The Asics Gel-Kayano 31 is my favourite version yet – but it still lacks 'pop'
Weight: 266g (women's UK 6)
Stack height: 40mm/30mm
Heel-to-toe drop: 10mm
Type: Stability
The shoe
A running shoe that's truly withstood the test of time, the Asics Gel-Kayano first launched in 1993 and has since been considered the go-to stability shoe for distance runners in need of comfort, cushioning and all-important pronation control. But last year, the brand took a punt on a total design overhaul, bringing in a brand-new stability solution to correct overpronation in a less intrusive way, alongside a higher stack heigh and softer cushioning. The re-design paid off – satisfying many long-standing Kayano fans while attracting a few more, thanks to its broader appeal to neutral runners, as well as those who overpronate.
The latest model hasn't changed all that much from its predecessor, save for some tweaks to the upper and outsole. There's a new knit collar construction bringing step-in comfort, with a pull tab making it easy to get on and off, and a new engineered mesh upper, designed to be more breathable. Beneath the shoe, a new Hybrid Asicsgrip outsole is said to deliver better grip and improved softness underfoot.
Those tweaks aside, we have all the same tech and features as the Gel-Kayano 30. The latest version utilises the same 4D Guidance System introduced to shoe last year to provide subtle stability via four distinct components: a wide base through the length of the shoe to stabilise the foot through the gait cycle; sculpting on both the medial and lateral sides to keep the foot in a central position; a compartment of softer and bouncier foam on the inside of the midfoot to guide the foot into position after landing; and a beveled heel, also to help guide landings.
Cushioning is delivered via Asics' FF Blast Plus Eco foam (the same foam found in the perennially popular Novablast 4 and recently released Superblast 2) and the stack height remains the same – a hefty 30mm in the forefoot and 40mm in the heel. Softness and shock absorption is also enhanced by the addition of internal PureGel technology in the heel.
How does the Asics Gel-Kayano 31 fit?
I've found the fit of the Gel-Kayano 31 noticeably better than the previous version. With the Gel-Kayano 30, I was between sizes, finding my usual UK 6.5 came up too small but the UK 7 a tad too big. In the end, I'd opted for a UK 7 but never felt satisfied with the forefoot hold.
Thanks to a slightly roomier fit, the UK 6.5 fits me perfectly in the latest version, and I'm a huge fan of the step-in slipper-like comfort. There's plenty of padding on the collar, heel and tongue, which really helps to create the feeling of the shoe hugging and cradling the foot as soon as you slip it on. The upper feels soft and forgiving and the flat, soft and slender laces allow you to create a really snug and secure lockdown.
What is the latest version like to run in?
When the Asics Gel-Kayano 31s landed on my desk to test earlier this summer, I have to admit, I didn't feel overly enthused. For the past 11 years – on the advice of gait analysis experts – I've worn stability shoes for the bulk of my runs, and have run many a mile in various Kayano iterations. But this year, having trained for, and run, my first marathon in a neutral shoe (my beloved Asics Novablast 4) – and evaded injury in the process – I decided, somewhat reluctantly, that my stability-shoe-wearing days were over. After all, running in lighter and bouncier neutral shoes was so much more fun...
On first inspection of the Kayano 31s, however, I was immediately intrigued. The new knit collar construction completely modernises the shoe (in fact, it actually looks more akin to its more enjoyable – I'd argue – neutral cousin, the Asics Gel Nimbus 26) and stepping into the shoe, they feel plush and luxurious.
On move, the shoe feels just as good, causing no hotspots, blisters or rubbing. I thought the increased padding around the collar might make my feet feel a little warm and claustrophobic running in warm weather, but this hasn't been an issue for me.
Despite a very slight increase in weight (by 1g), they also feel noticeably less cumbersome than their predecessor, which I used to find a little 'slappy'. It's hard to pinpoint exactly why they feel lighter and more nimble – it might be due to their updated fit, and the resulting improvement in foothold. Or it could be product of the new Hybird Asicsgrip facilitating softer landings – or perhaps a combination of both.
I've clocked up around 100km in the shoe, testing it during long runs of up to 15km, hard threshold efforts of up to 11km, and easy recovery runs. As a heel striker, I find the high 10mm drop suits me well, and having run lots in neutral shoes lately, I was expecting the stability elements to feel a little peculiar, but to honest, I've barely noticed them, save for a feeling of my foot being cradled a little more.
During long and easy runs, I've enjoyed the FF Blast Plus Eco foam, which is soft but stable. I tend to struggle with achy knees if I wear shoes that are too soft and squishy, particularly over long distances, but I've had no issues with knee pain testing these shoes, which I think is due to the relative firmness of the foam.
Unfortunately, though, I've not been able to get on with the Gel-Kayano 31s when running at pace. At 266g, they are a weighty shoe, and without elements such as a rocker profile to encourage natural forward motion, or a toe spring in the forefoot to create momentum at toe-off, the shoe can feel lethargic during harder sessions or on days where my legs are feeling achy from having run hard or done strength training in the days before and have been suffering from the dreaded DOMS.
RW verdict
Asics has definitely made progress in its modernisation of the Gel-Kayanos, and the re-designed upper seems to have made a surprisingly big difference to the way they feel on the run. But while they are very enjoyable to run in over long, easy miles, as with previous iterations, they don't lend themselves particularly well to faster and harder runs, where you really benefit from a bouncier shoe to help you cruise through each stride. As such, I'd argue the £180 price punch is a tad punchy, particularly for those looking for a do-it-all shoe to wear for all sessions. For that, I'd look to something like the New Balance Fresh Foam X 860v14, which is not only more versatile but £40 cheaper...
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