23 replies to this topic

[MikeIafeta]

Hi Team

I've just placed on 'Lay-by' a pair of Size 13 Asics Gel Kayano X (Q304) Runners retailing at $229.00 from Rebel Sports. The sales person seemed very genuine and spent at least half an hour with me going through a whole range of different runners before I picked these ones. I'm quite heavy (98k) and they felt very comfortable (better than my 5 year old Nike's that I have been running in lately).

I thought it would be a good idea to lay-by them (minimum deposit of $24.00) first so I could change them if the advice I recieve here on CR is negative.

My question is: Has anyone had any problems with this type of shoe? Be good to know the pro's and con's before forking out the $205.00 balance.

Any recommendations on other types of shoes would be appreciated as well.

Thanks in advance - Mike

[Stu Mac]

Mike, I am a big supporter of the Asics shoes & especially the Kayano, I am now 85kg and have found the shoe provides great support. I would suggest that your place of purchase may not be the best price (but they do have lay-by).

I would highly recommend Leo Russells in Gilbert Road Preston or Stringer Sports on the net (in Melb): web page

A cheaper option.

[Rooster]

Hi MikeIaefta,

I have a pair of Keyano X. Great shoe. I did my preparation for Canberra M and also the race itself in them. Have never had any blisters or problems with them. Even though they are expensive make sure that they suit your foot, stride etc. Great investment.

PS> I love reading your posts. They put a smile on my face. Keep up the good work :)

[pbig]

Yes Mike, Kayano's are a very supportive shoe, great reputation and very popular, and from what I've heard are particularly good for the heavier runner (can't vouch for that though, given my 67kg). I have run in them, but switched to the slightly less-supportive 20xx and now the 10xx because of a wider forefoot and not needing as much support as I did a few years ago (no more chronic knee soreness).

Once you know what you want and if you are happy with Asics, then I'd recommend you visit Leo Russell in Gilbert Street, Preston - they have great prices on Asics, eg. Kayano I think are usually $180, and another $20 or so less for the superseded model in June and December when the new colour and/or model has been released. They only take cash, pretty good with the advice, but no frills - you will probably drive past the place a few times before you recognize it as a shop! I went there today and bought a pair of about-to-be superseded (in colour only) 1090s for $105, usually $120. Don't need them yet, just went there for the June price.

cheers, pbig.

[Nicko]

I bought asics gel Kayanos back in March and they began to fall apart after 6 weeks. When I returned them I was told that Asics would not honor the warranty because I wear orthotics and that this was regarded as a modification. $230 shoes for 6 weeks!! Asics - no way, never again - give me Brooks any day. :angry:

[Action]

I wear orthotics in my Kayano's, and get 1000k out of them. All 8 pairs so far....

[MikeIafeta]

Sorry guys, but can anyone explain what orthotics are please? I'm reading between the lines here, but are they a shoe-modifier? :unsure:

Cheers - Mike

[plu]

I am not sure I can answer the orth... question except for saying they are special inners suited to your feet and the way you strike the ground. I was at Rebel sports today and saw the shoes you have looked at and they looked impressive - not only the price!

I have been through a range of shoes, my favourite being the old New Yorks. Any one remember them?

More recently Tiger (asic) and just keep updating. Latest is a 2090 from East Gosford. Bit far for you. Mind you I paid 160 and saw them today for 129 at rebel sport. I have paid as much as what you are going to pay but I am not sure if they were expensive shoes or the prices have come back over the decades.

Any way they are a lot better that the old dunlops! NO wonder I got shin splints.

Plu

[Grey beard]

Yep Mike, I agree with the others, Kayanos are a very good shoe. Their heel cushioning is excellent and the cushioning on the forefoot has a unique progressive taper that feels very natural. Most other shoes seem to bend along one line across the sole, which is fine if it happens to line up with where your foot flexes, but can be a problem (blisters etc) if it doesn't.

When I first changed to Kayanos from Asics 2070s it took me a while to get used to them and initially I didn't like using the Kayanos for longer runs. Over a few months I got used to them and while I still tend to prefer the Kayanos for 5 and 10 km running, I have gone up to 25 kms in them with no problems.

In value for money terms, like pbig I'd lean towards Asics 1090s for general purpose use, and keep the Kayanos for races, speedwork, tempos etc. The Asics 20xx series are also good, pretty much equivalent to Brooks Adrenalines, which for me are a good solid 'workhorse' kind of shoe for long runs.

