Desperate for knee pain advice...tis the shoes

I’ve been using the Asics Gel-Kayano 29 (size 8, 2E width), and they’ve been great overall. However, I keep getting blisters at the top of my toes—gross i know. I’ve tried alternating socks, but that hasn’t helped.

I went up half a size to 8.5, which solved the blister problem, BUT now I’m dealing with knee and/or shin pain. I’ve tried about six other shoes (including neutral ones and the latest Gel Kayano), but the pain persists. Even when I go down a size for the Asics Gel-Kayano 31, I get shin pain in an 8 2E. Interestingly, when I go back to the original Gel-Kayano 29 (8, 2E), my knee and shin pain disappear—but then I’m back to the blister issue and they don’t make the 29s anymore. :(

Has anyone else dealt with something like this? Any advice on fixes, adjustments, or alternative shoes would be much appreciated!