I like a little less shoe than the DST but don't know of a comparable, durable alternative. I want something a little more minimal (between a flat and lightweight trainer) that is good for everyday training. I really like the DST's but something a little less beefy would be nice. Any suggestions?
If you're trying to stay within the Asics line, get your hands on a pair of DS Racers (discontinued this year, but still readily available) or Banditos (the replacement to the Racer).
I've put close to 200 miles on my Racers, and I love them. I just got a pair of Banditos, and they feel very similar so far.
I was really expecting a critique of daylight savings time here. I thought you were going to say how you still haven't really adapted, and maybe they should go in half-hour increments over two weekends. Perhaps you'd suggest maybe just changing DST to a half hour. Something more minimal. I thought you would cite statistics about the monday after 'springing foreward' is the most deadly time to commute in the year.
I expected a few early risers to concur but say that DST should just be done away with altogether, hijacking the thread and furthermore creating a one-up contest among guys who got up at 6 then 5:30 then 5 then 4:30 to run. I expected evening runners to disagree with them. I thought the early birds would call the evening guys lazy and maybe even unconcerned with the welfare of their own families whose company they miss on their evening runs. A troll would pretend to be on the evening guys' side and link that article about that runner who was hit by a car at 4:30 in Seattle by a driver who was asleep at the wheel. This troll would say something tasteless in pretend rage like "it can happen to you! i hope it will!"
To sum up: your thread about a pair of shoes is extraordinarily disappointing.
The ASICS Speedstar (II) is the obvious next step down from DST. They're pretty similar, but lighter, simpler, and just plain better, in my honest/humble opinion (imho for short).
I second Mulhawk on that. I stepped down from DS Trainers to Speedstars, and loved them. I've now stepped down to yet more minimal shoes & Speedstars feel a little clunky to me, but they felt great as I was transitioning. And they lasted pretty much forever, too.