ASICS GEL-NYC: The Complete UK Guide

August 17, 2026

Nobody expected the ASICS GEL-NYC. The Kayano 14 had a story, the GEL-1130 had a price, and then in March 2023 ASICS put out a shoe that was not a reissue of anything, and within months it was the second best-selling shoe in their range. If you are weighing one up right now, this is the page to read before you spend £189.99.

This guide covers what the ASICS GEL-NYC actually is, what the GEL and TRUSSTIC parts do, how it fits (caveats included), the one colourway Tempo stocks, how it compares to the other two ASICS Gel trainers we sell, and what to wear it with.

If you already know you want it, the Cream White GEL-NYC is live in UK 7 to 11. If you are still deciding, read on.

Why the GEL-NYC became the shoe everyone wanted

The GEL-NYC arrived at the right moment. The retro-runner revival had already made the Gel-Kayano 14 a fashion shoe, and buyers wanted something from ASICS that looked related but did not look like everyone else's pair. The Awake NY collaboration in January 2023 gave it a soft launch. The general release followed in March 2023, and it took off far faster than a new silhouette normally does.

Part of the appeal is that it does not look like a straight reissue. The lines are lower and longer than the Kayano 14, the overlays are suede rather than plastic, and it reads as a running shoe from a specific era without being one you can name. If you want the full backstory, the story of how three runners became the GEL-NYC goes deeper.

What a GEL-NYC actually is: three shoes in one

The GEL-NYC is a deliberate hybrid, and ASICS have been open about the parts list. The upper is based on the Gel-Nimbus 3, with elements borrowed from the Gel-MC Plus V. That upper sits on the tooling (the midsole and outsole) of the Gel-Cumulus 16. The name is for New York City.

Upper: Gel-Nimbus 3 shape and panelling, with Gel-MC Plus V details.
Sole: Gel-Cumulus 16 midsole and outsole underneath.
Result: a shoe that looks like a 2000s ASICS runner but was assembled in 2023 from pieces of three of them.

That matters for how it wears. The Cumulus 16 tooling is a lower platform than the Kayano 14's chunky retro midsole, which is why the two feel so different underfoot. Our GEL-NYC review of comfort, build and who it suits gets into that in detail.

The tech and the materials

Two pieces of ASICS technology are in the GEL-NYC.

GEL cushioning. A silicone-based gel set into the midsole to absorb impact. Expect a stable, slightly firm ride rather than a soft one. ASICS do not publish a thickness for this shoe, so check the product page rather than trusting a number from us.

TRUSSTIC unit. A rigid piece under the arch that stops the midsole twisting. In practice it means the shoe does not flop about when you walk and holds its shape over time.

The materials are the more unusual part. Most retro-style ASICS releases use mesh with synthetic or plastic overlays. The original GEL-NYC used suede overlays, which is rare on this kind of shoe and gives it a warmer, more finished look up close. Tempo's Cream White colourway has a leather and mesh upper, so you get real material rather than shiny panels. It also means the shoe needs a bit of care, covered below.

How it fits and sizing (honest)

Tempo lists the GEL-NYC as true to size, and for most people that is correct. The independent consensus adds one caveat.

Foot type	Recommendation
Narrow to normal width	True to size. Your usual UK size in trainers.
Wide feet	Half a size up. The toe box runs tight in both height and width.
Coming from a Kayano 14	Same size, but expect a lower, firmer feel and a narrower footbed.

The toe box is the recurring theme. The shoe does not run small overall, but the front is snugger than the Kayano 14's and wider forefeet notice it. If you have ever found ASICS narrow, go half up. If not, stay true. Half sizes are stocked. Our GEL-NYC sizing breakdown on toe box, width and going half up covers the edge cases, and the Tempo sizing guide has the general measurements.

Underfoot, the GEL-NYC sits lower to the ground than the Kayano 14 and feels firmer. That is not a flaw, it is a different shoe. If you are buying for long days on your feet, read whether the GEL-NYC is comfortable for walking and everyday wear before you commit.

The Cream White at Tempo: price, sizes, what it goes with

We stock one GEL-NYC colourway. It is the ASICS 'Cream White' Gel NYC, £189.99, UK 7 to 11, cream and white with a leather and mesh upper. One colourway, and it is the right one to have.

