Asics Gel-Kayano 31 Review

This version of the Gel-Kayano sees some improvements that we're fans of. The comfortable foam now has somewhat more responsiveness to it, and the upper is more breathable and a bit lighter. It's still the great, comfy, stability-centric shoe we know and love, just better.

Performance Comparison

Landing Comfort

Let's talk stats first. We measured 42 mm under the heel, comprised mainly of FF BLAST PLUS ECO foam. Asics claims a 10 mm drop height, while we measured it at 12 mm following World Athletics stack height measurement guidelines. The shoe feels like a standard daily trainer while running. It's is comfortable underfoot, and the updated foam feels slightly softer and bouncier than in the previous iteration — the Gel-Kayano 30. In particular, we think the foam under the midfoot feels more resilient, providing better energy return and more comfort.

The Kayano 31 retains its wide platform but refined the heel bevel to provide a slightly smoother transition for heel strikers. In keeping with the “adaptive stability” ethos of the shoe, the shoe does a good job of preventing inward collapse on footstrike without creating discomfort. Similarly, the sidewalls on both sides of the foot leave enough room for comfort while still providing stability. This is a comfy shoe with lots of foam. While the cushioning isn't as plush as some competitors, it's a very stable shoe, making it a good choice for runners who value comfort but need some extra stability.

Responsiveness

The Kayano 31 slightly improves on last year's model with a foam that feels a bit more resilient and a rocker that feels a bit more snappy off the forefoot. This still isn't a shoe we would grab for workouts — it likes easy mileage, and that is fine. We found the shoe to be comfortable up to a little slower than marathon pace. Any faster, and we felt the lack of responsiveness. Once we got to about threshold effort, we were wishing for a different pair of shoes. The shoe still has below-average responsiveness. For runners who value performance over comfort, there are other options that provide almost as much stability but in a faster overall package.

Upper Comfort

Simple and plush are the best descriptors for the Kayano upper. Not a lot has changed here — just a knit mesh upper that breathes slightly better than last year's version. We love the extra attention that Asics pays to runners who tend to have heel/Achilles rub issues. The extra padding around the heel collar protects those areas and also aids lockdown. Runners with normal to slightly wide feet should have no issues with fit — these run wide.

Stability

This shoe thrives at stability, ranking first overall in our list of recommendations for stability-centric trainers. That's thanks to the previously mentioned 4D Guidance System, which gives the shoe a comfortable level of support without feeling constricting or unnatural. The base of the shoe is wide, giving a confident landing platform. The foam under the midfoot uses a different resilience level to limit pronation, which is useful for runners who struggle with pronation-related injuries. Sidewalls help direct the foot without constricting splay on impact, which provides support that doesn't compromise comfort. All of that means runners who prefer a neutral shoe will likely still be able to appreciate this shoe.

Weight

In keeping with the cushioned, easy day theme of this shoe, the Kayano is no lightweight. In fact, our US size 10.5 shoes weigh 11.68 ounces each, which is among the heaviest in our test. However, thanks to the overall design of the shoe, it doesn't feel excessively overbuilt at comfortable paces. We did notice the weight when we started to push the pace.

Traction

Similar to the 30, the traction of these is okay, but nothing to get excited about. The Kayano has a more aggressive outsole than many other Asics shoes in our lineup, which we appreciate. That does help in the wet and on loose surfaces, which is an area where we've found other Asics models we've tested struggle.

Should You Buy the Asics Gel-Kayano 31?

This is a shoe for runners who need support and stability and also want to prioritize overall comfort. Runners who want some speed in a stable package should look elsewhere, as should runners who are looking for the most comfortable overall option. For the right runner, though, the Kayano is a great daily trainer.

What Other Running Shoes Should You Consider?