- Asics’s marketing pitch: Stability never felt like this.
- Upper: Engineered spacer mesh, inner gusset.
- Midsole: Flytefoam Blast+ foam, heel Gel unit. 10 mm heel drop.
- Outsole: Hybrid Asicsgrip rubber.
- Weight: 305 gms/ 10.7 Oz for a half pair of Men’s US 9/UK 8/EUR 42.5/CM 27.
- Stack heights: 40 mm (heel), 30 mm (forefoot).
- Available widths: D – regular (reviewed), 2E (wide), 4E (extra-wide).
- Previous model: Asics Kayano 30.
- Country of origin: Vietnam.
- Recommended use: Everyday training, tempo runs, marathons.
- Footstrike orientation: Heel, midfoot/forefoot (full contact).
- Median lifespan: 450 miles.
- Recommended paces: Slower than 4:00 min/km (6:30 min/mile).
- Recommended temperature range: Warmer than -5° C/23° F.
Pros
- Effective motion control
- Long-distance comfort
- Efficient transitons, versatile
- Outsole grip
- Plush and secure fit
- Optional widths
Cons
- Heavy
Also consider:
- Brooks Glycerin 21 GTS
- New Balance Vongo V6
- Mizuno Wave Horizon 7
- Hoka Gaviota 5
- Use the Asics Kayano 31 for daily training (including uptempo) and long runs
- Use the adidas Takumi 10 for interval training
- Use the Asics Metaspeed Sky or Edge Paris for marathons and short races
Before anything else, we’d like to clear something up. We rated the Asics Kayano 31 as ‘great’, but that rating is contextual. The Kayano 31 is NOT a great do-everything trainer, nor is it a great shoe for speed runs. In short, the ‘great’ rating isn’t universally applicable.
The Kayano 31 is an excellent motion-control trainer. And what the heck does ‘motion control’ even mean?
Not all shoes are suitable for overpronators. Notice how the Vaporfly 3’s midsole collapses when the foot over-pronates. The Saucony Endorphin Speed 4 also behaves similarly.
If you have a running gait that excessively loads on the inside of the foot (overpronation), then the Kayano 31 is the shoe to counter that effectively. Its unique midsole geometry makes the inner side more supportive while making the outer side easier to compress.
By creating this slight bias, the Kayano 31 does a great job of preventing the foot from collapsing inwards.
Also, while it’s not 100% neutral in its cushioning delivery, the gait correction isn’t overbearing. This means it can also be worn by runners who don’t severely overpronate. However, we’d advise under-pronators or supinators to steer clear of the Kayano 31 due to the lack of support on the outer midsole.
The Kayano’s gait-corrective ability isn’t the only reason we think highly of the shoe. The upper fit and construction is excellent, and the outsole traction is better than before. The midsole is made of a new kind of Flytefoam that makes the Kayano surprisingly versatile for its category.
While the firm-soft midsole makes it ideal for everyday runs and long-distance training, it also doesn’t mind being pushed hard now and then.
Three years ago, we reviewed the Kayano Lite – the predecessor to the present-day Kayano. Back then, we predicted correctly that the ‘Lite’ format (without the Gel and medial post) could one day replace the mainline Kayano, and here we are.
Of course, there are noteworthy differences between the Kayano Lite and Kayano 31, but the latter feels like a natural evolution of the Lite model.
Two features make the Kayano 31 a motion-control shoe
Unlike most running shoes, the channel under the heel slopes from the medial (inner) side to the (lateral) outer side. This tilt makes the outer midsole easier to compress than the inner side, so the foot will lean in that direction.
This design isn’t new. The Nike Lunarglide and Lunareclipse had a similar concept, except that all tilting happened closer to the foot.
That’s not all. The Kayano 31’s inner midsole (arch side) has a solid sidewall, whereas the outer midsole has a groove running down its side. This also makes compressing the outer midsole easier.
It’s worth noting that the motion-control behavior isn’t aggressive during runs. The cushioning bias isn’t greater than say, the Brooks Ghost 16. Yes, the Ghost.
