Asics Glide Nova FF

A Quiet Return Signal

The original Glide Nova FF, released in 2019, was one of Asics' early signals that it was beginning to re-engage with the basketball category after years of quiet. Covered briefly by WearTesters at launch, the shoe represented a return to performance hoop design rather than the lifestyle crossovers Asics had been leaning on. The 'FF' in the name references Flytefoam, the brand's then-flagship midsole tech, which was being deployed across both running and basketball. WearTesters noted at the time that while Asics had never stopped making basketball shoes, they'd only really been relevant overseas 鈥 a situation that wouldn't begin to change meaningfully until the SwiftAce Yuki launch in late 2025. As such, Glide Nova FF 1 is now mostly a footnote in the line's history, remembered more as a start than a standout.