Customer Reviews ASICS GEL-Kayano® 26

I was excited when I read the reviews that the Kayano 26 was a bit short- i always thought I had short, wide feet. When I tried them on, they were even too short for me :( I'm exchanging from a 6.5 wide to a 7 wide. Everything else about the 26 is perfect!

needing to replace my gel Kayano 20 and these are a bit shorter. Next size (12!) is too big.

Been buying the kayno’s For years but this round my toe keeps hitting ..go up 1/2 sz!

I have ordered the ASICS GEL-Kayano every year for several years. I LOVED the midnight-almond colorway. I wear them for workouts outside and in the gym almost daily. Unfortunately, on the 26 model the inner ankle started to split after 4-5 months of wear as shown in the photo. I still have 2 pairs from previous years and they are not splitting. It appears something has changed with this model and I hope that ASICS will go back to the previous material. **Of course Zappos has exceptional customer service and is addressing the issue.

Was really excited about this shoe, but it was too small. I've been wearing ASICS for years and double checked the size before I ordered. Do yourself a favor and increase the size you're ordering by at least a half size. If you are borderline regular to wide in width, order the wide! Also, keep your original packaging so you can test them out for 30 days and return them if you need to. I unfortunately recycled the box too soon!

Love the shoe, however, ASICS shoes tend to run narrower than Brooks or New Balance. Not really a very wide shoe.

I wanted to love these. I have liked ASICS over the years and I like this style! However, the sole is hard as a rock. I tried this size in W and also medium. Both fit when on, but then when I walked in them, they were super painful. No arch support (I have pretty flat feet anyway,) but most of all just really hard sole. Sorry - sending them back.

I really loved the look of these Kayano's out of the box, unfortunately the fit is very different from the Kayano 25's, and prior versions. The Kayano 26's were too tight and felt at least a half size too small. I tried running in them a few times to see if they would give, but was getting toe cramps and shin pain, so ended up returning them for the Asics GT-1000-9's, which fit much better and very comfortable!

These failed for me. I ordered the same shoe and size that I've had in the past, which is ASICS GEL-Kayano 26 size 7.5/39. They seemed a bit short. In all other shoes I wear European 38 which usually translates to an 8, unlike the ASICS, so I ordered the same shoe in an 8 thinking it would fit better than the 7.5/39. The 8 was the right length but it was too wide and the arch was wrong. The shoe doesn't come in a narrow, so I returned both and will either wait for the next update to see if it fits better (as has happened sometimes in the past with the GEL-Kayano ) or try something completely different. It would help if ASICS provided more information about how versions differ in the same shoe, and which other styles might be similar, because at $160 these are a big investment.

I gave these a try but found them running small, narrow, and stiff. The aesthetic was great. But everything else fell flat in what I was looking for in a running shoe. Returning.

I loved the look of these shoes, but they’re too wide in the toe area. I have the 23 version which fit perfectly, so I don’t know why they mess with the sizing! Very frustrating. My feet are on the narrow side so I usually have to take fit over style, I was hoping these would be different. I was wrong.

I have been wearing Asics forever - most recently the GT 2000 6. I have always worn a size 8 M. I ordered the GT 2000 7 in an 8 M which was too small in the toe box. I tried an 8.5 W in the Gel Kayano this time. They seemed a little too long and were scraping the inside of my heel. So, back they go.

I have Worn Kayanos for years (2009). Always in a Size 9. Always with a Berry Superfeet insole. These are too smalll. Returning to size up to a 9.5. Disappointed is an understatement.

Disappointed. I am finally giving up on ASICS. I have been a loyal ASICS fan for almost 20 years despite off years where the toe box was changed and made more narrow- then fixed. The sizing of this shoe is too inconsistent and frustrating. This shoe runs very short and is wider than any other ASICS shoe that I have owned. I read the reviews went up a 1/2 size from my usual ASICS size and its still short. Switching to Brooks Glycerin 17

I thought it was just me until I read another reviewer mention these are hard. I kept looking at the soles of my new asics seeing if somehow I'd worn them out already - but no - they just feel hard when I run. I've been an Asics gel-kayano gal for at least a decade and haven't found another running shoe even close to these - but yes the 25's were narrow, and now these a bit short and no cushion when running. I'm at a loss.....

I have worn this shoe for 7 years, same style and size. Why did you change the fit and widen the toe! Guess I am done with Asics:(

Dog gone it!! Why did Asics change the toe box???? It took years to find a shoe that didn't rub my big toe into a giant blister and now they are not making the 25 anymore. Super disappointed! I tried a larger size in hopes that would do it, nope. Now I'm switching back to Mizuno running shoes.

Cute shoes but seemed very hard on the sole across the ball of the foot. Seem a tad small, maybe a half size up.

As others mentioned, this Asics style ran small, so I tried going up a size. Unfortunately the toe box was then too wide and the tongue too long causing it to shift to the side of ankle after wearing for a while. Loved the look and sorry they didn't work out.

After wearing ASICS for many decades, I am going to try another brand. For the past year, I have struggled with fit issues when ordering the same shoe size and style. No two fit the same. Apparently many other ASICS wearers are having the same issue. I have worn 8.5 M for years. Now, that size does not fit. My experience has been that they are too short in the heel to arch length, while the arch to toe length is still perfect. The result is that the arch support is misaligned, causing extreme ankle pain when I am running. I've sized up to a 9M that is too long, causing my foot to slide forward while walking and running. I've spoken directly with ASICS Customer Service who indicated that many people are complaining about the new sizing not fitting correctly. Thank goodness for Zappos excellent customer service and return policy. I will be looking for other shoe brands that will fit better while still providing support and style.

Looked great, BUT, size 12 from china was a size I've used on all my gel kayano shoes. Size 12 from Vietnam was considerably smaller. (5/8") European sizes varied from 46.5 (China) to 44.5 (Vietnam), yet both my old shoes and new shoes say US size 12. Gel Kayano 25 vs 26 Must return

Disappointed.....I have worn Asics for the last 10 years at least. The Gel-Kayano has been my go to shoe. I purchased this new Gel-Kayano 26 in my Ascics size of 9 medium. This new model felt too short, so I returned them for a size 9.5. I wear an 8.5 in regular shoes so I was surprised that i had to go a full size higher, but it seemed as though the toe box had been changed. After approximately one month of wear, due to winter, these shoes really hurt my feet. I'm not sure what Asics did, but my toes especially hurt after a 2-3 mile walk. I know its the shoes because fortunately I had not donated my Gel-Kayano 25's yet and went back to the. Too bad they are no longer available. Now I hope to find a different Ascic's model to fit.

I have been wearing the gel Kayanos for years. A few years ago, they shortened the toe box, everyone complained, and they switched it back. The 26 is a shortened toe box and I lost a toenail the 1st time I ran. Very dissapointed that ASICS did not learn from their mistake the 1st time.