Here is why. The GEL-NYC's shape does the work, so a quiet colourway lets you see it. Cream rather than stark white means it does not fight with the rest of your wardrobe, and it hides wear better than pure white. If you were only ever going to own one GEL-NYC, this is the pair most people would pick, and it is the pair we chose to bring in.

Cream is a warm tone. It goes with brown, stone, oatmeal, olive, maroon and washed black, and it looks slightly off next to cool greys and bright whites. We have written the Cream White colourway up close for the detail on the panels and the leather.

Practical bits: free UK delivery applies because the shoe is over £100, orders before 2PM go out the same day, and Klarna and Clearpay are both at checkout. New colourways will appear in new arrivals when they land.

GEL-NYC vs Kayano 14 vs GEL-1130 in brief

Against the Kayano 14. The Kayano 14 has more arch support, a wider footbed and a chunkier, taller retro midsole. The GEL-NYC is lower, firmer, and narrower at the toe. If your feet want cushioning and room, the Kayano 14 wins. If you want the lower profile and the suede-and-leather look, the GEL-NYC wins. The Kayano 14 vs GEL-NYC comparison goes head to head on every point.

Against the GEL-1130. The GEL-1130 is the cheaper of the two at Tempo, £139.99 to £169.99 against £189.99 for the GEL-NYC (prices correct at time of writing). It is a 2008 design that borrows from the Kayano 14, with a lower-profile chunky midsole and suede and mesh uppers. Both run a touch snug. The GEL-1130 is the sensible buy if you want a suede ASICS runner for less. The GEL-NYC is the one if you specifically want the newer shape and the leather. Read GEL-1130 vs GEL-NYC if you are stuck between the two.

If you are genuinely undecided across all three, which ASICS Gel trainer should you buy walks through it as a set of yes-or-no questions.

Wearing it with ASICS sets

The GEL-NYC and an ASICS Core set is a two-minute outfit, as long as you respect the warm tone of the cream. Three sets do it well.

The Cream Core T-Shirt Set is the tonal option. Cream on cream, with the leather and mesh giving the shoe enough texture that it does not disappear.
The Brown Stone Core Vest Set is the warm-weather pick, and brown next to cream is the pairing that makes the shoe look most expensive.
The Maroon Core T-Shirt Set gives you a deep colour up top with the cream keeping it from going heavy.

Avoid the smoke grey set. Grey is cool, cream is warm, and they sit awkwardly together. Our guide to what goes with cream ranks every set against the GEL-NYC, and eight GEL-NYC outfits that work covers the non-set options too. Beyond that, which ASICS Gel trainers go with which set and eight full fits built around an ASICS set cover the wider picture.

Looking after suede and cream

A leather and mesh upper in cream is not hard to look after, but it is not a hose-down shoe. Keep it simple.

Brush dry dirt off with a soft brush before it gets wet and works in.
Wipe the leather panels with a barely damp cloth. Do not soak them.
Treat the mesh with a mild soap solution and a soft brush, then let it dry away from radiators.
Any suede sections want a suede brush and a suede eraser, not water.
Do not put them in the washing machine. The glue and the leather will not thank you.

Cream marks more than a mid-tone but less than pure white. The full method is in how to clean the GEL-NYC's suede, leather and cream uppers.

Quick answers

Does the ASICS GEL-NYC run true to size?

Yes for narrow to normal feet. Wide feet should go half a size up because the toe box is tight in height and width. Tempo lists it true to size and stocks half sizes.

Is the GEL-NYC more comfortable than the Kayano 14?

Different rather than more. The Kayano 14 has more arch support and a wider footbed. The GEL-NYC sits lower and feels firmer. People who like a planted, lower-profile shoe often prefer the GEL-NYC.

What colourways of the GEL-NYC does Tempo stock?

One at present, the Cream White at £189.99 in UK 7 to 11. It is the most wearable colourway of the shoe. New colourways will show up in new arrivals.

Is the GEL-NYC a running shoe?

It is built from running-shoe parts (Nimbus 3, MC Plus V, Cumulus 16) but it is sold and worn as a lifestyle trainer. Buy it for walking and everyday wear, not for training runs.

Where to start

If the shape and the cream have won you over, go straight to the GEL-NYC in Cream White and pick your size from the table above. If you want to see it next to the Kayano 14 and GEL-1130 first, the ASICS trainers collection has all seven pairs we stock. Then add a set from the ASICS sets range, or take the guesswork out with a ready-built outfit from full fits. The whole ASICS range at Tempo is in one place.