[Action]

Mike
I am into my 8th pair of Kayano's. I usually have 2 pairs going most of the time - one pair of Kayanos, one pair of something else. The Kayanos work for me, and are the consistent pair. Everyone is different, and different shoes fit different people, but Kayanos tends to support the theory that you getwhat you pay for :D

[The Apprentice]

Hi Guys,
I was interested in this topic as i've been considering buying new shoes for a while now and asics is my favourite brand, gel creed my present ones that are falling apart. im not an experienced runner so any advice is most welcome. My first 1/2 marathon was in may, 2;22 so i was pleased with that, plan to do the 1/2 in sept so need new shoes. i've been readingtheasics website, andthey say that Kayanos are not designed forbig or heavy runners. I'm 85k and 5' 11'', does that put me in the big orheavy range? If so, then I'll get their 2090's as they say these aresuitable for mostrunners (im mild to moderate overpronator)i was attracted to Kayanos cause they seem to bethe flagship, but it seems 2090's maybemore suitable. Has anyone got any advice?

[Action]

Mike
orthotics are inserts for the shoes that are replace the inner sole. They are crafted from a cast taken of your foot and are designed to correct the foot plant on the ground, thereby addressing any flaws in the bio mechanics of your running. Many don't need them, but some of us can't run without them. Personally, my knees can't survive more than a week without my orthotics. In my case, they are more important than any other piece of equipment - including the shoes.

Apprentice,
The Kayanos are top of the range - but if 2090's work for you, are comfortable and stable, then go for it. this is where the advice of a good specialist running store comes in. Forget Rebel, Athlete's Foot, or any of the chain stores. In Sydney check out the Running Centre at Edgecliff, or Randwick Runners Shop - real runners selling real running shoes. Might cost a few bucks more, but the guys selling the shoes run - and know their shoes.

:)

[Don Juan]

Appentice, a podiatrist or physio might also be worth a visit if you're switching runners. Some shoe switches don't work, others do. There are a few variables at work.

The 2090s and 1090s both feel like good runners. Only done one run in each so far.

[DJ Zany]

In Melbourne I went to a place called Active Feet. They are podiatrists who run the place and they will put you on a treadmill and watch you run and work through what works for you.

You pay full RRP, so won't be as cheap as Rebel (but not that much different), but I had not run for many years and was wary of getting injured so wanted to be sure I got the right shoe.

[I'm around 100kg and ended up with Asics 2090]

[The Apprentice]

thanks guys,
appriciate the advice, i'll go to the running shops, like to think that the seller is giving advice based on experience rather than sales training. good idea about seeing a podiatrist, i seem to lean on my left side when running, sometimes gives me knee soreness and tenderness in the achilles, but not always.

[RMC]

Mike.
Have a pair of Kayano X myself. Bought from Leo Russell's for $189 a month ago. Good runner, no worries at all. Larger stores have certainly inflated prices. Have seen prices up to $250 for the same runner. Thats $61 more!

[Winston]

Must be a lot of ignorant people out there to beleive that an Athletes foot store is the same as a Rebel or a Sports Co or one of the chain stores. And who says that people at The Athletes Foot dont run or know their shoes. Im sure you have had bad experiences but until you actually know about the shoes and the companies dont be advising people incorrectly.

For those of you who are looking for the correct shoe for you and your running make sure the person selling the shoe actually looks at your foot type, measures your feet length and width and questions you on how much running you do and where you strike when you run. Or just bring in the last pair you ran in and get them to look at your wear patterns. If the sales person doesnt offer this kind of service you probably wont be getting the correct shoe for you. Go elsewhere!! :angry:

[RunWolf]

Hi Mike
I'm wearing a pair of Kayano's as I type, went for a quick 12km this morning and a slower 20km on the weekend. They're now approaching 600kms and are holding up very well. They do have some wear on the outside heal, but all my shoes seem to wear out there. In comparison my Brooks Trance wore through the heal in about 600kms and were looking very tired, the Nike lasted about 200km and were completely shot. Initially I found the Kayanos a little chunkier than the Trance - they didn't seem to feel as responsive. Now that I'm used to them they feel fine, although I do prefer to race and speedwork in the Trance.
I'm in the market for a new pair so if anyone nows of any good deals for Kayanos or Trance I'd love to hear about them.

