Asics Gel-Kayano 30 - Women's Review

The new and improved Gel-Kayano is our top recommendation for those who want serious comfort during their runs. With a measured drop of 11mm and a super stacked outsole that stands at a peak height of 37mm, this shoe is loaded with comfort elements.

Performance Comparison

Cushioning and Landing Comfort

There are very few other shoes in our lineup this season that come close to offering the underfoot plushness that the Kayano 30 does. Asics jumped on the boat-like aesthetic and prevailed, delivering a shoe with exceptional landing comfort and cushioning.

The underfoot stack of the Gel-Kayano is thick, especially in the heel. This is a shoe that is made for stable, well-cushioned rides, and it delivers. The outsole is forgiving enough for joint protection without being so soft as to feel mushy. The underfoot cushion almost feels bubbly in its effect, leading to some epically fun and comfortable mileage.

Responsiveness

As we all know, heavy and well-cushioned runners do not always have the best responsiveness rankings. This is somewhat true for the Kayano, but not entirely.

Because of its weight and bulk, we certainly do not envision the Gel-Kayano as your next racing shoe, but it is responsive enough to be a great training companion. The redesigned outsole adds a significant amount of energy return, allowing what you put into each footfall to parlay into the next. The balanced platform of the outsole provides a forgiving launchpad that works with your body to propel you forward. If you want a shoe to lay down some serious speed, this chunky-soled runner is not our recommendation. But if you want comfort, adequate responsiveness, and a durable shoe, the Kayano might be right up your alley.

Stability

The Gel-Kayano 30 is built to be a neutrally stable shoe, so it isn't especially surprising that it scores well in this metric yet still has a wide appeal. The lateral edges are firm but not rigid, making this a suitable shoe for runners who don't care about lateral support.

The firmness of the heel collar locks your feet in place, but the width of the outsole is notable when it comes to the stability of the Kayano. The rearfoot is stuffed with cushion to help provide a rolling sensation if you overpronate (yes, our testers ran this way on purpose to provide you with the best information possible). Instead of allowing overpronated strides to occur, the heel shape ever-so-gently encourages body weight to move forward versus medially. All of this to say, if you are interested in a supportive shoe and aren't sure where to start looking, the Kayano is a great place to begin. If you are motivated by comfort for long runs but tend to favor neutral running shoes, the neutral support of the lateral edges and heel collar might be a great match for you as well.

Upper Comfort

The upper comfort of the Kayano is fantastic, aside from a few minor details that might make or break the experience for you. As with all shoes, we recommend you try-before-you-buy if possible. This shoe is one that you likely may want to size up on.

First, let's talk about the positives. The stretch-knit upper is breathable enough and somehow provides the perfect touch against the tops of your feet. It isn't too soft, and it is not too firm; we never had issues with pinky toes busting out the sides because of the upper's softness. The lace bed is plush, and the silky soft laces stay snug during long runs. The main detail that stood out in a negative way is that the Kayano 30 runs a bit short. With the semi-steep differential, picking up speed had us feeling like our toes were ramming up against the front of the toe box. Our lead tester is a size 6.5 but typically buys running shoes in a size 7 for the extra space. Even in a size 7, she would have preferred a bit more length in the toe box. Aside from that small fit quirk, the upper of the Kayano is as smooth and comfortable as it is supportive.

Weight

All of the cushion of the Kayano comes at the expense of weight, though this shoe is lighter than we expected.

Each women's size 6.5 weighs in at 8.01 ounces, planting it in the lower half (i.e., heavier) of the running shoes we rounded up this season. The bulk of the weight rides in the heel, which is not entirely unpleasant, but it is definitely a departure from the ride on past versions of the Kayano.

Should You Buy the Asics Gel-Kayano 30?

If luxurious comfort and underfoot cushion are what you are after, this is the shoe for you. Many different manufacturers are on the maximalist train these days, but in our opinion, Asics is doing it best with the updates to the Kayano. With some responsiveness, plush underfoot comfort, and a buttery soft upper, this is a great shoe for the depths of marathon training. If you want a race-ready speed shoe, this isn't it. But runners looking to get time on their feet in comfort have a good chance of enjoying everything the Kayano has to offer.

What Other Running Shoes Should You Consider?

The most obvious parallel to draw here is between the Kayano and the Hoka Clifton 9. The Clifton is a fantastic shoe when it comes to comfort, but it scored slightly below the Kayano nearly across the board, the exception being weight. If you tend to favor Hoka-made shoes, the Clifton is about as close as you can get to the Kayano in terms of tech and function. While not as overstated, the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 23 offers awesome landing comfort and cushioning as well as a supportive build. The Adrenaline rides a bit closer to the ground and has a more traditional and familiar fit. If stability is what you're after, the Adrenaline is up there with the Kayano and the Clifton in terms of strong support.