Asics Gel Kinsei 5 Mens Running Shoes Review
Asics Gel Kinsei Nail Review: The Whole Asics Kitchen Sink in One
By Primary Contributor Matt Klein
The Asics Gel Kinsei serial has been a mythical creature of sorts. Years ago (at present well over a decade) when I worked in running retail stores, the Kinsei was the most expensive shoe on the market and was but seen if someone special ordered it. Featuring more Asics Gel than whatever other shoe, information technology was purported to be the nigh cushioned and avant-garde shoe in the line. Existence someone who preferred lighter and more than minimal shoes at the time, I steered clear. Now that I volition run in anything given the chance, the Asics Gel Kinsei Blast sparked my interest given the complete overhaul in design. Featuring a maximal stack and rockered design, a Pebax plate, more than Gel and FF Boom, the Kinsei Smash returns with a new look but maintains nearly of its roots.
Cost: $179.95 at Running Warehouse
Weight: xi.seven oz, 332 grand (men'due south size ix), 9.9 oz, 280 g (women'due south size 8)
Stack Summit: 39 mm / 29 mm
Drop: x mm
Classification: Maximal Daily Preparation Shoe
RUNNING SHOE SUMMARY
The Asics Gel Kinsei Blast is a highly cushioned, maximal shoe that combines a high stack superlative, rockered ride with a plated midsole. Featuring a huge corporeality of gel and FF Blast, a Pebax plate is sandwiched in the middle to provide some rigidity to this rockered ride. A narrow last and a plush narrow fit makes this shoe best for those with narrow and stable/rigid feet. The Asics Gel Kinsei Blast combines the high cushioned and plush design of previous Kinsei shoes with electric current mean solar day influences from maximalist and plated shoes for a heavy-duty daily grooming shoe for high mileage.
FIT
The Asics Gel Kinsei Nail fits me slightly short in my normal men'south size 10. While the upper does stretch a trivial, those between sizes should consider going up a size unless you lot like a snugger/tighter fit in the forefoot. The fit overall is snug/narrow throughout cheers to a tapered forefoot, aggressive toe spring, a narrow fit and an extremely cushioned heel collar. While there is a thick internal and external heel counter, I did not observe it due to the thick pad of heel collar cushioning. Every bit this breaks down those with heel counter sensitivities may demand to be careful, merely after xxx miles I had no issues. The internal and external heel counter travel fairly far frontward on both sides of the heel, which locks the rearfoot down well. I did not have to lace lock this shoe at all and did not have whatsoever slippage issues. The tongue has a unique design, with cushioning on the sides and being thinner in the centre. It is gusseted farther down in the shoe and I did accept some lateral translation of the tongue until I tied the laces a piddling tighter and locked down the upper lace attachment. The upper is an engineered knit mesh that breathes decently. There are modest air holes upfront which add some breathability, but the knit mesh runs on the warmer side.
The forefoot tapers quickly and is quite narrow. The toe spring agree the toes in extension, which further shortens and narrows the shoe. The inner lining of the upper is comfy against the foot except for the toebox, which contains slightly rougher textile as part of a flexible toe baby-sit. This causes a significant amount of chaffing for me, thus I would suggest wearing socks with these. For that reason and the others outlined above, the fit of the Asics Gel Kinsei Blast will work best for those with narrow feet or those who want a snug fit.
PERFORMANCE
The Asics Gel Kinsei Smash is a highly cushioned, durable but heavy daily training shoe. Dissimilar many maximal stack height shoes, there is a 10mm drop. This provides a 39mm heel stack elevation, which provides an incredibly cushioned landing thank you to total-length FF Smash and rearfoot gel. The midfoot and forefoot are also highly cushioned and those that are forefoot strikers have a specifically placed block of gel at the lateral forefoot for landings. The ride is stiff with an aggressive rocker. The rearfoot has a significant bevel with two carve up gel pods. This provides a solid heel transition and I am hopeful ASICS will keep to provide solid bevels in their shoes. The forefoot has an extremely aggressive toe spring that holds the toes in extension. It feels like yous are falling forrard as y'all hitting the front. I have however had several episodes where information technology felt like I mildly strained some of my intrinsic toe flexors in this shoe, then those sensitive to toe spring or that practise not have acceptable toe extension should avert this. This rocker is of import as a full-length Pebax plate runs through the midsole. It is extremely stiff and the sole has little to no flexibility. This makes the rocker extremely credible no matter where you land in this shoe.