Winston: I don't believe that I'm ignorant, I have bought several pairs of shoes from the Athletes Foot stores. I have found that the knowledge of the sales staff is extremely variable. One backed by first hand experience understood my requirements well, an other backed by knowledge of Nike product recomended the Nikes that couldn't go the distance. Pretty much the same as the Rebel store really, some of the staff are runners who know their product and others know less than me. I would expect a lot less variability in the knowledge of the staff at a specialist running store. Too bad there's not one in the Hornsby area.

[Jogger]

Winston - we greatly appreciate your input. However it is wise to include a statement of bias, if there is one. I believe you work at Athlete's Foot. Other readers may not be aware of the sensitivity of the subject. I have also bought shoes at Athletes Foot and felt the staff were a bit variable - sometimes good, sometimes so-so. I wasn't in the market for a new brand and just went for what I wanted. The salesperson was trying to use a "scripted" approach on me : "hello sir - looking for some shoes ? what for ? running ? do you run much ?" etc

Lonewolf - I live near Hornsby and frequently make a long trek to a specialist running shop. I have been using Athlete Edge at Randwick and have found Steven Howard to be a total guru on running shoes. For me the drive is well worth it. We make an afternoon of it and go to Bondi or Bronte with the kids afterwards.

[Morpheus73]

Hi all,

I had been until recently an avid Asics fan until they changed the design of their top line shoes (including the Kayano). They have now placed a new biomorphic fit to their shoes and this unfortunately led to huge blisters on the side of my feet as the new fit rubs on the side of my foot. I'm now using Mizuno and have no blisters, I agree that all people are different and the shoe saleperson (The Runners Shop at Clovelly) was very good and noted that he will keep an eye out on future feet purchasing Ascis because if their feet bulge at the sides like mine they will also have blister problems.

As nobody else seems to be experienceing any problmes I must just have freak feet. In any event when I could use Asics the Kayano was a good shoe and offers good support, I did however change to the DS trainer as I'm only 68kgs and didn't need heaps of support.

[Winston]

KT- very correct, I do work for an Athletes foot chain and i will agree that staff even within our own store vary in their knowledge, running experience, from some to none, and we often debate about the correctness of one shoe vs the other. I would just be a little hesitant to beleive that a certain shoe or brand is the be all and end all of running shoes. When entering a TAF (The Athlets Foot) store 90% of the time you will get those same lines as its part of staff training to question and qualify the customer so that the staff can "try" to recommend the best shoe for them. If you go to a Rebel you wont get measured, you will rarely get qualified and if you have any technical questions you will struggle to find a staff member who can adequately answer.

Where i work we often have customers walk into our store after coming from the other sports stores saying that the staff there didnt know what i needed. Next time you meet a staff member from one of these stores ask them what is a good running shoe and ask them why. Then ask them do i need that and why. See what comments you get. On the other hand there are better stores out there than TAF as previously mentioned so if you have the means go to them and see what advice you receive. If you are a runner and arent getting any pain from the shoe you are using and know what you need buy that same shoe as cheap as possible as you have no need for advice from a store like these unless you are having some concerns from your current pair. :)

Wolfy- if you still beleive that an Athletes foot store is the same as a Rebel you are missing the point, im sorry. As for the staffing concerns well thats a different story all together as i mentioned above. TAF stores do take steps to train their staff where as Rebel dont have the same standards in training, however there is a lot to be said for experience in using a product and actually being a runner or sports person. I am both and beleive in the philosophy of TAF, being all feet are different, we all need different support as we are all individuals!

Happy to answer any questions..

[Action]

Winston, let me temper my comments with "there are exceptions at the chain stores". The advantage of the specialist shops is that you know that, 9 times out of 10, you will get a runner who knows his or her stuff serving you. In the chain stores it is the opposite ratio - and the general new runner is not in a position to judge the skill or knowledge of the salesperson.

To all, I strongly recommend Winston's store and getting Winston to serve you, but then again, all that is doing is reinforcing the general rule that specialist shops are good 9 times of 10, and chain stores are good IF you can locate a knowledgeable sales person.

[Jogger]

So which TAF is Winston's one ?

[MikeIafeta]

Thanks everyone for your advice / comments. It's much appreciated.

Winston, I actually did go into TAF, but I ended up walking out as the sales-girl gave me a ... "You better not ask me for 5 Cougars" look?! :unsure:

(Maybe she was just having a bad day, but that look was enough to lose a sale) <_< .

Cheers again Team - Mike