ASICS Men's Gel-Kayano 24 Running Shoes

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My husband has special shoe needs due to a severe foot injury in his right heel (surgically reconstructed calcaneus held together with metal plates, screws, etc) that causes constant pain. He needs shoes that provide both a lot of cushion in the heel area and structured heel support, and he also needs new shoes at least every 6 months. The Asics Gel-Kayano (plus SmartFeet inserts) is by far the best shoe for his needs, and has been his go-to everyday shoe for years. Unfortunately, the Gel-Kayano 23 model (and earlier models) came in pretty hideous colors for everyday wear. Hes a professor, so he needs to look professional at work, and the 23 model didnt have a single option that worked well for that. The least obtrusive seemed to be the silver and blue model, and they arent exactly high fashion--the main fabric is shiny silver with bright blue laces and reflective-shiny blue bands all over it. Imagine those shoes with chinos, a nice shirt, and a tweed jacket. It looked ridiculous, especially given that his students and many of his colleagues did not know about his injury. He also felt a bit self conscious wearing those shoes when we went to nice restaurants or other fancy events where all the other men were wearing dress shoes. In contrast, we are so happy with the new styles available with the Gel-Kayano 24! The fit, comfort, and support are the same excellent quality that he has come to count on from Asics Gel-Kayano, and this time they seem to have hired a better designer, because there are a few options that actually look good too! We got the black/charcoal, and they look great!! The matte finish is a nice touch. They are classy & unobtrusive enough for him to wear to work every day & still look very professional. If you have heel pain, especially from a calcaneus injury, I cannot recommend these shoes enough. They are wonderful for my husbands day-to-day pain management. And instead of being stressed out every 6 months hoping to find a decent pair of shoes, we just re-order these and are good to go. If you have severe pain or a disability, simple things like shoe shopping are not so simple--your entire quality of life rides on it. I highly recommend Gel-Kayanos for anyone who needs extra heel support & cushion, especially now that the 24s have the improved color options. Lastly, I have a message for the Asics design people: If you have anyone reading these reviews, please learn from this! Im sure runners are fine with the bright, shiny colors, because maybe it makes them feel safe, and either way, they only have to wear them for like an hour a day. But not everyone who buys these shoes is buying them for athletic purposes. Please always make sure to provide a more subtle, sober, professional option for those with foot injuries etc. who need your shoes for everyday wear. You have finally done this with the Gel-Kayano 24--please keep it up with future models! Thank you!!

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Ive been wearing Gel Kayano shoes for the last 4 years. I wear them for work where I spend pretty much all day on my feet (ER nurse). Kayano 22s were amazing and then the Kayanos got worse and worse. 24s were absolutely horrible and hurt my feet. Well, Gel Kayano 25s are a return to form and extremely comfortable. Toe box is just right, good cushion on tongue and heel, and good support. Absolutely 0 break in period required. Paired them with some Superfeet Blues and my feet (and legs) are happy again.

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Comfortable for a big heavy old guy (67, 260lbs, 6). Enables me to stand & walk comfortably all day without my feet being the first to tire and ache.....

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been hesitant to spend this much for a shoe for a long time...why did i wait so long? i have been suffering from severe shin pain when i run any distance at all(1-1.5 miles is the most i do). the first day i got these,i went for a run and the shin pain is almost gone when i run. if this continues then its worth every penny.

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I purchased these for my husband who runs about 3 miles every other day. He is approx. 215# and has an ongoing case of Plantar Fasciitis. He runs on a dirt track as recommended by his podiatrist and generally wears Saucony shoes but lately even running on dirt/stone dust track hes been having problems. We thought it might be time he switched shoe brands and I did the research. The ASICS Mens Gel-Kayano 24 Running Shoe was on 3 of the "Best Runners for Plantar Fasciitis" lists I found on the web. Along with his orthotics, I though this was a sure thing. He was excited to get them and wanted to love these shoes. Unfortunately, I believe the Gel Kayano *previous* versions may have been great for Plantars, but this version is NOT. The sizing was spot on for him, he found the uppers to be very comfortable, he loved the responsiveness, breathability and flexibility of the shoe (he runs midfoot strike as recommended by his therapist) and the seemingly ultra light weight compared to the various Sauconys hes been wearing for years. But after 1 mile, hed had enough. These shoes, touted as cushiony and energizing were anything but, especially for a person with plantars. On a dirt/stonedust track he could feel the pounding on his feet. I gave these 4 stars (subtracted 1 star because they are not "cushiony" as described) because if you are not suffering foot injuries or have Plantars, this is a great shoe for those who like a lightweight shoe and appreciate that road feel contact when they run but do not expect much in the way of cushiony soles. If you have injuries or are looking for a well-cushioned sole on your runners, look elsewhere.

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