ShoeGeometry

ASICS Gel-Kayano 33 vs Nike Structure Plus

Two shoes compared on measured geometry. Each cell carries a provenance badge; open a shoe for sources.

heel boneASICS Gel-Kayano 33: heel 41 mm, forefoot 33 mm (drop 8 mm); toe rocker 34 % of length, radius 39 % of length; heel bevel 8 % of length, 15 mm high at the back, ending behind the heel bone (only the back edge is rounded).ASICS Gel-Kayano 33: toe rocker 34 % of lengthNike Structure Plus: heel 42 mm, forefoot 32 mm (drop 10 mm); toe rocker 34 % of length, radius 45 % of length; heel bevel 8 % of length, 19 mm high at the back, ending behind the heel bone (only the back edge is rounded).Nike Structure Plus: toe rocker 34 % of length
  • ASICS Gel-Kayano 3341/33 mm · toe rocker 34 % · heel bevel 8 %
  • Nike Structure Plus42/32 mm · toe rocker 34 % · heel bevel 8 %
Illustrative profiles, not photographs: drawn from published stack heights and photo estimates of the unloaded shoes on a common length (300 mm), heels aligned, toe to the left; dots mark where each toe rocker starts; the dotted vertical line is under the heel bone (12 % of length), so a heel curve reaching past it is a bevel in front of the heel bone. Dotted lines use typical values where a shoe has no measurement. Exact values are in the table below.

Which suits you

If you wantPickBecause
A smoother roll at toe-offASICS Gel-Kayano 3334.3 vs 33.8 % toe rocker; 43.6 vs 33.7 mm toe tip
More cushioning under the heelAbout the same41 vs 42 mm heel stack
More under the forefootAbout the same33 vs 32 mm forefoot stack
A lower dropASICS Gel-Kayano 338 vs 10 mm drop
A stiffer, snappier forefootAbout the same62 vs 60 /100 stiffness
A firmer, more stable feelASICS Gel-Kayano 3347 vs 34 /100 firmness
A wider base under the forefootAbout the same120.7 vs 119.4 mm forefoot base
Less weightAbout the same298 vs 295 g

From the values below, with differences inside measurement noise shown as about the same. This describes the shoes, not what is right for your feet; comfort in the first few runs decides.

MetricASICS Gel-Kayano 33
Stability · Road
Nike Structure Plus
Stability · Road
Heel-to-toe drop8 mmStated10 mmStated
Heel stack41 mmMeasured42 mmStated
Forefoot stack33 mmMeasured32 mmStated
Weight298 gStated295 gStated
Toe rocker34 %est.34 %est.
Rocker radius39 %est.45 %est.
Rocker rise angle30 degest.25 degest.
Rocker angle at toe55 degest.54 degest.
Toe tip over ground44 mm*est.34 mm*est.
Visible rocker lift onset76.6 %est.78.2 %est.
Toe spring (relative)19.7 %est.15.5 %est.
Heel bevel length8.1 %*est.7.9 %*est.
Heel bevel height15 mmest.19 mm*est.
Midsole width (forefoot)120.7 mmMeasured119.4 mmMeasured
Midsole width (heel)97.1 mmMeasured94.7 mmMeasured
Interior forefoot width95.9 mmMeasured93.4 mmMeasured
Toebox width72.4 mmMeasured72.5 mmMeasured
Longitudinal stiffness62Derived60Derived
Midsole firmness47Derived34Derived
PlateNo plateNo plate
Primary foamFF Blast MaxZoomX over ReactX
List price$170$170

Key differences

  • ASICS Gel-Kayano 33's heel-to-toe drop is 8 mm, 2 mm lower than Nike Structure Plus's 10 mm.
  • ASICS Gel-Kayano 33's heel stack is 41 mm, 1 mm thinner than Nike Structure Plus's 42 mm.
  • ASICS Gel-Kayano 33's forefoot stack is 33 mm, 1 mm thicker than Nike Structure Plus's 32 mm.
  • Weight is about the same: 298 g for ASICS Gel-Kayano 33, 295 g for Nike Structure Plus.
  • Toe rocker is about the same: 34 % of length for ASICS Gel-Kayano 33, 34 % of length for Nike Structure Plus.

Read more about both shoes

We measure the shape. For how they feel over many miles, and for lab tests of cushioning, grip and fit:

ASICS Gel-Kayano 33

Nike Structure Plus

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ASICS Gel-Kayano 33 details · Nike Structure Plus details · Add more shoes