Type a shoe name, like Pegasus, Clifton or Kayano.

ASICS GEL-Kayano 30

Daily trainer · Stability · Road · 10.7 oz · 10mm drop · 40/30mm stack

Discontinued — we no longer see this shoe in stock. The ASICS GEL-Kayano 31 replaced it

How it ranks

The ASICS GEL-Kayano 30 is one of the strongest daily trainers in our data. Comfort and durability are its strongest sub-ratings. The rating rests on 58 runner reviews and 15 other rated shoes in the GEL-Kayano product line.

ASICS GEL-Kayano 30

of 5

Exceptional

99/100
Overall
99
Comfort
99
Durability
99
Cushioning
98
Value
94
Appearance
92
Confidence

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.

See the product line's history

Confidence

99/100

99

What runners say

“The cushioning is the best ever experienced in a marathon training shoe.”
5/5 Full review 50 mpw training for a marathon
“For comfort and cushioning they are fantastic—easily the best shoe ever run in.”
4/5 Full review 25 mpw training for 5K and 10K
“Can get 400–500 miles out of each pair.”
5/5 Full review 50 mpw training for a marathon
“Prior shoe gave all sorts of issues; everything resolved with the Kayano.”
5/5 Full review 24 mpw training for a half marathon came from the HOKA Arahi 6
“The upper toe box needs improvement—splitting on both sides.”
4/5 Full review 25 mpw training for 5K and 10K
“For a stable, cushioned trainer to stay injury-free, the Kayano has always been a sure bet.”
5/5 Full review 20 mpw training for 5K and 10K came from the HOKA Arahi 4
“The toe room is smaller, and the arch support isn't as robust as expected.”
4/5 Full review 60 mpw training for 5K and 10K came from the ASICS Novablast 4
“This shoe looks way better than it did in the past and is extremely comfortable.”
5/5 Full review 24 mpw training for a half marathon came from the HOKA Arahi 6
“Cushioning doesn't absorb shock as effectively as other Asics shoes worn in the past.”
4/5 Full review 60 mpw training for 5K and 10K came from the ASICS Novablast 4
“Got through marathon pain-free.”
5/5 Full review

Prefer this shoe over another

75% 15/20

Where to buy

No offers available

Affiliate links included. They never affect our ratings.

Prices updated daily. Last checked Sep 14.

Pros

  • Runners praise the cushioning and stable platform for marathon training miles.
  • Long-time Kayano wearers rate this version above the 28 and 29.
  • One reviewer who has trained in Kayanos for six or seven years gets 400 to 500 miles from each pair.

Cons

  • It lists at $160, above the $150 median for daily trainers, and three reviewers call it expensive.
  • Two reviewers found the fit shorter and the toe room tighter than earlier Kayanos.
  • One reviewer had the toe box splitting on both sides at about 100 miles.

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.

Confidence
50 60 70 80 90 100 25 50 75 100

Better Shoes Rating

GEL-Kayano 30 rates 99. This shoe has very high certainty. See how we rate shoes.

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.

Rating

Release year

We use the reviews of past versions to inform this shoe’s rating. See why.

  • GEL-Kayano 33

    2026 · 5 reviews

    87 Good

    72 Confidence

  • GEL-Kayano 32

    2025 · 3 reviews

    87 Good

    74 Confidence

  • GEL-Kayano 31

    2024 · 14 reviews

    94 Excellent

    89 Confidence

  • GEL-Kayano 30 This shoe

    2023 · 58 reviews

    99 Exceptional

    99 Confidence

  • GEL-Kayano 29

    2022 · 20 reviews

    86 Good

    88 Confidence

  • GEL-Kayano 28

    2021 · 4 reviews

    78 Decent

    68 Confidence

  • GEL-Kayano 27

    2020 · 2 reviews

    71 Decent

    57 Confidence

  • GEL-Kayano 26

    2019 · 20 reviews

    68 Below average

    88 Confidence

  • GEL-Kayano 25

    2018 · 16 reviews

    84 Good

    90 Confidence

  • GEL-Kayano 24

    2017 · 14 reviews

    88 Good

    91 Confidence

  • GEL-Kayano 23

    2016 · 8 reviews

    86 Good

    85 Confidence

  • GEL-Kayano 22

    2015 · 5 reviews

    71 Decent

    67 Confidence

  • GEL-Kayano 21

    2014 · 10 reviews

    77 Decent

    85 Confidence

  • GEL-Kayano 20

    2013 · 39 reviews

    91 Very good

    94 Confidence

  • GEL-Kayano 19

    2012 · 19 reviews

    77 Decent

    87 Confidence

  • GEL-Kayano 18

    2011 · 13 reviews

    50 Bottom-tier

    90 Confidence

Reader Ratings

58 ratings
5/5 41
4/5 16
3/5 1
2/5 0
1/5 0
See written reviews Write a review

Specs & fit

Sizing and ride details at a glance.

