ASICS GEL-Nimbus 27: Taking Cushioning to New Heights

The ASICS GEL Nimbus 27 Men's in Black Lake Grey

All shoes are reviewed by the Fleet Feet tester team, which represents a wide variety of goals, foot shapes, running locations and terrains. Reviewers pound the pavement, climb the hills, tackle the trails, then come together to compare notes. Debates ensue over the feel of the cushioning, the purpose of the shoe, and how it compares to last year’s model. While each reviewer has their own individual preferences, we hope that capturing our debates will help you make an informed decision.

What do you get when you mix a cumulonimbus cloud with gel cushioning? The ASICS GEL-Nimbus! Okay, while this running shoe may not contain actual cloud components, runners have compared the feeling of the cushioning to the feeling of running on a cloud. The GEL-Nimbus was first released in the nineties and has had what the kids call a “glow-up” since then.

The GEL-Nimbus 27, available January 10, uses the same FF BLAST PLUS ECO midsole foam as the previous version. However, ASICS Senior Product Manager Paul Lang told us that the foam has been tweaked to make it lighter and softer than before. This allowed ASICS to add two additional millimeters of stack height (the distance between your feet and the ground) without adding any weight.

How does the Nimbus 27 feel compared to its predecessors? Read on to hear from our reviewers.

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Tech Specs

ASICS GEL-Nimbus 27

Weight 9.3 oz (W), 10.8 oz (M)
Stack height (heel/forefoot) 42.5 mm/34.5 mm (W), 43.5 mm/35.5 mm (M)
Heel-to-toe drop 8 mm
Category Neutral
Surface Road
Price $165
Comparable to... New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080 v14, Saucony Triumph 22

Ride

Between balanced and plush ride

Cushioning

Maximum cushioning

Energy

Between relaxed and responsive energy

Too soft, too firm or just right?

The ASICS GEL-Nimbus 27 uses the same FF BLAST PLUS ECO foam as the previous version, however ASICS claims this latest formulation is softer and lighter than before. While our reviewers debated about whether or not the Nimbus 25 was too soft or just right, we all agreed that the Nimbus 26 felt noticeably firmer. Now, it appears that the Nimbus is trending softer again. Whether or not that’s a good thing depends on your preferences.

I took these on a 6.5-mile easy run on the most gorgeous Florida winter morning. It was sunny, 65 degrees and the shoes felt perfect. They’re soft and cushy, but firm enough to provide a solid platform to push off from. I never felt like my feet were sinking into the shoe and I had to dig myself out of the cushioning. While the shoes have a high stack height (42 millimeters in the heel, which means they’re some of the tallest shoes I’ve ever run in), I never felt like I was too high off the ground or wobbly in any way. My strides felt very natural and for some of the run I forgot I was wear-testing and just became one with the shoes–oops!

The men's ASICS GEL-Nimbus 27 in Black Lake Grey.

However, Kate had a different experience.

“I have feet that are flat and flexible, so I really benefit from a shoe that is firm and stable,” Kate says. “The Nimbus 27 is just too smushy for me. When I started my easy 5-mile recovery run in these, they felt pretty good for the first mile or so. But as I continued on my run, they started to feel softer and softer. And I felt more tired as I went, which is not typical for me. By the end of the run, I felt like I was running on two mini mattresses that were way too soft.”

While Kate and I both agreed that the Nimbus 27 feels softer than the 26 (although we disagreed on our feelings about that), Max completely rocked the boat by saying he thought the shoe felt firmer than its predecessor…*mic drop*. It’s probably worth noting that Max’s test run was in 20-degree weather, which can affect the way the foam feels. A study found that cold temperatures (41 to 59 degrees Farenheit) can increase the stiffness of a running shoe’s midsole.

“I really want to like the Nimbus 27 more than I do,” he admits. “But it seemed like I had to work so hard in this shoe–especially in the turnover phase. It felt like the shoe was working against me in some way. I’m not sure if it’s the geometry that just doesn’t suit my gait, but I found myself feeling some fatigue in my legs that I normally don’t feel.”

Perhaps Max should come spend the winter in Florida instead of Chicago and he may have a different experience!

Revamped upper adds breathability

The ASICS GEL Nimbus 27 in Black Lake Grey.

