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Asics Gel-Nimbus 26 Review

Combining an excellent upper with a huge chunk of foam creates a great road cruiser
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Asics Gel-Nimbus 26 Review (This is our favorite upper, hands down. The stretchy knit is excellent, the heel padding is comfortable and the tongue...)
This is our favorite upper, hands down. The stretchy knit is excellent, the heel padding is comfortable and the tongue is perfect. The finer loop is a little too stretchy, though.
Credit: Nathaniel Bailey
Price:  $160 List
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Manufacturer:   Asics
By Nathaniel Bailey ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Nov 3, 2024
60
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#25 of 30
  • Landing Comfort - 30% 9.0
  • Responsiveness - 20% 3.0
  • Stability - 15% 4.5
  • Upper Comfort - 15% 9.0
  • Weight - 15% 3.4
  • Traction - 5.0% 4.0
Length Sizing
Runs Small
Runs Large
Width Sizing
Runs Narrow
Runs Wide

Our Verdict

A chunky pillow for your feet, the Asics Gel-Nimbus 26 feels like running on clouds. This is a good shoe for when you want to go easy. The foam and outsole are durable, and the upper is one of our favorites in our lineup. We don't recommend it for hard efforts, though; the excellent comfort comes with a speed compromise. We think this is an excellent shoe for runners looking for a soft ride for their easy days.
REASONS TO BUY
Supremely comfortable
Great durability
Amazing upper
REASONS TO AVOID
Heavy
Limited responsiveness

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asics gel-nimbus 26
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Overall Score Sort Icon
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Star Rating
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Bottom Line A focus on comfort makes this an excellent choice for lots of easy miles on pavementAn all-around standout that can handle easy days as comfortably as hard workoutsA daily trainer that can handle most runs, the Novablast 4 is fun and extremely comfortableBouncy, responsive and well-cushioned, this shoe is performance-oriented but still versatileA daily trainer that blends comfort and versatility at a reasonable price
Rating Categories Asics Gel-Nimbus 26 Saucony Endorphin S... Asics Novablast 4 New Balance FuelCel... Puma Velocity Nitro 3
Landing Comfort (30%)
9.0
8.0
8.3
8.5
8.0
Responsiveness (20%)
3.0
8.0
7.0
7.5
7.0
Stability (15%)
4.5
5.7
7.0
4.0
6.0
Upper Comfort (15%)
9.0
7.5
8.0
6.0
7.0
Weight (15%)
3.4
6.8
5.8
8.4
5.3
Traction (5.0%)
4.0
5.0
4.0
6.2
9.0
Specs Asics Gel-Nimbus 26 Saucony Endorphin S... Asics Novablast 4 New Balance FuelCel... Puma Velocity Nitro 3
Measured Weight 11.40 oz 9.03 oz 9.76 oz 7.98 oz 10.07 oz
Measured Heel Stack Height 44 mm 38 mm 43 mm 30 mm 38 mm
Measured Heel-to-Toe Drop 12 mm 11 mm 7 mm 7 mm 11 mm
Plate Type None Nylon None None None
Rocker Angle 21.5 deg 25.0 deg 22.5 deg 19.5 deg 18.0 deg
Rocker Apex Location 70.3% 67.7% 66.5% 62.2% 66.7%
Style Max-Cushioning Daily Trainer Daily Trainer Daily Trainer Daily Trainer
Upper Engineered knit Engineered mesh/knit Engineered woven/knit FantomFit Engineered knit
Midsole FF Blast + Eco PWRRUN PB FF Blast + Eco FuelCell NITROFOAM
Outsole ASICS GRIP Rubber AHAR Lo Rubber PumaGrip
Heel Tab Type Finger loop None Finger loop None None
Sizes Available 6 - 16 US, regular, wide & extra wide 7-15 US, regular 6 - 15 US, regular 7-16 US, regular & wide 7 - 14 US, regular

Our Analysis and Test Results

This iteration of the Gel-Nimbus improves on our biggest issue with the last version: versatility. The FF Blast + Eco foam is still thick and soft, but it's slightly firmer than in the last iteration. That makes it easier to pick up the pace without sacrificing much comfort.

Performance Comparison


asics gel-nimbus 26 - the asics gel-nimbus 26 is a comfortable cruiser for easy road miles
The Asics Gel-Nimbus 26 is a comfortable cruiser for easy road miles
Credit: Nathaniel Bailey

Landing Comfort


This shoe is all about comfort. We measured a whopping 44 mm of foam in the rear and 32 mm in the front in our lab. That's a huge chunk of cushioning, and it shows. The Nimbus is at home, logging miles on pavement. Each step feels padded and well-damped, with relatively uniform stiffness throughout the midsole.

asics gel-nimbus 26 - the nimbus has a huge, uniformly comfortable stack height.
The Nimbus has a huge, uniformly comfortable stack height.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

