ASICS Gel-NYC vs Gel-1130: which one to choose in 2026?
Two retro silhouettes, one shared ASICS DNA, but really different offerings. The Gel-NYC and Gel-1130 have become the two must-haves from the Japanese brand in the lifestyle category. The catch: at first glance, they look alike. Confusion is common. So before you cop the wrong pair, here’s a complete comparison.
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The story behind the two silhouettes
To really understand the difference between the two models, we need to go back to their history. It’s not just about aesthetics: these are two sneakers with completely distinct DNAs.
The Gel-NYC: a fusion born at Paris Fashion Week
The Gel-NYC hasn’t been around for long. It was created in January 2023, initially as an exclusive collab with the New York label Awake NY, founded by Angelo Baque, a designer who spent ten years at Supreme. One of the first times it was spotted was at Paris Fashion Week. The concept: to reconstruct several heritage ASICS models into a single silhouette. The result combines the upper of the Gel-Nimbus 3 and Gel-MC Plus V (two runners from the early 2000s) with the sole of the Gel-Cumulus 16. Hence the name