Now into its 27^th year, the ASICS GEL-Kayano is still one of the most successful running shoes in the Australian & New Zealand footwear market.

The GEL-Kayano has continued to deliver the ultimate in cushioning, while maintaining optimum stability features throughout, creating a premium comfort running shoe for ANY stability conscious runner.

To understand the GEL-Kayano 27 a little better and how they have been able to perform year after year, is by understanding ASICS, and by understanding the WHY. Why have ASICS put particular features on specific sections of the GEL-Kayano shoe year after year? & what have they upgraded within the GEL-Kayano 27 specifically that has made this update one of the best yet?

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THE ASICS IGS SYSTEM

The ASICS footwear design philosophy, which they call the Impact Guidance System (IGS), is the belief to not base a shoe around a single feature, but instead a series of features that inter-link and work together, promoting a natural foot motion & delivering the most comfortable ride all the way from heel strike to toe-off. IGS focuses on features that are needed throughout each phase of a runner’s gait (cycle);

1. Initial Contact (Heel strike)
2. Braking (absorpotion) - when the bodyweight is on the planted foot
3. Midstance - while other leg is swinging through
4. Propulsion - Toe-Off

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PHASE 1: THE INITIAL CONTACT

This phase of the running cycle is when your foot makes its first initial contact with the ground. For the majority of runners, this is the outside (lateral) side of the heel (this is the reason why so many shoes wear in this spot first)

IGS used in the Initial Contact phase
GEL HEEL CUSHIONING

This is where ASICS KAYANO use HEEL GEL, the GEL takes on the initial impact, absorbing shock & taking as much pressure off ligaments & joints as possible.

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PHASE 2: BRAKING (absorption)

Your foot has now just made contact with the ground, and it’s trying to perform a controlled landing by decelerating, how the foot attempts to do this is by pronating (rolling inwards).

For the typical Kayano foot type, the foot tends to roll in a bit TOO far (overpronation), therefore the foot needs a shoe that can assist with slowing this pronation down, we don’t want to stop the pronation, we simply want to keep the foot aligned with the rest of the body, reducing any unneeded stress & creating a more consistent stride.

IGS used in the Braking phase
GUIDANCE LINE

The GUIDANCE LINE are vertical grooves, which run through the outsole & help not only guide the foot to and through the centre of the shoe, but also assist in reducing the speed of foot pronation.

*KAYANO 27 FEATURE UPDATE –

With the increased cushioning within the midsole & outsole, the GUIDANCE LINE in the 27 hasn't needed to be as vigorous as its predecessors in maintaining the same result, this in turn has created a lighter, more stable feel underfoot

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PHASE 3: MIDSTANCE

You now have one leg completely off the ground, and your bodyweight is all on the planted foot, this is when the ankle & knee are in a flexed position.

IGS used in the Midstance phase
DYNAMIC DUOMAX

Once the GUIDANCE LINE has done its part, the DYNAMIC DUOMAX, a high density (firmer) section on the inside (medial) of the midsole kicks in (along with the Trusstic System). This helps guide your foot, reducing overpronation & creating a smooth transition so the foot is evenly balanced and ready for the final Propulsion phase.

 

*KAYANO 27 FEATURE UPDATE –

TRUSSTIC SYSTEM - In its predecessor's, this is usually described as the large plastic plate in the midfoot section of the outsole. The GEL-Kayano 27 now uses a new SPACE TRUSSTIC SYSTEM, which still provides midfoot support & assisting the GUIDANCE LINE in decelerating pronation & any unneccessary foot twisting, however in the 27 it has been reduced (noticeably) in overall weight.

 

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PHASE 4: PROPULSION (TOE-OFF)

You are now moving away from the Flexed joint midstance stage and now starting to extend (straighten) your planted leg. The basic goal now is to create enough forward momentum so you can successfully transfer over to your other leg.

IGS used in the Propulsion phase
FOREFOOT GEL

Similar to the heel GEL, the Forefoot GEL is to absorb and disperse shock evenly across the forefoot, working alongside the FLYTEFOAM PROPEL MIDSOLE and the outsole’s FLEX GROOVES, creating a smooth and cushioned roll all the way to toe off.

*KAYANO 27 FEATURE UPDATE –

The Kayano 27 now has deeper outsole Flex Grooves, this makes the forefoot of the shoe flexible for where your foot needs it most, while working with the soft Blown rubber outsole, this results in an even smoother and more natural roll through, ready for toe off.

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Additional new Features

FLYTEFOAM® PROPEL MIDSOLE
Throughout all the Running phases, the Kayano 27 uses a FlyteFoam® Propel Midsole, this creates not only a soft and cushioned ride throughout, but also provides a perfect transition from one feature to the next, all the way from Heel strike to toe off, so all a runner gets, is a smooth, cushioned & lightweight feel.

 

GENDER SPECIFIC UPDATES
Another big feature update in the GEL-Kayano 27, is Gender specific updates it now provides to accommodate the unique biomechanical needs each gender has.

The differences?

SOFTER - The Flytefoam® Propel Midsole is less dense in the women’s model, creating a softer and more cushioned feel, the Foam is also 3mm thicker in the Women’s model

HIGHER - The Heel to Toe pitch (the difference in height between the heel & forefoot of the shoe) is higher in the Women’s model.

DIFFERING SUPPORT LEVELS – The Women's model focuses its support towards forward motion, while the Mens is more toward the medial side of the arch.

The ASICS GEL-Kayano 27 is a premium shoe that sits within the Supportive running shoe category, focused towards additional medial support for Over pronating feet (roll in too far). Find out more about our full range of supportive running shoes.

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