Now I don’t want to cast aspersions, but stability shoes don’t usually have the sexiest silhouette on the market. They’re amazing if you need some support with pronation or recovery, but they often look and feel a bit dated compared to the more modern maximal running shoes on the market.

Enter the ASICS Gel-Kayano 33. This is the newest version of a classic stability shoe and it has new features and impeccable vibes. We put it to the test…

ASICS Gel-Kayano 33 pros

• Good stability without feeling too clunky
• Look and feel great on the run
• Nice big of energy return

ASICS Gel-Kayano 33 cons

• For runners who need a lot of support, a different shoe may be better

ASICS Gel-Kayano 33 technical details

• RRP: £180
• Weight: 259g
• Drop: 8mm
• Sizes: 3-10
• Foam: FF BLAST PLUS and FF BLAST MAX

Who and what are the ASICS Gel-Kayano 33 for?

These are stability shoes, which means they have extra support inside for those of us who pronate when we run. They’re also suitable for neutral runners who want a shoe with a bit more support for recovery runs.

How do they fit?

Really well. I’ve been having a bit of a size issue with some other ASICS shoes I’ve been testing recently, but these were true-to-size and well-suited to my feet.

Are the Gel-Kayano 33 comfy?

Oh-so-comfy! They had that magical out-of-the-box comfort that only the best running shoes offer. When I got them, I immediately took them out for a 40-minute run and they felt like shoes I’d worn-in for months. I bang on a lot about it in my ASICS reviews, but I love the heel entrance on these shoes. It’s lovely and low, which is helpful as I find this to be a common sore spot in other brands.

Gel-Kayano 33 run review

I’m a big fan of the maximalist shoe aesthetic, but recently I’ve had to do more of my training in stability shoes to give me extra support while I’m getting back into longer distances post-baby. And while there are exceptions, I’m rarely excited to pull them out and put them on because they just don’t look and feel as swish as other running shoes.

By contrast, these are a breath of fresh air. As soon as I opened the box I was wowed by the style of them, which has a maximalist vibe while still offering all that support.

Now on to the important stuff: did they perform as beautifully as they looked? Yes is the simple answer here. There’s fair bit of new tech in these shoes which made such a difference to the run experience. The former 4D Guidance System which fans of previous versions might be familiar with has been replaced by FLUIDSUPPORT. This is designed to give smoother, more comfortable stability and I would say that it has achieved its goal. I barely even remembered that they were support shoes on my runs, as the support was there, but not too noticeable.

Another factor in this is the fact that they feel so lightweight and even offer a bit of energy return, thanks to a combo of ASICS’ different foams. I was able to pick up the pace easily without feeling like I was dragging my feet along with me.

Overall, I was really impressed with these shoes and they’ve gone straight into my running shoe rotation.

Should you buy these shoes?

If you’re looking for a stability shoe that doesn’t look or feel like a stability shoe, then yes – these are the ones!

Where to buy

ASICS Gel-Kayno 33 are available from SportsShoes.com