Asics Gel-Kayano 33 Review

With how strong and stable the Gel-Kayano 33 is, you would think it would be a big, clunky shoe. But it just isn't. Asics took what feels like should be the internal sole structure of a premium hiking boot and shoved it into a light and nimble walking shoe.

Comfort

When a shoe simply fits and feels right, it's a bit hard to put into words. The Asics Gel-Kayano 33 slides on easily, wraps around the foot securely but not too tightly, and each step forward flows naturally, but with a guiding hand to keep you stable. If that's not comforting, we don't know what is.

Like an onion or an ogre, there are layers to the Kayano 33. That's the secret to its underfoot comfort. At the top level closest to your foot, Asics' FF Blast Max foam is a soft cushion that provides immediate step-in comfort. Underneath is the FF Blast Plus which provides more structure. Then there's the PureGEL they snuck in under the heel which softens heel strikes with a nice squish.

All of those layers add up to a chunky 40 mm heel stack with a moderate 8 mm heel-to-toe drop. You can feel its height when standing in the Kayano 33, but it doesn't wobble like other tall shoes can. We'll dig into the support details in a moment, but it's worth noting that the confidence it inspires in your steps is part of the shoe's overall comfort.

Putting the shoe on and taking it off is super easy. The heel is rigid enough to not collapse when sliding you foot in, yet features plenty of padding to keep it cozy when worn. Plus, the prominent tongue finger loop and large, stretchy heel loop are game-changers that make it effortless to just yank the shoe on.

And the fit feels spot on — true to size from heel to toe. Even better, it's available in four different width sizes, ranging from narrow to extra-wide, so you're sure to find the one that fits you best.

If we have one gripe, the shoe does get a little warm during longer walks. There's decent ventilation at the forefoot, but none at the heel and the midfoot's breathability is blockaded by internal padding and the external logo overlay.

Support

The Asics Kayano has been the brand's flagship stability shoe for over three decades at this point. But the latest 33 model took a whole new approach to how it supports your walk, and we noticed it during our testing period. We were thoroughly impressed by not only how stable the shoe is, but how little you actually feel its structure in each step.

We mentioned the dual foam layers and heel gel already, but they play just as significant a role in support as they do for comfort. They strike varying balances of firmness across the foot that together forge a flat, stable base. And the outsole measures 5 inches across at its widest point, providing a large contact area with the ground, preventing excessive side-to-side motion.

The new FluidSupport stability tech from Asics is the big change in the Kayano 33. It's an adaptive, responsive technology that reacts to your foot movements and provides the support where it's needed. This is unlike the outgoing 4D Guidance tech, which was more stiff and active in forcing its support upon the wearer.

The result, which we could absolutely feel during our testing and played a big role in our assessment of this shoe, is that the support is subtle. So subtle, in fact, that you almost can't feel it. The stability is noticeable, but it feels natural. You really need to step in the wrong way, or rock side-to-side, to feel like the shoe is trying to keep you stable.

It's not overly stiff or corrective until it needs to be. That's why each step feels smooth, but in the background you have that confidence that the shoe is going to keep you grounded when you may otherwise twist an ankle or fall over on unexpectedly uneven ground.

Durability

Much of the attention to structure and stability works in favor of long-term durability as well. We put plenty of miles on the Asics Gel-Kayano 33 it didn't come away wit ha single scratch or other sign of wear worth mentioning.

Its premium engineered mesh uppers feel substantial, and they're decorated with coarse, hard-wearing textures and protective overlays. The toe box is completely protected with internal support and has a bit of outsole rubber on the tip for if you accidentally kick a rock. And the stabilizing layer of midsole foam will hold its shape in the long term, unlike softer foams that will lose their rebound over time.

The outsole is mostly covered just about anywhere your foot will contact the ground in a durable Hybrid AsicsGrip rubber. This compound combines the typical Asics rubber with a harder AHARPLUS material for improved wear resistance in the long term. There is a good bit of exposed midsole foam, however, so avoid stepping on sharp rocks or other objects that would easily damage it.

Traction

This is the greatest weakness of the Kayano 33. That harder material that improves the wear-resistance of the outsole rubber also makes it less grippy in certain situations. When smooth surfaces like linoleum or wood floors get wet, the hard rubber quickly loses grip. On dry, flat surfaces, though, it fares much better.

On dry concrete, asphalt, tile, and other such smooth surfaces, traction was great in the Kayano 33. When wet, it's a different story. Likewise, the Kayano's outsole doesn't have much depth to it at all, so it performs poorly when used like a hiking shoe. Loose gravel and dirt are not the types of terrain you want to walk on too often in this shoe. Stick to dry, flat surfaces as much as you can.

Weight

We placed our men's size 10.5 regular-width Asics Gel-Kayano 33 on the scale and weighed it in at 11 ounces flat per shoe. That's pretty much middle-of-the-road for good-quality walking shoes, and relatively light for a shoe that offer so much support.

You can feel that weight a bit in your step, and that's because the base is so rigid that it can feel like it's swinging like a pendulum. The description is a bit dramatic — there's nothing too noticeable about its weight, really, but it is there. The energy return you get counteracts the weight well.

Should You Asics Gel-Kayano 33?

Anyone who desires stability assistance in a shoe should strongly consider the Asics Gel-Kayano 33. If you overpronate or supinate, or are prone to twisted ankles and stumbles, this shoe might be able to help prevent your missteps. Plus, it's super comfortable, too. The only reason you may not want to give this shoe a try is if you absolutely do not want a supportive shoe.

What Other Men's Walking Shoes Should You Consider?

The Kayano 33 is an amazingly stable and supportive shoe, but its traction could be better. If you're in need of a stable work shoe that'll retain its traction on wet floors, check out the Hoka Bondi SR. Or if the Kayano is a bit out of your price range, Asics also offers the much more affordable Asics Gel-Contend 10 which is also decently stable and supportive for its low price.