By Kieran Alger
ASICS’ premium stability shoe returns with some familiar elements, some important changes, including a tweaked FlyteFoam Blast+ midsole with 2mm more cushion under the forefoot, a lower drop than the Kayano 31 and marginal weight savings.
So has this drastically changed the ride? Is this still one of the best stability shoes on the shelves? Let’s get into it in my ASICS Gel Kayano 32 review.
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Stack Height, Drop, Weight and Price
The ASICS Gel Kayano 32 stack height sticks with a maximal 40mm in the heel but now adds an extra 2mm under the forefoot, taking the front foam stack to 32mm. That brings the drop down from 10mm to 8mm – the same as the ASICS Gel Nimbus 27.
Even with the extra foam under the forefoot, ASICS managed to bring the Kayano 32 in a smidgen lighter, tipping the scales at 10.8oz or 304g in my US men’s 9.5 test shoe. That’s less than an ounce shaved off the previous generation and this is still among the heavier running shoes.
On price, the ASICS Gel Kayano lands at $165. So no price hike here.
Stats
ASICS | Kayano 32 |
|---|---|
Best for | Stability / Easy everyday miles |
Support | Stability |
Cushion | Max cushioning |
Stack Height | 40mm heel |
Drop | 8mm |
Weight | 10.8oz /304g |
Suggested Retail Price | $180 |
Fit | True to size |
Rating | 8.3/ 10 |
Design
Straight out of the box, the ASICS Gel Kayano 32 cuts a pretty familiar shape to its predecessor. This remains a big stack, plush, premium, easy-mile daily shoe that’s built for comfort and cushion and reliability underfoot.
The biggest change comes in the midsole where you’ve now got a tweaked Flytefoam Blast+ foam with 2mm more cushion under the forefoot. That reduces the drop by 2mm. There’s also a new heel geometry to make for smoother transitions.
You still get ASICS’ 4D guidance system that’s designed to enhance stability and support by adapting to your foot’s movement in all directions, promoting smoother transitions, improved alignment, and a more efficient, comfortable running stride.
Up top you’ve got new single-layer engineered mesh uppers and a new tongue setup. The heel collars keep the big, plush padding. The tongues have some extra internal wrapping on the medial side to boost the support.
The outsole sticks with the same Hybrid ASCICSGrip that we saw on the Kayano 31 with a liberal covering.
The whole package comes in slightly lighter than the ASICS Gel Kayano 31 and drops back closer to the weight of the ASICS Gel Kayano 30. But we’re talking 0.8oz.
ASICS Kayano 32
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Fit
In testing I ran in a US 9.5 and the Gel-Kayano 32 fits spot on. There's just enough room in the toe box, the breathable mesh uppers offer a flexible but secure hold, it’s easy to get the midfoot locked down and the well-padded heel collar provides excellent, no-slip lockdown. Comfort-wise, it’s a “disappears-on-foot” kind of shoe. And I’d recommend going true to size.
Performance
In testing, I’ve logged around 25 miles in the ASICS Gel Kayano 32. The majority of those miles have been low heart rate, slow and easy – which is really in the wheelhouse for the Kayano 32. This isn’t a shoe that’s built for fast.
The shoe feels a little lighter on the foot than the Kayano 31 – though it’s still a comparatively heavy shoe. There’s a notable change to the midsole sensation with a slightly firmer edge to the Kayano 32.
It’s still cushioned but when you run with one shoe on each foot, you notice that the Kayano 31 just has a touch more softness. It’s not something that revolutionizes the ride but I think that more immediate feedback in the Kayano 32 makes it feel slightly snappier.
While there's still a touch of that classic stability “clumpiness,” the overall ride is smoother in the transition, there’s more compression in the heel and it felt more energetic than I expected. And still natural on foot, even for someone who usually runs in neutral shoes.
There’s some energy in the midsole — especially when heel-striking but as you’d expect, everything is still stable and controlled, with a wide platform the length of the shoe and mild guidance that doesn’t interfere with your stride.
At cruising pace, it rolled along nicely without ever feeling too clunky or restrictive. Though the general bulk definitely restricts the Kayano 32 to slower paces. This isn’t a shoe I’d use to get out of second gear.
On durability, like previous iterations of the Kayano, this shoe feels built to last. I’ve seen no signs of premature wear, the midsoles feel like they’ll swallow big mileage with ease and the uppers look to be nicely robust.
My Verdict
For runners who need stability but want comfort and a firm but snappier ride with smooth transitions, the Kayano 32 strikes a great balance. You get plush, balanced cushion, good stability that’s subtle and avoids being too intrusive. It works with your natural stride rather than feeling forced. And it’s a great option for easy miles and daily runs.
Stability shoes typically feel heavier and blockier and this is still a ‘big’ shoe. But there’s a touch of springy response from the midsole — that offers more energy than you might expect.
The changes to the drop might take some time to get used to for long time Kayano users and there are lighter, livelier stability options out there but if you’re after a cushioned, protective ride that’s designed to soak up slower daily miles, manage long runs in comfort and cater for your easy-day recovery runs, the Kayano 32 is a capable option.
Outstanding review. Is there ample room in the midsole — as I’m prone to blisters in that area. I have SEVERE knee osteoarthritis. How does this shoe compare to the Brooks Adrenaline GTS and Hoka Gaviota 5? Which one would you recommend or are there other options I should consider?
Thanks, glad you enjoyed the review. If you mean, is there room in the midfoot section, I’d say there’s enough here unless you’ve got particularly wide feet. But I’m not able to comment on whether that would be suitable for severe knee osteoarthritis. I’ve not run in the latest Brooks Adrenaline or the Gaviota I’m afraid so can’t comment on the comparison with those.
Hi, I have both the Hurricane 24 and Gel Kayano 32 – and I’ve worn them the same number of times (5 each so far). I just came back from a 10K race where I wore the Hurricane 24 and I am finding the Hurricane 24 that bit more cushioned and responsive as a midfoot runner and easy on my knees (I have issues with left knee – could well be arthritis as I have it in my hands). I plan to try out the Kayano a couple more times (mercifully One ASICS allows you to trial a shoe for 90 days) but so far the Hurricane has just been the better shoe for me.
I absolutely love this 32 redesign. Your review is spot on. I rotate between my 32 and my 31 and I find my miles in my 32s have a more comfortable stride. I am definitely stocking up on this model as an avid Kayano wearer since the beginning.