On Cloudrunner 3 Max vs ASICS Gel-Kayano 33

Cloudrunner 3 Max or Gel-Kayano 33? Here’s how they compare on feel, fit, brand specs and price, from the fitting team at The Run House.

The short answer

Want a highly stable support shoe with lots of cushion? Get the Cloudrunner 3 Max.

Want comfort-first stability? Get the Gel-Kayano 33.

Get the Cloudrunner 3 Max if

• You like a firmer, more stable feel
• You want more foam underfoot (5mm more at the heel)
• You like a higher heel-to-toe drop (10mm vs 8mm)

Get the Gel-Kayano 33 if

• You want the softer, more cushioned ride
• Long runs are your thing
• You want the lighter shoe, by about 1.6 oz
• You prefer a lower drop (8mm vs 10mm)

On the run

Cloudrunner 3 Max: Highly stable max-stack support. Highly stable, with a broad platform, raised sidewalls and a heel clip, plus decent impact protection. Heavy, with little bounce, so it’s best for easy runs and walking.

Gel-Kayano 33: Comfort-first stability. Soft on landing at easy paces, with support that’s more gentle guidance than correction and a stiff, steady forefoot. It feels best slow, and at running pace some runners find it flat.

The Cloudrunner 3 Max hasn’t been lab tested by RunRepeat yet, so its feel ratings are estimated from RTINGS’s lab test and the Cloudrunner 3 lab test (RunRepeat).

Specs side by side

Stack, drop and weight come from each brand’s own website. Numbers marked * aren’t published by the brand and come from other published specs. Weights are for the size each brand quotes. Expected life is our estimate.

Fit

Cloudrunner 3 Max. True to size.

Gel-Kayano 33. True to size. The toebox tapers on the little-toe side, so it suits normal-width feet. Plush heel and tongue. Wide available.

Try them on

Come try on both at The Run House in Walpole, Needham or Falmouth. Gait analysis is always free.

Shop the Cloudrunner 3 Max · Shop the Gel-Kayano 33 · Compare other running shoes