Most people comparing ASICS Gel trainers end up arguing about the Kayano 14. This is the other conversation, the one that happens once you have decided you do not want the loudest shoe on the wall. ASICS GEL-1130 vs GEL-NYC is a choice between two quieter silhouettes that do a similar job for a different amount of money.
The short version: the GEL-1130 is a single 2008 running shoe brought back in 2021, sold at Tempo from £139.99. The GEL-NYC is a 2023 hybrid built from three archive runners, sold at Tempo for £189.99. If you only know one of them, our complete guide to the ASICS GEL-1130 covers the cheaper shoe in detail.
Below, we cover origins, ride, materials, fit and price. There is no overall winner, just a right answer for your foot, your budget and the colourway you want.
Two quiet shoes, different reasons
Neither of these trainers shouts. The GEL-1130 is quiet because it was always the modest option in the range, the shoe you bought when the Kayano 14 or GT-2160 was more than you needed. It carries the Kayano 14's design language and its GEL and TRUSSTIC tech in a lower, less busy package.
The GEL-NYC is quiet on purpose. ASICS built it in 2023 by taking the upper of the Gel-Nimbus 3, adding elements of the Gel-MC Plus V, and putting the lot on the tooling of the Gel-Cumulus 16. The result looks like a retro runner but is not a straight reissue of anything. It became ASICS' second best-selling shoe after release, which tells you the low-key approach landed. Our full GEL-NYC guide goes into the hybrid story properly.
Origins: one archive shoe vs a deliberate hybrid
The GEL-1130 was released in 2008 as a more accessible running option than the GT-2160 and Gel-Kayano 14. It borrowed tech and looks from the Kayano 14, which is why the two get compared so often (we cover that pairing in Gel-Kayano 14 vs GEL-1130). It came back in 2021 as part of the retro-runner revival, largely unchanged in silhouette.
The GEL-NYC arrived in March 2023, with an Awake NY collaboration in January 2023 ahead of the general release. It is named for New York City. Because it is a composite, it has no single "original" to be judged against. That freedom is part of why it looks slightly more modern than the 1130 despite the vintage cues.
Profile and comfort underfoot
Both sit lower than the Kayano 14, so if you found that shoe too tall or too built up, either of these is a step down in height. Beyond that they diverge.
The GEL-1130 is what we would call low-profile chunky. The midsole still has visible bulk and the GEL and TRUSSTIC set-up you would expect, but the stack is more restrained than the Kayano 14.
The GEL-NYC sits low and firm. The widely reported experience is that it feels closer to the ground than the Kayano 14 and firmer underfoot, with GEL cushioning and a TRUSSTIC unit doing the work rather than a soft, sinking ride. Most wearers describe that firmness as planted rather than harsh.
On overall comfort, the consensus among wearers places the NYC above the 1130. Neither shoe has the Kayano 14's arch support or its wider footbed, so if you rely on a pronounced arch, that comparison is covered separately in Gel-Kayano 14 vs GEL-NYC. Between these two, the NYC edges it for all-day wear. The 1130 is comfortable, it just does not get the same praise.
Materials and how they age
Tempo's GEL-1130 colourways use suede and mesh uppers. Suede picks up marks quickly, especially the lighter Cream Black and White Silver pairs, but it also brushes back well and develops a worn-in look that many people prefer to box-fresh. The mesh breathes and is easy to keep clean. Expect creasing at the toe within a few weeks of regular wear, as with any mesh runner.
The GEL-NYC uses suede overlays with leather and mesh, which is unusual for a retro-style release. The leather sections on the Cream White pair hold their shape longer than mesh and wipe clean more easily than suede. The trade-off is that the cream colour shows scuffs, and the suede overlays need the same care as the 1130's.
The NYC's leather gives it a slight edge on keeping structure. The 1130 gives you the darker Sharkskin grey if you want something that hides wear.
Fit: both lean snug, in different places
Tempo lists both shoes as true to size, and for narrow-to-normal feet that is the right starting point. The nuances matter, though.
- GEL-1130: the independent consensus is that it fits slightly snug and narrow through the midfoot. Wide-footed wearers commonly go half a size up. Full detail in our GEL-1130 sizing post.
- GEL-NYC: true to size for narrow-to-normal feet, but the toe box runs tight in both height and width. Half a size up is recommended for wide feet. Our GEL-NYC sizing breakdown covers the toe box question specifically.
