Brooks Beast Vs Asics Kayano: Which One Should You Choose? [2021]

[aff_disclosure]

Brooks Beast and Asics Kayano are meant for runners with overpronation.

One of them will deal with mild to moderate overpronation and the other is a motion control running shoe and is great for someone who has severe overpronation.

In this post, for comparison, we have chosen Brooks Beast 20 and Asics Gel Kayano 28 as the baseline. Both are the current version of the shoes and this will make this comparison more relevant.

So, without further ado, let’s check out the detailed comparison between Brooks Beast Vs Asics Kayano below.

Brooks Beast Vs Asics Kayano: Differences

1. Brooks Beast is a motion-control running shoe and Asics Kayano is a neutral to overpronating running shoe.

2. Brooks Beast is heavier than Asics Kayano. The women’s version of these shoes weighs around 10.7oz or 303.3g for Brooks Beast and 8.8oz or 249g for Asics Kayano. The men’s version on the other hand weighs around 11.7 oz or 331.7 g for Brooks Beast and 11.1 oz or 315g for Asics Kayano.

3. Brooks Beast is a maximal cushioned running shoe, and Asics Kayano has a medium amount of cushioning.

4. In Brooks Beast, you have a size range from 6.0 to 13.0 for women and 8.0 to 16.0 for men. In Asics Kayano, you have a size range from 5.0 to 13.0 for women and 6.0 to 16.0 for men.

5. The latest generation of Brooks Beast is 20, and the current version of Asics Gel Kayano is 28.

6. The heel-to-toe drop Brooks Beast is 12 mm and that of Asics Kayano is 13 mm for women and 10mm for men.

7. The women’s version of Brooks Beast is called Ariel. The women’s version of Asics Kayano is not called differently.

This is our favorite

Brooks Beast Vs Asics Kayano – An Overview

Brooks Beast is a motion control running shoe and Asics Kayano is a stability running shoe.

Brooks Beast is capable of handling even the trickiest type of overpronation. Asics Kayano on the other hand is good for runners with mild to medium overpronation.

In the below sections, we have covered all these points and much more in the comparison between Brooks Beast and Asics Kayano.

Let’s proceed…

Brooks Beast Vs Asics Kayano – Features at a glance

Asics Gel-Kayano Vs. Brooks Beast – A head to head comparison

In the above sections, we have covered the overview and differences between Brooks Beast and Asics Kayano.

In the following sections, we will go more in-depth and understand how the different features compare with each other.

Outsole

Brooks Beast has blown rubber in the outsole. It has different kinds of patterns made on them for optimal flexibility.

Also, blown rubber is a very durable material. This provides this shoe with good durability.

The outsole rubber is present almost on the entire sole to protect the softer midsole material from additional wear and tear.

To improve the flexibility of the outsole, there are grooves present at strategic locations of the forefoot and the heel area.

As with any other model, Asics Kayano also has the AHAR Plus rubber. This is a type of carbon rubber and is very durable.

According to Asics AHAR Plus is 50% more durable than AHAR or ASICS High Abrasion Rubber.

This rubber is placed strategically on the high wear and tear areas to increase the lifespan of the shoe.

If you observe the midsole, it is basically present in the forefoot and the heel area and is not present in the midfoot area.

These kinds of rubber are hard and not that flexible. So, inherently, they increase the stiffness of the shoe. This is not good for the forefoot as it needs some amount of flexibility.

For that, the forefoot Asics Gel Kayano has horizontal grooves that makes the forefoot more flexible.

Midsole

The midsole of this new Asics Gel Kayano has silicone-based gel cushioning in the forefoot and the rearfoot. This makes these running shoes very shock-absorbing and provides you with a responsive ride.

Also, it has FlyteFoam Blast cushioning. This is a lightweight and durable cushioning that is environmentally friendly and will provide you with excellent comfort.

To help you to deal with pronation Asics Kayano has a Dynamic DuoMax Support System. This controls the movement of your foot and leads to a smoother heel-to-toe transition. This is the evolution of the DuoMax system and reduces the weight of the shoe while increasing its overall stability.

It comes with 3D space construction, which improves the compression and cushioning when you land and also reduces the pronation.

It has the Space Trusstic which reduces the weight of the sole and provides stability to this shoe and retains the structural integrity of the shoe.

It has the Ortholite X-55 sockliner which is very comfortable and provides you with added cushioning.

