Surprising, yet what you would expect....with UPDATE
Written: Jan 03 '08 (Updated May 29 '08)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Same great shoes, feel, and fit with style tweak. Exclusivity for ASICS
Cons: sensation of being lower in the heel, retail price...ripping gel pods
The Bottom Line: Good shoes to start...but fell apart quickly, replaced with lower tier shoe...does this mean these shoes are not up to snuff?
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| rookshark's Full Review: Asics Gel Kinsei for Men |
I received the Kinsei as a Christmas present. After doing some research, they were picked up for under $100, which is a bargain when compared to the regular retail of $165-180.
I knew little of the shoes other than that they became the new flagship shoes for ASICS, and with my past history of positive ASICS ownership, it seemed like the right time to give them a try (I helped pick out my Christmas present if not obvious yet.) When checking out ASICS website, and their breakdown of their shoes into cushioned and cushioned support, the Kinsei has its own category, which according to them is a category… “for those that appreciate the best performance features ASICS can offer along with a great fit, stable ride and a cushioned platform.” I take that to mean people who want something marginally better but more exclusive than the Nimbus or Kayano.
If you have owned ASICS before, then out of the box you will not be surprised. Why mess with success apparently even if new design. The main difference between these and other Asics I have owned is the rear midsole. Instead of the traditional setup of gel inside the solid midsole, these have gel like pods that compose the midsole in the heel attached to a regular looking outsole. This is basically the same I.G.S. (Impact Guidance System) technology taken to the next level….that is, more gel for more cushion, with stability, etc.
But how do they feel? First putting them on your feet gives me the same perfect comfort feel I have grown accustomed to feeling in Asics. The shoe strings seem to be a little thinner and perhaps just a bit less comfortable when pulled tight (fancy techno term here about enhancing biomorphic fit) , but quickly that feeling goes away. Just something a little different from the status quo…perish the thought.
Stand up, and I instantly noticed that I felt like I was walking at an angle, as if the back of the shoe is lower than the front, so as to give the impression of my toes being elevated. Not uncomfortable, but odd. Start walking and the feeling stays initially, but diminishes with use. It is not over exaggerated, but you will notice it.
Start running, and the comfort kicks in strong. Any fears of that continued feeling of being off kilter or the losing that great status quo goes away, and I ran seven miles (on a treadmill) in my first wearing, and really the comfort was such that it felt like they were shoes I had had for months. Wearing them out on the pavement, gravel, and rocky roads near where I live, and again, although they may look different and feel different when first tried on, they wore just like any of the many previous ASCIS I have had.
The color scheme I purchased, darker gray/black with neon green highlights (mostly the gel pod for the heel) with a dollop of silver 3M reflective material, looks good and so far has not shown any signs of picking up or showing much dirt, which is a welcome change from the mostly white Asics I have previously owned.
The fit in these D width shoes is true to ASICS form…not too tight, not too loose for me, and I am a neutral to under pronator, and the shoes so far are complimenting me well. The outsole looks sturdy enough, and I do not anticipate any problems with wear, even with the new style rear midsole of the shoe.
Weight? I am a big guy, so I rarely notice the weight of any shoe I own. That being said, these shoes seem to be in keeping with past running shoes I have purchased. Not the lightest (like Nike’s Kukinis for example) but by no means the heaviest either…nice and middle of the road.
Keep in mind the regular retail for these shoes is very high for what they bring to the table. The technological change/advancement in the different heel unit and different styling in the shoe do not seem to me to pay off for the higher retail price. If you already have the Nimbus, even the Cumulus to some extent, you have most of the important technological goodies that ASICS bring to the table, so there is no need to upgrade to these shoes...unless you just like having fancier, more exclusive looking shoes.
If you can pick them up on sale (or as a present even better) then by all means go for that same great ASICS goodness with the traditional look tweaked ever so slightly.
UPDATE....after three months of use, the unique gel cushioning pods at the heel began to tear (on both shoes) at the front of those pods. The tear began at the point of connection with the midsole of the shoe. Obviously I was very unhappy with this, contacted ASICS via their website, and sent the shoes to them (at my expense.)
They sent me in return, with no explanation, a brand new pair of Gel Nimbus. Why Nimbus when I sent back Kinseis which sell for a much higher retail price? One wonders if there is a greater problem with the Kinseis? I make no accusation, just wondering as they did not explain the "downgrade" (good thing I love the Nimbus...it is a difference in retail price of $55 between the two.) Just thought you deserved an update on what up until that point were some very good shoes.
Recommended:
No
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rookshark
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Location: Honduras
Reviews written: 54
Trusted by: 3 members
About Me:
missionary living in Honduras
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