ASICS Legends: Nimbus vs Kayano

In South Africa, the ASICS Nimbus and Kayano have become legendary as the 'go to' shoes for men and women who love to run long distances. In 2025, these legacy models are doing what they do best - with new, tech-driven design.

- MIKE FINCH AND MICHAEL CHARBONEAU

When I first became a runner, all the cool kids wore Asics. I knew they were the cool kids; but they were also the best runners, who everyone would migrate to for advice and motivation. Along with the Nike Pegasus, the Asics Kayano, first released in 1993, was the shoe of choice for anyone who was serious about running.

That heritage has become synonymous with the Asics brand in South Africa. And for years, despite serious marketing efforts from many other shoe brands, Asics is regularly at the top of the shoe sales pile, because of their reputation for reliability and trustworthiness.

While many other brands have launched revolutionary technologies to promote the benefits of their shoes, Asics carefully upgrades their most popular models - the Kayano, Cumulus and Nimbus - thus ensuring a loyal following. The fact that the Kayano is now in its 32nd iteration, and the Nimbus in its 27th, speaks volumes for how well they've secured that customer loyalty.

Asics is a Japanese brand with a long history - it was founded over 75 years ago - and a sterling reputation for well-built, dependable running shoes; in South Africa, that's helped the brand dominate in an endurance-focused running community. That hard-earned reputation is built on the brand's 'Legends' models: shoes like the Nimbus, Cumulus and Kayano, that have been around for decades and are revered for their comfort and durability.