SoleGRIND
Some shoes do not need reinventing. They just need to come back at the right time. Ronnie Fieg and ASICS are bringing the Gel-Lyte III “Salmon Toe” back for Kith’s 15th anniversary, and I cannot think of a better choice.
The Salmon Toe first dropped in September 2011 around the opening of Kith’s original New York store. It was one of the pairs that put Ronnie Fieg on the map as a collaborator, not just a retailer. Kith revisited the concept in 2016 with the Salmon Toe 2.0. There was a Gel-Lyte V version in 2021 for the 10th anniversary. Now the original is back for 15.
If you are not familiar with the colorway, it is simple. Navy covers most of the upper. White sits on the ASICS branding and midsole. Soft salmon suede wraps the toe. That is it. Three colors. No storytelling gymnastics, no forced narrative. Just a clean shoe that looks good with everything.
This version is part of ASICS’ Remastered series, which is important. The shape has been adjusted to feel closer to the original Gel-Lyte III releases. Paneling, logo placement, height, tooling. All tweaked to get the build closer to what people remember from the early days. If you have been disappointed by modern Gel-Lyte III proportions, the Remastered version fixes that.
The reveal came through Kith: The Footwear Archive, a 444-page book made with Assouline that covers 1,849 Kith footwear collaborations across 32 brands. That book is a flex in its own right. But the Salmon Toe returning is the part that matters for your feet.
Style code is 1203B281-700. Release date September 28, 2026 through Kith stores and Kith online. Price has not been announced yet, but expect it to go fast. Salmon Toes do not sit.
What I appreciate about this drop is that nobody tried to improve it. The Remastered series fixes the shape. The colors stay the same. The story stays the same. Sometimes the best thing a brand can do is recognize when something is already right and just bring it back properly.
If you missed the 2011 pair, the 2016 pair, or both, this is your shot. Third time around. Do not expect a fourth anytime soon.
