ASICS Men's Gel-Kayano 31 Running Shoes

My old friend, the gel kayano! I tried a variety of shoes the past 2 seasons, but found them lacking the support and cushioning I like for long run days. The ASICS gel kayano 31 fits great. I’m a 9 and wear a 9.5 for a little extra toe room because I run a lot of steep hills. I got these a couple of weeks ago. No break in time to speak of, though I always use moleskin on my heels for the first few weeks of any shoe.Light, comfortable ride, great stability. Mesh keeps my toes cool.. They hint at a little Hoka-envy with the profile, but are not as clown shoe as the Hokas. And I need at least some feedback from the pavement when running. I just got the solid black ones so I can wear them to the airport without looking silly on work trips, and pack my leather shoes.Great shoe, and has been for decades.

Great fitness shoe, not just for running. Fit is true to size, with a slightly wider toe box than Hoka and Adidas. Definitely more comfortable for me since I have a slightly wider foot. The amount of cushioning is also just right. I tried the New Balance 1080s and Hoka Cliftons and they had too much cushioning which made them less stable for runs and workouts. The Kayano is a stability running shoe so it makes sense. I purchased last year's model (Kayano 31) and saved $40 over this year's model.

Wearing Gel-Kayanos for over 25 years, I will say they just got better with each release. I went for my first run wearing these this morning and what a difference from my “old” Gel-Kayanos. Normally i get new shoes every 4 months based on the amount of running I do (about 15 plus miles per week). This morning I was running on air. These Kayanos are light, supportive and stabilizing. They are solid… I like the pullup strap in the back, definitely a plus from my old pair… No matter how much you run, these are the best running shoes in my opinion.

Comfortable. Hopefully they last 2 too 3 years. My other Kayano were 28. They only lasted a year, and I did not run / walked.The new ones, I hope to run in. Asics is always my go to shoe preference....Picture old ones 28The sole / Tread was worn out

Overall, I think this shoe is a great blend of stability and comfort. I got this shoe to use in rotation with my Brooks Adrenaline GTS 24 and I’ve come to much prefer the Kayano 31.Based on my foot anatomy, I don’t NEED to use a stability shoe but I do like how the Kayano 31 keeps my foot feeling stable and secure while walking or running. One of my favorite supportive components is the somewhat tall and structured heel/ankle area. I also appreciate the 4D Guidance system as it helps me feel generally more confident in my foot strike. The padded tongue also stood out to me as a nice feature. I have a higher instep and regularly get pressure points at the top of my foot from my laces and this little bit of extra padded helps alleviate that discomfort.The only issue I have with the Kayano 31 is around the toe box. I’m not sure if it’s the toe box construction or the style of upper but I regularly end up with a hot spot on my little toe when I do longer runs. I wear and extra wide and still experience this. It’s almost like the toe box begins to taper just a little too soon. There’s also a distinct feel in the forefoot where the midsole foam stops. It leaves my forefoot feeling rather flat compared to in the foam extended just slightly into the forefoot area.Overall, I think this is a really comfortable, supportive, and great looking shoe. Outside of the issue with the toe box, this is a shoe I would be happy purchasing again.

As a 71 year old runner, having run 5 marathons, one under 3 hours, I’ve purchased alot of different shoes. That said, these shoes are undoubtedly the best that I’ve ever purchased. They are light, extremely comfortable, and have great support. In my first run, I immediately found that the built up heel and very firm midsole support facilitated weight transfer to the ball of my foot and guiding my step forward… something I had not experienced before with any other shoe. Daily, I run a 10k up and down a small mountain nearby with a 450’ climb and descent. The cushion this shoe provides to the ball of my foot and toes, particularly during descent, is really excellent. It enables me to descend quietly, quicker, and without fear of injury.Clearly, this shoe surpasses any shoes I’ve ever owned before!

Great sneaker. I do a lot of walking and these are very comfortable, a lot of cushion. True to size.

I have been struggling with the worst case of Plantar fasciitis! I Stand 10hrs a day for work and it has been brutal. In desperation I asked Chat GPT for shoe recommendations and narrowed the list down to best reviewed mentioning Plantar fasciitis and this running shoe came out on top. I Know that I am not running in these so I can't comment on ride quality and such. I can say that these are by far the best sneakers I have ever worn. Walking takes all the shock out of heel strikes and the toe drop makes it almost feel like you're being propelled forward. I'm 300lbs and I have wide feet, the 13 x-wide is a perfect fit, my whole foot feels supported all the way around without them feeling smothered. I usually feel claustrophobia when my shoes are this snug, however the toe box is wide enough without having any extra slop. I noticed a considerable improvement near the end of the work day compared to my old Skechers. I feel like my fasciitis is improving. Im so impressed with these that I ordered my wife a pair.