Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

There are several reviews on Amazon which truly made me question my decision to purchase these shoes. Most of the reviews are positive, but many of those seem to be casual runners who may be comparing this to a lower end model. If you're comparing Asics top stability model (Kayano) to an average Nike "running" shoe from a fashion shoe store in the mall, of course it would deserve no less than 5 stars. That's not what this review will address. I'm comparing this model to my personal golden standard for a running shoe, which is the Kayano 21. I put far more miles on my Kayano 21s than I care to admit. I purchased a pair of Saucony Guides to replace them, and just kept going back to my worn Kayano 21s. Granted, the Guides are not Saucony's most premium stability shoe, as the Kayano is for Asics. Regardless, there were more than a few features shared by the Guide and its higher end sibling, the Hurricane. I won't go into details in this review, but I appreciated the Kayanos even more. I skipped the Kayano 22 because of negative reviews comparing it to the Kayano 21. I decided to ignore the same negativity surrounding this shoe and try it for myself. This was after purchasing a pair of Kayano 23s for my wife (to replace her aging Kayano 21s). She tried them on in-store and we purchased them on the spot. After several runs in them, she loves them even more than her 21s. Now I should say that I wore a 12.5 (D) in the Kayano 21. I was worried about needing a larger size based on the reviews for this shoe, so I tried on a size 13 in-store. They were ever so slightly too large, which prompted me to order my normal size of 12.5 from Amazon. Most stores do not carry that size, and I wanted the all-black model anyhow (which is not available in stores as far as I can tell). When I received the shoes, I could slightly understand the comments regarding the different size of the toe box. Due to the newer style of the upper, the fit feels slightly different. It was not uncomfortably snug, but noticeably changed from the 21s. I actually tried on one of each at the same time to highlight the differences, which admittedly created a stark contrast between the two iterations. Where the Kayano 21 is stiff and strong in the upper, the 23 is more fluid and dynamic. The upper hugs your foot and forms a contour, which really equates to a perfect fit. I will say that any snugness in the upper of the 23 quickly subsided as the shoes broke in after only a few runs. Now my feet melt into the shoes. As far as the upper goes, the 23 wins out over the 21 and it's not even close. Now that I have experienced the 23 in this regard, I could never go back. As for the new midsole/outsole changes, the 23 feels slightly more firm than the 21. While this may sound like it would detract from the plush feeling of the Kayano, which I love, it really doesn't. It doesn't feel exactly the same as the 21. It is slightly more responsive with a little more bounce back, noticeably more light, and still quite plush. Overall, the combination of the form fitting upper with the new midsole/outsole features creates a better platform for longer runs. Granted, every foot is different and every runner requires a different shoe. I have normal arches and a slightly narrow foot, but not narrow enough to justify an actual narrow size. I slightly overpronate and prefer running on the road. This makes the Kayano 23 perfect for me. If you wore the Kayano 21 and you enjoyed them, and you're on the fence about the 23... get them. Don't worry about anyone saying Asics ruined the Kayanos. I see nothing but improvements here. If you're someone who hasn't ever tried Asics, or Kayanos in particular, you may be missing out. Know that this is still considered a stability shoe, so be sure that's what you need. If you're running in Asics GTs, I know the Kayanos are more expensive but they're worth the upgrade. And if you're using low end or Nike anything, treat your feet to bliss with these. I will pay full retail for Kayanos every time and never think twice about it. That's my two cents on it. If you're on the fence, my suggestion is to go for it. I've never had a better shoe than the Kayano for my personal needs, and I've tried many different brands. Asics is king.