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ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 26
ASICS GEL-KAYANO 31
Tested using Methodology v0.8.1
Updated Jul 07, 2025 07:24 PM
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Amazon.comTested using Methodology v0.8.1
Updated Aug 11, 2025 02:56 PM
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Asics.com
Weight301.9 g (10.65 oz)
Heel-To-Toe Drop8.9 mm
PlateNone
Weight308.4 g (10.88 oz)
Heel-To-Toe Drop10.9 mm
PlateNone
Our Verdict
ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 26
ASICS GEL-KAYANO 31
The ASICS GEL-KAYANO 31 and ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 26 are both popular and long-standing models in ASICS' lineup, but they suit different needs. The GEL-KAYANO 31 is aimed at runners who need more stability, with dedicated support elements and a slightly wider outsole. The GEL-NIMBUS 26, on the other hand, is a more neutral daily trainer designed for maximum comfort, with a slightly higher stack height and more balanced cushioning in the heel and forefoot.
Variants
- GEL-NIMBUS 26 (Black/Cool Matcha - (Women - US 7))
- GEL-NIMBUS 26 (Black/Dusty Purple - (Women - US 7))
- GEL-NIMBUS 26 (Black/Graphite Grey - (Women - US 7))
- GEL-NIMBUS 26 (Black/Soothing Sea - (Men - US 9))
- GEL-NIMBUS 26 (Blue Expanse/Aurora Green - (Women - US 7))
- GEL-NIMBUS 26 (Blue Expanse/Bold Magenta - (Women - US 7))
- GEL-NIMBUS 26 (Blue Expanse/Champagne - (Men - US 9))
- GEL-NIMBUS 26 (Blue Expanse/Rose Gold - (Women - US 7))
- GEL-NIMBUS 26 (Bright Cyan/Bold Magenta - (Women - US 7))
- GEL-NIMBUS 26 (Celadon/Light Celadon - (Men - US 9))
- GEL-NIMBUS 26 (Concrete/Pure Silver - (Men - US 9))
- GEL-NIMBUS 26 (Cool Grey/Bright Cyan - (Men - US 9))
- GEL-NIMBUS 26 (Cool Grey/Safety Yellow - (Men - US 9))
- GEL-NIMBUS 26 (Cool Grey/Safety Yellow - (Women - US 7))
- GEL-NIMBUS 26 (Evening Teal/Light Mustard - (Men - US 9))
- GEL-NIMBUS 26 (Feather Grey/Black - (Men - US 9))
- GEL-NIMBUS 26 (French Blue/Electric Lime - (Men - US 9))
- GEL-NIMBUS 26 (Light Celadon/Safety Yellow - (Women - US 7))
- GEL-NIMBUS 26 (Lite-show/Illuminate Green - (Women - US 7))
- GEL-NIMBUS 26 (Lite-show/Sea Glass - (Men - US 9))
- GEL-NIMBUS 26 (Mint Tint/Pale Mint - (Women - US 7))
- GEL-NIMBUS 26 (Nature Bathing/Pearl Pink - (Women - US 7))
- GEL-NIMBUS 26 (Nature Bathing/Red Snapper - (Men - US 9))
- GEL-NIMBUS 26 (Oatmeal/Faded Orange - (Women - US 7))
- GEL-NIMBUS 26 (Piedmont Grey/Grey Blue - (Women - US 7))
- GEL-NIMBUS 26 (Piedmont Grey/Safety Yellow - (Men - US 9))
- GEL-NIMBUS 26 (Rich Navy/Faded Orange - (Men - US 9))
- GEL-NIMBUS 26 (Sheet Rock/Thunder Blue - (Men - US 9))
- GEL-NIMBUS 26 (Thunder Blue/Sapphire - (Women - US 7))
- GEL-NIMBUS 26 (Waterscape/Black - (Men - US 9))
- GEL-NIMBUS 26 (Watershed Rose/White - (Women - US 7))
- GEL-NIMBUS 26 (White/Fresh Air - (Women - US 7))
- GEL-NIMBUS 26 (White/Soothing Sea - (Women - US 7))
- GEL-KAYANO 31 (Birch/Energy Aqua - (Women - US 7))
- GEL-KAYANO 31 (Black/Black - (Men - US 9))
- GEL-KAYANO 31 (Black/Black - (Women - US 7))
- GEL-KAYANO 31 (Black/Bold Magenta - (Women - US 7))
- GEL-KAYANO 31 (Black/Cool Matcha - (Men - US 9))
- GEL-KAYANO 31 (Black/Pure Silver - (Women - US 7))
- GEL-KAYANO 31 (Black/Rainy Lake - (Men - US 9))
- GEL-KAYANO 31 (Blue Expanse/Champagne - (Men - US 9))
- GEL-KAYANO 31 (Blue Expanse/Rose Gold - (Women - US 7))
- GEL-KAYANO 31 (Bold Magenta/Purple Spectrum - (Women - US 7))
- GEL-KAYANO 31 (Breeze/White - (Women - US 7))
- GEL-KAYANO 31 (Carbon/Taupe Grey - (Men - US 9))
- GEL-KAYANO 31 (Coffee/Nova Orange - (Women - US 7))
- GEL-KAYANO 31 (Cool Grey/Pure Silver - (Women - US 7))
- GEL-KAYANO 31 (Cool Matcha/Celadon - (Men - US 9))
- GEL-KAYANO 31 (Cool Matcha/Light Celadon - (Women - US 7))