Also, the Gender-Specific Trusstic is tuned to Men’s and Women’s specific biomechanical and provides them with a smooth and protective ride.

Also, it has an impact guidance system… which creates a smooth heel-to-toe transition.

The midsole of Brooks Beast is made from BioMoGo DNA which is very cushy and it adapts to your feet while you run.

Also, the GuideRail Holistic Support System keeps your knee movement in check. The segmented crashpad moves with the foot offering you excellent cushioning and stability.

It also has a luxurious sockliner that adds to the overall comfort of this shoe.

Stack, Drop

The midsole of Asics Gel Kayano has seen a lot of improvements since its previous versions. However, the drop of the shoe did not change in this version.

One interesting fact about some of the Asics shoes is that they have a different drop for the women’s and men’s versions of shoes.

Asics Gel-Kayano falls in that category and the drop of women’s version of the shoe is around 13mm and that of the men’s version is around 10mm.

For this reason, the stack height of the men’s and the women’s versions of Asics Gel-Kayano is also different.

Asics Gel-Kayano

Women’s heel stack: 35mm

Women’s forefoot stack: 22mm

Men’s heel stack: 33mm

Men’s forefoot stack: 23mm

Also, it is not that, the forefoot stack of the men’s and women’s versions are the same…Actually, the forefoot stack of the men’s version is around 1mm more than the women’s version.

With Brooks Beast 20, the midsole has become softer. It has incorporated the more standard technologies like the other stability shoes from Brooks.

Despite all these changes, Brooks Beast has maintained its stack height and drop.

The drop of Brooks Beast is around 12mm which is the same for both the men’s and women’s versions of the shoes, unlike Asics Gel-Kayano.

Also, the overall stack height of the men’s and the women’s versions of the shoes are the same and as follows:

Brooks Beast

Women’s heel stack: 38mm

Women’s forefoot stack: 26mm

Men’s heel stack: 38mm

Men’s forefoot stack: 26mm

Upper

The upper of Brooks Beast is made from Engineered Mesh that is present in the forefoot. This will provide you with excellent breathability and will provide you with a truly customized fit.

It comes with an embroidered saddle in the midfoot. This provides you with a very secure fit. Along with that, it has a well-cushioned insole. This will provide you with excellent comfort.

Also, it has moisture-wicking capabilities and will keep your feet dry while running.

The upper of Asics Kayano comes with an Engineered Mesh. This makes this running shoe very breathable. Also, it moves with the foot, however, it still maintains the structure.

It has an external heel clutch which has an exoskeleton.  This wraps around your heel for a secure fit. To do that it makes an X-shaped structure lined with memory foam and provides you with a personalized fit.

Asics Gel-Kayano also comes with EVA sockliner and provides you with added cushioning.

Width

Asics Gel-Kayano and Brooks Beast are popular running shoes and provide you with excellent cushioning.

One of the best things about these two shoe models is that they are available in multiple widths. I would have hated if these shoes were available in only one width as runners who have wide feet would not be able to experience the comfort.

Although both the versions have various widths available, Brooks Beast (Brooks Ariel for women) is not available in narrow widths for either men or women. This is kind of a bummer as the runners with severe overpronation and narrow feet have to look elsewhere for a shoe as comfortable as brooks Beast.

For Asics Gel-Kayano however, narrow width is available for women and extra wide is available for men.

The widths that are available for both the shoes are:

Asics Gel Kayano

Women: Narrow (2A), Standard, Wide (D)

Men: Standard, Wide (2E), Extra Wide (4E)

Brooks Beast/Ariel (Female Beast)

Women: Medium (1B), Wide (1D), Extra Wide (2E)

Men: Medium (1D), Wide (2E), Extra Wide (4E)

Some of the letters that are used to represent the widths of these shoes vary in Asics Gel-Kayano and Brooks Beast.

Fit

Although I would have loved to tell you that the fit of both the shoes is absolutely perfect, they are not.

Don’t get me wrong, the fit is good for both the shoes, but what I found is that, the fit of Asics Gel-Kayano is slightly snug and some of the people who have foot width in-between standard and wide will feel that.

However, with Brooks Beast, you will not feel this snug fit. The toe-box of Brooks Beast is roomy and will provide you with a good amount of toe-splay space.

Also, the toe-box is also roundish which plays to its advantage. It is also very comfortable for runners who are dealing with issues like ingrown toenails or bunions. The extra space will keep them more comfortable.

