ASICS GEL-KAYANO 31 vs GEL-NIMBUS 28

Which Running Shoe Is Better?

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ASICS GEL-KAYANO 31
ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 28

Tested using Methodology v0.11

Updated May 05, 2026 07:24 PM

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Tested using Methodology v0.11

Updated Apr 28, 2026 06:11 PM

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ASICS GEL-KAYANO 31 Picture

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ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 28 Picture

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Our Verdict

ASICS GEL-KAYANO 31

ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 28

The ASICS GEL-KAYANO 31 and the ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 28 sit in two clearly different categories despite sharing a premium feel. The KAYANO 31 is heavier and built as a dedicated stability shoe, with a lower drop, a more structured platform, and guidance elements that make it noticeably more stable and controlled, especially for runners who need support over long mileage. The NIMBUS 28, on the other hand, is a max-cushioned neutral trainer that prioritizes comfort and impact absorption, offering a softer and more forgiving ride but with less inherent stability. In short, the KAYANO is about control and support, while the NIMBUS is about cushioning and relaxed comfort.

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Variants

  • GEL-KAYANO 31 (Birch/Energy Aqua - (Women - US 7))
  • GEL-KAYANO 31 (Black/Black - (Men - US 9))
  • GEL-NIMBUS 28 (Arctic Blue/Velvet Purple - (Women - US 7))
  • GEL-NIMBUS 28 (Black/Cobalt Burst - (Men - US 9))

Main Differences for
Marathon Racing

Threshold 

0.10

Marathon Racing 
 

5.2
5.7

Weight  

4.0
5.5

Full Comparison

Design

Weight  

4.0
5.5

Right Shoe Weight Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
ASICS GEL-KAYANO 31 Right Shoe Weight Photo
Compare High-Res
ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 28 Right Shoe Weight Photo

Left Shoe Weight Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
ASICS GEL-KAYANO 31 Left Shoe Weight Photo
Compare High-Res
ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 28 Left Shoe Weight Photo

Weight 
 

308.4 g (10.88 oz)
272.9 g (9.63 oz)

Stack Heights 
 

Stack Height Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
ASICS GEL-KAYANO 31 Stack Height Photo
Compare High-Res
ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 28 Stack Height Photo

Heel Stack Height 
 

42.2 mm
42.5 mm

Forefoot Stack Height 
 

31.3 mm
36.1 mm

Heel-To-Toe Drop 
 

10.9 mm
6.4 mm

Advertised Heel-To-Toe Drop 
 

10.0 mm
8.0 mm

External Shape 
 

3D Model Full Shoe  

Preview 3D
ASICS GEL-KAYANO 31 3D Model Full Shoe
Preview 3D
ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 28 3D Model Full Shoe

Outsole Heel Width 
 

95 mm (3.7")
97 mm (3.8")

Outsole Arch Width 
 

84 mm (3.3")
84 mm (3.3")

Outsole Forefoot Width 
 

117 mm (4.6")
117 mm (4.6")

Heel Width-To-Stack Ratio 
 

2.25
2.28

Forefoot Width-To-Stack Ratio 
 

3.73
3.24

Internal Shape 
 

3D Model Internal  

Preview 3D
ASICS GEL-KAYANO 31 3D Model Internal
Preview 3D
ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 28 3D Model Internal

Internal Length 
 

279 mm (11.0")
278 mm (10.9")

Internal Heel Width 
 

66 mm (2.6")
67 mm (2.6")

Internal Forefoot Width 
 

96 mm (3.8")
96 mm (3.8")

Wide Sizing Available 
 

Yes
Yes

Forefoot Fit: Width 
 

8.8
8.8

Forefoot Width Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
ASICS GEL-KAYANO 31 Forefoot Width Photo
Compare High-Res
ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 28 Forefoot Width Photo

Ball-Of-Foot TTS Deviation 
 

4.5 mm (0.178")
1.8 mm (0.072")

Toe TTS Deviation 
 

3.2 mm (0.126")
-3.8 mm (-0.151")

Forefoot Fit: Height 
 

7.9
5.3

Forefoot Height Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
ASICS GEL-KAYANO 31 Forefoot Height Photo
Compare High-Res
ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 28 Forefoot Height Photo

Toe TTS Deviation 
 

-2.6 mm (-0.101")
-5.6 mm (-0.221")

Arch Fit: Width 
 

9.9
7.3

Arch Fit Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
ASICS GEL-KAYANO 31 Arch Fit Photo
Compare High-Res
ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 28 Arch Fit Photo

Arch Width TTS Deviation 
 

1.1 mm (0.042")
-4.3 mm (-0.169")

Length Fit 
 

10
10

Toe Clearance Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
ASICS GEL-KAYANO 31 Toe Clearance Photo
Compare High-Res
ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 28 Toe Clearance Photo

Heel Rocker Geometry 
 

6.7
7.1

Heel Rocker Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
ASICS GEL-KAYANO 31 Heel Rocker Photo
Compare High-Res
ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 28 Heel Rocker Photo

Heel Spring 
 

17 mm (0.7")
32 mm (1.3")

Heel Apex Position 
 

15.3%
23.3%

Heel Rocker Angle 
 

20.7°
15.2°

Forefoot Rocker Geometry 
 

6.8
7.7

Forefoot Rocker Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
ASICS GEL-KAYANO 31 Forefoot Rocker Photo
Compare High-Res
ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 28 Forefoot Rocker Photo

