What replaced the Asics Gel-Kayano 27?
Updated July 28, 2026. Specs are men's US 9.
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THE SHORT ANSWER
The Kayano 28 replaced the Kayano 27 in June 2021. It swapped the top foam to softer FlyteFoam Blast, shrank the heel clip, and left the DuoMax post, price, and fit alone.
At a glance
- The Gel-Kayano 28 is 0.2 oz lighter
- 1 mm more heel stack
- Drop is unchanged at 10 mm
- New midsole foam
Every spec side by side, with the reason behind each change: Gel-Kayano 27 vs 28.
Stay on your shoe, or switch?
Refined, same shoeSofter and smoother without touching the stability formula. A classic update from the posted era, when a Kayano review never needed the word controversy.
Stick with the Gel-Kayano 27 if
- You liked the 27's firmer, snappier heel
- Closeout 27s still turn up in your size
Old stock is gone; see alternatives below.
Move to the Gel-Kayano 28 if
- You want the same support with a softer landing
- The 27's big heel clip rubbed your ankle
Where the Asics Gel-Kayano is now
Four generations separate the Asics Gel-Kayano 27 from the Gel-Kayano 33 (2026), so the gap is wider than any single update suggests:
- The Gel-Kayano 33 is 0.6 oz lighter
- 17 mm more heel stack
- Drop moved from 10 mm to 8 mm
- New midsole foam
- List price up $10
What loyalists said about the update
Reviewers called it lively and smooth for a big stability shoe, and long-time wearers kept buying it. No drama.
Still want the original?
Buy remaining Gel-Kayano 27 stock
Old stock goneAmazon's stock of the Asics Gel-Kayano 27is gone in both men's and women's sizes, and discontinued stock does not come back. The best current match is the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25.
Ready to move on?
Beyond the Gel-Kayano 28, these come closest to what the Gel-Kayano 27 did.
- 10.6 oz
- 10 mm drop
- 37 mm heel
- $145 list
The Adrenaline is the other default stability pick: lower, firmer, cheaper, and more traditional than the modern Kayano, with GuideRails bumpers instead of a sculpted platform. Runners who find the Kayano 30 era too tall and soft often land here.
Against your Asics Gel-Kayano 27: 0.5 oz lighter, 15 mm more heel stack, the same drop, $15 less at list.
- 10.4 oz
- 10 mm drop
- 38 mm heel
- $145 list
The Structure is the cheaper, firmer, lower-stack stability option. Runners who find the modern Kayano too tall and plush, and who fit Nike lasts, land here.
Against your Asics Gel-Kayano 27: 0.7 oz lighter, 16 mm more heel stack, the same drop, $15 less at list.
Questions runners ask
- Is the Asics Gel-Kayano 27 still available?
- No. Amazon's stock of the Asics Gel-Kayano 27 is gone in both men's and women's sizes, and old-model stock does not come back. Your move is the successor or a close alternative.
- Is the Gel-Kayano 28 a downgrade from the Asics Gel-Kayano 27?
- No. Most runners rate the Gel-Kayano 28 as the same shoe done slightly better. The changes are real but none of them alter what the shoe is.
- How much lighter is the Gel-Kayano 28?
- 0.2 oz lighter in a men's US 9: 10.9 oz against the Asics Gel-Kayano 27's 11.1 oz.
- Is the Asics Gel-Kayano still made?
- Yes. The current version is the Asics Gel-Kayano 33, released in 2026, 6 versions on from the Asics Gel-Kayano 27.
- What is the closest current alternative to the Asics Gel-Kayano 27?
- The Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25. The Adrenaline is the other default stability pick: lower, firmer, cheaper, and more traditional than the modern Kayano, with GuideRails bumpers instead of a sculpted platform. Runners who find the Kayano 30 era too tall and soft often land here.