Asics Gel-Nimbus 28 Review

Comfort and Fit

The knit mesh upper on the Gel-Nimbus fits well. It is true to size in a standard width that is comfortable from the first run. The heel collar had enough padding to hold our foot in place without any Achilles pressure, and the pull tab at the back made getting in and out easy. Our one concern is the tongue; it was thinner than we expected on a shoe with this much cushioning, and runners who lace tightly or have bony feet could feel some pressure across the top of the foot. It wasn't an issue for us personally, but it's worth trying it on before committing. The overall construction feels lightweight and modern, with a less bulky look and feel than many max-cushion shoes, thanks to the redesigned upper.

The Gel-Nimbus is a max cushioned shoe design.   Credit: Matt Lighthart

The Gel-Nimbus has 43 mm of cushioning at its highest point.   Credit: Matt Lighthart

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Cushioning

FF Blast Plus is the same foam Asics uses across several of their higher-end shoes, and here it's tuned for control rather than softness. We felt a lot of protection underfoot, but it didn't feel squishy or unstable, as some max-cushion shoes can, which was much appreciated. The deeper flex grooves in the outsole helps the thick midsole bend through the gait cycle, which keeps transitions smooth even with all that foam.

There's an Asics PureGEL insert in the heel that Asics highlights in its marketing, but honestly, we didn't feel it do anything distinct from the rest of the midsole. The shoe is best at easy to moderate paces; it rolls smoothly and absorbs impact well without asking much from the legs. When we pushed harder, the stiff forefoot made things feel choppy rather than responsive, so we suggest keeping faster efforts for a different shoe.

Breathability

The knit upper breathes better than a lot of max-cushion shoes, but it's still a big, padded shoe with a lot of material. The heel area runs warm from the collar padding, and on hot days, we felt it. For spring and fall running, and cooler summer mornings, it's perfectly fine, but in peak heat, we'd want something with more open mesh. It's perfectly adequate as is, but it fails to be a true standout. Drying time after rain is about average, in our experience; the knit material doesn't hold water the way some thicker engineered meshes do, which is a plus.

The traction on the Gel-Nimbus is limited.   Credit: Matt Lighthart

The Gel-Nimbus's outsole rubber is concentrated in high-wear areas, with exposed foam in between.   Credit: Matthew Richardson

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Traction

Asics reduced the rubber coverage on the outsole to save weight, and we could feel the tradeoff. The Hybrid ASICSGRIP in the forefoot and AHAR+ in the rearfoot handle dry pavement and concrete fine, but on wet surfaces, the exposed foam sections between the rubber have essentially no grip. We had a couple of sketchy moments on damp pavement where our feet slid slightly at toe-off. If you run exclusively on dry roads, it's a non-issue, but if you run in the rain or on dewy mornings regularly, this is a real consideration. However, if you stick to maintained, dry surfaces, the outsole performs well.

Should You Buy the Asics Gel-Nimbus 28?

If you want a max-cushion shoe that doesn't feel slow and heavy, the Nimbus 28 is worth considering. It's lighter and firmer than most shoes, which makes it more versatile for daily training at easy to moderate paces. The thin tongue and poor wet traction are real drawbacks, and at its price, there are options that offer more excitement underfoot. But for runners who want tons of protection with a controlled, steady ride, and who mostly run on dry pavement, it handles that job quite well.

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