Asics Gel Kayano Shoes
Asics makes some amazing running gear. When I trained for my first marathon I strapped on the Asics Kayano’s and was able to easily get 400 miles out of them. Some people can manage nearly 500 miles in a single pair but I think most can comfortably shoot for 300-400 miles. Here’ a list of men’s and women’s Asics Gel Kayano’s that I highly recommend. All are great for high mileage and incredibly durable and come at a more than reasonable price:
Mens ASICS GEL-Kayano 14 Running Shoe
Asics Mens GEL Kayano 13 Quick Silver/Black/Red Pepper Running
Womens ASICS GEL-Kayano 14 Running Shoe
ASICS Men’s GEL-Kayano XII
There are a few reasons why I think this particular brand of Asics running shoe is excellent. Here are some product highlights:
1. The Gel Kayano’s have a massive heel pad. Not only is this great for motion control but are incredibly soft on landing as well. So, if you’re in a predominantly urban area and don’t have many soft off-road trails to run on, the Asics Kayano’s are great for keeping your feet healthy and protected while running on hard pavement.
2. Stability – The Gel Kayano’s do wonders for any runner who tends to over pronate during foot strike. They are an excellent motion stability shoe and you’ll likely not need to put in specialty soles such as Super Feet in order to prevent excessive pronotion. (Superfeet Green Trim-to Fit Insoles (1400)
3. The price is very reasonable as well. At most stores you can get them for under $120 and considering the amount of mileage you can put on them, that’s a great breakdown of cost/mile.
On the other hand there are a few downsides. The Asics Gel Kayanos can be a bit heavy at around 12.9 ounces per shoe. If you’re looking to buy a performance shoe that is ideal for race day conditions, faster speeds, or shorter runs then you may want to look for a different shoe. For most distance runners and marathoners though the Asics Gel Kayano’s are an excellent purchase.
Also consider checking out Asics Kayano running socks to go along with the shoes. I have several pair of these because no matter what type of shoe I wear I want my feet to be comfortable. They are extremely breathable but also have well placed padding on the bottoms of your feet. ASICS Kayano™ Low Cut Socks
Despite what your preference is for brand definitely keep in mind that you will want adequate cushioning and foot control (eg over pronation), a breathable upper mesh to release moisture and prevent blisters, and something that abides by the type of running you plan on doing (ie long distance, short distance, on or off road?).
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I was a big fan of the older Kayano models. The Kayano is a great shoe for someone who is a heavier runner and has a flexible arch and needs a lot of stability.
Although at $140 ish a pop… it gets expensive.
Yeah, I’m a bit of a “Clydsedale” runner myself at 6′1″ and 185lbs so the Kayanos were perfect for me. I actually got almost 500 miles out of my first pair!