ASICS Gel-Nimbus 27 Review
By Matthew Klein
Asics Gel-Nimbus 27
Price: $164.95 at Running Warehouse
Weight: 10.7 oz, 305 g (men's size 9), 9.3 oz, 265 g (women's size 8)
Stack Height: M: 43.5 mm / 35.5 mm; W: 41.5 mm / 33.5 mm
Drop: 8 mm
Shoe Purpose: Premium Daily Training Shoe
Pros: Balanced Cushioning, Solid Heel Bevel, Snappy Forefoot, Wider Forefoot
Cons: Firmer than Expected Cushioning for Stack Height
RUNNING SHOE SUMMARY
The ASICS Gel-Nimbus 27 is a premium daily training shoe for those who want a high stack height but a balance ride. A new jacquard upper gives a little more room than prior versions, making it best for those with normal volume and normal width feet. The midsole features 2mm more of FF Blast Plus Eco which combined with a slightly stiff ride makes for a highly cushioned but slightly firmer and snappier ride. Running lighter than its listed weight, but still providing a high level of cushioning, the Gel-Nimbus 27 features a large number of updates that make it a smoother riding and better fitting shoe for long and steady miles.
SIMILAR SHOES: Hoka Bondi 8
PAST MODEL: ASICS Gel-Nimbus 26
FIT
(To learn how a shoe should fit, check out our full podcast on fit by Matt Klein.)
Matt: The ASICS Nimbus 27 fits me true to size in my normal Men's US size 10. The upper is a jacquard mesh with far more structure than the prior knit versions. The toebox is far more open than the previously tapered versions, and although not super wide, has more room than many prior Nimbus'. The toe guard does cause some mild narrowing but it is fairly normal in shape. This opens into a normal width forefoot that has a normal volume. This continues into a normal to slightly snug midfoot. This snugness comes from the thin but strongly gusseted knit tongue that wraps the foot well. The good midfoot security held my foot well but I did have to tighten the laces slightly to get a secure fit. Part of this comes from the normal to slightly wider heel. The heel features a large and stiff heel counter with a ton of heel collar padding. Those with heel sensitivities will do fine initially with the large padding but as that breaks in more it may affect those who are more sensitive.
As the padding broke in, I had a little extra room that required me to lock down the laces. This immediately secured my foot but those with additional security needs in the heel will need to lock things down early. The additional structure in the upper has dramatically improved security from prior versions. The ASICS logo locks the midfoot down well along with the gusseted tongue. I would still use this shoe for running and straight movements though as the upper locks the foot down well but quick turning may cause some mild sliding. The inner liner at the rearfoot is extremely comfortable against bare skin but I have experienced some mild abrasions from the toe guard while trying to run sockless. For that reasons, I would stick to wearing socks with this upper.
Typical Size: Men's US Size 10
Shoes that have fit Matt well: Saucony Guide 17, ASICS Kayano 30, Hoka Gaviota 5, Saucony Endorphin Elite, Nike Ultrafly
Shoes that have fit snug: Hoka Arahi 7, Saucony Kinvara 14
Shoes that have fit large: Salomon S/Lab Phantasm 2, Altra Timp 5
Doctors of Running Checklist
Is This a Good Shoe for Walking: Yes
Is This a Good Shoe for Standing: Yes
Is the Forefoot Flexible: No
How Flexible is the Shoe: Not Flexible
Is This a Good Heel Bevel: Yes (Finally)
Recommended for Haglunds: No
Recommended for Sockless: No
Durability Expectation: Above Average
PERFORMANCE
Matt: The ASICS Gel-Nimbus 27 is a premium daily trainer for easy, long and mild uptempo efforts. The midsole is made of full length FF Blast Plus Eco foam (apparently a reworked formula) with a PureGEL insert in the heel. There is also 2mm more stack height than previous, with a now 43.5 mm heel stack height. This is immediately noticeable, although the sidewalls and wider base make this shoe not feel so towering tall. Despite this large amount of protection and material, the initial ride underfoot is slightly firm and on the responsive side. Although listed at 10.7 oz (men's size 9), this slightly snappy feel makes the shoe feel lighter than that. There is an 8mm heel drop and it feels just like that. The heel transition is finally smooth thanks to only a slight posterior flare and a decent posteriolateral heel bevel. This transitions into a slightly stiff midfoot and a snappy forefoot. The forefoot features a slightly late bevel, which makes the ride a little stiff at first. As this breaks in, it begins to transition a little quicker than expected. Like the rest of the shoe, there is almost no flexibility in the forefoot. Combined with only mild toe spring, this shoe may be an option for those with toe stiffness problems (hallux rigidus).
