Asics Gel Kayano 30 Performance Review

The Asics Gel Kayano 30 celebrates the Kayano’s 30th anniversary with a reshaped midsole that fits nicely alongside the high-performing Asics Gel Nimbus 25 and Asics Gel Cumulus 25. Can the Kayano 30 perform as well as the rest of Asics’ running line? Let’s find out.

Midsole

Just like in last year’s Asics Gel Kayano 29 we get a big hunk of FF Blast+. But this time Asics uses PureGel instead of it’s original recipe Gel. The PureGel is used in a drop in hexagonal pattern in the heel similar to how it’s used in both the Nimbus 25 and Cumulus 25. As with those models, I don’t really feel the gel.

I do, however, feel that this year’s FF Blast+ midsole on the Kayano 30 is both softer and easier to break in than last year’s midsole. With the Kayano 29, I felt jipped after the first run and until the midsole broke in and softened up. This year, the Kayano 30 is soft right from initial try on.

The softer midsole also means that during the first run I could feel Asics’ stability feature, the 4D Guidance System, doing its job. It wasn’t obtrusive and didn’t feel like my foot was being forced places it didn’t want to go. Instead it gently redirected my foot’s motion to flow forward along the most efficient plane of motion.

And like the Nimbus 25, the base of the Kayano 30 is wide all the way around, meaning that, in addition to the 4D Guidance System, you get natural support from the build of the shoe. In my mind, that’s the best, and most proven way to provide a wearer extra stability. I think it’s a must on any shoe that claims stability benefits.

Upper

The upper of the Asics Gel Kayano 30 is comfortable all the way around but it’s a very basic engineered mesh. I prefer the luxurious knit build of the Nimbus 25 but the Kayano 30’s upper gets the job done. I did find the tongue extra comfy, but there’s nothing about the upper that stands out.

Outsole

Asics uses plenty of its AHAR+ rubber across the outsole of the Kayano 30. The rubber is plenty tacky for wet conditions and is hardly showing any wear after my testing. I expect this amount of rubber to pay dividends in terms of durability. You’ll likely wear out the midsole before the outsole rubber.

Is the Asics Gel Kayano 30 wide foot friendly?

In it’s normal medium width, the Asics Gel Kayano 30 is narrow through the midfoot and heel. This is partially due to the massive amount of comfy padding in the heel. But, the team at Asics knew that and thus the Kayano 30 is available in a 2E Wide version. I’d recommend all wide footers buy the wide version as the regular version will feel too tight.

Is the Asics Gel Kayano 30 worth $160?

The Asics Gel Kayano 30 feels about $10 too expensive at $160. The Nimbus 25 has a more comfortable upper, is very stable, and is also priced at $160. The Cumulus 25 features a similar upper to the Kayano 30 and a bouncier midsole for $140. Puma’s stability shoe, the ForeverRUN Nitro, is also priced at $150.

That said, if you need stability in your (running) life and Asics is your go-to brand, the Kayano is likely worth the price.

Cons

The Asics Gel Kayano 30’s upper needs to be more accommodating and could use an upgrade in materials. That would go a long way to making sure it was worth the $160 price tag.

Asics Gel Kayano 30 Summary

The Asics Gel Kayano 30 will go on our list of Best Stability Running Shoes but it won’t be our top pick. It’ll be highly ranked among the best stability shoes on the market, likely at spot 2. There’s a couple small things mentioned above that lessen it’s appeal, but the midsole, unobtrusive support, and durable outsole will make this a great option for anyone trying to avoid overpronation.