What replaced the Asics Gel-Kayano 31?
Updated July 28, 2026. Specs are men's US 9.
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THE SHORT ANSWER
The Kayano 32 replaced the Kayano 31 in June 2025. It cut the drop from 10 mm to 8 mm by raising the forefoot, reworked the heel geometry, and produced the line's smoothest transition yet.
At a glance
- The Gel-Kayano 32 is 0.2 oz lighter
- Drop moved from 10 mm to 8 mm
- New midsole foam
Every spec side by side, with the reason behind each change: Gel-Kayano 31 vs 32.
Stay on your shoe, or switch?
Refined, same shoeThe 32 polishes the redesigned platform into its best version: smoother heel, grippier outsole, slightly firmer foam. Still heavy, still modest on energy return, still the default pick for stability buyers who made peace with the new era.
Stick with the Gel-Kayano 31 if
- You want the 31's softer foam and 10 mm drop
- Closeout 31 pricing beats the update
Move to the Gel-Kayano 32 if
- You want the smoothest-riding Kayano of the redesign era
- You run in the wet and will use the grippier outsole
Where the Asics Gel-Kayano is now
Two updates on, the Gel-Kayano 33 (2026) is what sits on shelves today. Against the shoe you own rather than the one that directly replaced it:
- The Gel-Kayano 33 is 0.2 oz lighter
- 1 mm less heel stack
- Drop moved from 10 mm to 8 mm
- New midsole foam
- List price up $5
What loyalists said about the update
Widely rated the top traditional-stability trainer of its year. The recurring gripes stayed the same, weight and modest bounce, and the move to an 8 mm drop passed with little drama.
Still want the original?
Buy remaining Gel-Kayano 31 stock
Sizes running outDiscontinued at retail. Amazon carries what remains, so treat an in-stock size as a closing window, and expect prices to swing.
Availability last checked Jul 28, 2026.
Ready to move on?
Beyond the Gel-Kayano 32, these come closest to what the Gel-Kayano 31 did.
- 10.6 oz
- 10 mm drop
- 37 mm heel
- $145 list
The Adrenaline is the other default stability pick: lower, firmer, cheaper, and more traditional than the modern Kayano, with GuideRails bumpers instead of a sculpted platform. Runners who find the Kayano 30 era too tall and soft often land here.
Against your Asics Gel-Kayano 31: the same weight, 3 mm less heel stack, the same drop, $20 less at list.
- 10.4 oz
- 10 mm drop
- 38 mm heel
- $145 list
The Structure is the cheaper, firmer, lower-stack stability option. Runners who find the modern Kayano too tall and plush, and who fit Nike lasts, land here.
Against your Asics Gel-Kayano 31: 0.3 oz lighter, 2 mm less heel stack, the same drop, $20 less at list.
Questions runners ask
- Is the Asics Gel-Kayano 31 still available?
- For now. Amazon still lists the Asics Gel-Kayano 31, but the size run is thinning and prices swing with remaining stock. If your size is there, this is the late window, not the early one.
- Is the Gel-Kayano 32 a downgrade from the Asics Gel-Kayano 31?
- No. Most runners rate the Gel-Kayano 32 as the same shoe done slightly better. The changes are real but none of them alter what the shoe is.
- How much lighter is the Gel-Kayano 32?
- 0.2 oz lighter in a men's US 9: 10.5 oz against the Asics Gel-Kayano 31's 10.7 oz.
- Did the drop change from the Asics Gel-Kayano 31 to the Gel-Kayano 32?
- Yes, from 10 mm to 8 mm. A drop change this size affects where your foot loads at landing, so plan a few easy runs to adapt.
- Is the Asics Gel-Kayano still made?
- Yes. The current version is the Asics Gel-Kayano 33, released in 2026, 2 versions on from the Asics Gel-Kayano 31.
- What is the closest current alternative to the Asics Gel-Kayano 31?
- The Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25. The Adrenaline is the other default stability pick: lower, firmer, cheaper, and more traditional than the modern Kayano, with GuideRails bumpers instead of a sculpted platform. Runners who find the Kayano 30 era too tall and soft often land here.