Initially, the Nimbus 27 feels best for easy runs, long runs and mild uptempo runs. My best runs have been slightly uptempo longer run efforts in this shoe secondary to the slightly firmer and more snappy geometry. This shoe excels at getting into a groove and clicking off miles. With additional miles, the ride has softened slightly and has made it feel equally good for easy runs. I have 35 miles on my pair and the midsole began to soften a little after 30. The trade off for this is the durability is excellent. I have no wear on the outsole except some tiny abrasion in my normal spot, so I expect a higher than average number of miles out of these. The Nimbus is still best for easy and longer efforts but now with the stiffness has a little versatility to pick up the pace due to the midsole not being mushy. The outsole is still fairly smooth and while it does okay on wet road, there is not a ton of traction for offroad efforts. I have gone over mild trail and while smooth things are fine, man made surfaces like road will be where the Nimbus does best.
STABILITY
(Learn more about stability in our full guide)
Matt: The ASICS Gel-Nimbus is a stable neutral shoe. Although intended as a neutral shoe, there are several elements that make it more stable including a wide base, rearfoot sidewalls, sole flare, a stiffer ride, a posterior lateral heel bevel. Although the midsole is breaking in, it is slightly firmer and snappier than prior versions. This makes the sidewalls more effective in the rearfoot, which combined with the sole flare in the heel and the solid posterior-lateral heel bevel make the rearfoot a stable place to land. This moves into the midfoot that is much wider than most shoes, which also adds to the frontal plane stiffness. This continues into the forefoot, which is snappy and has a solid amount of sole flare. Although not a stability shoe, all these features create a stable neutral ride for those that do well with mild guidance elements.
Thoughts as a DPT: Does a Shoe Have to Be Soft to be Protective?
By Matthew Klein
One of the more surprising features on the Nimbus 27 is that the midsole is not mushy soft as is common for this category (1080, Triumph, Glycerin). It is still highly cushioned, but the FF Blast Plus ECO foam feels firmer and more resilient than past versions. People tend to gravity toward softer shoes due to perceived comfort. It is one of the many reasons that super tall midsoles have taken over the running and walking shoe industry. However, softer midsoles do not necessarily mean more protection. Our bodies adapt to the surfaces underneath them, meaning they change in response to whatever is underfoot. We have early evidence that running in softer shoes actually causes an increase in leg stiffness and decreased joint excursion (movement) (Kulmala et al., 2018). It is suspected that this may be a compensation for the more inherently unstable surface underfoot, so the body switches from shock absorption to stabilization. As joint movement is what allows us to shock absorb well, a reduction actually causes an increase in internal joint loading. Meaning a shift from active shock absorption from muscles to more potential passive shock absorption from joints. This is not necessarily a bad thing as decreased joint excursion may be beneficial for some people who have joint or other tissue irritabilities at larger ranges of a joint and reduce range is beneficial.
