It’s time to talk shoes! Yes I love a good pair of running shoes. More specifically, ASICS. Which reminds me of the latest nickname you have come up with for me, the ASICS runner <3. And I truly appreciated you all lacing up your ASICS for me when I was in the hospital. It was a touching way to show your support for me and I am grateful for it!

I have a fresh pair of ASICS Gel-Kayano 21 that I was sent to review. I LOVE LOVE LOVE these shoes!!! They are super comfortable and are surprisingly light.

The Gel-Kayano 21 is equipped with ASICS technical innovation, featuring the next generation of FluidRide and a ComforDry X-40 sockliner for the lightest and most luxuriously stable ride yet. This shoe is PERFECT for overpronators(foot rolls inward)!!

I usually run in the ASICS GT-2000 series which are excellent as well, but having tried the Gel-Kayanos I am HOOKED! I definitely feel like Cinderella.

With the new and improved FluidRide reduces weight by 15% and enhances bounce back by 20%, you certainly feel that bounce back. Normally, I can hear a faint sound when my feet hit the ground on each stride. Especially on days where my legs feel like 2 heavy bricks. But with the Gel-Kayanos I don’t hear anything! I love it! It’s so light and cushiny that there is less impact going through my foot, shins, and knees. Now it’s cushiny in a good way. I don’t like a shoe with so much cushion, just a touch and the shoes have to be light. It also has a heel crash pad. What that means is that it limits the chances of you overpronating and it helps have a smoother transition from heel to toe.

When you look at the bottom of your shoes, you can see your wear pattern. You can tell whether you are a heel, mid foot, or toe striker. In my GTs I have wear on the heel and mid foot. In my Gel-Kayanos I have a wear pattern on my mid foot. Dead center of the shoe which is perfect to avoid shin splints and PF injuries, just to name a few. I don’t feel my foot being forced to land a certain way, it just feels like my feet are naturally moving and hitting the ground as they should.

The Gel-Kayano is lined with ComforDry  X-40 Sockliner which is a premium sockliner features higher rebound properties while providing excellent moisture management, high-level breathability, and anti-microbial properties. In other words, when you run in the rain, or hitting a trail that has lots of puddles, this shoe will dry quicker. The chances of bacteria and nasty smells growing on your shoes is lower.

Oh yea! I almost forgot to mention that the women’s shoes have a lower-density top layer in the midsole, allowing female runners to better enjoy the benefits of midsole compression. And with the women’s shoes also have an additional 3mm, it helps relieve Achilles tension. So these shoes will do the work for you AND keep you protected at the same time.

I mean, come on! Wouldn’t you want a shoe that each time you slip it on, its comfortable, has cushion, and has less pressure on your foot while you run? I swear by these shoes. These are IT. I feel so much better running in these Gel-kayanos and feel stronger, and I don’t get as much pain because of the help from the shock absorption. I can tell my shoes are doing the work for me. They are just amazingly perfect shoes.

And just to mention, because I thought that it was pretty cool that they did this. But Competitor Magazine had a camera set up at the Boston Marathon to capture runner’s shoes. Over 60 hours of watching the video, they figured out that ASICS was the most worn shoe at the race, pretty neat huh???

Well, there you have it folks, the most amazing pair of shoes ever made, my one true love…the ASICS Gel-Kayano. If you are looking for a better shoes that has comfort, guides your feet, minimizes injuries, and with a little cushion, give these babies a try. They won’t feel like any other shoes, they are different. Your feet with thank you =)

-gelcys