To tell the truth, I am something of an avid runner and for years I have collected lots of shoes among which I can never like ASICS KAYANO series enough. Well, you might have guessed it: today I am going to talk about ASICS KAYANO 26. For sure, it will be loved by most people. And for an enthusiastic runner like me, a pair of good shoes is to me what water is to fish, so from my perspective, it is no wonder that ASICS KAYANO 26 is a necessity for both daily wearing and combating. But let’s check its performance first and then you know whether it is the one you are looking for.
If you are a fan of ASICS KAYANO series, you must be quite familiar with most of its shoes that gather a great deal of advanced technology and this ASICS KAYANO 26 definitely won’t fail you; rather, it may stun you in some way.
I am a “face-judger” and so are many sneaker fans whereas there are still a lot of others who indicate that the appearances of shoes mean very little to them; it is the performance that really counts. So with regards ASICS KAYANO 26 ‘s appearance, different people hold different views. But it is certain that this is a first choice for many trendsetters. As for me, the first impression plays a vital role. For one thing, the shoes’ appearance is rather compelling the first time I met with it; for another, it is dirt-proof, which saves me much time.
The good news is that this time it released a total of 5 colorways of ASICS KAYANO 26 in order to suit the requirements of various consumers. So if you are not into this one, there are still some other colorways for you to pick up.
With respect to supporting, KAYANO can be said to be on top of other series of ASICS. And among my shoes, ASICS KAYANO 26 alone is much superior to others not only in terms of supporting, but also in other respects. Of course, the supporting is the core technology of this shoe, which is also a trump.
The supporting tech mainly lies in the midsole: the DUOMAX dual-density anti-tilt device along with the fantastic elasticity and durability of FlyteFoam Propel technology makes the supporting stand out. Wherever and whenever you run, the shoe is there to offer you the most and best supporting. And at he heel, the upgraded MERACLUTCH heel stabilizer can better wrap the wearer’s heels and improve the stability. On the ground of my experience, I can feel the propulsion of the tech which create a nice wearing experience for me. But having said that, the words, after all, are not that persuasive to some extent. Only by having a try by yourself can you know the real power of it.
Another core tech is the cushioning which is also an integrated part of the shoe. But for this tech, the shoe would have been reduced to nothing otherwise. Looking at the sole you will find that the GEL adopts some kind of “geometric cutting”, which deforms much more easily, bringing nice shock absorption.
The sole adopts AHAR+ and durable rubber to ensure a long-lasting wearing. The sole has also been integrated with the lightweight stabilizer which brings a good running experience for runners and further guarantees the durability of the shoes.
Here is a simple comparison of KAYANO 26 and the previous versions. In the picture above (they are 26, 25 and 24) 25 is rather simple in its colorway whereas 26 and 24 feel much nicer and softer. Because I chance to have these three versions, from my point of view, I prefer 26 for 24 and 25 are not so friendly to my feet. And the 23 (the green one below) has the same problem as 25 whose texture is not nice enough.
You must have found that the fore part of 26 is wider than 23, so it leaves extra room and should be friendly to wide footers.
As is clear in the picture, the heel stabilizer of K 26 has improved greatly than that of K 23. The 26 also prevails over 23 in that supporting and wrapping are essentially enhanced.
Sometimes words seem very weak. So you might as well have a look and check in the picture below by yourself.
The insole of K26 is made of EVA foam lightweight cushion while that of 23 is made of breathable and sweating-absorbing cushion. But in terms of the foot feeling 23 is much nicer because the insole of 26 is relatively thinner, lighter and stiffer.
When it comes to the overall performance then I will choose 26 in view of the nice experiences it brings to me.
The shoe’s overall performance is rather satisfying; there isn’t any bothering issue, if anything, it should be the cushion. This isn’t contradictory to what I have mentioned above. The fact is that the cushion is a core tech of K 26, but the first time you try it on you may feel cheated because it doesn’t fit my description. However, just be patient! It certainly won’t fail you: the more you wear it, the more comfortable and bouncy it will become.
Having said that, I am sure most of you will get fascinated with the shoes. Before the launching, I said to myself that “I will have a try without fail” and it turns out to be quite nice. I am a “face-judger” though, it is not so much the shoe’s appearance as its performance that makes me totally fall in love with it. So you may as well have a try.