The GEL-NYC is the one people pick up off the shelf, turn over, and ask "so is this the comfy one?" It is the newest of the three Gel silhouettes we stock, it costs the same as our entry-level Kayano 14, and it looks less like a running shoe than either the Kayano or the GEL-1130. That combination confuses buyers, so this ASICS GEL-NYC review is written to settle it: how it feels, how it is put together, how it looks on foot and who should not buy it.
We sell all three Gel models and we make no more margin on one than another, so there is no reason for us to talk the NYC up. If you want the wider background first, the model's history, its three-shoe origin and the full colourway story sit in our complete GEL-NYC guide. This post is the verdict.
The verdict up front
Buy the GEL-NYC if you want a Gel trainer that leans lifestyle rather than sports, that feels planted and supportive rather than pillowy, and that looks considered with plain clothes. Skip it if you want the softest ride ASICS makes in this range, in which case the Kayano 14 is the better spend, or if you want the cheapest way into a Gel trainer, where the GEL-1130 wins on price alone.
On comfort, the consensus among wearers places it above the GEL-1130 overall and below the Kayano 14. On looks, it is the most wearable of the three. On fit, it is true to size for most people but tight in the toe box, and wide feet should go half a size up. At Tempo it is £189.99 in one colourway, the Cream White GEL-NYC.
Comfort: firm, planted and supportive rather than plush
The GEL-NYC carries GEL cushioning and a TRUSSTIC unit through the midfoot, the same family of tech as the Kayano 14 and the 1130. What makes it different is the tooling. The sole comes from the Gel-Cumulus 16, a much later runner than the 2008 shoes the other two are based on, and it sits lower to the ground.
The widely reported experience is that the NYC feels firmer underfoot than the Kayano 14. Not hard, not thin, but direct. You feel the pavement more than you do in the Kayano, and there is less of that sink-in sensation when you first put it on. Some wearers coming from very plush trainers describe it as firm for the first few wears. That is worth knowing before you buy, because it is the single most common surprise with this shoe.
Firm is not the same as uncomfortable. The trade-off is stability: the lower stance and the TRUSSTIC piece keep the shoe planted and stop it folding at the arch. For walking, commuting and long days standing, the consensus is positive, and we have written that up in more detail in our piece on whether the GEL-NYC is comfortable for walking and everyday wear.
Against the Kayano 14 specifically: the Kayano has more arch support and a wider footbed, and it feels softer. If your priority is maximum cushion, the Kayano is the pick. If you find very soft trainers a bit vague, the NYC will suit you better than the rankings suggest. Against the 1130: the NYC has the edge on overall comfort, but the 1130 has the edge on price. Both head-to-heads are covered in full in Kayano 14 vs GEL-NYC and GEL-1130 vs GEL-NYC.
Build and materials: the layered upper is the whole point
The NYC upper is based on the Gel-Nimbus 3, with details borrowed from the Gel-MC Plus V. In practice that means a lot of overlays: panels stacked on panels, with mesh underneath. On the original release those overlays are suede, which is unusual for a retro-style shoe, and it is the reason the NYC reads as more premium in the hand than the price suggests.
The Cream White colourway we stock uses a leather and mesh upper. The leather panels are smooth and pale, the mesh sits underneath in a slightly warmer tone, and the layered construction is what gives the shoe its shape. Take the overlays away and it would look like any pale runner.
Underneath, the outsole is high-abrasion rubber. That matters for a shoe that will spend its life on pavement, and it is one of the reasons the NYC holds up well to daily wear.
Honest downsides on build. Suede needs care, and pale leather needs more. Cream marks. Scuffs on the toe show up in a way they would not on a grey Sharkskin 1130. If you buy the Cream White, budget for a protector spray on day one and a soft brush for the rest of the shoe's life. We have laid out the method in how to clean the GEL-NYC, including how to keep the cream from going grey.
How it looks on foot
This is where the NYC pulls ahead of the other two. The Kayano 14 is angular and fast-looking; the "flash" concept is written all over it. The 1130 is a lower, quieter version of the same idea. The NYC is softer and rounder. The overlays curve rather than slash, the toe is less pointed, and the midsole does not shout.
Result: it is the most lifestyle-leaning of the three. In the Cream White colourway it looks considered rather than sporty. It works with straight jeans, with a plain tee and woven pant, and with an ASICS Core set in cream, black or brown stone. If you want the pairing logic by colourway, our post on which ASICS Gel trainers go with which set covers all three shoes.
The one caveat is that a rounder, softer shoe reads less like a statement. If you want the trainer to be the loudest thing on you, the Kayano 14 does that job better.
Sizing in brief
Tempo lists the GEL-NYC true to size, and for narrow-to-normal feet the independent consensus agrees. The catch is the toe box, which runs tight in both height and width. If your feet are wide, or you know you have a high instep, go half a size up. If you have gone half up in other ASICS models, do the same here.
The Cream White is stocked in men's UK 7 to 11. All the detail on width, toe box and when to move up a half is in our GEL-NYC sizing guide, and the general Tempo sizing guide covers the rest of the range.
Price and value at Tempo
The Cream White GEL-NYC is £189.99 at Tempo. That puts it level with our White Ivory Kayano 14, and above every 1130 colourway we stock. So the value question is not "is it cheap" but "is it worth the same money as a Kayano". Our answer: yes, if looks and stability matter more to you than plush cushion. No, if cushion is the whole reason you are buying a Gel.
Orders over £100 get free UK delivery, so the NYC ships free. Order before 2PM and it goes out the same day. Klarna and Clearpay are both at checkout if you would rather split it. If anything about the fit is off once it arrives, our refund policy has the details.
Who the GEL-NYC is for, and who should skip it
- Buy it if you want the most wearable, lifestyle-leaning Gel of the three.
- Buy it if you prefer a firmer, planted feel and find very soft trainers vague.
- Buy it if a cream, considered colourway is what you were after anyway.
- Buy it if you have narrow-to-normal feet, or you are happy to go half up.
- Skip it if you want plush cushioning. Go for a Kayano 14 instead.
- Skip it if you want the cheapest route into a Gel trainer. The GEL-1130 starts at £139.99 at Tempo.
- Skip it if you have wide feet and will not size up. The toe box will bother you.
- Skip it if you want a choice of colourways. We carry one right now.
Every option is on the ASICS trainers collection if you want to compare them side by side.
Quick answers
Is the ASICS GEL-NYC comfortable?
Yes, but firm rather than plush. It has GEL cushioning and a TRUSSTIC unit, sits lower than the Kayano 14 and feels more direct underfoot. Wearers rank it above the GEL-1130 and below the Kayano 14 for overall comfort.
Does the GEL-NYC run small?
It fits true to size for narrow-to-normal feet. The toe box is tight in height and width, so wide feet should take half a size up.
Is the GEL-NYC worth £189.99?
If you want the best-looking Gel with a stable, supportive ride, yes. If you want the softest cushioning for the money, the Kayano 14 at the same price is the better buy.
Which colourways does Tempo stock?
One at the moment: the Cream White, in men's UK 7 to 11. Check the product page for live stock.
Shop the ASICS GEL-NYC at Tempo
If the verdict above sounds like you, the Cream White GEL-NYC at £189.99 is in stock now with free UK delivery and same day dispatch before 2PM. If you are still torn between the three Gel models, browse the full ASICS range and put them side by side. And if you want the set to go with it, the cream, black and brown stone Core sets are the ones we would start with.