The ASICS GEL-NYC is a lifestyle sneaker that ASICS SportStyle built from its archive: the upper references the early-2000s GEL-NIMBUS 3 with details from the GEL-MC PLUS V, and it sits on the sole of the GEL-CUMULUS 16. The GEL-KAYANO 20 is a 2013 running shoe that ASICS now sells again as a SportStyle sneaker. Both are everyday shoes with running roots, not current training shoes.
The two get grouped together because they come from the same idea at ASICS, taking running designs from its past and remaking them for daily wear. This post explains where each one comes from, how they differ, and which suits whom, using ASICS's own product pages and history.
The GEL-NYC
ASICS says two things shaped the GEL-NYC: its running shoes from the early 2000s and the energy of New York City. Those influences show up in the upper and in the color palette. ASICS's tagline for the shoe is short: "Inspired by New York. Made for the world."
The design team started with the GEL-NIMBUS 3, a running shoe from the early 2000s, and blended in details from the GEL-MC PLUS V. ASICS says this gave the SportStyle team room to add depth to the upper and try new ways of blocking color across its panels.
For the sole, the team deliberately picked a shoe from the past ten years, so it would contrast with the retro upper while still working with it. They chose the tooling of the GEL-CUMULUS 16. ASICS says this gives the shoe a more modern look and better cushioning, with lightweight foams and GEL inserts in the rearfoot and forefoot for a softer, more comfortable feel underfoot.
ASICS is direct about what the shoe is for. Its own guide describes the GEL-NYC as a lifestyle sneaker, not a training shoe, tuned for walking, commuting and long days on your feet. For running, ASICS points people to its GEL-KAYANO and GEL-NIMBUS performance lines.
The Cream / Oyster Grey pair
Our pair is the GEL-NYC in Cream / Oyster Grey. It has a cream base with pale grey suede and mesh panels and silver accents, so the archive running details read quietly rather than loudly. It suits someone who wants a light, neutral runner that goes with almost anything. The pair is new, with the hang tag attached, in a men's US 13.
The GEL-KAYANO 20
The GEL-KAYANO line began in 1993 with the GEL-KAYANO TRAINER. ASICS built it for comfort and protection so that overpronating runners could cover long distances, and named it after Toshikazu Kayano, the designer who developed it. It became one of ASICS's longest-running best sellers.
ASICS says Kayano took his inspiration from the stag beetle, whose hard shell protects it while letting it stay quick. That idea became a strong, supportive plastic heel, paired with GEL cushioning. Kayano went on to design the shoe up to its 13th model, and ASICS has improved it with each new model since.
The 20th model arrived in 2013. For it, ASICS brought in designer Yoshiyasu Ando, who gave the shoe a single-layer design with a sock-like fit to reduce friction. ASICS now sells the GEL-KAYANO 20 in its SportStyle range as a unisex shoe, style 1203A388, based on that 2013 design.
The Cream / Independence Blue pair
Our GEL-KAYANO 20 is style 1203A388-104, cream with navy Independence Blue stripes and silver details over a mesh upper. It was made in Vietnam and is a men's US 7.5. It suits someone who likes a technical runner look in quiet colors that go with most of a wardrobe.
GEL-NYC or GEL-KAYANO 20
The two shoes look related, but they come from different places. The GEL-NYC is a newer shoe built from three archive designs, so it mixes an early-2000s upper with a sole from the last decade. The GEL-KAYANO 20 is a single 2013 running shoe that ASICS has brought back as a sneaker.
Choose the GEL-NYC if you want the softer, newer sole and a shoe ASICS designed from the start for walking and daily wear. Choose the GEL-KAYANO 20 if you want one specific running shoe from ASICS's history, with the layered, technical look of its 2013 design. If you want a shoe for actual running, neither is the right pick, and ASICS's current GEL-KAYANO or GEL-NIMBUS is the better choice.
Frequently asked questions
What is the ASICS GEL-NYC based on?
ASICS says the upper references the GEL-NIMBUS 3 from the early 2000s with details from the GEL-MC PLUS V. The sole uses the tooling of the GEL-CUMULUS 16.
Can you run in the ASICS GEL-NYC?
ASICS describes the GEL-NYC as a lifestyle sneaker rather than a training shoe. For running, ASICS recommends its GEL-KAYANO or GEL-NIMBUS lines.
Is the GEL-NYC comfortable for walking?
ASICS designed it for everyday wear, with lightweight foams and GEL inserts in the rearfoot and forefoot for a softer feel. ASICS says it is tuned for walking, commuting and long days on your feet.
When did the ASICS GEL-KAYANO 20 come out?
The GEL-KAYANO 20 came out in 2013 as the 20th model in the line. ASICS now sells it again as a unisex SportStyle shoe, style 1203A388.
Who is the GEL-KAYANO named after?
It is named after Toshikazu Kayano, the ASICS designer who developed the first model in 1993.
ASICS GEL-NYC, Cream / Oyster Grey and ASICS GEL-KAYANO 20, Cream / Independence Blue
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