Asics Gel-Kayano 31 vs Gel-Kayano 33
Two versions apart. Updated September 10, 2026. Specs are men's US 9.
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THE SHORT ANSWER
Two updates and 2 years separate the Asics Gel-Kayano 31 from the Gel-Kayano 33. Net change: 0.2 oz lighter, 1 mm less heel stack, a drop change from 10 mm to 8 mm, a new midsole, $5 more at list. The Gel-Kayano 33 is where the character changed, and that is the update Gel-Kayano 31 owners notice first.
- Asics Gel-Kayano 31Men's at AmazonWomen's
- Asics Gel-Kayano 33Men's at AmazonWomen's
Availability last checked Sep 10, 2026. Prices and stock change without notice.


The two updates in between
Each step has its own page with the full change list and the verdict on that update.
- Step 1Gel-Kayano 31 to Gel-Kayano 322025Refined, same shoe
- Step 2Gel-Kayano 32 to Gel-Kayano 332026Changed character
Gel-Kayano 31 vs Gel-Kayano 33: every spec, side by side
The net of both updates. Per-update change notes stay on the step pages above, because they explain changes measured from a different starting point than this table uses.
| Spec | Gel-Kayano 31 | Gel-Kayano 33 |
|---|---|---|
| FIT AND WEIGHT | ||
| Weight | 10.7 oz | 10.5 oz |
| Widths | D, 2E, 4E | D |
| Upper | Plush engineered mesh with a gusseted tongue | Engineered mesh |
| CUSHIONING GEOMETRY | ||
| Heel stack | 40 mm | 39 mm |
| Forefoot stack | 30 mm | 31 mm |
| Drop | 10 mm | 8 mm |
| MATERIALS | ||
| Midsole | FF Blast+ Eco with a bouncier 4D Guidance midfoot foam and PureGEL | Dual-density stack: FF Blast Max over FF Blast+; FluidSupport medial wedge |
| VALUE | ||
| List price at launch | $165 | $170 |
Or buy the Gel-Kayano 32 instead?
The Gel-Kayano 32 is the value play if you find it discounted. It carries most of what the Gel-Kayano 33 added while selling as an older model, and moving one version at a time is the smaller adjustment.
Buy the Gel-Kayano 32
Stocked at AmazonAvailability last checked Sep 10, 2026.
Questions runners ask
- Can I go straight from the Asics Gel-Kayano 31 to the Gel-Kayano 33 and skip the Gel-Kayano 32?
- Yes, but going Gel-Kayano 31 to Gel-Kayano 33 means taking one change in a single step: the Gel-Kayano 33 is where the ride moved. The drop also goes 10 mm to 8 mm across the jump, so give it a week of easy running.
- How much did the weight change across these two updates?
- 0.2 oz off in total, 10.7 oz to 10.5 oz in a men's US 9. The Gel-Kayano 32 took it to 10.5 oz first.
- Is the Gel-Kayano 32 the better buy than either of these?
- On paper it splits them: 10.5 oz against 10.7 oz for the Gel-Kayano 31 and 10.5 oz for the Gel-Kayano 33, on a 40 mm heel and a $165 list price. Whether that is worth chasing depends on what the Gel-Kayano 32 update actually did, which the section above works through.
- Did the Gel-Kayano get taller between the Gel-Kayano 31 and the Gel-Kayano 33?
- Heel stack went 40 mm to 39 mm, by way of 40 mm on the Gel-Kayano 32. Drop moved 10 mm to 8 mm, which is the change your calves and Achilles notice.
- Where does the Gel-Kayano 33 sit in the Gel-Kayano lineup now?
- It is the current model, two versions on from the Gel-Kayano 31 and the newest one you can buy at full retail.