As mentioned there is a 10mm drop, but information technology was not as noticeable given how rockered the sole is and how much it compresses for me. With the loftier stack height, large amounts of cushion, gel and plate, the shoe is heavy. It is a solid option for like shooting fish in a barrel runs or recovery runs, but is absolutely as well heavy for anything uptempo. This is further emphasized by how incredibly durable the outsole is. I have over thirty miles in this shoe and take not managed to brand even a dent in the outsole. So those that want a highly cushioned and aggressively rockered shoe for daily miles may want to consider the Asics Gel Kinsei Blast.
STABILITY The Asics Gel Kinsei Blast is a neutral shoe just is unstable for me. There are several components that could add stability, only they are nullified by the narrow final/shape underfoot. There is a full-length Pebax plate that has a minor elevation on the medial midfoot. There is both an internal and external heel counter that runs fairly far forward. At that place are midsole sidewalls on both the medial and lateral side of the midfoot. Finally the sole is aggressively rocker and rolls you forward. However, for such a maximal and high stack height shoe, the last/shape of the shoe is incredibly narrow. The heel is already on the narrow side, but the midfoot is extremely slim and wobbly. I had an extremely hard time running further than iv-v miles in this shoe at a time due to the instability of the midfoot. This is due to the narrowness combined with how soft the midsole is and the incredibly tall stack superlative. Thus, despite some of the measures, this shoe is all-time for those with stable mechanics, particularly at the midfoot.
THOUGHTS Equally A DPT / FOOTWEAR Scientific discipline
In shoes that take maximal stack heights and stiff rides, toe leap is necessary to allow a transition over the forefoot. Withal, the mode in which the toe bound is implemented can vary. From a clinical perspective, toe bound can be helpful for those that do not have the normal >60 degrees of metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint extension. The toes exercise not extend, so the toe spring replaces that. Nonetheless, this assumes the toe spring is integrated into the forefoot without impacting the position of the toes, ie allowing them to remain in a neutral position. This can be helpful for a variety of toe atmospheric condition including those with arthritic changes in those joints, turf toe, gout (which commonly affects the 1st MTP articulation), forefoot nerve or pressure injuries or stiff toe flexors (flexor digitorum longus/brevis, flexor hallucis longus/brevis, flexor digiti minimi).
Paradigm via Pace Athletic
For these atmospheric condition, shoes should accept toe spring that comes up to the foot but keeps in the toes in a neutral position. Something that actively holds the toes in extension volition probable exacerbate the issues mentioned above. Another potential issue is likewise due to the fact that this can functionally shorten the shoe, causing people to coil their toes in order to compensate for the length issue, which may put them in a hammer toe-like position. Additionally, even if you lot have normal muscle length, property a musculus at its diffuse end range is not an optimal identify to continually expose to high loads. Muscles are length specific in their role. Typically they can produce the nigh force in their midrange and produce less force in highly lengthened or shortened positions due to a concept called the length-tension human relationship. Since muscles produce less strength/torque while in an extremely lengthened position, this puts them at risk for potential strains or spasms. I experienced this several times with the Asics Gel Kinsei Blast and knew what information technology was from immediately. The just population that might benefit from this is those with either toe flexor weakness or calf weakness. The aggressiveness of the toe jump hither does allow for an aggressive roll forward, which may be beneficial for those with express ability to push button off. However, that is a minor population and for others that really want to run in this shoe, I would suggest a half size up to compensate.
RECOMMENDATIONS I accept 2 major recommendations for this shoe. My get-go would be to adjust the toe jump and so that the toes are non held in extension. It is all-time to keep the toes in a neutral position, then lower the toes and extending the toe spring may be beneficial, peculiarly for a shoe with this much stack height and stiffness. This as well makes the shoe feel a one-half size short, so that could be modified. The second is to widen the final of this shoe. A tall stack peak shoe cannot have such a narrow concluding throughout the length of the shoe. Combine that with a soft sole and this volition cause problems for anyone with any stability issues at all. Or it will put others at hazard for an like shooting fish in a barrel ankle sprain. The narrowness makes the several stability attempts useless, so wide the sole and permit them shine. There are many other ways to reduce weight, but this isn't a swell one when combined with the design of this shoe. The Asicxs Gel Kinsei Blast has a ton of potential, but the ambitious toe spring and extremely narrow last limits information technology apply to a small population for running.
