Best pair of shoes ever
5/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Feb 6, 2018
60 mpw training for a half marathon came from the ASICS GT-1000 5
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 5/5
- Appearance
- 5/5
- Value
- 1/5
ASICS GEL-Kayano 23
Daily trainer · Stability · Road · 10.4 oz · 13mm drop
Discontinued — we no longer see this shoe in stock. The ASICS GEL-Kayano 24 replaced it
How it ranks
The ASICS GEL-Kayano 23 sits about average for daily trainers in our data. Cushioning and durability are its strongest sub-ratings. Value scores well below its other sub-ratings. The rating is based on 8 runner reviews and 15 other rated shoes in the GEL-Kayano product line.
Decent
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 is low when we have few ratings or when runners disagree.
Confidence
88 High
Based on
The bars show roughly how much each source contributes to this shoe’s rating. Their influence depends on how many reviews we’ve collected, how many earlier versions are in the product line, and the external ratings available.
- Product line track record
- Our ratings
- External ratings
What runners say
“The 23s are still narrower in the toe box than the 21 (I have to wear a larger size), but are a significant improvement with regard to cushioning”
“Their stabilization helped my knee pain go away”
“Very comfortable for distance running (got a 3:12 London run out of them)”
“They hold up very well durability-wise and only keep getting lighter”
“The Kayano 22's toe box narrowed significantly over the 21, and it just didn't feel comfortable for running”
“Serious wear on the soles after 300 miles”
“I can do a 10 mile run with absolutely no pain”
“Running in other shoes seems distinctively un-natural”
“Have not found a shoe that fits so well with my feet”
“Make you run too slowly for races 10K and below”
“Very comfortable, tons of cushioning, and extremely durable”
“They never EVER failed”
“Great support, incredible durability, comfortable to a fault”
Prefer this shoe over another
38% 5/13
Where to buy
No offers available
Affiliate links included. They never affect our ratings.
Prices updated daily. Last checked Oct 22.
Pros
- Reviewers rate cushioning 4.9 out of 5, and three single it out for long, easy distance running.
- Two reviewers report it holding up through 60 to 85 mile weeks.
- One of eight reviewers so far calls it a clear improvement on the GEL-Kayano 22, which scores 71 on five reviews.
Cons
- Reviewers rate value 3.8 out of 5, its lowest dimension, and two balk at the $160 list price.
- Two of eight reviewers so far record it as running small in the toe box and size up.
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.
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
84 Good
77 Confidence
-
2025 · 3 reviews
81 Good
80 Confidence
-
2024 · 14 reviews
88 Good
87 Confidence
-
2023 · 58 reviews
98 Exceptional
97 Confidence
-
2022 · 20 reviews
82 Good
91 Confidence
-
2021 · 5 reviews
78 Decent
82 Confidence
-
2020 · 2 reviews
78 Decent
80 Confidence
-
2019 · 20 reviews
70 Decent
95 Confidence
-
2018 · 16 reviews
78 Decent
95 Confidence
-
2017 · 14 reviews
78 Decent
93 Confidence
-
GEL-Kayano 23 This shoe
2016 · 8 reviews
74 Decent
88 Confidence
-
2015 · 5 reviews
67 Below average
85 Confidence
-
2014 · 10 reviews
72 Decent
90 Confidence
-
2013 · 39 reviews
81 Good
97 Confidence
-
2012 · 19 reviews
72 Decent
94 Confidence
-
2011 · 13 reviews
53 Bottom-tier
89 Confidence
Specs & fit
Sizing and ride details at a glance.
- Weight
- 10.4 oz
- Men's / women's
- Men's 11.5 oz · Women's 9.2 oz
- Release
- 2016 Q3
- MSRP
- $160
- Drop
- 13mm
Runner reviews
18 years of the same shoe
5/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Feb 6, 2018
55 mpw training for a half marathon
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 5/5
- Appearance
- 3/5
- Value
- 5/5
Old Asics runner
4/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Feb 6, 2018
35 mpw training for a half marathon came from the ASICS GEL-Nimbus 19
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 4/5
- Appearance
- 4/5
- Value
- 4/5
Alternatives
Other shoes worth considering.
More from ASICS
Compared to other shoes
See how this shoe compares to others like it.
ASICS GEL-Kayano 23 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 24 next version
- ASICS GEL-Kayano 22 previous version
Reviewers Also Ran In
- ASICS GEL-Kayano 21 1 runner
- adidas Supernova Sequence 7 Boost 1 runner
- Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 33 1 runner