New Balance FuelCell Rebel v4 vs ASICS GEL-KAYANO 31

Which Running Shoe Is Better?

Products

New Balance FuelCell Rebel v4
ASICS GEL-KAYANO 31

Tested using Methodology v0.9

Updated Dec 08, 2025 08:24 PM

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Tested using Methodology v0.8.2

Updated Oct 20, 2025 07:44 PM

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Our Verdict

New Balance FuelCell Rebel v4

ASICS GEL-KAYANO 31

For most runners, the New Balance FuelCell Rebel v4 has some advantages over the ASICS GEL-KAYANO 31. It's a significantly lighter shoe that has some ground feel due to its much lower stack height than the GEL-KAYANO. Thanks to its more responsive foam, the New Balance is a bit more efficient and better at picking up the pace. The GEL-KAYANO is still a better fit for runners who prefer higher stacks or need a stability shoe.

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Variants

  • FuelCell Rebel v4 (Black/Graphite - (Men - US 9))
  • FuelCell Rebel v4 (Black/Graphite/White - (Women - US 7))
  • GEL-KAYANO 31 (Birch/Energy Aqua - (Women - US 7))
  • GEL-KAYANO 31 (Black/Black - (Men - US 9))
Read more

Main Differences for
Marathon Racing

Threshold 

0.10

Marathon Racing 
 

5.3
5.2

Forefoot Energy Return 
 

6.0
1.3

Heel Stack Height 
 

31.3 mm
42.2 mm

Forefoot Stack Height 
 

24.0 mm
31.3 mm

Weight  

7.7
4.0

Heel Energy Return 
 

5.5
1.6

Full Comparison

Design

Weight  

7.7
4.0

Right Shoe Weight Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
New Balance FuelCell Rebel v4 Right Shoe Weight Photo
Compare High-Res
ASICS GEL-KAYANO 31 Right Shoe Weight Photo

Left Shoe Weight Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
New Balance FuelCell Rebel v4 Left Shoe Weight Photo
Compare High-Res
ASICS GEL-KAYANO 31 Left Shoe Weight Photo

Weight 
 

214.7 g (7.57 oz)
308.4 g (10.88 oz)
Show Text 

Stack Heights 
 

Stack Height Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
New Balance FuelCell Rebel v4 Stack Height Photo
Compare High-Res
ASICS GEL-KAYANO 31 Stack Height Photo

Heel Stack Height 
 

31.3 mm
42.2 mm

Forefoot Stack Height 
 

24.0 mm
31.3 mm

Heel-To-Toe Drop 
 

7.3 mm
10.9 mm

Advertised Heel-To-Toe Drop 
 

6.0 mm
10.0 mm
Show Text 

External Shape 
 

3D Model Full Shoe  

Preview 3D
New Balance FuelCell Rebel v4 3D Model Full Shoe
Preview 3D
ASICS GEL-KAYANO 31 3D Model Full Shoe

Outsole Heel Width 
 

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

Outsole Arch Width 
 

77 mm (3.0")
84 mm (3.3")

Outsole Forefoot Width 
 

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

Heel Width-To-Stack Ratio 
 

3.04
2.25

Forefoot Width-To-Stack Ratio 
 

4.83
3.73

Internal Shape 
 

3D Model Internal  

Preview 3D
New Balance FuelCell Rebel v4 3D Model Internal
Preview 3D
ASICS GEL-KAYANO 31 3D Model Internal

Internal Length 
 

274 mm (10.8")
279 mm (11.0")

Internal Heel Width 
 

64 mm (2.5")
66 mm (2.6")

Internal Forefoot Width 
 

95 mm (3.7")
96 mm (3.8")

Wide Sizing Available 
 

Yes
Yes
Show Text 

Other Features  

Other Features Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
New Balance FuelCell Rebel v4 Other Features Photo
Compare High-Res
ASICS GEL-KAYANO 31 Other Features Photo

Tongue Gusset Type 
 

Semi-gusseted
Fully-gusseted

Plate 
 

None
None
Performance

Heel Energy Return 
 

5.5
1.6

Heel Compression Video  

Heel Energy Return  

 Preview Graph
New Balance FuelCell Rebel v4 Heel Energy Return
 Preview Graph
ASICS GEL-KAYANO 31 Heel Energy Return

Heel Energy Return 
 

72.6%
66.8%
Show Text 

Forefoot Energy Return 
 

6.0
1.3

Forefoot Compression Video  

Forefoot Energy Return  

 Preview Graph
New Balance FuelCell Rebel v4 Forefoot Energy Return
 Preview Graph
ASICS GEL-KAYANO 31 Forefoot Energy Return

Forefoot Energy Return 
 

73.4%
65.7%
Show Text 

Heel Cushioning 
 

6.1
7.6

Heel Cushioning Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
New Balance FuelCell Rebel v4 Heel Cushioning Picture
Compare High-Res
ASICS GEL-KAYANO 31 Heel Cushioning Picture

Heel Cushioning  

 Preview Graph
New Balance FuelCell Rebel v4 Heel Cushioning
 Preview Graph
ASICS GEL-KAYANO 31 Heel Cushioning

Energy Absorbed At 550N 
 

3.17 J
3.20 J

Energy Absorbed At 1100N 
 

7.75 J
9.25 J

Energy Absorbed At 1900N 
 

12.55 J
16.85 J
Show Text 

Forefoot Cushioning 
 

5.7
6.6

Forefoot Cushioning Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
New Balance FuelCell Rebel v4 Forefoot Cushioning Picture
Compare High-Res
ASICS GEL-KAYANO 31 Forefoot Cushioning Picture

Forefoot Cushioning  

 Preview Graph
New Balance FuelCell Rebel v4 Forefoot Cushioning
 Preview Graph
ASICS GEL-KAYANO 31 Forefoot Cushioning

Energy Absorbed At 800N 
 

3.71 J
3.74 J

Energy Absorbed At 1300N 
 

6.10 J
7.11 J

Energy Absorbed At 2050N 
 

8.64 J
11.05 J
Show Text 

Heel Firmness 
 

7.1
5.1

Heel Firmness  

 Preview Graph
New Balance FuelCell Rebel v4 Heel Firmness
 Preview Graph
ASICS GEL-KAYANO 31 Heel Firmness

Firmness At 550N 
 

61.5 N/mm
53.0 N/mm

Firmness At 1100N 
 

149.9 N/mm
103.6 N/mm

Firmness At 1900N 
 

342.2 N/mm
198.1 N/mm
Show Text 

Forefoot Firmness 
 

9.1
8.0

Forefoot Firmness  

 Preview Graph
New Balance FuelCell Rebel v4 Forefoot Firmness
 Preview Graph
ASICS GEL-KAYANO 31 Forefoot Firmness

Firmness At 800N 
 

145.2 N/mm
113.7 N/mm

Firmness At 1300N 
 

317.3 N/mm
209.5 N/mm

Firmness At 2050N 
 

622.7 N/mm
392.1 N/mm
Show Text 

Forefoot Long Run Cushioning 
 

5.0

Forefoot Long Run Cushioning  

 Preview Graph
New Balance FuelCell Rebel v4 Forefoot Long Run Cushioning

Energy Absorbed At 10km 
 

5.49 J

Energy Absorbed At 20km 
 

5.34 J

Energy Absorbed At 30km 
 

5.24 J

Energy Absorbed At 40km 
 

5.16 J

New Balance FuelCell Rebel v4

ASICS GEL-KAYANO 31

Comments

  1. Comparison

New Balance FuelCell Rebel v4 vs ASICS GEL-KAYANO 31: Main Discussion

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