WHO THIS SHOE IS FOR
The Asics Gel Kinsei Blast is a neutral daily preparation maximal shoe that is highly cushioned and aggressively rockered. Those with narrow and rigid feet volition enjoy this shoe given the narrow fit and inherantly unstable midfoot. There are a few methods of stability, that although nullified past the narrow last and soft sole, do a great job of locking the feet on the sole. The aggressive rocker is best for those who want to be rolled forward, simply the toe spring volition require that the user have adequate toe extension and toe flexor range of motility. A solid looking shoe that may double well for those who want a highly cushioned casual shoe and short to moderate altitude running shoe. The Asics Gel Kinsei continues its legacy as a loftier end and extremely cushioned piece of footwear that attempts to pack all the latest technologies in, although there may need to be some modifications to make it biomechanically advisable for a larger population of runners.
GRADING
Matt
Fit: B- (Narrow fit with comfortable engineered knit. Fits half size short due to forefoot taper and ambitious toe spring )
Functioning: B- ( Soft ride, heavyweight and aggressive rocker makes this shoe best for easy mileage and recovery runs. The plate adds stiffness to the sole, but the weight stops information technology from doing anything fast. Still has a solidly bounce sole)
Stability: C- [Neutral] ( Several methods of natural stability, merely these are all nullified by a midfoot and last that is way too narrow on a soft and high stack meridian sole)
DPT/Footwear Science: B-/C+ ( Several attempted methods of stability, all the same non biomechanically appropriate pattern in toes with aggressive toe bound. Will limit this shoe to a small population. This shoe has potential though)
Personal: C- ( I want to similar this shoe more, only the narrow terminal, aggressive toe jump and tapered toe box make this shoe extremely uncomfortable for me.
Overall: C+ ( A narrow fitting, highly cushioned, aggressively rockered maximal daily training shoe for those with neutral mechanics)
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TESTER PROFILES:
Matthew Klein, PT DPT PhD(c) OCS FAAOMPT
Doctor of Physical Therapy
Board Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist
Young man of the American Academy of Orthopedic Transmission Physical Therapists
Dr. Matthew Klein is a 150 lb male with notable PRs of fourteen:45 for 5k and 2:32:44 for the full marathon. He typically runs 70-100 miles per week and trains at a diverseness of paces from 8min per mile recovery runs to 4:40 per mile 1k repeats. He prefers firmer and responsive shoes with snug heels and medium to broad toe boxes. The stability guy of the group, he also prefers a petty stability in his footwear. Notwithstanding, every bit a researcher, clinician and running shoe aficionado, he will run in anything.
Editor's Notation: As always, the views presented on this website belong to myself or the selected few who contribute to these posts. This website should not and does non serve equally a replacement for seeking medical care. If you are currently injured or concerned most an injury, please see your local running physical therapist. If you are in the Los Angeles area, I am currently taking clients for running evaluations.
***Disclaimer: These shoes were provided free of charge in exchange for a review. We thank the people at ASICS United states for sending u.s.a. a pair. This in no way affected the honesty of this review. We systematically put each type of shoe through certain runs prior to review. For trainers and performance trainers, we take them on daily runs, workouts, recovery runs and a long run prior to review (often accumulating anywhere from xx-50 miles in the process). For racing flats we ensure that we have completed intervals, a tempo or steady country run run too every bit a warm upward and cool down in each pair prior to review. This systematic procedure is to ensure that we have experience with each shoe in a large variety of weather to provide expansive and thorough reviews for the public and for companies. Our views are based on our extensive history in the footwear industry and years testing and developing footwear. If you are a footwear rep looking for footwear reviews or consultations on development, we are currently looking to partner with companies to assist, discuss and promote footwear models. Partnership will not affect the honesty of our reviews.
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