When Asics first dipped into skateboarding a few years back, it barely made a ripple. No one really expected a running-shoe giant to make serious moves in the skate world, especially after the wave of big-brand entries had already come and gone. But things changed fast. With the right team, some standout skate edits, and a sharp, distinctive aesthetic, Asics quietly built one of the most interesting identities in skateboarding today, both in content and in product.
Their lineup so far has been simple: durable, no-nonsense skate shoes that get the job done. But their latest drop, the Leggerezza FB, digs deeper into the brand’s archives. It’s a mash-up rooted in vintage football shoes, originally inspired by 90s handball models. (Fun fact: handball started outdoors before moving indoors, which explains the blend of traction and style.) The result? A leather silhouette that merges grippy court function with old-school football flair.
A few months back, Asics Skateboarding dropped a sleek New York edit featuring Gino Iannucci, Sully Cormier, Victor Campillo, and Mark Humienik cruising the city in the Leggerezza. The video had that raw-yet-polished vibe that made the shoes and the skating look effortlessly smooth. Honestly, upon first impression the shoes gave off serious Busenitz energy, which only made us more curious. So, of course, we had to grab a pair and put them through a proper weartest. Read on to see if Asics’ football-meets-handball hybrid actually holds up on a board.
The Asics Leggerezza fits true to size.
The Asics Leggerezza, despite its clean and minimal look, proved to be impressively durable for several reasons, chief among them, the one-piece toebox. With no separate panels or stitching that could tear apart, this design eliminates potential weak spots in high-wear zones. After testing, no holes were observed in the upper’s toe area, and the Ollie zone, where the toebox connects to the midfoot, remained solid and intact.
Another key factor behind the shoe’s toughness is its cupsole construction. While the sidewalls aren’t especially tall, the junction between the upper and the sole held up remarkably well. The most visible wear appeared in the kickflip zone, but even there, the damage was minimal. The outsole’s wide and deep tread pattern also contributed to its longevity; after roughly ten hours of skating, the sole still retained significant depth and traction, even in the areas that took the most abuse.
The Asics Leggerezza focuses on boardfeel but still offers surprisingly good cushioning for such a thin cupsole. The sole construction is quite interesting. It uses a slim cupsole that contains two layers of foam, one firm for stability and one soft for shock absorption, with an additional glued in foam insole on top for extra comfort.
During our 10 hour wear test, the sole handled small to medium impacts with ease, effectively absorbing shock without feeling bulky. Overall, for such a thin cupsole, the Asics Leggerezza stands out with an impressive balance of board control and cushioning performance.
The Asics Leggerezza has a slim silhouette that fits closely around the foot in every area. Its clean, pointed shape provides excellent flick and plenty of control during flip tricks. The leather also feels thicker than expected, helping the shoe maintain its structure and support throughout the 10 hour wear test.
The Asics Leggerezza’s cupsole does not quite match the grip of vulcanized shoes, but the soft and flexible sole still creates enough friction to keep the feet securely planted. The grip benefits from the sole’s flexibility, which adapts well to the concave and maximizes contact between the shoe and the deck. Overall, the sole offers a moderate level of grip.
The thin sole design also enhances boardfeel. The sole requires no break-in time and feels ready to skate straight out of the box, thanks to its natural flexibility. The shoe delivers a very direct connection to the board, something rarely found in cupsole models. With minimal material between the foot and the deck at the front, the boardfeel is exceptional. In the end, the Asics Leggerezza’s boardfeel easily competes with, and in some ways surpasses, many vulcanized soles, giving it a distinct and refined feel on the board.
The Asics Leggerezza is a comfortable shoe. Its minimalist design and thin sole make it very light on the feet. The tongue centering straps, along with the padding in the heel, tongue, and forefoot, as well as the dual density foam midsole, all contribute to a pleasant fit and smooth skating experience.
Cupsole shoes usually provide more support than vulcanized models, and for such a thin cupsole, the Asics Leggerezza offers solid stability. The close fit around the foot adds to that secure feeling. A standout detail is the padding in the toe area, which feels surprisingly protective despite the slim appearance, while still keeping enough softness for a clean flick. The heel support also enhances the sense of stability. Overall, the shoe delivers a light, comfortable ride with a level of support and control that goes beyond expectations.
Asics surprised us once again. The Asics Leggerezza stands out with its durability, comfort, and great boardfeel, all while offering solid cushioning. Grip is its weakest aspect, but it still performs at a respectable level overall.