The slightly firmer cushioning brings two welcome changes from the previous version. First, we have an improved ground-feel. Landings are still isolated, but we can feel changes in landing surfaces much better. That's helpful when running on uneven surfaces. Second, we haven't bottomed out the forefoot. In the last model, faster paces led to some bottoming out of the cushioning — something that happily hasn't been replicated this time. Sure, the slightly firmer foam will make this shoe a little less enticing for runners who want all of the ridiculously soft, fluffy cushioning they can get. But we think the tradeoff is worth it.

asics gel-nimbus 26 - the ffblast+ eco foam is a great blend of bottomless cushioning and...
The FFBlast+ Eco foam is a great blend of bottomless cushioning and just enough firmness to handle pace changes
Credit: Nathaniel Bailey

Responsiveness


Overall, this iteration is more versatile than the last, thanks to the firmer foam. However, that doesn't mean we're choosing this shoe for anything other than relaxed running. This is still a high-mileage trainer, not a workout shoe. In our standardized lab testing, we measured a 21.5-degree rocker angle, as compared to a 24-degree angle in the previous iteration. Interestingly, this shoe feels a bit more propulsive than the last; it's hard to tell whether we're feeling the change in firmness or a change in rocker position. Underfoot, the foam retains the bounce we enjoyed in the last version. It's not as bouncy as competitors like the Saucony Triumph 21, but it gives the impression of smooth compression and rebound through the stride.

asics gel-nimbus 26 - the asics gel-nimbus 26 is a great option for anyone looking to tack...
The Asics Gel-Nimbus 26 is a great option for anyone looking to tack on some easy miles to their workout routine.
Credit: Nathaniel Bailey

Stability


The Nimbus is a neutral road cruiser through and through. It has a wide platform that's pretty stable on smooth surfaces. The slightly firmer foam on this model means it provides a bit more stability than the last, but it still is a recipe for rolled ankles on uneven terrain. It provides plenty of support underfoot for runners who don't need additional stability, but if you need some motion guidance, check out the similar (but more supportive) Asics Gel-Kayano 30.

asics gel-nimbus 26 - the wide midsole of the nimbus helps provide some stability...
The wide midsole of the Nimbus helps provide some stability, although it is very much not a stability shoe.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

Upper Comfort


This upper is one of our favorites — and with good reason. The form-fitting, stretchy knit material is extremely well executed. It's similar to the previous iteration but is more breathable (solving our only complaint) and feels more luxurious all around. It's easy to nail the lacing on the Nimbus 26, which is also an improvement over the previous model. The tongue gusseting is well executed and gives the impression that the shoe is hugging your foot. The heel cup is extremely well padded and utilizes that padding to provide excellent retention without the risk of rubbing on the Achilles. The upper is also significantly more breathable.

asics gel-nimbus 26 - the nimbus breathes well, particularly for a knit upper.
The Nimbus breathes well, particularly for a knit upper.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

The toe box didn't measure particularly large in our testing, which tracks with what we felt when running. Runners with high-volume feet will likely be served well by the wide (or even extra wide) model Asics offers. We also think the stretchy upper could use a bit more rigidity when going faster. That's easily solved by snugging up the laces, though — plus, this shoe isn't meant for knocking out race-pace intervals. Overall, this upper is excellent.

asics gel-nimbus 26 - this is our favorite upper, hands down. the stretchy knit is...
This is our favorite upper, hands down. The stretchy knit is excellent, the heel padding is comfortable and the tongue is perfect. The finer loop is a little too stretchy, though.
Credit: Nathaniel Bailey

Weight


Combine a massive chunk of cushioning with a plush upper, and you're bound to have a heavy shoe. Luckily, we don't really want to go fast in this shoe, so that doesn't matter. Weighing in at 11.4 ounces per shoe in a US men's 10.5, this was one of the heaviest shoes in our lineup — and it felt like it when we tried to do strides in them. The 26 model gained nearly a half-ounce over the 25, a difference we think is likely related to the improved traction on the outsole. However, we think the shoe actually feels lighter. The heel is a tiny bit less bulbous, and the firmer foam makes push-off easier, which makes it feel less like wearing ankle weights. Since this shoe isn't really meant for speed, we're not concerned by the weight.

asics gel-nimbus 26 - well... it's not light.
Well... it's not light.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

Traction


Traction is nothing to write home about on this shoe, but it's decent and is significantly improved over the previous version.

Should You Buy the Asics Gel-Nimbus 26?


The Gel-Nimbus 26 is for runners who want a supremely comfortable cruiser. With top-of-the-line comfort and impressive durability, this is a shoe that can eat up a lot of miles. You won't want it as a training partner in hard or fast workouts. But when the goal is to get in an easy effort, this is the shoe we'd choose, and we think you'll love it.

What Other Running Shoes Should You Consider?


If you want the best cushioning money can buy, it's hard to beat the pricey Hoka Skyward X. The Hoka Clifton 9 is a pleasantly cushioned shoe that is a tiny bit better at picking up the pace. If you like the idea of lots of cushioning but need more support, the Asics Gel-Kayano 31 feels slightly firmer than the Nimbus but provides a lot of cushioning in a stable package.

Nathaniel Bailey