 This Product
Asics Gel-Kayano 31 - Women's | |||||
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| Awards |  Best Overall |  |  Best Balance of Comfort and Responsiveness | Most Versatile | |
| Price | $124.95 at Amazon Compare at 2 sellers | $150.00 at REI Compare at 2 sellers | $94.95 at Amazon Compare at 2 sellers | $149.95 at Amazon Compare at 2 sellers | $140.00 at REI Compare at 2 sellers |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | Built for cushion-seeking runners, the updates to this shoe helped cement it as one we recommend to those needing comfort, stability, and durability | Even with a few minor updates, this shoe shines as one for runners seeking a do-it-all road running companion | Affordable and minimally-minded, the updated Kinvara is a great everyday shoe that is suitable for a myriad of running situations | Though it lacks the lightweight tech of super shoes, the balance between its responsive midsole and lateral stability makes this a powerful everyday trainer | For epic versatility in a single shoe, we recommend this lightweight superstar |
| Rating Categories | Asics Gel-Kayano 31... | Asics Novablast 5 -... | Saucony Kinvara 15... | Brooks Hyperion Max... | Hoka Mach 6 - Women's |
| Landing Comfort (30%) | |||||
| Responsiveness (20%) | |||||
| Stability (15%) | |||||
| Upper Comfort (15%) | |||||
| Weight (15%) | |||||
| Traction (5%) | |||||
| Specifications | Asics Gel-Kayano 31... | Asics Novablast 5 -... | Saucony Kinvara 15... | Brooks Hyperion Max... | Hoka Mach 6 - Women's |
| Sizes Available | 5 - 13 US, regular |
5 - 12 US regular, wide |
5 - 12 US, regular |
5 - 12 US, regular |
5 - 11 US, regular & wide |
| Style | Daily Trainer | Daily trainer | Daily Trainer | Max-Cushion | Daily Trainer |
| Measured Heel Stack Height | 38 mm | 40 mm | 27 mm | 35 mm | 33 mm |
| Measured Heel-to-Toe Drop | 13 mm | 9 mm | 3 mm | 8 mm | 7 mm |
| Plate Type | None | None | None | Full length plastic | None |
| Rocker Angle | 23.0 deg | 26.5 deg | 25.0 deg | 24.5 deg | 24.5 deg |
| Rocker Apex Location | 72.7% | 61.9% | 64.7% | 65.0% | 65.4% |
| Measured Weight | 8.43 oz | 7.30 oz | 5.44 oz | 7.17 oz | 6.27 oz |
| Upper | Engineered mesh | Jacquard mesh | Mesh | Mesh | Creel jaqquard |
| Midsole | FF BLAST PLUS ECO | FF BLAST MAX | PWRRUN | DNA Flash v2 | Supercritical EVA |
| Outsole | Hybrid AsicsGrip | AHAR LO | Rubber | Rubber | Rubber |
| Heel Tab Type | Finger loop | Finger loop | None | Extended pull tab | Extended heel pull |
At 8.43 ounces for a women's size 6.5, this 13 mm drop shoe might not help you hit your fastest pace, but it excels in other areas. The redesigned outsole offers enhanced traction for technical running, and the improved breathability of the upper ensures better airflow during your runs.
The Asics Gel-Kayano 31 is the crème de la crème when it comes to landing comfort and cushioning. As measured by our in-house testing team, the rear side of this shoe sits at a comfortable 38 mm and the forefoot at 25 mm. The midsole is comprised of bouncy, almost squishy FF Blast Plus Eco foam, which rebounds well and offers a generous crashpad for repetitive landings. The heel contour feels a bit more comfortable than the Kayano 30, leading us to believe that the stability components have undergone a slight upgrade. Overall, the Kayano has an incredible bouncy midsole. It isn't the most over-stuffed shoe we've tested, but for combined landing comfort, cushioning, and stability, this shoe rocks.
We never expected the Kayano 31 to be responsive. If we had, our expectations would have been dashed. This shoe is made for easy mileage. While the midfoot bounce is plentiful, that sensation doesn't quite translate into energy return or propulsion. Runners who are seeking comfort and stability will like the feel of running in the Kayano, but its technical prowess isn't quite up to par.
The landing pad of the Gel-Kayano is wide, providing a comfortably stable launch pad during leg turnover. Asics included a 4D Guidance System to promote stability, making it one of the most stable shoes we tested this season. This structure is unintrusive and doesn't add rigidity to the side walls of the shoe, allowing the sensation to feel seamless as you run. The upgraded midsole foam rebounds well instead of packing out to accommodate overpronation, further securing the Kayano's standing as a shoe built for runners who need extra stability and support.
The upper of the Gel-Kayano is a bit stretchy, creamy, and just plain comfortable. It's not a complicated design, really. The upper is made up of a single layer of engineered mesh. The tongue is standard in its shape and design and offers just enough comfortable cushion. The heel collar is about as plump as the tongue, providing 360-degree comfort and security. The Gel-Kayano runs a bit wider than other road shoes, making it a suitable option for runners who want some wiggle room. The upper comfort is primed and ready to tackle your recovery runs with you.
Well, of course, the Kayano 31 is heavy. After all, it offers a built-in stability system, a chunky underfoot stack, and plenty of trampoline cushioning. A women's size 6.5 weighs 8.43 ounces, a noticeable amount of weight when you start picking up your pace. If you are looking for a comfortable stability shoe, toting around this extra weight is worth it. It might be too heavy to be your next track day shoe, but runners who want the features the Kayano offers won't mind the weight since it feels well-balanced while running.
Like its stable and well-padded brethren, the Kayano offers a more well-tractioned outsole than most road shoes. With textured, round, square shapes stacked atop the base Hybrid AsicsGrip outsole, the Kayano is ready to tackle loose, tight, and slippery corners. The traction of this road shoe isn't foolproof, but it is significantly better than most of the road shoes we have tested recently.
The Gel-Kayano 31 is not the most versatile shoe in our lineup, taking it out of the equation for some runners. If you know that comfort and stability are your top priorities, then the Kayano is a logical running shoe choice for you. The speed element is missing when it comes to the Kayano, but the rest of the shoe comes together beautifully for runners seeking a reliable recovery day shoe.
