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Shoes are getting smarter, no, I am not talking about the cutting-edge Nike Adapt BB, I meant the regular shoes that we all want to use on a day-to-day basis. With ever-advancing material science and a better understanding of human anatomy, legacy footwear brands continue to push the envelope to develop the most comfortable shoes.
Asics recently launched its 30th edition of flagship running shoes — Gel Kayano 30. Aimed at runners, these shoes are designed to provide adaptive stability. For the asking price of Rs 15,999, are these the best pair of running shoes that money can buy? I have tried to answer the very question in my full review of the Asics Gel Kayano 30.
The 30th edition of Asics’s flagship running shoes gets a major overhaul in terms of design and the latest offering looks more modern with a thicker sole featuring a 4D guidance system. However, despite the bulkier look, the shoes have lost some weight and have become lighter, weighing at 303g.
This product combines the lightness of the Kayano light and the stability of the Gel Kayano, which makes it a light and stable running shoe with plenty of cushioning.
While it’s still not as light as something like a Nike Hoka Mach 5, I definitely felt that these are much lighter than my Puma Calibrate Restored Tron. I also quite liked the contrasting look of the black/glow yellow colour finish.
Despite the major visual overhaul, the brand has ensured to retain the look of the Asics, which is definitely a bonus in my opinion.
The key differentiating factor of the Gel Kayano 30 amongst the other running shoes is its advanced stability, which is achieved using the 4D guidance system by preventing overpronation, which is usually caused due to the flattening of the feet while running or jogging. Overpronation puts strain on muscles and tendons, which if sustained could cause injury to the foot and the leg.
The wider midsole on the Kayano 30 features the 4D guidance system that guides the foot to a more optimal position, enabling perfect landing, achieved using the proprietary PureGEL technology that absorbs shock and FF Blast PLUS ECO, which offers a 4mm stack height increase.
The Asics Gel Kayano 30 is a professional pair of running shoes. While I am not quite a serious runner, I do jog for a couple of kilometres at the weekends.
Asics has done quite a few things differently on the Gel Kayano 30 to make them a comfortable pair of running shoes, which includes the 4D guidance system that smartly adapts to the shape of the runner’s foot to deliver maximum comfort by evenly distributing the pressure across the feet.
The 4D guidance system comprises a new pure Gel technology that enhances shock absorption, the sculpted midsole helps with lateral compression, and the thicker heel offers controlled impact along with smoother transition. On top of that, the shoes also have an engineered stretch knit upper part, which enhances breathability.
All these technologies come alive, especially during longer runs. During my experience, the shoes got more comfortable as I continued my running. Even in the non-running scenarios, the shoes felt comfortable and offered plenty of grip on slippery surfaces.
I also feel that the upper has plenty of space in the toe box and these shoes just offered me the perfect fit with socks. Do note that the heel has a 40mm height, which is reduced to 30mm at the forefoot, designed to land on the heel with a 10mm difference, also known as high drop, which makes them excellent running shoes that can fully absorb the impact and offer a stable landing.
These are not just a fantastic pair of running shoes, but they are also environmentally conscious with a 14 per cent lower carbon footprint than the industry average.
These are serious stability shoes. While they are not as light as some of the high-end running shoes, they definitely feel lighter than most of the stability shoes in the market and are also available in multiple colour options. If you have flat feet or overpronate while running, you will definitely appreciate the Gel Kayano 30.
The Asics Gel Kayano 30 clearly shows the company’s experience in making running shoes for over three decades. Despite its feature of a new 4D advanced guidance system, these shoes are lighter and look a lot better than their predecessor. If you are looking for a new pair of high-performance running shoes, you definitely can’t go wrong with the Kayano 30.
