Amazing new technologies are found in the new GEL-Kayano 16 – most of which revolve around the brilliant Gender research and development.

For almost 3 years Asics has worked with leading scientists from the University of Melbourne, trying to better understand differences between the two genders and how we could make sport a safer place for women.
This was the basis of our Gender Study.
We learned the female tendon changes its compliance under the effect of oestrogen, over a 28 day ovulation cycle. In other words, at about day 14 of the cycle, the Achilles tendon stretches more and this may make it more susceptible to injury. As a result of this landmark study, we understand a lot more about women in sport and the technology required to make them safer.
For 2010, we have designed the most advanced, gender based footwear ever.

GENDER TRUSSTIC
Our second major strategy to protect women from injury and improve performance is Gender Trusstic. Our research indicates that just as oestrogen affects the Achilles tendon, it also makes the structures in the arch of the foot, most notably the plantar fascia more compliant... or... stretchier. The foot quite literally is flatter through the middle of the ovulation cycle than it is at the start. So, ASICS has introduced a very clever system called Gender Trusstic. An evolution of the superb Space Trusstic technology, Gender Trusstic allows the foot to interact correctly with the shoe... this is part of motion enhancement, not motion control. A direct result of windlass mechanics research, Gender Trusstic allows the plantar fascia more “space” to develop tension and help convert the foot from a mobile adapter to a rigid lever - as it was originally intended.

+3
The introduction of a 3mm raise may be not only a very important injury prevention strategy, but will almost certainly improve female biomechanics, leading to a more stable position. A 3mm raise to the midsole means the Achilles tendon does not distend as much under the influence of oestrogen, as with a conventional midsole. This unloads the Achilles tendon and changes the midstance and propulsive phase position of the foot. More efficient recruitment
of the powerful calf muscles means a much more stable foot.
* +3 is unique to GEL-Kayano 16 women’s.

SOFT TOP DUOMAX
Is the tag team double for Gender Trusstic. Knowing that the arch profile of the female runner varies from day to day, it makes no sense to fill this area with stiff DuoMax. Many female runners complain that at certain times, their shoe becomes uncomfortable when otherwise it was not. This is because if oestrogen levels are elevated, the arch flattens and impacts on the shoe. Enter Soft Top DuoMax. This innovative concept builds on Gender Trusstic, by employing a layer of much softer EVA directly on top of the stabilising DuoMax. This “full contact” layer combines superbly with DuoMax and Gender Trusstic to deliver an unbelievably protective and stable forefoot platform.
* Soft Top DuoMax is unique to GEL-Kayano women’s.

GENDER CUSHIONING
Gender Specific Cushioning..this fresh technology was developed from our understanding that women have different shock attenuation patterns than men. This is especially true of the forefoot and is compounded by the material characteristics of the cushioning materials used in the forefoot of ASICS technical footwear. Because women have lower average body mass than men, they are not able to compress midsole materials to the same degree as men and therefore cannot exploit the cushioning characteristics of the materials as efficiently. Gender Specific Cushioning employs softer midsole materials in the forefoot of the shoe. This allows for greater midsole compression, improved shock attenuation, a softer road feel and better performance.
WOMENS FOREFOOT AREA (in green)
is decidedly softer at 47 deg Durometer.
MENS FOREFOOT AREA (in green)
is 53 deg Durometer “firmer”

GUIDANCE LINE
This exciting new addition to the ASICS IGS philosophy redefines footwears’ contribution to gait efficiency. Gait efficiency, fatigue and injury are all inextricably linked and the new ASICS Guidance Line is designed to allow the foot to interact with the shoe along its ideal line of progression. The line of progression is the progress of load, from heel strike to toe off and in terms of gait efficiency, it is very important from the foot-flat to propulsion phase. This is when first braking, then acceleration forces peak.
The Guidance Line is a physical separation of the midsole/outsole – This vertical flex groove decouples the tooling and helps reproduce consistent load transfer at propulsion.