Gel Kayano 30

There is no such thing as best shoes for running whether you have PF or not. Everyone’s feet and biomechanics are different so the most you can do is find the best running shoes for you. This requires trial and error. You know the usual brands: ASICS, Nike, brooks, new balance, Hoka, Saucony, even Altra now. You need to look for shoes with a fairly firm sole, ideally with a rocker, wide toebox if possible, not too low a drop (6-10mm) and very little if any toe spring. Some examples to try: Hoka mach 5, ASICS gel cumulus, Altra forward experience(beware as this is 4mm), Hoka bondi 9 (easy runs), Saucony hurricane, brooks glycerin, new balance 880. You could also try the standard stability shoes from the same brands: ASICS gel kayanos 30+, gt2000, brooks adrenaline gts, Hoka arahi, new balance 860 or Saucony guide. Or you could go for neutral stable shoes coupled with insoles such as Supafeet, powerstep or currafeet pro. Main thing is you need a shoe or shoe and insole combination that reduces stretch on the fascia and attenuates load going through the fascia as your foot lands and pushes off. Great website for coming up with options: www.runrepeat.com Having said that, you need to carefully manage any running whilst you have PF. Pushing beyond pain of 3/10 during or up to 24 hrs afterwards will likely prolong your recovery and/or make your pain worse maybe to point you will have to stop running completely for a long time. You are also at risk of tears or a rupture which are distinct possibilities if you continue to strain the fascia beyond its capacity. Note that there is usually no warning beforehand, it just happens suddenly seemingly out of the blue. Best thing to do is consult with an experienced podiatrist and sports physio for the best way to manage and rehab this condition and you can also pose the question of whether you can safely continue to run or not.

I walk 15km a day including some running, and therefore go through a pair every few months. I juggle multiple pairs of Asics Gel Kayano 30 (don't like the 31 or 32). If you want insane cushion, go for Hoka Bondi 8 but you will compromise on stability. If you want cushion and stability, either go for Asics Gel Kayano 32 or Asics Gel Nimbus 28. I am not a big fan of Nike Vomero plus (which I also own) because the cushion has a steep fall from heel to toe, which I find uncomfortable. PS I bacially \*live\* in sneakers because I also wear them at work.

Try the new GT 2000. It's more like the kayano 30 tbh than the new kayano.

The GT 2000 12 or 13 are going to be a bit firmer than the Arahi, Kayano is more plush. The GT 2000 14 that just came out are completely different. Saucony guide is another good one to try out.

I can second this! I have flat feet and it’s been such a struggle for me to find the perfect shoe that provides enough support from a pronation standpoint. I wear custom orthotics in every shoe but it is still difficult to find one that works well. Most stability shoes are too heavy and don’t give you that energy return and bounce. The Kayano 30 worked well for awhile but it was time to upgrade. The 32 gave too much arch support which dug into my foot. Finally I got the superblast 3 and it’s perfect. What I found is that for those of us that over pronate, the biggest thing is finding a shoe with GOOD, SOLID SIDEWALLS. This helps cradle the foot and helps immensely with over pronation. I will be trying the megablast next to use for speed work!

LOVE Kayanos and GT 2000!! Currently in 30 and 12 respectively, have gone through a few but they have been my absolute favorites! Kayanos for me are outdoor shoes right now, I find them a little heavy for the speeds in OTF, I use the GT for OTF because they’re light but still cushy. I have a low arch and did try the brooks adrenaline GTS (21?) for one day and returned them immediately. My knees were killing me after a day of working in them (I work in healthcare).

For me the Kayanos didn't work well with my low arched feet, I had rubbing on my pinky toes

I’m a 100% ASICS guy. They just work for me. It’s unreasonable for sure but I have a Kayano 30, Novablast 5, Superblast 2 and tomorrow my Megablast should arrive. Nova is mostly what I use on the Treadmill in the gym (keeping them clean, not really using them outside), Superblast is my go to for outside/ long runs. Kayano for recovery. Probably there isn’t a hole in that which would really justify the Megablast, but I’m just too curious so I went for it.

I started in stability (ASICS Kayano) and they helped me with my knee pain. But after some months I transitioned to Superblast 2 and Novablast 4 - I think by then I had built up the strength I was lacking before that made me need the stability. Now I’m okay running in neutral shoes on half marathon distance. When I’m tired I switch back to the Kayano for stability and a smaller drop. So maybe the answer to your question is “no”.