Welcome to the first entry in my new blog detailing shoes I’ve bought and worn. It isn’t without coincidence that the first shoe I choose is the Asics Gel Kayano 30. Asics formerly had a professional purchase program which allowed Podiatrists to purchase multiple pairs a year at a highly reduced rate. This allowed me to try many different models in their portfolio including the most expensive ones, which I typically wouldn’t buy. Without question the model I have bought the most over the years is their flagship shoe the Kayano. In fact, I still have a pair of Kayano 28 and 21 in my closet!

Whether you are an avid runner or are simply looking for a livable shoe to get you through the workday, you should know Kayano’s are made for neutral to overpronation foot type. This means your arch flattens a lot or a little when you bear weight. Simply put they help prevent you from flattening out excessively. This year they offer a new 4D Guidance SystemTM which reportedly adapts as your running form changes over distance. My only experience with 4D are the movies at theme parks where they add smells and a tickle under your seat. Will likely need to use the shoes for an extended period to appreciate this full effect. If you’ve never worn an Asics shoe before please know they are known to run small. For example my foot size is 10.5 but in all Asics models I’ve always worn an 11.5

While online shopping for my Kayano 30 the first thing I noticed is the soles appear much thicker. They appear to be copying the trend started by Hoka which I have to admit I’ve always thought looked ugly. Nevertheless, my wife Christine found a navy pair that would look great with my ceil blue Mirage Podiatry work scrubs, so I pulled the trigger and bought them full price for $160.00 plus tax. 

Upon unboxing, the shoes look beautiful with lots of little details etched into the fabric and soles. As soon as I put these on they felt like an extension of my normal body. They hug your foot like a shoe blanket. The forefoot cushioning is cloud like and the wider sole at the heel gives profound stability. I can feel the gel bounce with every step. Turns out the thicker sole seriously impacts the ride in a comfortable and stable way. Like most shoes, I recommend adding your custom orthotics. This is the most comfortable shoe in my favorite brand and model. After 30 years of making the Kayano, Asics achieved true perfection. My rating 10/10!

Written by: Dr. Richard J. Rand III, DPM