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ASICS is always up to something good. The Japanese sneaker giant is nothing if not busy, constantly rolling out forward-thinking collabs as often as it debuts innovative freshness.

The ASICS GEL-Venture 6 Shield falls into that latter camp.

This is a dad shoe designed for a genuinely hardwearing dad lifestyle.

Need a shoe that can combat scuffs? Look no further.

Debuted in an ASICS Korea photoshoot more focused on charming Korean actor Ryoo Seung-bum, the ASICS GEL-Venture 6 Shield is a clever running sneaker intended for the long haul.

The chunkish shoe wears a built in shield — hence the name — that extends from the heel to the toebox, protecting the retro-leaning runner's precious mesh upper from the ills of the daily grind.

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In practice, the resulting design feels very adidas Ozweego, what with that layered look across the upper.

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Add in the Kiko Kostadinov-flavored appeal of three very muted colorways and you have a shoe that's borderline fashion-y.

But in effect, the GEL-Venture 6 Shield lives up to its name as a resolutely sturdy shoe meant for the rough n' tumble incidents of daily life.

I don't doubt that it'll survive some real rugged terrain, too, especially as the GEL-Venture 6 Shield is part of ASICS' outdoorsy Venture line.

Step back and admire: this sneaker has a nice shape, versatile colorways, an unpretentiously nice bit of detailing that's also quite useful — a solid, understated update to an already solid shoe.

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And who could complain about a sneaker that lasts a little longer? All it needs is an international release date.

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