Reader review
4/5
Overall
seanluzzi · Apr 3, 2015
60 mpw training for middle distance came from the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 14
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Durability
- 3/5
- Appearance
- 2/5
- Value
- 4/5
ASICS GEL-Kayano 20
Daily trainer · Stability · Road · 11.3 oz · 12mm drop · 32/20mm stack
Discontinued — we no longer see this shoe in stock. The ASICS GEL-Kayano 21 replaced it
How it ranks
The ASICS GEL-Kayano 20 ranks among the stronger daily trainers in our data. Durability and comfort are its strongest sub-ratings. Value scores well below its other sub-ratings. The rating rests on 39 runner reviews and 15 other rated shoes in the GEL-Kayano product line.
Very good
Confidence
How settled the rating is against every other rated shoe. A shoe can rate high on confidence with relatively few reviews of its own when its product line has a long record and external ratings from retailer sites agree. Confidence will score low when we have few ratings or when runners disagree.
Confidence
94/100
What runners say
“I get a full 600 miles out of them before I feel the need to replace them”
“Helped fix my knee and hip pain just by switching to them”
“Kayanos are clunky and make me feel like I'm wearing moon-shoes during faster efforts”
“The price keeps going up (to a now ridiculous number) and they seem to last fewer miles each time”
“Every time I try to switch, I get injured”
“Nothing compares to this ride”
“I need a pretty substantial shoe thanks to achilles/plantar fascia/over-pronation woes”
“I'm amazed I've been ok in the kayano (so far...6 weeks in!) and have just ran a marathon in them”
“I require cushioning and high heel as I have had both hips replaced and need to protect them”
“It has met my training needs while offering me sublime support and cushioning”
Prefer this shoe over another
64% 14/22
Where to buy
No offers available
Affiliate links included. They never affect our ratings.
Prices updated daily. Last checked Sep 14.
Pros
- Reviewers consistently praise the comfort and cushioning for daily easy miles.
- Reviewers rate durability highly, one getting a full 600 miles per pair.
- It rates well above the GEL-Kayano 19 it replaced.
Cons
- At 11.3 oz in men's sizing, two reviewers find it clunky for faster running.
- It lists at $160, above the $150 median for daily trainers on sale, and several reviewers call the price hard to justify.
- Seven of thirty-nine reviewers report an injury while running in it.
Rating & Confidence vs. other shoes for sale
Each dot is one rated shoe for sale, placed by its rating and by how much evidence sits behind it. Shoes toward the top right are both well rated and well established.
50
60
70
80
90
100
25
50
75
100
Better Shoes Rating
Better Shoes Rating of prior versions of the ASICS GEL-Kayano
Each dot is one version of the GEL-Kayano, placed by its rating and release year. The gold dot is this shoe.
Release year
-
2026 · 5 reviews
87 Good
72 Confidence
-
2025 · 3 reviews
87 Good
74 Confidence
-
2024 · 14 reviews
94 Excellent
89 Confidence
-
2023 · 58 reviews
99 Exceptional
99 Confidence
-
2022 · 20 reviews
86 Good
88 Confidence
-
2021 · 4 reviews
78 Decent
68 Confidence
-
2020 · 2 reviews
71 Decent
57 Confidence
-
2019 · 20 reviews
68 Below average
88 Confidence
-
2018 · 16 reviews
84 Good
90 Confidence
-
2017 · 14 reviews
88 Good
91 Confidence
-
2016 · 8 reviews
86 Good
85 Confidence
-
2015 · 5 reviews
71 Decent
67 Confidence
-
2014 · 10 reviews
77 Decent
85 Confidence
-
GEL-Kayano 20 This shoe
2013 · 39 reviews
91 Very good
94 Confidence
-
2012 · 19 reviews
77 Decent
87 Confidence
-
2011 · 13 reviews
50 Bottom-tier
90 Confidence
Specs & fit
Sizing and ride details at a glance.
- Weight
- 11.3 oz
- Release
- 2013
- MSRP
- $160
- Stack Height
- 32mm heel - 20mm toe
- Drop Height
- 12mm
Runner reviews
Reader review
5/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Mar 22, 2015
80 mpw came from the ASICS GEL-Kayano 19
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Durability
- 5/5
- Appearance
- 5/5
- Value
- 4/5
Reader review
4/5
Overall
rwilli64 · Sep 21, 2014
80 mpw training for a half marathon
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Durability
- 5/5
- Appearance
- 3/5
- Value
- 3/5
Reader review
5/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Sep 20, 2014
40 mpw training for a half marathon
- Comfort
- 4/5
- Durability
- 5/5
- Appearance
- 5/5
- Value
- 5/5
Reader review
4/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Sep 20, 2014
45 mpw training for ultramarathons
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Durability
- 2/5
- Appearance
- 4/5
- Value
- 2/5
Alternatives
Other shoes worth considering.
More from ASICS
Compared to other shoes
See how this shoe compares to others like it.
ASICS GEL-Kayano 20 In Context
More on the ASICS GEL-Kayano
- ASICS GEL-Kayano 33
- ASICS GEL-Kayano 32
- ASICS GEL-Kayano 31
- ASICS GEL-Kayano 30
- ASICS GEL-Kayano 29
- ASICS GEL-Kayano 14
- ASICS GEL-Kayano 21 next version
- ASICS GEL-Kayano 19 previous version
Reviewers Also Ran In
- ASICS GEL-Kayano 19 2 runners
- Mizuno Wave Inspire 9 2 runners
- Mizuno Wave Rider 17 2 runners