Toe Spring 
 

47 mm (1.9")
55 mm (2.2")

Toe Apex Position 
 

66.1%
60.0%

Forefoot Rocker Angle 
 

25.2°
24.6°

Other Features  

Other Features Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
ASICS GEL-KAYANO 31 Other Features Photo
Compare High-Res
ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 28 Other Features Photo

Tongue Gusset Type 
 

Fully-gusseted
Fully-gusseted

Plate 
 

None
None
Performance

Heel Compression Energy Return 
 

1.6
1.0

Heel Compression Video  

Heel Energy Return  

 Preview Graph
ASICS GEL-KAYANO 31 Heel Energy Return
 Preview Graph
ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 28 Heel Energy Return

Heel Energy Return 
 

66.8%
64.7%

Forefoot Compression Energy Return 
 

1.3
1.8

Forefoot Compression Video  

Forefoot Energy Return  

 Preview Graph
ASICS GEL-KAYANO 31 Forefoot Energy Return
 Preview Graph
ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 28 Forefoot Energy Return

Forefoot Energy Return 
 

65.7%
67.4%

Heel Cushioning 
 

7.6
8.2

Heel Cushioning Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
ASICS GEL-KAYANO 31 Heel Cushioning Picture
Compare High-Res
ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 28 Heel Cushioning Picture

Heel Cushioning  

 Preview Graph
ASICS GEL-KAYANO 31 Heel Cushioning
 Preview Graph
ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 28 Heel Cushioning

Energy Absorbed At 550N 
 

3.20 J
3.43 J

Energy Absorbed At 1100N 
 

9.25 J
10.28 J

Energy Absorbed At 1900N 
 

16.85 J
18.03 J

Forefoot Cushioning 
 

6.6
8.9

Forefoot Cushioning Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
ASICS GEL-KAYANO 31 Forefoot Cushioning Picture
Compare High-Res
ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 28 Forefoot Cushioning Picture

Forefoot Cushioning  

 Preview Graph
ASICS GEL-KAYANO 31 Forefoot Cushioning
 Preview Graph
ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 28 Forefoot Cushioning

Energy Absorbed At 800N 
 

3.74 J
5.43 J

Energy Absorbed At 1300N 
 

7.11 J
9.95 J

Energy Absorbed At 2050N 
 

11.05 J
15.38 J

Heel Firmness 
 

5.1
4.5

Heel Firmness  

 Preview Graph
ASICS GEL-KAYANO 31 Heel Firmness
 Preview Graph
ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 28 Heel Firmness

Firmness At 550N 
 

53.0 N/mm
45.7 N/mm

Firmness At 1100N 
 

103.6 N/mm
98.9 N/mm

Firmness At 1900N 
 

198.1 N/mm
193.3 N/mm

Forefoot Firmness 
 

8.0
6.3

Forefoot Firmness  

 Preview Graph
ASICS GEL-KAYANO 31 Forefoot Firmness
 Preview Graph
ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 28 Forefoot Firmness

Firmness At 800N 
 

113.7 N/mm
82.5 N/mm

Firmness At 1300N 
 

209.5 N/mm
156.5 N/mm

Firmness At 2050N 
 

392.1 N/mm
274.5 N/mm

Forefoot Long Run Cushioning 
 

6.1
8.3

Forefoot Long Run Cushioning  

 Preview Graph
ASICS GEL-KAYANO 31 Forefoot Long Run Cushioning
 Preview Graph
ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 28 Forefoot Long Run Cushioning

Energy Absorbed At 10km 
 

6.67 J
9.28 J

Energy Absorbed At 20km 
 

6.52 J
9.07 J

Energy Absorbed At 30km 
 

6.44 J
8.97 J

Energy Absorbed At 40km 
 

6.39 J
8.88 J

Rocker Stiffness 
 

6.1
8.4

Forefoot Rocker Stiffness Video  

Forefoot Rocker Stiffness Graph  

 Preview Graph
ASICS GEL-KAYANO 31 Forefoot Rocker Stiffness Graph
 Preview Graph
ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 28 Forefoot Rocker Stiffness Graph

Force To Flatten The Rocker 
 

63 N
135 N

Forefoot Bending Energy Return 
 

3.7
3.9

Forefoot Bending Video  

Forefoot Bending Energy Return  

 Preview Graph
ASICS GEL-KAYANO 31 Forefoot Bending Energy Return
 Preview Graph
ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 28 Forefoot Bending Energy Return

Forefoot Bending Energy Return 
 

52.3%
53.0%

Forefoot Bending Stiffness 
 

7.2
7.8

Forefoot Bending Resistance Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
ASICS GEL-KAYANO 31 Forefoot Bending Resistance Picture
Compare High-Res
ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 28 Forefoot Bending Resistance Picture

Forefoot Bending Resistance  

 Preview Graph
ASICS GEL-KAYANO 31 Forefoot Bending Resistance
 Preview Graph
ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 28 Forefoot Bending Resistance

Forefoot Bending Stiffness 
 

10.5 N/mm
15.5 N/mm

Forefoot Bending Force 
 

348 N
330 N

ASICS GEL-KAYANO 31

ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 28

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