So the pressure point differs. The 1130 hugs the midfoot. The NYC squeezes the toes. If you have a wide forefoot but a normal midfoot, the 1130 true to size may suit you better than the NYC true to size. If your foot is wide across the middle, both shoes want half a size up. All ASICS trainers at Tempo are men's UK sizing.
Price and what Tempo stocks
This is where the gap opens. The GEL-1130 is priced below the Kayano 14, and at Tempo it runs from £139.99 to £169.99 depending on colourway. The GEL-NYC is £189.99 (prices correct at time of writing). That makes the 1130 between £20 and £50 cheaper for a shoe that does a broadly similar job: a low-profile Gel runner for everyday wear.
Tempo currently stocks three GEL-1130 colourways:
- The Sharkskin GEL-1130 at £169.99, grey suede and mesh, UK 7 to 11.
- The White Silver GEL-1130 at £149.99, tonal white with silver, UK 7 to 11.
- The Cream Black GEL-1130 at £139.99, cream with black, UK 7 to 10.5.
The GEL-NYC is stocked in one colourway, the Cream White GEL-NYC at £189.99, cream and white with a leather and mesh upper, UK 7 to 11.
Three options against one is worth weighing. If you want grey or white, only the 1130 offers it here.
GEL-1130 vs GEL-NYC: the comparison table
| ASICS GEL-1130 | ASICS GEL-NYC | |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Released 2008, reintroduced 2021 | Released March 2023 as a hybrid of three runners |
| Design | Single archive shoe, Kayano 14 design language | Gel-Nimbus 3 upper, Gel-MC Plus V elements, Gel-Cumulus 16 tooling |
| Profile | Low-profile chunky, lower than Kayano 14 | Low and firm, lower than Kayano 14 |
| Cushioning | GEL heel and forefoot, TRUSSTIC | GEL cushioning, TRUSSTIC unit |
| Upper (Tempo colourways) | Suede and mesh | Suede overlays, leather and mesh |
| Fit | Snug, narrow through midfoot; half up if wide | Tight toe box; half up if wide |
| Comfort consensus | Good | Better overall |
| Price at Tempo | £139.99 to £169.99 | £189.99 |
| Colourways at Tempo | Three | One |
| Sizes at Tempo | UK 7 to 11 (Cream Black to 10.5) | UK 7 to 11 |
Which one for which person
You want the best comfort for long days on your feet. GEL-NYC. The firmer, lower ride is widely rated above the 1130 for all-day wear. Just size up if your feet are wide.
You have a budget of £150 and do not want to stretch it. GEL-1130. Two of the three colourways come in under £150, and the shoe does not feel like a compromise.
You want a grey or white trainer. GEL-1130. The NYC only comes in cream at Tempo, so the 1130 wins on choice by default.
You want the more premium build. GEL-NYC. Leather panels on a retro-style shoe are rare, and they hold shape well.
You have a wide forefoot but a normal midfoot. Try the GEL-1130 true to size first. The NYC's toe box will be the tighter of the two.
You care about wearing a genuine 2008 shoe. GEL-1130. The NYC is a strong design, but it is a 2023 composite.
You are pairing it with a cream ASICS set. Either works. The Cream Black 1130 is the cheaper route, the Cream White NYC the more tonal one. Our post on which Gel trainers go with which set lays out the pairings.
Still torn between these two and the Kayano 14? The three-way breakdown in which ASICS Gel trainer should you buy puts all of them side by side.
Quick answers
Is the GEL-NYC more comfortable than the GEL-1130?
The consensus among wearers says yes, on overall comfort. It sits lower and firmer, and it is rated highly for all-day wear. Neither shoe matches the Kayano 14 for arch support.
Do the GEL-1130 and GEL-NYC fit the same?
Both are listed true to size and both lean snug, but in different places. The 1130 is narrow through the midfoot. The NYC is tight in the toe box. Wide feet should go half a size up in either.
Why is the GEL-NYC more expensive?
It is a newer release with a leather, suede and mesh upper, and it became ASICS' second best-selling shoe after launch. At Tempo it is £189.99 against £139.99 to £169.99 for the 1130.
Which one looks more retro?
The GEL-1130. It is a genuine 2008 shoe. The GEL-NYC uses vintage parts but reads slightly more modern in the flesh.
Shop both at Tempo
Whichever way you lean, both shoes are in stock now in men's UK sizing. Browse the full range of ASICS trainers at Tempo, and if you want the outfit sorted at the same time, the ASICS sets collection has the cream, grey and black options that work with either pair. Free UK delivery on orders over £100, same day dispatch before 2PM, and Klarna and Clearpay at checkout.