on that one.

Men's and women's sizing

ASICS uses a unisex last for this model in many colorways, but women's pairs are often labeled in women's sizes. Women's sizing is true to size but feels a bit snug. Thicker socks or a preference for extra room is a good reason to go half a size up. To convert, add 1.5 to a men's size to get the women's number: men's 7 is women's 8.5. For more on that, see men's to women's shoe size.

ASICS size charts

Both charts below come from our ASICS data. Foot length is the actual length of the foot that fits that US size. CM (JP) is the label on the box, which runs longer than the foot because it includes toe room.

Need to convert from another brand? Use the conversion chart or the shoe size calculator.

How to measure for the right size

Stand on a sheet of paper in the evening, when your feet are at their largest. Mark the heel and the longest toe, measure between the marks in centimeters, and do both feet. Use the longer foot and match it to the Foot length column above, then check the CM (JP) column for the number on the box. Our foot measuring guide walks through it with a Brannock option too.

If you are between sizes, think about socks. Thin running socks favor the smaller size. Thick cushioned socks favor the larger one.

Break-in and what changes

Expect the shoe to ease slightly across the collar and the lateral forefoot over the first handful of wears. It will not stretch a full size, and you should not buy a pair that hurts on day one in the hope that it will. A pair that is a little firm but not painful is a good sign.

If you have a favorite insole or orthotic, test the fit with it from the start. A slim insole works. A bulky one eats the volume that makes the shoe comfortable.

Does the way you wear them change the size?

Yes, a little. Most GT-2160s today are bought as everyday sneakers, but some people do put real miles in them, and the two uses pull in different directions.

For daily wear, true size is the safe call. You will stand, walk and sit in them for hours, and the contained midfoot is a plus because the foot stays planted. For longer walks or runs, feet swell, and the same close fit that felt great in the store can start to press by the end. If that sounds like you, the half size up is not a mistake, it is a reasonable preference. Distance runners often go half a size up in running shoes in general, and our running shoe fit guide explains why.

Common sizing mistakes with this shoe

• Sizing down to fix a roomy feel. The GT-2160 is not roomy. If something feels loose, it is probably the lacing, so tighten the midfoot rather than dropping a size.
• Going up a full size for width. You gain length, not width, and a heel that slips is the usual result. Half a size is the most you should add.
• Judging by the first ten minutes. A new pair often feels shorter than it will after a few wears.
• Assuming every ASICS fits alike. The Gel-1130 and the GT-2160 share a brand, not a fit.

Final recommendation

Order your true size and plan on a short settling period. Go half a size up only if your feet are very wide, you have a high instep, or you wear thick socks. Do not size down. If you can buy from a store with easy returns, order both sizes and send back the one that fits worse.