The Complete ASICS Trainer Guide: Gel-NYC, Gel-Venture 6 & More

Fashion coverage this year has repeatedly named ASICS among the fastest-growing and most-talked-about trainer brands, and it's not hype without substance — the brand has spent the last few years methodically reissuing archive running shoes through high-profile collaborations, and each one has landed. The Gel-Kayano 14 sold out instantly via JJJJound in 2022 and picked up further momentum from a Thom Browne collaboration; the Gel-1130 followed via Kiko Kostadinov in 2021 (we compare the two directly in our Gel-1130 vs Gel-Kayano 14 guide). But ASICS' range at Forever Sourcing goes further than those two headline shoes. Here's a complete walkthrough of all four lines we stock, and who each one is actually for.

Gel-1130 — the everyday retro runner

Originally launched in 2008 as a budget-friendly alternative to the Gel-Kayano 14, the Gel-1130 was built down from its more expensive sibling — a mesh-and-synthetic-leather upper, GEL cushioning (less of it than the premium models), and ASICS' TRUSSTIC system for underfoot stability. That "built to a lower spec" origin is exactly why it wears as the most versatile shoe in the range today: lighter, lower-profile, and easy with almost anything. It's the natural entry point if you're new to the chunky-runner trend, available in a wide spread of colourways from around £129.99.

Gel-Kayano 14 — the statement piece

The Kayano 14 was ASICS' premium stability runner in 2008, and the extra cushioning and busier, more technical upper that justified its higher price back then are precisely what make it the chunkiest, most eye-catching shoe in the range now. It's the silhouette carrying the most 2026 hype off the back of its Thom Browne collaboration, and it's best suited to anyone who wants their trainers doing the talking in an outfit. Colourways run from muted greys through to cream-and-plum tonal pairs, generally from £174.99 upward.

Gel-NYC — the sleeker alternative

The Gel-NYC isn't a reissue of one archive shoe — it's a genuine design mash-up, originally released as a 2023 collaboration with streetwear label Awake NY. It combines the outsole pattern from the GEL-Cumulus 16 with an upper based on the early-2000s GEL-Nimbus 3, finished in colourways and materials drawn from the 2001 GEL-MC Plus V, and runs GEL cushioning alongside ASICS' FLUIDRIDE foam for a softer, more responsive underfoot feel than either the 1130 or Kayano 14. The result is a lower, more streamlined silhouette — a genuine middle ground between the Gel-1130's simplicity and the Gel-Kayano 14's bulk — and it tends to run in softer, cream-based colourways like Cream Mineral Beige and Cream Oyster Grey.

Gel-Venture 6 — the trail-ready option

The odd one out, and deliberately so: unlike the other three, the Gel-Venture 6 is an actual trail running shoe, not a lifestyle reissue of one. It's built with deeper, reverse-oriented outsole lugs specifically engineered to grip wet and muddy terrain, plus GEL cushioning through the heel for impact absorption on uneven ground. We also stock a GTX (Gore-Tex) build — the Gel-Venture 6 GTX in Piedmont Grey — for genuinely wet-weather use. If you want the retro-trainer aesthetic with real function behind it rather than just the look, this is the one.

How do you actually choose between them?

Think about it as a spectrum rather than four unrelated options: the Gel-1130 and Gel-NYC are the two easiest to wear day-to-day, with the Gel-NYC running slightly softer and more cushioned underfoot; the Gel-Kayano 14 is the one to buy specifically for maximum visual impact; and the Gel-Venture 6 is the only one of the four actually built for rough terrain or bad weather. A lot of our customers end up mixing across the range rather than sticking to one silhouette — Gel-1130 for daily wear, Gel-Kayano 14 for statement fits, Gel-NYC for smarter occasions, Gel-Venture 6 for anything outdoors.

How does ASICS compare to the rest of this trend?

If you're weighing ASICS against the other two brands driving 2026's retro-runner trend, Saucony's ProGrid Omni 9 offers a lower-profile, less saturated alternative to the Gel-1130, while the Nike P-6000 competes most directly with the Gel-Kayano 14 for sheer visual bulk and dad-trainer credentials.

Where to buy

Every ASICS pair we sell is checked for authenticity before dispatch, with free UK shipping on orders over £75. Browse the full ASICS collection to see current stock across all four lines.