The blue midsole thingy is NOT a medial post
At first glance, the blue portion of the midsole appears to be a stability feature.
It’s not. The blue foam (that says 4D Guidance system) is cosmetic and softer than the surrounding midsole. Also, it’s not made of the same Flytefoam Blast+ foam.
The Kayano 31 uses a brand-new Flytefoam Blast+ foam
The Kayano 31 shares a similar midsole aesthetic with the Kayano 30, but not the same midsole foam. The Kayano 30’s foam felt like a firm EVA blend; the 31’s midsole does not.
The new Flytefoam Blast+ foam feels as if the FF Turbo+ (from the Metaspeed models) has been blended with another foam. The foam is fairly firm, so it’s nowhere as bouncy as the FF Turbo+. In return, the retail price goes up by $5.00.
Most of the softness comes from the plush footbed and the foam lasting under it. That way, the part that is closest to the foot is the softest. By the way, it’s the same insole from the Nimbus 26.
Though the Kayano 30 looked similar to the 31, it used a different midsole foam.
While firm, the Kayano 31 cushioning doesn’t feel dead. While not exactly ‘bouncy’, the resilient midsole responds well during landings. While the foot doesn’t sink into the midsole as it does on the Nimbus 26, there’s a comforting sense of abundant cushioning underneath.
Recommended speeds: 4:00 min/km (6:30 min/mile) and slower
At 305 grams or 10.7 ounces, the Kayano 31 is not a light running shoe. And yet, it feels surprisingly nimble even at 4:00 min/km. The midsole doesn’t feel lethargic, and the weight doesn’t get in the way.
The new Flytefoam midsole doesn’t waste energy during transitions. The updated outsole (now Hybrid Asicsgrip rubber) has a good bite, and the secure upper does a good job of transferring power to the midsole.
While by no means a ‘fast’ shoe, the Kayano 31 doesn’t complain during uptempo efforts – as long as the runs are kept at 4:00 min/km (6:30 min/mile) and over. What about intervals, then? It’s not ideal, but the Kayano 31 doesn’t mind being pushed occasionally.
The midsole doesn’t have a pronounced rocker, and the forefoot is stiff. The new Flytefoam Blast+ midsole is harder to break in than the Kayano 30, so the forefoot is going to remain inflexible.
The Kayano 31 is an excellent trainer for daily mileage. The high stack heights (40 mm heel and 20 mm forefoot) make the midsole very cushioned. The ‘Gel’ unit inside the heel is just for marketing; it has a near-zero effect on the cushioning.
Also, this very much feels like a 10 mm drop trainer. Thanks to the firm midsole, there’s not much difference between the published/static drop and dynamic drop (when the midsole is compressed).
While forefoot strikers will not find the Kayano hard to work with, this is a heel striker-first trainer.
A stability shoe that works for heavy runners
The gait-corrective midsole may not be neutral, but it’s not unstable. The wide footprint, raised midsole walls, and the firmness of the Flytefoam stack makes the Kayano 31 supportive, even for heavy runners. (200 lbs/90 kilos and heavier)
The upper also keeps the foot locked down over the broad midsole.
The Kayano 31 has an upper fit that the Nimbus 26 can only dream of
There’s nothing wrong with the Kayano 31’s upper. Nothing at all. It fits true-to-size, has a broad toe-box, and fits securely. The spacer mesh is comfortable and smooth on the inside. The tongue and heel have just the right amount of plushness. An internal gusset secures the tongue over the foot.
The default fit is snug, so Asics offers a choice of wide and extra-wide for this model.
The Kayano also steps around the design flaw of the Nimbus’s heel loop. There’s no printing running down the center; just a reflective trim over the heel. The wide elastic loop is very easy to use.
As for the ventilation, the upper doesn’t feel like an oven as the Nimbus does. That said, the Kayano 31 isn’t very breathable – we’d place it on a similar scale as the Brooks Glycerin. Both shoes allow enough circulation to power through summers, and are protective during the fall season.