Asics Gel Nimbus 27 Introduction
Now in its 27th edition, the Gel-Nimbus continues to be one of the longest tenured running shoes in the Asics lineup.
While we have seen some significant changes in the past, this year’s edition really only had two standout improvements: added stack height without adding weight and a different design for the upper to increase comfort and breathability.
The shoe weighs 10.8 oz for a Men’s size 9. Compared to other comparable shoes, this is a bit on the heavy side yet it doesn’t always feel that heavy when running. The Gel-Nimbus has a fairly wide base that contributes to the very stable feeling while you’re gliding along on a run.
The Gel-Nimbus sits atop the cushioned line of Asics shoes (Gel-Cumulus is in that line as well).
This is considered their plush, max-cushioned daily trainers in line with the New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080v14, the Mizuno Neo Zen, or the Brooks Glycerin Max.
Within the Asics family, there is also the Novablast 5 that has the same midsole foam but is missing the PureGel® technology in the heel. It seems that the Novablast is softer and bouncier but much less table than the Gel-Nimbus. The outsole grip is also different as the Gel-Nimbus has their premier rubber called HYBRID ASICSGRIP® that should give the runner better traction on the roads.
The pricing of the shoe went up by $5 USD this year to $165. You’re certainly paying more for the premium nature of the shoe and the added expense likely is a nod to the higher stack height. Comparatively, it’s priced the same as the NB 1080, $15 more than the Mizuno Neo Zen, and $35 less than the Glycerin Max. Is it worth it? Read on to find out!
Asics Gel Nimbus 27 First Impressions
When I first opened this box, the shoe looked almost exactly like the Gel-Nimbus 26 from last year. Picking up the shoe, it felt the same. It makes sense that the shoe is the same weight and so it feels the same and who can blame someone for not noticing 2mm of added stack height to the midsole?
That said, putting on the shoe was a different story. The shoe had its customary plus feel but the shoe felt even more stable than last year’s version. It feels like the shoe widened its base a bit. One thing on the negative side that stood out was that their felt like a slight pinch point at the top of my foot where the lace holes were. It feels like there was a more solid piece of something in the engineered upper that dug into the top of my foot when I tightened my laces. It wasn’t the biggest deal nor did it cause any problems, but I felt it.
My first run in the shoe was a recovery run of 3 miles. Even though my legs were tired, the shoe felt comfortable and I actually was able to go faster than I anticipated. No irritations after this first run but the shoe did feel a little flat.
The next run would be a bit more of a test as it was a regular easy run but with 4 strides at the end. I was curious how the shoe would handle the faster pace of the strides. To my surprise, it did pretty well. I didn’t feel like the shoe was holding me back for those 20 seconds. At the time, I had my doubts that it could handle that speed for longer but it was comforting to know that I didn’t have to change out shoes or pick something else out if I wanted to add strides to a run.
I will say that it took until my next run for the shoe to finally feel like it was broken in (that was after about 11 miles in the shoe). So if you’re interested in this shoe, it might take a couple runs or more to get them broken in and feeling like they’re ready to go.
Asics Gel Nimbus 27 Upper
The upper on this shoe is generally well-constructed. The entire upper is made of soft, stretchy engineered mesh. This helps the shoe conform to your foot while creating a plush feel all around. The tongue is gusseted and thin. It’s likely one of the best tongues out there.
The only hot spot that I had was on the top of my foot near the last lace hole. There was something in the engineered upper that was almost like a little ball that dug into my foot slightly. It didn’t hurt but my foot felt sore in that area the next day when I went for a run after I used it for a long run.
The laces are fine and they stay tied on a single knot throughout all of my run.
Overall, the shoe fit true to size for me. This shoe does come in wide widths options.
Asics Gel Nimbus 27 Sole Unit
The midsole unit is made of two major parts: the PureGel™ in the heel surrounded by the FF Blast™ PLUS ECO foam. For those that are Eco-conscious, FF Blast™ foam is made of 24% bio-based materials.
The heel drop is 8mm, with a height of about 43.5mm in the heel and 35.5mm in the forefoot for an 8mm offset. While the offset remains the same from last year’s model, the overall height is 1.5mm higher. There was a bit of rocker technology added last year to the heel and that remains for this version. It isn’t the most pronounced rocker but it certainly does make the heel-to-toe transition smooth.
I found the ride of the shoe to be very stable and smooth overall. I didn’t think it was a very soft landing, though, for a max-cushioned shoe. I would label it more firm and responsive than soft. I believe that is a plus for this shoe, though, because it makes the shoe much more versatile.
It can handle the easy runs all the way through the tempo paces. Said differently, this shoe can likely handle paces up to the half-marathon for most beginner to intermediate runners in training. I think there is a large subset of people who will feel comfortable with this shoe as a marathon or half-marathon racing shoe if you’re seeking comfort over performance.
The midsole was not responsive enough to handle the V02max type paces (think in the 5k pace range) for anything longer than 1 minute.
The rubber outsole remains the same as last year and the design of the bottom is relatively similar. I had no issues with using this shoe in wet or slushy snow conditions. The stability of the shoe stands out.
Asics Gel Nimbus 27 Conclusions
Overall, the Gel-Nimbus 27 is a great daily trainer that allows for some slightly faster efforts while providing great stability and comfort.
That said, the improvements from the Gel-Nimbus 26 are very slight and I’m just not sure it’s worth the price upgrade. If you love the Gel-Nimbus line, I’m certain you can find the 26 on a discount right now and I’m probably purchasing that instead.
I don’t think the slightly higher stack height is worth it and the upper did create a little bit of irritation for me.
If you’re looking for a higher stack shoe and have enjoyed the Asics offerings, then go for this shoe. Otherwise, save your money and purchase the 26 while it’s on sale and in stock. I would also consider saving yourself some money and lean into the Mizuno Neo Zen.
