ASICS Gel Nimbus 27 vs New Balance 1080v14 -The Kings of Cush?

Stack Height, Drop, Weight and Price

The ASICS Gel Nimbus 27 now packs in more foam underfoot rising to 43.5mm in the heel and 35.5mm in the forefoot for a 8mm drop. Meanwhile, the New Balance 1080 v14 has 38mm in the heel and 32mm in the forefoot for a shallower 6mm drop.

On the scales, the New Balance 1080 V14 has put on a bit of weight. It now tips the scales at 10.1oz or 285g. Meanwhile, the latest Nimbus is marginally lighter than the Nimbus 26 despite the bigger stack. But it’s still heavier than the 1080 v14 at 10.8oz / 307g.

On price, the RRP for the New Balance 1080v14 and the ASICS Gel Nimbus is the same. Both shoes land at $165.

Design

The first thing you notice when you put the ASICS Gel Nimbus 27 and the New Balance 1080 v14 side by side is the size of the Nimbus. It makes the 1080 v14 look instantly more compact.

The ASICS Gel Nimbus 27 prioritizes plush comfort with a thick slab of Flytefoam Blast+ Eco foam underfoot. ASICS added a 1.5mm across the stack for an even more cushioned ride. The platform is wider in the heel and the forefoot than the 1080 v14. There’s also a PureGEL insert in the heel to improve shock absorption – particularly for heel strikers.

The New Balance 1080 v14 sticks with a more conservative stack of FreshFoam X with a rockered midsole. While the ASICS Gel Nimbus 27 shoots for extra protection, the 1080v14 has gone the other way with a firmer feel and snappier return than the 1080v13.

Up top, the Nimbus 27 has a new mesh upper that successfully balances breathability with a snug, supportive fit. The New Balance 1080 V14 also has engineered mesh uppers which are much more hugging with less flex in the toe box that makes for a more wrapped, less airy fit overall.

Both shoes have generously padded heel collars and gusseted tongues. The Nimbus 27’s knitted tongues are thinner while the 1080 v14 goes for full comfort padding.

On the outsoles, there’s about the same covering of protective rubber. The Gel Nimbus 27 has a good covering of AHAR Plus, ASICS’ grippiest outsole compound. The New Balance 1080 v14 outsole has a horseshoe of rubber around the mid-to-forefoot, a single pad of protective rubber in the middle of the forefoot and rubber patches in the heel that are thicker and more durable than we saw on the V13.

Fit

When it comes to fit I ran in a UK 8.5 which is my regular size in both shoes. Though in the US the ASICS is a 9.5 and the New Balance is a 9.

The biggest thing to note on fit here is the New Balance 1080 v14 fit is really snug. That makes for good hold and security but, if like me, you’ve got quite high feet, they’re a bit cramped across the top of the mid foot.

The Nimbus 27 is roomier and more accommodating with plenty of length and wiggle room in the toe box. It’s an ideal fit for shoes you might choose for longer, easier miles.

I’d recommend going true to size in both shoes. Though I think some might want to consider half a size up – or the wide option – in the New Balance for a roomier fit.

Check Out My 5 Best ASICS Running Shoes Here

Performance

In testing, I’ve run more than 40 miles in the New Balance 1080 V14, mostly easy plodding with some runs up to 90 minutes. I’ve run north of 30 miles in the ASICS Gel Nimbus 27, including a 2-hour effort to test the long-haul comfort.

I’ve tested both shoes across the same range of paces, covering slow and easy long runs, right up to faster paces on progression runs. As usual I’ve run mainly on the road but with some light off-road, too.

Both shoes feature large, cushioned platforms designed to absorb road impact and protect your feet over long miles. However, the ASICS Gel Nimbus 27 takes softness to another level with that extra stack. This generation is just as Nimbussy as the previous generations. If you liked that before, you’ll like it here.

The plush feel underfoot creates a highly protective ride but it lacks the agility and quicker return of the New Balance 1080 v14. Particularly now that’s back to being snappier.

The New Balance 1080 v14’s marginally, stiffer midsole-outsole combo offers some extra resilience and immediacy. I found that made for smoother transitions and a much livelier response than the Nimbus 27 which can be a bit slappy.

The New Balance 1080 v14 definitely feels more at home when you move up through the gears. Though it wouldn’t be my first choice for pushing the higher paces.
 
Both shoes are perfect for those days when you want the road to disappear. Those runs where you’re cruising long and easy – or just easy – and you need to feel cocooned.
 
On durability, both shoes feel built to conquer big miles. I’ve seen little signs of wear and tear and I have no worries about either as a daily-use trainer that’ll keep going for hundreds of miles. 

My Verdict

You’ve got two capable daily trainers here, both at the more cushioned end of the spectrum. In the general scheme, they perform better at slower and easier, rather than faster, paces. But for me, the more compact, lighter, more agile and snappier ride, makes the New Balance 1080 v14 the more versatile option.

The heft of the ASICS Gel Nimbus 27 somewhat limits it to the low-pace runs. It does that job very well, in a classic Nimbus way, but if you want a shoe that can tick up the gears a bit, the 1080 v14 is a better option.

However, if all you need is smooth, protective, road-eating comfort for your easiest of easy miles, the ASICS Gel Nimbus 27 delivers more of that. The New Balance 1080 v14 caters for that too, but for bigger or heavier runners, the broader base and higher stack of the Nimbus might suit better.

If I had to choose one shoe, I’d pick the New Balance 1080 v14 based on the versatility. There’s enough cushion to go slow but the lighter feel and more responsive ride make it better when you want to move with more intent.

If you’re not sold on either of these, other shoes I’d seriously consider that can offer similar include the Saucony Ride 17, the ASICS Novablast 5, the Adidas Supernova Prima, the Nike Pegasus 41 and the Puma Velocity Nitro 3.