- GEL-KAYANO 31 (Cream/Steel Blue - (Women - US 7))
- GEL-KAYANO 31 (Deep Mars/Black - (Men - US 9))
- GEL-KAYANO 31 (Desert Red/White - (Women - US 7))
- GEL-KAYANO 31 (Digital Aqua/Bright Cyan - (Men - US 9))
- GEL-KAYANO 31 (Illuminate Mint/Pure Silver - (Women - US 7))
- GEL-KAYANO 31 (Indigo Blue/Gunmetal - (Men - US 9))
- GEL-KAYANO 31 (Indigo Blue/Pure Silver - (Women - US 7))
- GEL-KAYANO 31 (Light Celadon/Safety Yellow - (Men - US 9))
- GEL-KAYANO 31 (Light Celadon/Safety Yellow - (Women - US 7))
- GEL-KAYANO 31 (Lite-show/Digital Aqua - (Men - US 9))
- GEL-KAYANO 31 (Oatmeal/Pearl Pink - (Women - US 7))
- GEL-KAYANO 31 (Piedmont Grey/Digital Aqua - (Women - US 7))
- GEL-KAYANO 31 (Piedmont Grey/Fiery Red - (Men - US 9))
- GEL-KAYANO 31 (Piedmont Grey/Papaya - (Women - US 7))
- GEL-KAYANO 31 (Pure Aqua/Pure Silver - (Men - US 9))
- GEL-KAYANO 31 (Pure Aqua/Pure Silver - (Women - US 7))
- GEL-KAYANO 31 (Rich Navy/Spice Latte - (Men - US 9))
- GEL-KAYANO 31 (Sheet Rock/White - (Women - US 7))
- GEL-KAYANO 31 (Smog Green/Black - (Men - US 9))
- GEL-KAYANO 31 (Steel Grey/Piedmont Grey - (Men - US 9))
- GEL-KAYANO 31 (White Sage/Birch - (Men - US 9))
- GEL-KAYANO 31 (White/Breeze - (Men - US 9))
- GEL-KAYANO 31 (White/Bright Cyan - (Men - US 9))
- GEL-KAYANO 31 (White/Concrete - (Men - US 9))
- GEL-KAYANO 31 (White/Dolphin Grey - (Women - US 7))
- GEL-KAYANO 31 (White/Faded Orange - (Women - US 7))
- GEL-KAYANO 31 (White/Piedmont Grey - (Men - US 9))
- GEL-KAYANO 31 (White/White - (Women - US 7))
Main Differences forMarathon Racing
Marathon Racing
Threshold
Marathon Racing
5.2
5.0
Heel Energy Return
0.5
1.6
Full Comparison
Design
Weight
4.3
4.0
Right Shoe Weight Photo
Left Shoe Weight Photo
Weight
301.9 g (10.65 oz)
308.4 g (10.88 oz)
Stack Heights
Stack Height Photo
Heel Stack Height
42.1 mm
42.2 mm
Forefoot Stack Height
33.2 mm
31.3 mm
Heel-To-Toe Drop
8.9 mm
10.9 mm
Advertised Heel-To-Toe Drop
8.0 mm
10.0 mm
External Shape
3D Model Full Shoe
Outsole Heel Width
93 mm (3.6")
95 mm (3.7")
Outsole Arch Width
84 mm (3.3")
84 mm (3.3")
Outsole Forefoot Width
115 mm (4.5")
117 mm (4.6")
Heel Width-To-Stack Ratio
2.21
2.25
Forefoot Width-To-Stack Ratio
3.46
3.73
Internal Shape
3D Model Internal
Internal Length
278 mm (10.9")
279 mm (11.0")
Internal Heel Width
64 mm (2.5")
66 mm (2.6")
Internal Forefoot Width
96 mm (3.8")
96 mm (3.8")
Wide Sizing Available
Yes
Yes
Other Features
Other Features Photo
Tongue Gusset Type
Fully-gusseted
Fully-gusseted
Plate
None
None
Performance
Heel Energy Return
0.5
1.6
Heel Compression Video
Heel Energy Return
Heel Energy Return
69.9%
72.6%
Forefoot Energy Return
0.9
0.7
Forefoot Compression Video
Forefoot Energy Return
Forefoot Energy Return
71.2%
70.5%
Heel Cushioning
6.6
6.8
Heel Cushioning Picture
Heel Cushioning
Energy Absorbed At 300N
1.07 J
1.05 J
Energy Absorbed At 600N
3.33 J
3.43 J
Energy Absorbed At 900N
6.25 J
6.29 J
Forefoot Cushioning
7.3
3.6
Forefoot Cushioning Picture
Forefoot Cushioning
Energy Absorbed At 300N
0.97 J
0.72 J
Energy Absorbed At 600N
2.84 J
2.10 J
Energy Absorbed At 900N
5.01 J
3.84 J
Heel Firmness
6.8
6.7
Heel Firmness
Average Firmness 0 To 300N
39.5 N/mm
41.0 N/mm
Average Firmness 300 To 600N
59.2 N/mm
56.2 N/mm
Average Firmness 600 To 900N
77.7 N/mm
78.8 N/mm
Forefoot Firmness
8.4
9.4
Forefoot Firmness
Average Firmness 0 To 300N
44.0 N/mm
59.6 N/mm
Average Firmness 300 To 600N
71.4 N/mm
97.0 N/mm
Average Firmness 600 To 900N
104.0 N/mm
129.2 N/mm
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ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 26
ASICS GEL-KAYANO 31
Comments
ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 26 vs ASICS GEL-KAYANO 31: Main Discussion
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