Summary: If you need a considerable amount of stability and you like a very soft, cushioned footstrike, you’ll like this shoe. It is particularly appropriate for people who land heavily on their heel and want their shoe to absorb a great deal of impact. It is also appropriate for overpronators with a moderate arch height who like the feel of arch support. If you currently run in the Kayano X, you’ll like the Kayano XI, but the difference isn’t huge so there’s no need to rush out & buy a new pair or to stock up on Kayano X’s.
Overall rating: Very positive
Shoe Category: Premium Stability
Predecesor shoe: Kayano X
Retail Price: $135
What we like: The shape of the Kayano really cradles your foot. It has a much higher arch than most other stability shoes, and a fairly defined heel cup, and the upper conforms tightly to your foot without being too tight. As a result, you really notice the shoe on your foot when you first put it on, but after a minute or two it disapears; you forget you’re wearing sneakers. The Kayano also has a very thick, cushioned heel, which is so soft that you can feel the shoe “give” under you when you walk or run in it. The flex grooves in the sole and the so-called “biomorphic” grooves in the upper allow you to transition smoothly from your heel to your forefoot without feeling like the shoe is resisting you.
What’s improved: The XI feels VERY similiar to the X. A lot of features stay exactly the same: the biomorphic grooves in the upper are in the same place (although there are some cosmetic changes), the medial posting in the midsole is in the same place, the heel counter is basically the same. The upper is just a little big snugger in the forefoot, but not enough to constrict your toes. The arch has been moved back just a little bit to give more support. The biggest difference we feel is an improvement in the forefoot cushioning. In the XI I feel a much smoother transition in the cushioning in the front of the shoe compared to the X. I don’t see a physical difference on the shoe, but I do feel it when I wear it. There is a difference in the outsole – there are more flex-grooves to allow the forefoot to bend as you take off. Maybe that’s what we’re feeling. The cushioning in the heel is also a little firmer in the XI than it is in the X. The Kayano X was so soft that it kept you on your heel for a long time; the firmer heel in the XI makes for a quicker transition to getting your whole foot on the ground.
What we don’t like: The Kayano practically forces you to land on your heel first; it is not for someone who is trying to improve their running form. The extra cushioning keeps your weight on your heel for a long time, even with the improvements from the X to the XI. It’s so soft that it forgives a lot of flaws in running form, which can be both a blessing and a curse. It’s still lacking any medial support in the upper to prevent your foot from rolling over, but to be fair they make up for it by adding more arch support, which prevents some roll.
Lee Silverman
JackRabbit Sports
Park Slope, Brooklyn
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