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ASICS GEL-KAYANO 31 vs GEL-NIMBUS 28

Which Running Shoe Is Better?

    Top
    Main Differences
    Design
      WeightStack HeightsExternal ShapeInternal ShapeOther Features
    Performance
      Heel Energy ReturnForefoot Energy ReturnHeel CushioningForefoot CushioningHeel FirmnessForefoot FirmnessForefoot Long Run Cushioning
    Comments

Products

ASICS GEL-KAYANO 31
ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 28 
early access

Tested using Methodology v0.8.2

Updated Oct 20, 2025 07:44 PM

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Tested using Methodology v0.9

Updated Jan 19, 2026 05:35 PM

This review is in Early access

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ASICS GEL-KAYANO 31 Picture
ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 28 Picture
Weight
308.4 g (10.88 oz)
Heel-To-Toe Drop
10.9 mm
Plate
None
Weight
Lock g (Lock oz)
Heel-To-Toe Drop
Lock mm
Plate
Locked

Our Verdict

ASICS GEL-KAYANO 31

ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 28

Full comparison details regarding individual product score sets can be found in the section below
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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 (Black/Graphite Grey - (Men - US 9))
  • GEL-NIMBUS 28 (Black/Graphite Grey - (Women - US 7))

Review

See ASICS GEL-KAYANO 31 Review
See ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 28 Review
0 
0 

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Main Differences for
Marathon Racing

Threshold 

0.10

Marathon Racing 
 

5.2
0.0
No major differences between these running shoes for marathon racing. See full list of tests below.

Full Comparison

Design

Weight  

4.0
N/A

Right Shoe Weight Photo 
 

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

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Left Shoe Weight Photo 
 

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

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Weight 
 

308.4 g (10.88 oz)
Lock g (Lock oz)
Show Text 

Stack Heights 
 

Stack Height Photo 
 

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

SAMPLE

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Heel Stack Height 
 

42.2 mm
Lock mm

Forefoot Stack Height 
 

31.3 mm
Lock mm

Heel-To-Toe Drop 
 

10.9 mm
Lock mm

Advertised Heel-To-Toe Drop 
 

10.0 mm
Lock mm
Show Text 

External Shape 
 

3D Model Full Shoe  

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

SAMPLE

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Outsole Heel Width 
 

95 mm (3.7")
Lock mm (Lock")

Outsole Arch Width 
 

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

Outsole Forefoot Width 
 

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

Heel Width-To-Stack Ratio 
 

2.25
Lock

Forefoot Width-To-Stack Ratio 
 

3.73
Lock

Internal Shape 
 

3D Model Internal  

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

SAMPLE

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Internal Length 
 

279 mm (11.0")
Lock mm (Lock")

Internal Heel Width 
 

66 mm (2.6")
Lock mm (Lock")

Internal Forefoot Width 
 

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

Wide Sizing Available 
 

Yes
Locked
Show Text 

Other Features  

Other Features Photo 
 

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ASICS GEL-KAYANO 31 Other Features Photo
ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 28 Other Features Photo Sample

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Tongue Gusset Type 
 

Fully-gusseted
Locked

Plate 
 

None
Locked
Performance

Heel Energy Return 
 

1.6
N/A

Heel Compression Video  

ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 28 Heel Compression Video Sample

SAMPLE

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Heel Energy Return  

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

SAMPLE

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Heel Energy Return 
 

66.8%
Lock%
Show Text 

Forefoot Energy Return 
 

1.3
N/A

Forefoot Compression Video  

ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 28 Forefoot Compression Video Sample

SAMPLE

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Forefoot Energy Return  

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

SAMPLE

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Forefoot Energy Return 
 

65.7%
Lock%
Show Text 

Heel Cushioning 
 

7.6
N/A

Heel Cushioning Picture 
 

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

SAMPLE

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Heel Cushioning  

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

SAMPLE

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Energy Absorbed At 550N 
 

3.20 J
Lock J

Energy Absorbed At 1100N 
 

9.25 J
Lock J

Energy Absorbed At 1900N 
 

16.85 J
Lock J
Show Text 

Forefoot Cushioning 
 

6.6
N/A

Forefoot Cushioning Picture 
 

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

SAMPLE

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Forefoot Cushioning  

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

SAMPLE

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Energy Absorbed At 800N 
 

3.74 J
Lock J

Energy Absorbed At 1300N 
 

7.11 J
Lock J

Energy Absorbed At 2050N 
 

11.05 J
Lock J
Show Text 

Heel Firmness 
 

5.1
N/A

Heel Firmness  

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

SAMPLE

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Firmness At 550N 
 

53.0 N/mm
Lock N/mm

Firmness At 1100N 
 

103.6 N/mm
Lock N/mm

Firmness At 1900N 
 

198.1 N/mm
Lock N/mm
Show Text 

Forefoot Firmness 
 

8.0
N/A

Forefoot Firmness  

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

SAMPLE

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Firmness At 800N 
 

113.7 N/mm
Lock N/mm

Firmness At 1300N 
 

209.5 N/mm
Lock N/mm

Firmness At 2050N 
 

392.1 N/mm
Lock N/mm
Show Text 

Forefoot Long Run Cushioning 
 

N/A

Forefoot Long Run Cushioning  

ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 28 Forefoot Long Run Cushioning Sample

SAMPLE

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Energy Absorbed At 10km 
 

Lock J

Energy Absorbed At 20km 
 

Lock J

Energy Absorbed At 30km 
 

Lock J

Energy Absorbed At 40km 
 

Lock J

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ASICS GEL-KAYANO 31

ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 28

Comments

  1. Comparison
 • Posted 1 hour ago

ASICS GEL-KAYANO 31 vs ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 28: Main Discussion

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