Weight
10.7 oz
Release
2023 Q2
MSRP
$160
Stack Height
40mm heel - 30mm toe
Drop Height
10mm

Runner reviews

Write a review

Showing 6–10 of 21 written reviews

Kyano vs Arahi

5/5

Overall

In the past I've worn the Hoka Arahi and over all I didn't have any complaints.  However, I saw the reviews on the Kyano and thought, ok I'll try it.  I'm glad I did, they feel great, and the look great (I got the black with yellow and have received several compliments on its looks).  Anyway I'm glad I looked at your shoe reviews, they helped me find these shoes and I'm a convert.

Ron · Dec 15, 2023

20 mpw came from the HOKA Arahi 6

Comfort
5/5
Cushioning
5/5
Durability
5/5
Appearance
5/5
Value
5/5

Asics Gel Kayano 28

4/5

Overall

Great shoe.

Anonymous runner · Dec 1, 2023

40 mpw training for a marathon came from the ASICS GEL-Kayano 29

Comfort
4/5
Cushioning
3/5
Durability
4/5
Appearance
4/5
Value
5/5

Great shoe

5/5

Overall

I wasn't an Asics fan prior to trying this shoe, but I now love them. My wife is even in Asics now. This shoe looks way better than it did in the past and it is extremely comfortable. Extremely pleased with it. I will be buying several more pairs. My prior shoe (Hoka Arahi 6) after a while gave me all sorts of issues. Everything was resolved once I switched shoes!

Anonymous runner · Nov 28, 2023

24 mpw training for a half marathon came from the HOKA Arahi 6

Comfort
5/5
Cushioning
5/5
Durability
5/5
Appearance
5/5
Value
5/5

Durable with flaws

4/5

Overall

I have exclusively worn Asics shoes for at least 5 years. However, I've noticed a few differences with the pair I recently purchased. The toe room is smaller, and the arch support isn't as robust as I expected. Additionally, the cushioning doesn't absorb shock as effectively as other Asics shoes I've worn in the past. Despite these differences, I have been wearing this pair for approximately 30 days, putting in around 200 miles during that time. On a positive note, they seem to be durable.

Joshua Sakon · Nov 27, 2023

60 mpw training for 5K and 10K came from the ASICS Novablast 4

Comfort
3/5
Cushioning
3/5
Durability
4/5
Appearance
5/5
Value
2/5

a

4/5

Overall

a

Eamonn Murphy · Nov 26, 2023

49 mpw training for 5K and 10K came from the ASICS Noosa Tri 15

Comfort
3/5
Cushioning
4/5
Durability
4/5
Appearance
3/5
Value
4/5

Alternatives

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Clifton 9

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99/100 rating

$150

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63/100 rating

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72/100 rating

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ASICS Trabuco 14

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68/100 rating

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ASICS Trabuco Max 5

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76/100 rating

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Compared to other shoes

See how this shoe compares to others like it.

ASICS GEL-Kayano 30
ASICS GEL-Kayano 33
HOKA Clifton 9
GEL-Kayano 30
GEL-Kayano 33
Clifton 9
Current shoe
Choose a model
Best durability / Best appearance / Best value
Newest
Lightest / Lowest price / Best overall
Shoe properties
Type
Daily trainer
Daily trainer
Daily trainer
Pronation
Stability (Moderate)
Stability
Neutral
Weight
10.7 oz M
—
8.5 oz M Lightest
Stack
40/30mm
—
40/35mm
Drop
1mm
—
5mm
Release
2023 Q2
2026 Newest
2023 Q1
MSRP
$160
$169.95
$145
Best price
—
$169.95
$149.99 Lowest price
Ratings
Overall
Exceptional (99)
Good (87)
Exceptional (99) Best overall
Comfort
Exceptional (99)
Very good (90)
Exceptional (99) Best comfort
Cushioning
Exceptional (98)
Excellent (95)
Exceptional (99) Best cushioning
Durability
Exceptional (99) Best durability
Good (82)
Very good (92)
Appearance
Very good (92) Best appearance
Decent (71)
Very good (91)
Value
Excellent (94) Best value
Bottom-tier (56)
Good (88)
Specific shoe

Search for the exact model to add to this comparison.

ASICS GEL-Kayano 30 In Context

More on the ASICS GEL-Kayano

Compare every GEL-Kayano version

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