What replaced the Asics Gel-Kayano 28?
Updated September 10, 2026. Specs are men's US 9.
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THE SHORT ANSWER
The Kayano 29 replaced the Kayano 28 in July 2022. It moved to lighter FF Blast+ foam and traded the DuoMax post and Trusstic for a lower-profile LiteTruss. It was the last step before the line's full redesign.
- Asics Gel-Kayano 28Sizes running outMen's at Amazon
Availability last checked Sep 10, 2026. Prices and stock change without notice.
At a glance
- The Gel-Kayano 29 is 0.4 oz lighter
- 2 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 28 vs 29.
Stay on your shoe, or switch?
Refined, same shoeThe 29 modernized the foam while keeping a real medial post, and turned out to be the last old-school Kayano. That gave it an afterlife: it is the version posted-stability holdouts hunt now.
Stick with the Gel-Kayano 28 if
- You want the fuller DuoMax hardware of the 28
- Leftover 28s sit at deep discounts in your size
Move to the Gel-Kayano 29 if
- You want lighter, bouncier foam with a post still in place
- The 28 felt bulky through the midfoot
Where the Asics Gel-Kayano is now
Four generations separate the Asics Gel-Kayano 28 from the Gel-Kayano 33 (2026), so the gap is wider than any single update suggests:
- The Gel-Kayano 33 is 0.4 oz lighter
- 16 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
Well reviewed at launch as stability refined. Its reputation grew afterward, once the 30 deleted the post and the 29 became the last of its kind.
Still want the original?
Buy remaining Gel-Kayano 28 stock
Sizes running outDiscontinued at retail. Amazon carries what remains, so treat an in-stock size as a closing window, and expect prices to swing.
Women's stock is gone.
Availability last checked Sep 10, 2026.
Ready to move on?
Beyond the Gel-Kayano 29, these come closest to what the Gel-Kayano 28 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 28: 0.3 oz lighter, 14 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 28: 0.5 oz lighter, 15 mm more heel stack, the same drop, $15 less at list.
- 8.9 oz
- 8 mm drop
- 37 mm heel
- $150 list
The GT-2000 is the in-brand step down, $20 less: the same 3D Guidance System on less foam. The classic Asics question is whether the Kayano's extra plushness is worth the extra weight and money.
Against your Asics Gel-Kayano 28: 2 oz lighter, 14 mm more heel stack, 2 mm less drop, $10 less at list.
Questions runners ask
- Is the Asics Gel-Kayano 28 still available?
- Partially. Men's sizes still turn up on Amazon, but women's stock is gone. If your size shows up, decide quickly; discontinued stock only shrinks.
- Is the Gel-Kayano 29 a downgrade from the Asics Gel-Kayano 28?
- No. Most runners rate the Gel-Kayano 29 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 29?
- 0.4 oz lighter in a men's US 9: 10.5 oz against the Asics Gel-Kayano 28's 10.9 oz.
- Is the Asics Gel-Kayano still made?
- Yes. The current version is the Asics Gel-Kayano 33, released in 2026, 5 versions on from the Asics Gel-Kayano 28.
- What is the closest current alternative to the Asics Gel-Kayano 28?
- 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.