The Asics Gel Kayano, in its 31st iteration, is one of the most popular stability trainers in the world. Its popularity stems from the fact that it has a consistent fit and ride from year to year, it is widely available and is always crammed with Asics' newest technologies. It has a premium feel and a premium price at $165.
The Asics GT 1000 (13) is the base model in Asics' stability category and shares some features with the Gel Kayano but retails for $55 less. Which of these shoes is the right one for you?
The Gel Kayano has a single-density midsole, using FF Blast+. The GT 1000 has a midsole made from FlyteFoam which isn’t as soft or bouncy as FF Blast+. The GT 1000 has gel in the rear foot and a hidden dime-sized gel unit in the forefoot for shock absorption. The Kayano has a hidden gel pad in the heel.
The rides of both shoes are not pillowy soft but medium-soft. The Kayano has deeper cushioning and some slight bounce which makes it suitable for longer runs. The firmer but lighter GT 1000 is better suited for shorter, faster runs.
Stability in both shoes is provided by the firmer supports in the midfoot area on the medial sides. A Trusstic system under the arch provide extra midfoot stability in the GT 1000 but the Kayano has no Trusstic system.
The men’s and women’s versions of the GT 1000 have 10mm heel-to-toe offsets and so do both versions of the Kayano.
Outsoles of the Kayano and GT 1000 have thick Asics High Abrasion Rubber (AHAR) lugs which provide plenty of traction on wet and dry surfaces.
The Gel Kayano has a breathable mesh upper with a comfortable midfoot and adequate toe-box height. It has a padded, gusseted tongue so that no tongue slide occurs. It has a padded heel counter which locks the heel down well. The Kayano fits true to size and comes in normal, wide (2E) and extra wide (4E) versions.
The GT 1000 has a breathable engineered mesh upper which is seamless and doesn’t cause any irritation. It has a comfortable fit with a generously padded heel counter and tongue that isn’t has plush as the Kayano. The GT 1000 runs true to size but has a snug midfoot fit. It also comes in regular, wide (2E) and extra wide (4E) versions.
If you’re a runner looking for all the latest bells and whistles in a premium looking and feeling package, the Kayano is the shoe for you. The Kayano has a comfortable, plush upper and a single-density midsole which provides plenty of deep cushioning for long runs.
If you’re a runner who wants a great value-for-money offering which has excellent stability, the GT 1000 is for you. It’s lighter than the Kayano band doesn’t have the premium materials that the the Kayano has but it has many stability features such as the DuoMax medial wedge, the Trusstic support system and the AHAR outsole for $55 less.
