Thank you to the crew over at @drifthouse for sending these over 🫂 I have been looking forward to these since I saw some early pictures leak earlier this year. I really like that they're reissuing these colorways that pay homage to the Gel Burz they did with Kiko (which is essentially non existent at this point).

Materials: What I enjoy about this pair is that this pair is pretty similar to a previous Kiko Gel Burz pair in the 'Birch' CW. On the upper, they went with a hex-pattern ripstop. The panels on the upper are the same quality as the synthetic panels on typical Kayano 14s. The upper is a white sage color with graphite grey inlays. I feel that this adds a nice contrast & gives the design a nice, clean look. Last thing I really wanted to mention is the sock liner bc it is a very similar sock liner as the og Kiko Kayano 14. It has a soft, smooth feel to it & just feels nice on foot. Overall, I feel like they did a nice job on the final outcome & even though I'm not a big fan of ripstop, they still executed it nicely.

Comfort/Sizing: I personally find this model extremely comfortable. This model has no break in period and is comfy & soft straight out of the box. The feel on foot is very squishy but doesn't feel unstable like boost. In terms of sizing, I got these in an 8 & they're more snug than my other Kayano 14s due to the ripstop, but not so snug that it's uncomfortable. If you like some room, I'd definitely go half up.

Overall Opinion: I feel like given that the Gel Burz pairs are essentially non-existent at this point, this is a really clean alternative. The design and color blocking is very simple, yet has some subtle & unique characteristics. Due to the color of the sneaker, I can see these being an easy choice to throw on and go if I know I'm going to be out for awhile & it's a plus that they look really clean on feet too. I feel like Asics has been stepping up their GR pairs as they've moved into the second half of the year. If you have been chasing the gel burz like I have for a few years, then I'd definitely check these out.