ASICS Kayano 30
The Shakeout
Men’s: 10.6 oz
Women’s: 9.2 oz
Drop: 10
MSRP: $160.00
Mileage at time of review: 31.5
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This is the first pair of Kayano that I have ever been able to run in. I usually run in neutral shoes and up until the last year or so, stability shoes have caused knee pain and other kinetic chain issues for me. In the past two years or so we have, however, seen an evolution in the stability shoe that has me very excited. The traditional build for a stability shoe places either a piece of plastic or a much denser foam in the midsole just below the arch. This post would very aggressively resist pronation, though for me it caused other problems. There is now a new breed of stability shoes on the rise and it’s very exciting to see that the Asics Kayano 30 is throwing its hat into the ring!
The Breakdown
The Outsole
The outsole has a nice layer of ASICS AHAR+ material that gives excellent traction in dry conditions, though in wet I did have a few slick spots while walking, less so while running. It is the same material used on the Nimbus 25 and I found this to be quite durable in the Nimbus and expect to maintain that durability in the Kayano.
The Midsole
The midsole of the Kayano is made with FF Blast+ Eco, the same midsole material used in the Nimbus 25 and employs ASICS 4D guidance system. The change in philosophy for stability shoes allows for a better experience for the runner in my opinion, by allowing for softer foams to be used. I can feel that my foot is guided more toward the center line, but not in an overly corrective way. Traditional stability shoes have a way of making my knees hurt when I run, but I didn’t experience that sensation in the Kayano 30. All in all the midsole provides an excellent ride with some minor correction.
The Upper
I find the upper to be very pleasant. The material is breathable and stretchy and while my foot feels secure it doesn’t feel constrained. There is ample cushion around the heel collar and tongue, so no pesky lace bite. Between the upper and midsole this shoe has a bit of the old Cadillac feel, it’s big but it’s comfy.
Running and Walking
I have really enjoyed getting miles in this shoe. As a neutral runner I am always cautious about putting on a stability shoe. I want to review as many shoes as possible, but also avoid injury, so while I do enjoy this shoe quite a bit, I usually saved it for recovery and easier runs.
I find that it balances nicely between a traditional, sometimes overly corrective stability shoe and a neutral shoe. I never felt like I was being forced to the outside, rather I was gently guided to the center. This guidance was extremely beneficial when I found myself weary from longer training runs or when I felt that my form had broken down and I needed a little extra help.
The cushion in the midsole of this shoe lends itself to the long easy runs, though if you’re looking for a utility shoe, you could also pick up the pace a bit with this shoe as well. I don’t think it will be a favored shoe for the harder interval workouts, but anything up to the tempo effort is manageable with relative ease.
One of the biggest issues I saw as a potential problem was the rubber placement in the outsole in wet conditions. I found it to be slightly slippery when walking, though it never seemed to be an issue when running.
Gym
I found that for the gym work I do, the Kayano performed admirably. I focus most of my time on body weight and dumbbell/kettlebell exercises and it does just fine. The real issue with this shoe in the gym will be the height of the midsole for machines you strap your feet into and the cushion for any heavy barbell exercises or jumps.
Work
This is a killer choice for work. The midsole cushioning is incredible and if you’re someone who stands on their feet all day the structure and support in this shoe support body alignment and could hopefully reduce some of the daily aches and pains.
If you work in the service industry and need a shoe with a slip resistant base the Kayano may not be for you, but for everything else, it’s pretty stellar.
The Cooldown
In summary I think Asics nailed the Kayano 30. I love that they are moving toward guidance over correction with their shoes and think that this is a solid recommendation for just about anyone. It is built to be a workhorse that will take the miles and keep going and can be used for everything from running to daily living.