ASICS Gel-Nimbus 28 Review – The Softest Daily Trainer Yet?

Design

As usual for ASICS, there’s no shortage of technology and features packed into the shoe.

FF Blast Plus cushioning makes up the deep midsole stack. At 43.5mm in the heel and 33.5mm deep in the forefoot, there is certainly no shortage of cushioning on offer here. The FF Blast Plus is becoming commonplace in ASICS’ training shoes now and suits the new Nimbus well. It’s soft and plush without being too soft and sits neatly in that sweet spot between feeling too soft like running on sand and too firm.

PureGEL is situated in the heel of the shoe and adds a little dampening on initial impact. PureGEL is a small GEL insert that’s thinner and lighter than the original GEL inserts.

ASICSGRIP Hybrid outsole is a new, softer rubber compound that feels soft on impact but still provides good traction.

Engineered Knit upper is an update from the previous versions’ mesh-constructed upper. Here, the fit is snug from the sock-like design and stretches neatly around the foot. The heel is neatly padded and holds the foot well without any irritation.

Knit Tongue is super soft and stretchy. It is semi-gusseted with bands on both the medial and lateral sides of the foot and allows the tongue to be pulled and stretched neatly into place.

Fit

The fit is true to size in terms of both length and width compared to other ASICS models and shoes of the same size from brands such a Saucony, Brooks and Nike.

The fit feels great. I like the engineered knit design and think it feels very high quality and well-made. I particularly like the stretch-like qualities it has. It hugs the midfoot and sits neatly in place. There’s no bunching, and the soft, plush design offers sock-like comfort.

The padding in the ankle collar is very neat, and the stretch heel tabs are a neat touch and finish the overall design very well.

Performance

Perhaps the best compliment of the Gel Nimbus 28 would be that the ride feels familiar and accomplished. It’s a no-nonsense, uncomplicated shoe, with the large stack of FF Blast Plus midsole in a single unit.

I still don’t really notice the PureGEL now used in the heel of the latest ASICS models, and let’s be honest, it is only perhaps around 3mm thick and embedded here in another 40mm of foam!

Otherwise, like many other new, high-stack models, the midsole has a rather broad footprint and so feels very stable. For someone who previously wore mild support-type shoes, I find the Nimbus stable enough to control any pronation I may have.

The ride is super-smooth and feels efficient. The shoes almost disappear on the feet as you clock up the miles. For such a high stack, I was relieved that the shoe wasn’t too soft. There can be a danger that such cushioning starts to feel like you are running on soft sand, putting more effort into each stride rather than enjoying the ride. That isn’t the case here; the shoe provides a nice degree of energy return to keep you connected with the ride.

It's neither a super-responsive ride nor particularly energised, but it does hit the sweet spot for a good, well-cushioned daily trainer in the neutral category.

Shoes Like the Nimbus 28

Brooks Glycerin Max 2

Also newly launched, this second-generation model offers a similar high-stack design, only using a tuned nitrogen-injected midsole.

Many runners will now be familiar with nitrogen-injected footwear and perhaps have a preference. I think the nitrogen unit of the Brooks offers an overall better ride. Being softer in the heel and more responsive in the forefoot, the Brooks feels a little more energised and responsive. Plus, at least if we compare the previous versions of each shoe, which I’ve put many miles on in the last 12 months, the Brooks Glycerin Max 2 certainly feels more durable and better-wearing midsole.

New Balance 1080v15

Again, another updated model, the 1080v15, is now using a nitrogen-injected midsole. It is a little lower in its stack, but similarly priced and targeted at the same type of runner.

Again, I think the 1080v15 feels a more responsive ride and a little more involved than the Nimbus 28; the previous model, the 1080v14, may be more of a competitor to the Nimbus 28.

Puma Mag Max 2

Puma Mag Max 2 is yet another recently launched updated model, being both competitively priced and similar in stack height to the Nimbus 28.

Again, the Puma uses a nitrogen-injected foam in a deep, single-density design. It’s stable and very highly cushioned, and perhaps the closest competitor to the Nimbus 28 in terms of feel and price.