First impressions: a redesigned upper. Definitely a plus, the shoe looks better than its predecessors.
Right then, time to run, not to look.
The twenty-seventh edition of the well-cushioned ASICS GEL-KAYANO 27
When we say "well cushioned", we are talking about a sole packed with technology whose job is to protect our joints from shock. That means GEL and FlyteFoam, whose construction cuts the feeling of the foot hitting the ground to a minimum.
In short, in the newest version of the Kayano the maker promises "a more flexible sole that reduces impact", and that claim absolutely holds up. The shoes are soft, and I felt it especially on those long runs, when I was mentally trying to escape the exhausting kilometres still ahead of me. The softness and security these shoes offer are unfortunately paid for in weight, as with most stability shoes. In their defence, though, I will add that they are still lighter than earlier editions in the Kayano line.
Since I am an overpronator, and one of the duck-footed variety at that, what I cared about most was good stability on the run. The Kayano has it. For this test I needed a helper to watch how my foot rolled through as I ran. The result really was surprisingly positive: my ankle did not drop inward, not even towards the end of the session.
As for the outsole, meaning grip and how fast the rubber wears. I am pleasantly surprised. The shoes on test had the pleasure, or perhaps the displeasure, of meeting snow, and I thought it would be a white-knuckle ride, but I felt decidedly confident. On the minus side, though, I would point out that the plastic part of the stability system knocks quite loudly during sessions on hard surfaces, which is fairly hard to bear, especially on your first runs in them.
The upper is definitely airy and very comfortable, and it wraps my feet perfectly while leaving the right amount of room for swelling. The soft finish is the crowning touch on everything I expected from these shoes in terms of comfort. Unfortunately breathability comes at the cost of keeping water out: the shoes manage moisture very well, but step in a puddle and you have to accept that your sock will be wet.
On long-distance sessions the Kayano 27 does very well and is comfortable to use. It is a different story in dynamic sessions, where the weight and the high drop do not favour fast running.
I am happy with this model. It is close to ideal on the long runs these shoes were built for. I will not be setting any personal bests in them, but the comfort I get out of them more than makes up for it.
I would like to underline at the end that this is my subjective opinion of this model. Everyone should try a shoe on rather than buy blind; there are, after all, as many opinions as there are feet.
If these stability running shoes have caught your interest, here is a direct link to the store: