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  1. Table of Contents
  2. Top
  3. Main Differences
  4. Design
    1. Weight
    2. Stack Heights
    3. External Shape
    4. Internal Shape
    5. Other Features
  5. Performance
    1. Heel Energy Return
    2. Forefoot Energy Return
    3. Heel Cushioning
    4. Forefoot Cushioning
    5. Heel Firmness
    6. Forefoot Firmness
  6. Comments

ASICS NOVABLAST 4 vs ASICS GEL-KAYANO 31

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

ASICS NOVABLAST 4
ASICS GEL-KAYANO 31

Tested using Methodology v0.8

Updated Apr 15, 2025 03:31 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v0.8

Updated Apr 23, 2025 01:48 PM

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Amazon.com
ASICS NOVABLAST 4 Picture
ASICS GEL-KAYANO 31 Picture

Variants

  • NOVABLAST 4 (Black/Blue Expanse - (Men - US 9))
  • NOVABLAST 4 (Black/Blue Expanse - (Women - US 7))
  • NOVABLAST 4 (Black/Graphite Grey - (Women - US 7))
  • NOVABLAST 4 (Blue Expanse/Black - (Men - US 9))
  • NOVABLAST 4 (Blue Expanse/Champagne - (Men - US 9))
  • NOVABLAST 4 (Blue Expanse/Pink - (Women - US 7))
  • NOVABLAST 4 (Bold Magenta/Black - (Women - US 7))
  • NOVABLAST 4 (Cool Grey/Blue Expanse - (Men - US 9))
  • NOVABLAST 4 (Cool Grey/Blue Expanse - (Women - US 7))
  • NOVABLAST 4 (Cool Grey/Grey Blue - (Men - US 9))
  • NOVABLAST 4 (Cool Grey/Grey Blue - (Women - US 7))
  • NOVABLAST 4 (Cool Matcha/Safety Yellow - (Men - US 9))
  • NOVABLAST 4 (Cool Matcha/Safety Yellow - (Women - US 7))
  • NOVABLAST 4 (Faded Orange/Deep Red - (Women - US 7))
  • NOVABLAST 4 (Nature Bathing/Pearl Pink - (Women - US 7))
  • NOVABLAST 4 (Nature Bathing/Red Snapper - (Men - US 9))
  • NOVABLAST 4 (Oatmeal/Moonrock - (Women - US 7))
  • NOVABLAST 4 (White/Moonrock - (Men - US 9))
  • NOVABLAST 4 (White/Soothing Sea - (Women - US 7))
  • NOVABLAST 4 (White/Sunrise Red - (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))

Our Verdict

ASICS NOVABLAST 4

ASICS GEL-KAYANO 31

The ASICS NOVABLAST 4 is a more well-rounded shoe than the ASICS GEL-KAYANO 31. It's significantly lighter and uses more responsive foam, making it better for faster paces. It isn't as stable as the GEL-KAYANO 31, which is a better fit for heavier runners or those who need support elements.

0 

Main Differences for
Marathon Racing

Threshold 

0.10

Marathon Racing 

5.5
3.4

Forefoot Energy Return 
 

5.1
0.7

Weight  

6.1
3.9

Forefoot Cushioning 
 

8.1
3.8

Heel Energy Return 
 

3.1
1.6

Full Comparison

Design

Weight  

6.1
3.9

Right Shoe Weight Photo  

ASICS NOVABLAST 4 Right Shoe Weight Photo
ASICS GEL-KAYANO 31 Right Shoe Weight Photo

Left Shoe Weight Photo  

ASICS NOVABLAST 4 Left Shoe Weight Photo
ASICS GEL-KAYANO 31 Left Shoe Weight Photo

Weight 
 

255.4 g (9.01 oz)
308.4 g (10.88 oz)
Show Text 

Stack Heights 
 

Stack Height Photo  

ASICS NOVABLAST 4 Stack Height Photo
ASICS GEL-KAYANO 31 Stack Height Photo

Heel Stack Height 
 

41.3 mm
42.2 mm

Forefoot Stack Height 
 

32.2 mm
31.3 mm

Heel-To-Toe Drop 
 

9.1 mm
10.9 mm

Advertised Heel-To-Toe Drop 
 

8.0 mm
10.0 mm
Show Text 

External Shape 
 

3D Model Full Shoe  

ASICS NOVABLAST 4 3D Model Full Shoe
ASICS GEL-KAYANO 31 3D Model Full Shoe

Outsole Heel Width 
 

89 mm (3.5")
95 mm (3.7")

Outsole Arch Width 
 

72 mm (2.8")
84 mm (3.3")

Outsole Forefoot Width 
 

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

Internal Shape 
 

3D Model Internal  

ASICS NOVABLAST 4 3D Model Internal
ASICS GEL-KAYANO 31 3D Model Internal

Internal Length 
 

280 mm (11.0")
279 mm (11.0")

Internal Heel Width 
 

61 mm (2.4")
66 mm (2.6")

Internal Forefoot Width 
 

96 mm (3.8")
96 mm (3.8")
Show Text 

Other Features  

Other Features Photo  

ASICS NOVABLAST 4 Other Features Photo
ASICS GEL-KAYANO 31 Other Features Photo

Tongue Gusset Type 
 

Fully-gusseted
Fully-gusseted

Plate 
 

None
None
Performance

Heel Energy Return 
 

3.1
1.6

Heel Compression Video  

Heel Energy Return  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Heel Energy Return 
 

74.6%
72.6%
Show Text 

Forefoot Energy Return 
 

5.1
0.7

Forefoot Compression Video  

Forefoot Energy Return  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Forefoot Energy Return 
 

76.6%
70.5%
Show Text 

Heel Cushioning 
 

7.3
7.0

Heel Cushioning Picture  

ASICS NOVABLAST 4 Heel Cushioning Picture
ASICS GEL-KAYANO 31 Heel Cushioning Picture

Heel Cushioning  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Energy Absorbed At 300N 
 

1.05 J
1.05 J

Energy Absorbed At 600N 
 

3.57 J
3.43 J

Energy Absorbed At 900N 
 

6.83 J
6.29 J
Show Text 

Forefoot Cushioning 
 

8.1
3.8

Forefoot Cushioning Picture  

ASICS NOVABLAST 4 Forefoot Cushioning Picture
ASICS GEL-KAYANO 31 Forefoot Cushioning Picture

Forefoot Cushioning  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Energy Absorbed At 300N 
 

1.10 J
0.72 J

Energy Absorbed At 600N 
 

3.14 J
2.10 J

Energy Absorbed At 900N 
 

5.49 J
3.84 J
Show Text 

Heel Firmness 
 

6.2
6.7

Heel Firmness  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Average Firmness 0 To 300N 
 

41.3 N/mm
41.0 N/mm

Average Firmness 300 To 600N 
 

53.1 N/mm
56.2 N/mm

Average Firmness 600 To 900N 
 

70.1 N/mm
78.8 N/mm
Show Text 

Forefoot Firmness 
 

7.7
9.4

Forefoot Firmness  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Average Firmness 0 To 300N 
 

38.4 N/mm
59.6 N/mm

Average Firmness 300 To 600N 
 

65.4 N/mm
97.0 N/mm

Average Firmness 600 To 900N 
 

96.6 N/mm
129.2 N/mm
Show Text 

ASICS NOVABLAST 4

ASICS GEL-KAYANO 31

Comments

  1. Comparison

ASICS NOVABLAST 4 vs ASICS GEL-KAYANO 31: Main Discussion

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