The Asics Kayano celebrated its 25th anniversary this year which is a significant milestone when it comes to running shoes. Reaching the 25th anniversary speaks of Asics commitment to relying on what has worked but also improving with every new model.

The Kayano is the cornerstone of the Asics stability line. It is in the top tier when it comes to their stability lineup. It competes with the Brooks Adrenaline GTS and the Saucony Hurricane in the high end stability shoe.

I tend to gravitate towards vibrant running shoes with contrasting colors. Upon opening the box I was disappointed with the glacier grey and black color scheme of the shoes.

Asics Gel Kayano 25 – Toe

I was pleasantly surprised by how comfortable they were when I slipped them on for the first time. They felt almost as if I had run in them a couple of times. The exoskeletal heel counter hugged my heel and the no sew underlay felt smooth from my heel to my toes.

Asics Gel Kayano 25 Sole Unit

Reaching the 25th edition of a shoe means you are doing something right when it comes to the construction. The sole unit of the Asics Kayano 25 is a mixture of technology from previous models with some new research proven technology.

Gel in the heel and the Dynamic Duomax cushioning aid with shock absorption and controlling over pronation in the sole unit. These technologies have been a part of their stability line.

The mix of old and new technologies are evident in the cushioning of the Kayano 25. The midsole is comprised of Flytefoam Lyte and Flytefoam propel cushioning which both make their debut.

The Flytefoam Lyte is in the heel of of the shoes, this technology is lighter than previous cushioning while offering more absorption and bounce back as you run.

The Flytefoam propel cushing is located in the forefront of the shoes. This cushioning is both lightweight and durable, giving you more bounce back on a run. It also makes the sole more durable and flexibility.

Asics Gel Kayano 25 – Lateral Side

You can notice the difference in the foams the moment you do your first run in the Kayanos. The Flytefoam Lyte absorbed the impact of my stride which allowed me to run farther without my feet feeling tired.

Meanwhile, the Flytefoam Propel gave me a springiness in my stride helping me move my feet forward. These two new cushioning technologies are fantastic improvements to the midsole.

There are a couple of changes made to the bottom of the sole. The first change they made was to round the toebox. This added more space for your toes to spread out naturally as you run.

The forefront of my feet were thankful for this because it allowed me to have greater area in the shoe to push off on my stride.

The other change they made was to make the traction more aggressive. This was an improvement from previous models. It handled well, whatever the surface or weather.

Asics Gel Kayano 25 Upper Info

The upper part of the Kayanos 25 fit like a glove, not too tight or too loose, it was just right. They used a Jacquard mesh upper which provides the shoes with an exceptional fit for your foot.

Asics Gel Kayano 25 – Top

These new materials and updates increase the durability of the Kayanos. You can put in many miles in these shoes the without the fear of the upper breaking down.

The upper is extremely breathable and looks and feels seamless which prevents any areas of irritation. I found the upper dries quickly. I ran in the rain and by the next day the shoes had dried out completely.

They have continued using the exoskeletal counter in the back of the shoe to provide support and smooth heel fit. I noticed this technology early on while running in the shoes. It did a fantastic job of keeping my heel in place.

Asics Gel Kayano 25 – Heel

Asics Gel Kayano 25 Conclusions

All of the new changes they have made to the Kayano have been an improvement whether it is the Flytefoam Propel or the new upper materials. Every run I have done in these was a smooth, stable and cushioned ride.

When my foot struck the pavement I could feel the shoe absorbing the impact and when my foot pushed off I could feel the bounce back from new forefoot cushioning.

The shoes delivered on longer runs especially because of this mixture of old and new technologies.

Even though the Kayanos are lightweight I found the soles of the shoe to be bulky. On more than one occasion I felt my feet dragging due to the clunky sole. I noticed this more when I was running shorter distances than longer distances.

The bulky feeling along with the lackluster color options and the high price were the only drawbacks. I found my overall opinion improved with the amount of miles I ran in them.

I would recommend the Kayano 25 to someone who needs a stability shoe for training for either a half or full marathon.

We purchased a pair of Asics Gel Kayano 25 from runningwarehouse using our own money. This did not influence the outcome of this review, written after running more than 50 miles in them.