More internal joint loading may, in the right person, also cause positive adaptions if given enough recovery for the bone to adapt to the stress and get stronger. In others, this may be problematic as the body relies less on active normal shock absorption. This may be one of the many reasons certain people prefer softer or firmer midsoles. There are many other factors that may be involved, including inherent stability, unique sensory input, etc. It is important to note that despite those preferences, we also have evidence that midsole hardness (ie, how soft or firm the cushioning is) does not seem to have different injury rates (Theisen et al., 2014). While injury types may be different, different midsole hardness are not necessarily better than the other. They are all different and will work for different people for a variety of reasons. So having one of the premium neutral daily trainers be a little firmer isn't a bad thing, just some needed variety.
Kulmala, J. P., Kosonen, J., Nurminen, J., & Avela, J. (2018). Running in highly cushioned shoes increases leg stiffness and amplifies impact loading. Scientific reports, 8(1), 1-7.
Theisen, D., Malisoux, L., Genin, J., Delattre, N., Seil, R., & Urhausen, A. (2014). Influence of midsole hardness of standard cushioned shoes on running-related injury risk. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 48(5), 371-376.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Matt: The ASICS Gel-Nimbus 27 does many things right. This is the first time I can say the heel is decent. The reduction in the posterior flare and well placed posterior lateral heel bevel makes this the smoothest heel of any Nimbus I have tried. I have really enjoyed the ride due to it not being mushy and many elements makes this shoe stable neutral without being intrusive. My major recommendations are for the upper and the forefoot. While the fit is better, I would like to see the aggressiveness of the toe guard reduced. This should also help open things up front without putting as much pressure on the toes. While I personally like the snappy forefoot, it does come off a bit stiff. This may not work as well for recreational runners running slower paces, so I would encourage ASICS to think about starting the apex of the forefoot rocker a little earlier. I would change the forefoot if it increases the toe spring but if the rocker can be lengthened to reduce the stiffness, that may make it more comfortable at slower speeds. I personally like it, but sometimes I have weird tastes.
WHO IS THIS SHOE FOR?
Matt: The ASICS Gel-Nimbus 27 is for runners who want a high stack height, slightly firmer/snappier shoe for daily training, long runs and a slight uptempo efforts. The upper will fit those with normal width and normal volume feet who want a thin knit tongue, a stiff counter and a highly padded heel. The midsole will work best for those who want a high level of durability, a slightly firmer and snappier ride that works best for longer efforts with a little versatility to pick up the pace. Those who have always wanted to try a Nimbus with a good heel bevel should also check this shoe out. Given the number of really soft shoes on the market, the Gel-Nimbus 27 provides a unique ride with the slight firmness and stiffness of the sole.
While it feels softer during walking, the slight firmness also adds to the stable neutral ride that is rare in this category now. It is still a daily training shoe and not a racing shoe except for those who race in their trainers. The $5 increase is expected with the increase in stack height and continued cost increase in footwear. However, the high durability may make this shoe worth it along with this being the first Nimbus with a good heel bevel. So while there are a good number of changes to this long-standing (running?) premium daily trainer, it continues to have a unique place in the market while balancing out the ever increasing stack heights.
GRADES
Matt
Fit: B+/A- (Secure midfoot, highly padded heel add comfort although noticeable toe guard takes some breaking in.)
Performance: A- (Great bevel with stiffer forefoot and high but slightly firmer cushioning make this an excellent shoe for mileage and mild uptempo efforts)
Stability: A- [Stable Neutral} (Slightly firmer ride, heel sidewalls, wide sole, sole flare and stiffer sole make for a naturally stable ride)
Value: B+/A- (Extremely high durability with unique ride in this category)
Personal: A- (A great walking shoe and the rare premium trainer shoe I can pick up the pace in. Wish the forefoot was a tiny bit more comfortable but I am really enjoying miles in this shoe so far!)
Overall Design: A-
SHOP | SUPPORT DOR
Asics Gel-Nimbus 27
Price: $164.95 at Running WarehouseShop Men | Shop Women
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FURTHER READING
Second generation of their lightweight stability trainer.
A new performance trainer with a major rocker.
Find all Shoe Reviews at Doctors of Running here.
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