Breaking Down the ASICS GEL-Kayano Series
The word ‘iconic’ gets thrown around liberally by us sneakerheads, although when we’re talking about the series, we think it’s the perfect term to describe the decades-old line. Born in the early 90s, the division’s namesake, Toshikazu Kayano, was given the challenge of crafting a long-distance runner and all-purpose trainer at the cutting edge of sneaker tech. In 1993, the was born, taking inspiration from the stag beetle. Over thirty-years later, and the Kayano line has expanded to feature countless variations.
Since their inception, Kayano-branded sneakers have been a fan-favourites for runners and athletes. Although Kayano models were originally intended for performance, many have naturally progressed into lifestyle models, with some having strong sub-cultural ties in select parts of the globe. Models like the and have graduated into being go-to daily drivers for the general sneaker consumer and act as perfect canvases for collaborative efforts.
There’s lots to the ASICS GEL-Kayano line, so we broke down the models that have been dominating sneaker headlines as of late.
GEL-Kayano 14
In 2022, we named this pair as one of the sneakers that ASICS needs to is the most recognisable of the Kayano line, thanks to the volume of high-profile collaborations and crisp GR editions. The 14 was originally released 2008 as a performance-geared runner, and the 2020s saw the Japanese brand resurrect the model as a major player in the lifestyle space. It’s been three years since, and the Kayano 14 is now deeply ingrained in modern sneaker rotations around the globe, whether it's through hype colabs with the likes of or spicy GR combos like .
GEL-Kayano 30
In 2023, ASICS celebrated the Kayano line’s 30th anniversary and welcomed the Kayano 30 into the legendary line. Over the past three decades, ASICS have honed their craft, forever improving on previous iterations. The was kitted with a 4D GUIDANCE SYSTEM, which provided enhanced stability and support, working in tandem with PureGEL. Compared to its predecessors, it also boasts 20 per cent more FF BLAST PLUS EVO cushioning, which increases the height by 4mm and drastically improves comfort.
GEL-Kayano 20
In 2022, we named this pair as one of the sneakers that ASICS needs to , and we're getting our wish granted in 2024, as the ASICS GEL-Kayano 20 is having a comeback! Originally hitting shelves in October of 2013, the decade-old model has been resurrected by . Let’s hope this is the start of a full-blown Kayano 20 resurgence.
GEL-Kayano 28
The ASICS made a surprise one-off return in 2022 through a lifestyle lens as part of the in-house work is doing at the Japanese brand. A trio of colourways touched down in the form of 'Gargoyle/Fog', 'Anthracite/Antique Gold' and 'Sweet Dreams/Green Eyes'. Hype wasn’t stirred up by any of these three, but we feel they were supremely underrated.
GEL-Kayano Trainer
The ASICS has been integral to the franchise ever since its release in 1993, and we even collaborated on a pair back in 2014! Around that mid-2010s era was when the silhouette experienced gargantuan success both in OG form and other variations such as the Evo. In more recent times, the Kayano Trainer 21 has stirred up plenty of hype, arriving in plenty of special editions and collaborations.
GEL-Kayano 5
debuted their collaborative pair with eye-catching netted details in OG form, which was quickly followed by a plethora of GR iterations and hybrids like the Kayano 5.1 and Kayano 5 360 – the latter of which pulls from the . In the current sneakersphere, the ASICS , and . In the years following, the 5 silhouette became the go-to as a collaborative model, linking with.
GEL-Kayano 25
The ASICS continues to be a favourite of both sneakerheads and hospitality workers the world over. The sleek design and comfortability have made the 2018 silhouette one of the most legendary Kayanos of all time. Following its release in June of that year, the Kayano 25 has taken part in plenty of crisp collaborative efforts with the likes of sneakers and .