SCORE: 9/10

The heel drop: 10mm for men and 13mm in women’s shoe

Weight: 11.1 oz for men and 8.8oz for women

Shoe Type: Stability Shoe

Surface: Road and trail

 Pros

• Very comfortable
• Great stability control
• Quite responsive
• Roomy toe box
• True to size

Cons

• Quite heavy for a daily trainer shoe
• Restrictive lacing system
• A Very still heel counter

Take Away

The  Asics Gel-Kayano 27 is a good upgrade of the Kayano 26. It is a stability control shoe designed for a runner with flat or low arches or an overpronator. As expected of a stability shoe, the Kayano 27 is somehow stiff at the forefoot with a minimum flex at the midfoot. The intention is to add stability and protect overpronators from injuries like knee problems, tendinitis, and shin splints. The Kayano 27 is not building for speed but tempo runs or long marathons. It is super comfortable, luxurious. It is also a perfect shoe for a beginner runner.

ASICS Gel-Kayano 27 Instant Impression

The Asics redesigned the upper mesh of the Kayano 27 from the Kayano 26. In the forefoot are grooves that cut deep into the midsole. They give the forefoot a little bit of flexibility.

The heel clutching system at the heel counter is an update of Kayano 26. The heel clutching system (a rigid but light plastic at the heel counter system) in the Kayano 27 helps in locking down the heel when running. A notable difference is that in the Kayano 26, a plastic wing runs from the ankle to the heel. In the Kayano 27, Asics got rid of the plastic strap. Nevertheless, the execution of the plastic clutching system is questionable.

The instant impression when I ran in Kayano 27 was the feeling of firmness and comfort. The inside has plush cushioning that comes with a premium feel. 

ASICS Gel-Kayano 27 Sole Component 

 As usual, the Gel-Kayano model is known for utilizing the FLYTEFOAM technology in the midsole to give adequate cushioning and a bouncy ride. With Kayamo 27, ASICS added a little gel padding at the forefoot specifically, under the big toe joint. Therefore, it feels soft on the inside and kind of springy. The Gel cushioning at the forefoot absorbs the ground impact well and enhances responsiveness in every foot strike. You can hardly feel foot aches no matter how much distance you cover.

The Asics Gel-Kayano 27 utilizes the Dynamic Duomax support system in the midsole (A combination of two foams in the midsole where one sits on top of the other). In the Dynamic Duamax cushioning system, the midsole gel cushioning gets stiffer towards the outsole. The intention is to prevent the rolling in of the foot in addition to enhancing propulsion. Hence, Kayano 27 is a supportive running shoe.

Changes in the outsole from the Kayano 26 include the deep-running grooves making the outsole a bit flexible. Besides, the outer AHAR rubber is firm enough to give the shoe both traction and durability. I think Asics got the outsole design right because the Kayano 27 is meant to be a long-distance daily trainer stability shoe.

At the footbridge is a thick TRUSSTIC system that holds the midsole and heel firmly, thus enhancing torsional rigidity, and keeping the foot in a neutral position. Therefore, Kayano 27 can help correct overpronation. 

The Trusstic system also enhances the performance of Kayano 27 as a stability trainer shoe.

 Moreover, the Trusstic device is complemented with the lugs on the heel and forefoot zones. The lugs on the heels are hard and have straight edges to increase traction, more so when running on trails. On the other hand, the lugs at the forefoot are soft to reduce the landing impact. Hence, this shoe has an excellent grip.

Unfortunately, I felt that the shoe was kind of heavy. I think the plastic heelcup and TRUSSTIC system has added more weight to the shoe. Hence, my opinion is that 11.1 oz weight is too heavy for a long-distance daily trainer.

ASICS Gel-Kayano 27 Upper Component 

 The upper layer of Kayano 27 radiates some frills. Apart from the superbly breathable mesh, the upper is easy on the eye. It also flexes to a point that it hugs the foot to provide a perfect snug fit. 

Another advantage is that the flexible upper mesh can accommodate a swelling foot. Hence, it is exceptionally roomy for someone with a flat foot.

The tongue is sufficiently padded than in Nike Pegasus 36 and 37. However, the tongue of the Kayano 27 is not gusseted like in the Nimbus 23. Therefore, it tends to slip sideways or downwards when running. It can be irritating sometimes.

The padded footbed is another good thing about the upper component of this shoe. The Kayano 27 comes with an Ortholite X removable sock liner. You can choose to replace it with your preferred orthotics. 

However, Asics stuck with the traditional lacing system: Flat and not stretchy. Hence, I find nothing special about Kayano’s 27 lacing system. It could have been better if the laces were flexible enough to complement the flexible upper especially, at the top area of the foot. Another downside is that the laces are quite short. Also, the last two lacing holes sit a little further backward and downward. Therefore, the shoe feels too tight whenever I try a secure fit. 

The positioning of the last two lacing holes makes the shoelaces short, thus forcing a tight and uncomfortable fitting. 

The heelcup is very sturdy. The heel counter is designed with a lightweight and rigid plastic to make it solid. The plastic heelcup runs from the bottom of the ankles. Interestingly, despite the rigid heel counter complementing the soft cushioned heel collar, I still felt my heel lacking a secure lock. I think the softness of the heel collar is the reason the heelcup does not hold firm.

Conclusion

 The Gel-Kayano 27 is a versatile shoe. It can be a daily trainer, for marathons, tempo runs, or recovery runs. It is a super comfortable shoe especially, on the upper area, and very responsive considering that it has Gel cushioning on both the heel and forefoot areas. However, because of the weight, it is not fit for speed. Additionally, it is a go for shoe for someone with flat feet, ankle problems, shin splints.

The Gel Kayano 27 can withstand critical conditions and help you rack up hundreds of miles. Therefore, it is a durable shoe. 

There are three noticeable differences in the Kayano 27 men’s and women’s shoe. In the women’s shoe, the TRUSSTIC support system sits a little deeper into the midsole to support the forward motion, while in the men the TRUSSTIC system is thick to support midsole strike.

Moreover, the women’s shoe has 3mm additional foam underfoot than men to enhance cushioning and balancing the bio-mechanics between the two genders. You can also notice that the women’s shoe is softer on the forefoot. 

 Written BY: Peter Pedro, an exprioenced runner with thousands of miles on his feet.