ASICS Gel Kayano 31 vs ASICS Gel Nimbus 26 – Which ASICS Daily Trainer Should You Buy?

Stack Height, Drop, Weight and Price

First up the key details. The Gel Kayano 31 stack height stays the same as the Kayano 30 with 40mm in the heel and 30mm in the forefoot for a 10mm drop. Meanwhile, the ASICS Gel Nimbus 26 packs 42mm in the heel and 34mm for a larger stack but a lower 8mm drop.

When it comes to weight, in our US test size 9.5, the Kayano 31 tips the scales at 11oz or 312g. The Nimbus 26 weighs in at 11.1oz or 314g. So there’s nothing between them.

On price, the ASICS Gel Kayano 31 has jumped up five bucks over the previous generation. At $165, that now makes them slightly pricier than the ASICS Gel Nimbus 26 at $160. But both shoes are still a wedge cheaper than rival shoes like the Nike Invincible 3 ($180).

Design

Now, before we get into the meat of the review it’s worth noting that the Kayano 31 isn’t a major overhaul versus the Kayano 30 and the Nimbus 26 wasn’t that different in performance to the Nimbus 25. So it might pay to fish for deals on the older generation shoes. In which case you’ll definitely find our ASICS Gel Nimbus 26 vs ASICS Gel Kayano 30 head to head useful.

Like the past-gen shoes, the Nimbus 26 and the Kayano 31 still share much of the same design DNA. That’s because the changes to the Kayano are minimal with a new outsole and more breathable uppers.

The Nimbus 26 and the Kayano 31 follow a similar midsole set up with the same combination of super soft FlyteFoam Blast Plus Eco foam and PureGEL technology heel inserts – essentially some springy, rebounding material at the heel – to create softer, more cushioned landings and soak up more impact.

The Kayano 31 has a lower midsole stack – there’s 2mm less foam at the heel and 4mm less under the forefoot. Bigger stack tends to mean a less stable ride, so that makes sense. 

The Kayano 31 also features ASICS’ 4D Guidance System, a combination of elements designed to support the foot each time it hits the ground for better stability. This includes a more pronounced heel bevel, a sculpted midsole, and additional medial foam that guides your foot on landing.

Up top, the both ASICS shoes feature thick, dense but quite pliable uppers and gusseted tongues. The Kayano 31 has a new more breathable engineered mesh to increase ventilation on the run. The Nimbus 26 has engineered stretch knit uppers.

The heel packages are almost identical, with big padded collars. The tongues are similarly plush, too. The same thickness and comfort but the Nimbus 26 are knitted and slightly more pliable. Flimsy even. 

Flip the shoes over, and they both have generous coverings of updated hybrid ASICSGrip rubber that’s been tweaked to improve grip and durability. The grip patterns are different, with more grooves cut into the Kayano 31. The rubber looks thicker in places, too.

Fit

I ran in my regular running ASICS shoe size in both shoes and I’d recommend going true to size. There’s not a huge amount to choose between the shoes on fit.

The heels offer the same cushioning and hold, the midfoot lockdown is nice and secure on both. I had to work a little hard to get the flimsier knitted tongues to sit right in the Nimbus 26 and there’s a little more room in the Kayano 31 toe box, particularly across the top of the toes. But these deliver on cruising comfort in a very similar way.

Performance

In testing, I’ve logged at least 30 miles in each of these shoes. A little more in the ASICS Gel Nimbus 26. I focused most of my testing at the easier, low and slow end. But I logged some faster intervals in those runs, to test the pace range and versatility.

As usual, my test miles were mainly on asphalt with the occasional excursion onto light off-road park and river paths to test stability. I also did a side-by-side mile, where I ran with one shoe on each foot, to get a better sense of the differences.

The Nimbus 26 and the Kayano 30 feel very similar on the foot in terms of the overall comfort, the way they hold and the way the uppers flex. You're getting a very, very similar package.

The key difference comes underfoot where you definitely feel the higher stack on the Nimbus 26. It’s also tuned softer and springier than the Kayano 31. Not surprising given the Kayano’s stability elements.

If the Nimbus 26 is livelier, the Kayno feels more controlled, a bit flatter when you land with less of a cushioned roll through.

Even though I don’t technically need a stability shoe, I can run happily in the Kayano 31, the stability elements are subtle and at times I enjoyed the slightly more controlled ride.

When you're thinking about which of these shoes might suit you best it’ll largely come down to whether you need more stability and more control or you like to feel a bit of firmness in that ride. If that’s the case, go for the Kayano 31.

If you want something that's tuned a bit softer, springer, with more energy coming back, the Nimbus 26 is the one. The Nimbus has good stability too but it’s not as supportive as the Kayano 31.

If you need more cushioning, because you tend to land further back towards the heel, there's also definitely more protection in the Nimbus 26 heel.

My Verdict

The verdict here is not a million miles from what I wrote about the Kayano 30 vs Nimbus 26. The Nimbus 26 and the Kayano 31 offer capable, cushioned, protective rides designed to soak up slower daily miles, manage long runs in comfort and cater for your easy-day recovery runs.

The differences between the Kayano 30 and the Kayano 31 are tweaks rather than sweeping upgrades, so it’s still a close match for the Nimbus 26, just with added stability. Which shoe you choose will depend on whether or not you need stability.

If you do, the Kayano 31 is the shoe for you. If you run in neutral shoes, the Nimbus 26 is the better option. It’s also a better shoe, offering more response, a somewhat smoother ride and more overall agility. If you’re a heel striker there’s more cushioning at the back to help, too.

If you’ve used the Nimbus 26 and found yourself wanting a similar ride just with some added control and stability, the Kayano 31 is a great option. If you’re a neutral runner and you want a shoe that’s a shade firmer, the Kayano 31’s stability is also subtle enough that you can choose it, too.

For good stability alternatives to the Kayano 31, lots of runners swear by the Nike Invincible 3. The Saucony Tempus, the Saucony Guide 17 and the Brooks Glycerin GTS are also good options.

For soft protective landings with a touch more uptempo ability, the Brooks Ghost Max, the new Saucony Ride 17 and New Balance 1080v13 are all worthy alternatives.