I didn’t own any of this model and was curious. Turns out the Asics Gel-Kayano Trainer Summer Pack are dope!
The Gel-Kayano Trainer is named after its designer and kicked off a line of Kayano runners that still come out in new variations to this day. This model is a retro of the first Kayanos to drop and came in a pack with a Marge Simpson SB-looking colorway for summer 2015.
A medium or dark wash denim with a white or grey top works great with these. Black-out fits or light wash/white tee combos also match well with these.
I’m not sure on the overall popularity of the Gel-Kayano, but if you want a retro runner as opposed to a tech runner, definitely get the Gel-Kayano Trainer rather than one of the numbered Kayanos. This colorway in particular gives me a strong 90s vibe.
Materials
These have an interesting mix of materials, although not all of the highest quality. The suede is definitely that felt suede which is kind of a turn off. These also use rubber on the Asics stripes and some mesh on the sides and toebox. A pretty dope feature to note is the 3M underlay visible through the mesh. That really helps brighten these up and makes them a bit special compared to other Gel-Kayanos I’ve seen.
Fit
The Asics Gel-Kayano Trainer Summer Pack fit true to size and are very comfortable. The inner sock bootie type tongue reminds me of the fit on Gel Lyte V’s. Also the toebox shape on these is decent and needed only a couple of minutes of mild bending to reshape. Overall, I’d say these are a good pickup in terms of comfort and retro shape.
Where To Cop the Asics Gel-Kayano Trainer Summer Pack
As of the writing of this article, you can find these on eBay
Colorway: Purple / Atomic Blue
Style Code: H5E2Y-3338
Year of Release: 2015
MSRP: $130