Are These The Most Comfortable Running Shoes On The Market?

Are these the most comfortable running shoes on the market?

With the Aussie running boom hitting full stride, the new Asics Gel-Kayano 31 delivers added stability and advanced comfort to help you run longer and further

UNLESS YOU’VE BEEN living under a rock, you’d know that Australia is currently in the midst of an unprecedented running boom.

Runners are pounding suburban pavements, running clubs are replacing dating apps as places to meet fit, like-minded partners and Park Run heroes light up Insta.

But while running has arguably never been more popular than it is right now, there are some constants – stitches are still a thing – as well as some enduring classics, such as the Asics Gel-Kayano 31, a shoe that set the standard in running excellence long before the influx of johnny-and-jenny-come-latelys invaded the scene.

The Asics Gel-Kayano 31 is iconic among dedicated runners who trust its unparalleled comfort and stability to assuage the impact of long sessions crushing concrete. The latest edition of the shoe takes that market-leading stability to new levels, thanks to a refurbished upper, which provides additional support to your foot. The result is a shoe that allows you to run further and stay mentally fresh, unburdened by the aches and pains that can dent focus on a long run.

Specifically, the shoe’s asymmetrical medial design upper has been refurbished to create a supportive fit and a more comfortable feel. The mesh upper has also been designed to provide improved ventilation, ensuring your feet stay cool over longer distances, while also offering improved flexibility for maximum comfort with every stride.

Asics Gel-Kayano 31

Image I Asics

The shoe’s outsole has also been updated, with a HYBRID ASICSGRIP™ rubber material, offering better traction throughout your run. This, combined with PureGEL™ technology delivers improved shock absorption, adding further protection – let’s call it the running-on-clouds effect.

As with its predecessor, the new Gel-Kayano 31 benefits from a unique 4D GUIDANCE SYSTEM™, which works with the movement of your body to provide adaptive stability and comfort, supporting your foot when you need it most.

And you’ll be pleased to know that as well as breaking new ground in terms of technical excellence, the Gel-Kayano 31 has strong ethical credentials – its carbon footprint is 27 per cent lower than the industry average.

The bottom line here is that if you’re looking for a shoe that will help you run longer and further – surely the goal in recreational running – you can’t go past the Gel-Kayano 31. Of course, the old heads of the running scene could have told you that.

This article is brought to you by Asics. The Asics GEL-KAYANO™ 31 retails for $280. You can find out more about the shoe here.

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By Ben Jhoty

Ben Jhoty, Men’s Health’s Head of Content, attempts to honour the brand’s health-conscious, aspirational ethos on weekdays while living marginally larger on weekends. A new father, when he’s not rocking an infant to sleep, he tries to get to the gym, shoot hoops and binge on streaming shows.

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