You know what's harder than choosing a husband or a wife? A good pair of running shoes.

(OK lah, we're exagerrating, but those who are always ruining their part of workout shoes will know the struggle)

There are just so many different models to pick from - and the jargons that you have to go through, ZOMG - and picking the right one can be quite a tedious task.

If you're currently in the market for a good pair of running shoes that checks all the boxes, you need to take a serious look at the ASICS Gel Kayano 27.


We were given a pair to test out, and after three weeks, we can honestly say that it's definitely one of the best performance running shoes we've ever had the chance to wear on our tired old feet.

Here's our honest review of the ASICS Gel Kayano 27 running shoe:

Styling

It's really no secret that running or workout shoes are not meant to look pretty, because after all, it's the performance that matters, not the looks, right?

There are a few running shoes out there that managed to bridge that gap -- adidas' Ultraboost line is one great example -- and the ASICS Gel Kayano 27 is right up there.

The colour on the pair we got was 'Sheet Rock/Magnetic Blue', and it's honestly the best colourway for the Gel Kayano 27 line, in our opinion.

We like the neon orange accent on the outsole of the shoe; it gives a little pop of colour to the entire shoe.


The upper mesh of the Kayano 27 feels really nice to the touch and really luxurious (more on that later), and it feels and looks like a pair of expensive running shoes because of just how classy the design is, thanks to the diagonal ventilation holes in the mesh material.

Oh, and we don't know what's the material ASICS used for their shoelaces, but it feels luxe AF too!

We wore the Gel Kayano 27 out for a few shopping trips and several cafe-hopping sessions during a span of couple of weeks, and we have to say, it looks pretty good when you pair it with your swag clothes.

For someone who prefers to keep gym shoes in the gym and lifestyle shoes outside of the gym, we have no problem letting the ASICS Gel Kayano 27 cross that line at all.

Rating: ★★★★☆

Comfort

Here's the thing about the ASICS Gel Kayano 27: from the outside, it doesn't look like the most comfortable pair of running shoes, unlike the Nike Joyride or the adidas Ultraboost which don't have a problem shouting out how comfortable their shoes are.

In fact, even when you put it on, you don't feel the 'springiness' or the cloud comfort like you do on Joyride or Ultraboost. It feels stiff, even.

We even felt that the shoe fits too tight on top of the foot the first couple of times we put it on; like it compresses our foot too much for our liking.

But, the magic happens when you unleash it on the treadmill.


A combination of ASICS' proven and tested Flytefoam technology on the midsole and the GEL technology on the heel and the forefoot makes the Gel Kayano 27 one of the most comfortable running shoes we've ever tested.

Both the Flytefoam and GEL technology works hand-in-hand to provide the comfort we did not experience in our previous running shoe.

(We'll expand on that further in the 'Performance' section below, so keep reading ya)

It is also worth to note that the tongue of the Gel Kayano 27 is also extremely well-padded, which is something we don't see in a lot of running shoes. The padded tongue provides really good protection for the top of your foot, and we feel that the tongue is extremely comfortable.


There were also sufficient padding on the collar of the shoe, which makes it even more comfortable to wear for an extended period of time.

Exhibit A: we 'accidentally' put the ASICS Gel Kayano 27's comfort to the test during one of our shopping trips where we had to stand and wait for a table at a famous ramen restaurant for one-and-a-half hours (if you must know, it's that one in Jaya One) and we barely felt anything: no aching feet, no sore calves, no lower back pain; which is surprising, because this writer suffers from all that after standing for an extended period of time.

We can safely say that when it comes to comfort, the ASIC Gel Kayano 27 win liao.

Rating: ★★★★★

Performance

When it comes to the performance of the ASICS Gel Kayano 27, there are two areas where we felt it performed the best: the breathibility and the cushioning/stability it provides.

The upper of the shoe is made from a material ASICS called "jacquard woven mesh". It is thin yet strong, but most importantly, the mesh provides better breathability for your feet.


Even after an intense hour of running and workout session, we never once felt that our feet were suffocating. In fact, we don't feel the temperature of our feet were that hot after taking off the shoes.

But the MVP of the shoe has got to be the shock absorbtion and extra bounce provided by the Flytefoam and GEL technology.

When your feet are thumping hard against the treadmill or the jogging path, the GEL cushioning absorbs the shock and distributes it evenly across the entire foot.

Of course, we can't really feel or see the shock distribution happening, but it is evident after you're done with your workout session and you don't feel any soreness on your heels or calves.

As someone who've always suffered from tight calf muscles (our sports massage therapist can testify to this) after a workout session, we notice less of that since we've started working out in the ASICS Gel Kayano 27.


We also felt that when we're running, our feet feel more stable, thanks to the heel cap (which is extremely well-padded in the inside) and the Space Trusstic System, a hard piece of plastic located in the midsole and under the midfoot.

The function of the Trusstic System is to ensure that the shoe doesn't twist as much, thus providing your feet with more stability. When we have the shoes on, we don't feel our feet sliding and rolling around as much, and we feel that the shoe moves more naturally with our foot.

Rating: ★★★★★

Verdict

Overall, the ASICS Gel Kayano 27 is a very solid pair of running shoes.

It ticks all the boxes: it provides good cushioning and stability, it's made from posh material, it's ultra comfortable and as a bonus, it's pretty good looking too.

There's really nothing bad to say about the ASICS Gel Kayano 27 as a performance shoe, except, well, maybe the price tag. In fact, we feel that the price tag would turn a lot of people off.

The ASICS Gel Kayano 27 is priced at RM679, which is pretty steep for a pair of running shoes, considering that you could walk into SportsDirect and purchase a pair of decent ones for less than RM200.


Having said that, we can guarantee that you probably won't get the same performance you'll get from the Gel Kayano 27.

If you're someone who likes to run a lot and you want a pair of running shoes that will last and keep up with your demands - or suffer from tight calf muscles after every workout session, we would say that the RM679 you throw at it is totally worth it.

You can head over to an ASICS outlet and give it a spin, and you'll see (and feel!) for yourself.

For more information about the ASICS Gel Kayano 27, head on over to ASICS Malaysia's official website.