Closing this year’s chapter of ASICS’s “Map” series is the titular “Aged Map”. Over the last few years, the Japanese institution has been releasing a thematic pack of the silhouette that sees the elements of cartography imbedded on the upper. 2022 saw the “Subway” pack that consisted of New York and Tokyo’s subway lines as the design basis; and before that was a cerulean “World Map” iteration.

Their successor arrives with the same motif, a verisimilitude of a map imposed over the upper. The Aged Map does differ from its forebear by bearing a contrasting  shade of green. Also, whereas the earlier iteration featured a more modern design of the world, this latest release sees a more antiquated version à la one drawn from centuries past, with even an archaic compass rose seen on the toe box and the insoles.

Bar the graphic-extensive overlays, the beige rope laces stands out over the uniform leather upper, supported by the sole unit of the similar tonal shade. There lies a singular “asics” embossed on the lateral midfoot. Other branding elements arrive by way of the embroidery of “GEL-LYTE III” on the lateral heel up top, and another company branding on the heel tab, proximate to the compass rose embroidery below.

A firm release date hasn’t been set, aside from a purported 12 December. The pair is expected to go for ¥19,250 (≈US140).

In other ASICS-related news, check out the KASSL Editions x ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 9, also scheduled for a December release.