Aside from the softer midsole, the other main update to the Nimbus 27 is the switch from a knit upper to a jacquard mesh upper. I personally love this update, as the upper of the 25 and 26 always felt a bit heavy and cumbersome to me. The mesh upper really transforms the feeling of the entire shoe. When you have a shoe that’s as cushioned as the Nimbus, it’s really important to have a sleek, lightweight upper to keep the shoe from feeling clunky.

“All the details of this shoe are thoughtfully designed for comfort, from the padded ankle collar to the thin, stretchy tongue. A pillowy tongue would have been too much for this shoe,” says Kate. “The fit is true to size with a toe box that’s roomy, but not too roomy. The midfoot has a nice lockdown and the laces are long enough to tie a marathon loop for extra security, but not so long you’ll trip over them.”

I accidentally cut the laces on the right shoe as I was cutting the tags off (I know, I should have been more careful, but I was really excited to finally get these on my feet). Thankfully I had another pair of laces I swapped in. I didn’t need to tie the marathon loop as the shoe fit really nicely around my heels and ankles.

We all found the fit to be true to size, but if you have wide feet don’t fret. You can find the GEL-Nimbus 27 in wide sizing at your local Fleet Feet or online at fleetfeet.com. If you aren’t sure about the width of your feet, your best bet is to head into your local Fleet Feet. Fleet Feet outfitters use 3D fit id® foot scanning technology to gather information about your feet and the support they need by taking precise measurements of your foot length, width and arch height, so you can learn a lot about your feet while you’re there.

ASICS GEL-Nimbus 27 versus GEL-Nimbus 26

Tech Specs

ASICS GEL-Nimbus 27

ASICS GEL-Nimbus 26

Weight

9.3 oz (W), 10.8 oz (M)

9.1 oz (W), 10.8 oz (M)

Stack height

42.5 mm/34.5 mm (W),

43.5 mm/35.5 mm (M)

41 mm/33 mm (W),

42 mm/34 mm (M)

Heel-to-toe drop

8 mm

8 mm

Price

$165

$160

The main updates to the Nimbus 27 are the softer FF BLAST PLUS ECO midsole compound and the lighter jacquard mesh upper. ASICS managed to add almost two millimeters of stack height while keeping the weight almost the same, which is a notable achievement. For runners, more cushion with less weight is equivalent to a row of clean pre-race portapotties with no lines.

Overall, the Nimbus 27 remains true to its roots as a straightforward, max-cushion daily trainer. It serves up a smooth, soft ride for easy miles, long runs and recovery runs. If you enjoyed the Nimbus 26, you’ll likely enjoy the 27, too.

The men's ASICS GEL Nimbus 27 in Black Lake Grey

How does the ASICS GEL-Nimbus 27 compare?

We took a look at some comparable models to see how the ASICS GEL-Nimbus 27 stacks up. Here’s what we found.

Tech Specs

ASICS GEL-Nimbus 27

New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080 v14

Saucony Triumph 22

Weight

9.3 oz (W), 10.8 oz (M)

8.3 oz (W), 10.4 oz (M)

8.8 oz (W), 10.1 oz (M)

Stack height

42.5 mm/34.5 mm (W),

43.5 mm/35.5 mm (M)

38 mm/32 mm

37 mm/27 mm

Heel-to-toe drop

8 mm

6 mm

10 mm

Price

$165

$165

$160

The ASICS GEL-Nimbus, the New Balance 1080 and the Saucony Triumph are all their respective brands’ version of a max-cushion daily trainer. With plenty of soft, cushy foam, these are the shoes to reach for when you want to treat your feet to something luxurious.

The Nimbus 27 is by far the most cushioned shoe on this list, which is likely why it’s the heaviest, too.

The ASICS GEL Nimbus 27 outsole.

Who is the ASICS GEL-Nimbus 27 best for?

Thanks to an extremely high stack height and plenty of soft FF BLAST ECO FOAM cushioning underfoot, the Nimbus 27 is a cushion-lover’s dream come true. If you prefer a soft underfoot feel, like me, you’ll likely find comfort in the Nimbus 27.

I plan to keep the Nimbus in my rotation for easy-paced long runs and recovery runs. It’s the perfect shoe to soak up the bulk of my training volume. However, if you’re like Kate and prefer shoes with a firm ride, you might want to skip the Nimbus and check out other ASICS favorites like the GEL-Cumulus 26 or the GEL-Kayano 31.

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