ASICS Gel Nimbus 28 Review

Gel Nimbus 28 Specs

Best For- Daily training, long and easy runs

Category- Neutral

Weight- 9.9oz (Men's US 9)

Drop: 8mm

Stack Height: 43.5mm

What's Similar? Brooks Glycerin 23, Diadora Nucleo 2, New Balance 1080v15, Sauncony Triumph 23

What does Avery Think?

Plush, bouncy, and comfortable, the new update on ASICS’ classic long run shoe - the Gel Nimbus - has me excited to lace it up on my next run. If you’ve been an ASICS fan, the Nimbus 28 is sure not to disappoint. They listened to their customers to refine last year's Nimbus into a lighter weight, more breathable, stable shoe.

The Good

When I’m running anything over 5 miles I reach for a shoe with higher cushion, and the new Nimbus has been perfect. One thing I disliked about the older version was how clunky they felt, the 28 fixed that exact issue by creating a lighter shoe using FF Blast Plus Eco cushioning and PURE Gel for impact absorption. Enough with the shoe jargon, on the road, the Nimbus 28 felt smooth and stable even on packed gravel. This shoe is a downhill warrior, my feet and knees felt supported underfoot with the high amount of foam the Nimbus has to offer. 

My Tweaks

This shoe is perfect for slower longer miles, however it stills feels too clunky and soft to do any tempo speed work. Other than that I have no complaints the new update is a solid daily trainer. As an avid Nike Vomero Plus lover, I'd place the Nimbus in the same realm as the Vomero Plus. That said, my trusted Nike’s have a softer feel.

Summary

The Nimbus 28 is a lighter, more stable version of it's predecessor. If you're in need of a sturdy daily trainer, for long or recovery runs, the Nimbus 28 has a pillowy bounce that feels smooth and forgiving underfoot.

What does Alex Think?

The Nimbus 28 is the next iteration of the long-standing Nimbus lineup from ASICS. Historically the Nimbus was a showcase of ASICS Gel technology, providing a soft, dense, and durable product. The Nimbus 25, 26, 27 and now 28 have been a step up from the historic tradition of the Nimbus, pairing the Gel with a super soft, foamy midsole. The Nimbus 28 is the firmest of the recent Nimbus versions. 

The Good

The ride of the Nimbus 28 is great. It’s smooth and plush and the firmer midsole provides some added stability that previous models have lacked. This shoe has always been a popular lifestyle product, and the look is as attractive as ever. The upper is soft, secure and comfortable like I have come to expect from a Nimbus.

I’d sum up the Nimbus 28 as a workhorse. I define workhorse shoes as models that can handle a lot of miles both in terms of the shoe’s durability, but also in terms of how my body feels in the shoe. I see runners loving this shoe for long runs, high-volume schedules, and base mileage building. This shoe screams zone 2 and it fills a gap in ASICS current lineup. Pep is the name of the game in running shoes right now and no one is doing pep like ASICS. Thus, the Nimbus 28 is a refreshing return to the stability of running shoes past. We all love fun shoes, but we all need a workhorse in our rotation.

My Tweaks

This is more of a note to salesmen, but the step-in feel of the Nimbus 28 is worse than previous models. I remember putting it on for the first time and rolling my eyes a little at the hard feeling underfoot and a customer should be warned that in store, the Nimbus 28 does not do itself justice. The sizing is normal lengthwise, but the Nimbus 28 is characteristically narrow, and some customers may benefit from the wide version. 

Summary

The Nimbus 28 strays from what older versions of the shoe have been, but I maintain that it is a positive move. ASICS doesn’t need more high-cushion responsive shoes when the Blast lineup exists. They sorely needed a model to go after the runner who needs some rock-steady comfort in their daily runs and the Nimbus 28 is the perfect option for that.