Related: 6 Best Running Shoes For Tailor’s Bunion Reviewed

Heel Counter and Collar

The heel counter of both Brooks Beast and Asics Gel-Kayano are still opting for that traditional look and feel.

The heel counter area of both the shoes is hard due to the presence of some plastic materials to maintain the shape of the heel counter and also provide a good lock-in for your heels.

However, the inner lining of both the heel counters is smooth and well-padded, so you will not feel the hard plastic against your heels.

The collar of both these shoes is still maintaining the old traditional look. They are yet to adopt the new design of extended Achilles support.

Nonetheless, they are excellent with padding and height of the collar and the ankle cut area is just right.

These areas will not rub with your ankle to form blisters and you will be able to have a comfortable blister-free ride.

Tongue

The tongues of both Asics Gel-Kayano and Brooks Beast are well-padded and comfortable. The inner lining is smooth and you will not feel the laces on top of them.

Also, both the tongue has mesh material and this makes them breathable. There are fewer chances of getting a hot and sweaty feeling under the tongue while you are wearing any of these shoes.

Laces

Both Asics Gel-Kayano and Brooks Beast let go of the round laces and have opted for the flat laces.

The laces are made from polyester-type material and are smooth to touch and have good stretchability.

Due to the nature of these laces, they remain tied during your entire session of the workout.

Weight

The weight of Brooks Beast and Asics Kayano is different. However, it is not that different as to make any difference in your performance.

Brooks Beast weighs around 10.7oz /303.3g for women and 11.7oz/331.7g for men.

Asics Kayano weighs around 9.1ooz/258g for women and 10.9oz/308g for men.

Price

The price of Brooks Beast and Asics Kayano is the same as the current version. So, the price cannot be a deciding factor while you are selecting a shoe for you.

However, sometimes one shoe goes on sale while the other remains at the same price. Keep a watch on the launch calendar to have a feeling about when a new model is going to launch.

Just before or after that the prices are sliced significantly. Also, the price will also become irrelevant if you are someone with severe overpronation. For you, Brooks Beast may be the only choice.

In the above sections, you will find all the relevant similarities and dissimilarities between Brooks Beast and Asics Gel Kayano.

However, it doesn’t harm to check some alternatives to these running shoes. 

Below we have provided you with some options that you may include in your research.

Similar Shoes

Running Shoes Similar To Brooks Beast 20

Brooks Beast is a motion control running shoe. It is shock absorbent and will protect your knees from running impact using the GuideRails.

Here are some running shoes that are similar to Brooks Beast.

Running Shoes Similar To Asics Gel Kayano 28

Asics Gel-Kayano is a good running shoe and will help you to correct your overpronation during running. If you have severe overpronation, then a motion control running shoe may be your best option.

However, we found that there are some running shoes that have similar qualities to Asics Gel Kayano. Below is one such running shoe.

Brooks Adrenaline GTS 21 Running Shoes

• THIS WOMEN'S SHOE IS FOR: Runners looking for a supportive shoe that's soft and smooth, the Adrenaline GTS 21 offers an improved ride and reliable support for however your body moves so you can forget the shoes and enjoy the run. This Brooks Adrenaline GTS 21 is a certified PDAC A5500 Diabetic shoe and has been granted the APMA Seal of Acceptance.
• SUPPORT AND CUSHION: Provides just the right amount of stability and support, great for overpronation while providing high energizing cushioning. Ideal for road running, cross training, the gym or wherever you might want to take them! Predecessor: Adrenaline GTS 20
• BALANCED, SOFT CUSHIONING: The DNA LOFT Crash Pad cushions each footfall and works with BioMoGo DNA to adapt to your every stride.

Find on Amazon!

Last update on 2024-04-03 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Conclusion

Above we have provided you with a comprehensive comparison between Brooks Beast Vs Asics Kayano. This should be able to help you pick the correct pair of running shoes for you.

Both Brooks Beast and Asics Gel Kayano are good stability shoes and are great with shock absorption. However, due to the knee-focused design and excellent cushioning level, we have chosen Brooks Beast as our favorite.

However, that doesn’t mean that Asics Kayano is a bad running shoe. On the contrary, there are runners who swear by Asics Kayano. This got us thinking…which one will you prefer?

Brooks Adrenaline Vs Beast