The Asics Gel-Nimbus 28 is a classic daily trainer designed for high mileage. Runners love its soft, deep cushioning. It also takes the strain off your legs during long runs. The wide platform provides stability, and the smooth geometry guides the foot smoothly and confidently. The Nimbus is a running shoe where comfort and consistency matter, not performance. If your running plan involves covering many miles at a steady pace, this model does exactly what it was designed to do.
Basic info
Tech specs
Purpose
The Asics Gel-Nimbus 28 is a running shoe in the maximum cushioning category, designed primarily for road and hard surfaces. It offers an even better balance between softness and stability than its predecessor, while retaining the character of a typical “couch potato” shoe. This model is for runners who prioritize comfort and want to safely build up their training mileage—whether on long runs or easy daily sessions. It’s ideal for recreational runners, marathoners, and heavier athletes who need predictable foot guidance.
Pros
- extremely generous and very soft cushioning
- good stability
- fairly roomy upper
- “light” on the foot considering the amount of cushioning
Cons
- poor energy return and responsiveness
- high price
Key Features – What’s New in the Latest Edition
| GEL-NIMBUS 28 | GEL-NIMBUS 27 | |
|---|---|---|
| Stack height | 43.5/35.5 mm | 43.5/35.5 mm |
| Drop | 8 mm | 8 mm |
| Weight men’s | 281 g | 305 g |
| Weight women’s | 242 g | 265 g |
| Upper | Lightweight Engineered Mesh | Jacquard Mesh |
| Midsole | FF BLAST PLUS ECO + PureGEL in the heel area | FF BLAST PLUS ECO + PureGEL in the heel area |
| Outsole | ASICSGRIP + AHARPLUS | ASICSGRIP + AHARPLUS |
Asics Running Shoes – lineup
The Gel-Nimbus is an icon among Asics running shoes. For years, it has been at the forefront of comfort, alongside its more stable counterpart, the Gel-Kayano. If you’re looking for less cushioning (and slightly more affordable options), check out the models listed below. Models like the Gel-Cumulus and GT-2000 are among the most popular choices for everyday running.
If you look further, you’ll find even more budget-friendly (but still decent) models like the Gel-Pulse or GT-1000. Want to learn a bit more about these models? Check out the Asics running shoe review.
Role in the Running Shoe Rotation
Gel-Nimbus is a running shoe that serves these purposes in your rotation: a soft, everyday “couch potato” shoe. This is where you’ll log most of your miles: long runs, recovery runs, easy warm-ups—that’s where it shines. On the other hand, the Metaspeed Sky is a fast, performance-oriented model with a noticeably more responsive sole and aggressive geometry. It’s great for tempo runs, threshold runs, and races, and in a rotation, it’s the perfect counterpoint to the “slow” Nimbus. The Trabuco Max 5, on the other hand, is a running shoe with maximum cushioning… for rough terrain. Some people refer to it as the off-road Nimbus, and that makes sense. Of course, if you prefer something more agile on the trail, you can always choose the lighter Trabuco 14 instead of the Trabuco Max 5
This rotation gives you full control over matching your shoes to your training type and various types of terrain.
| GEL-NIMBUS 28 | METASPEED SKY TOKYO | TRABUCO MAX 5 |
|---|---|---|
 |  |  |
| long, easy & recovery runs | intervals, tempo runs, raceday | trail running |
Similar to Asics Gel-Nimbus 28
For years, the Asics Gel-Nimbus 28 has been one of the first models that comes to mind when thinking about maximum cushioning for everyday running. However, the competition isn’t standing still and also offers shoes with plenty of soft foam, a thick sole, and a stable, reliable construction.
All are designed for a relaxed pace, long distances, and trouble-free mileage. If you want to take a broader look at this segment, check out the shoe guide with maximum cushioning—it lets you quickly compare different approaches to comfort, from softer and “plush” to slightly more springy and dynamic.
| MODEL | STACK HEIGHT (mm) | DROP (mm) | WEIGHT MEN'S (grams) | WEIGHT WOMEN'S (grams) | REGULAR PRICE (€) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| adidas Hyperboost Edge | 45/39 | 6 | 258 | n/a | 200 |
| Asics Gel-Nimbus 28 | 43.5/35.5 | 8 | 281 | 242 | 200 |
| Brooks Glycerin 23 | 38/30 | 8 | 300 | 269 | 180 |
| Brooks Glycerin Max 2 | 45/39 | 6 | 298 | 270 | 200 |
| Diadora Atomo Star | 41/35 | 6 | 275 | 215 | 190 |
| Hoka Bondi 9 | 43/38 | 4 | 306 | 252 | 180 |
| Mizuno Wave Sky 9 | 44/36 | 8 | 290 | 230 | 190 |
| New Balance 1080 v14 | 38/32 | 6 | 298 | 236 | 190 |
| New Balance More v6 | 44/40 | 4 | 306 | 241 | 170 |
| Nike Vomero Plus | 45/35 | 10 | 292 | 242 | 170 |
| Nike Vomero Premium | 55.5/45.5 | 10 | 351 | 278 | 230 |
| On Cloudmonster 2 | 35/29 | 6 | 295 | 230 | 190 |
| Puma Magmax Nitro | 46/38 | 8 | 290 | 250 | 190 |
| Saucony Triumph 23 | 37/27 | 10 | 263 | 239 | 190 |
| Salomon Aero Glide 3 | 40/32 | 8 | 245 | 205 | 160 |
Maximum Cushioning Without Compromise
The Asics Gel-Nimbus 28 retains a very thick and high sole, which continues to place this model among the most cushioned shoes on the market—it measures approximately 42.5 mm at the heel and 35.5 mm at the forefoot. These measurements, combined with a generous amount of soft FF BLAST+ foam and a PureGEL element in the rear of the sole, result in a distinctly soft, comfortable landing. The cushioning profile is slightly more balanced than before, but this is still a shoe designed for a soft and comfortable landing rather than a springy rebound.
When it comes to performance, not much has changed—this still isn’t a shoe for fast running. From the outside, the Nimbus is slightly contoured to facilitate foot roll, but in practice, it feels quite “flat.” Additionally, there is no midfoot plate or elements designed to increase responsiveness. Instead, there is plenty of soft foam and a very smooth, predictable roll. The Nimbus 28 performs best at a steady, comfortable pace—exactly where cushioning matters more than speed.
This construction and performance profile make the Nimbus 28 a great fit for high-volume training. It’s a model for people who regularly “put in the miles” and need maximum joint protection. It’s also a good choice for heavier runners weighing up to 100 kilograms, where protection, predictability, and stability are essential.
Simple Outsole, Effective Performance
Like its previous model, the Asics Gel-Nimbus 28 also features a hybrid version of the AsicsGrip outsole. The outsole pattern isn’t aggressive—although the grooves are up to 1.5 mm deep, the overall design is rather flat and minimalist. This design works well on roads, paved paths, and gravel roads.
There are only a few rubber elements on the outsole, and they cover only the key areas under the forefoot and heel. With this amount of rubber, questions about the outsole’s durability naturally arise; however, experience with previous editions of the Nimbus indicates that the outsole isn’t particularly prone to wear. It makes a good balance between durability and weight.
Soft Upper, Secure Fit
The upper of the Asics Gel-Nimbus 28 has been refined, but the changes are more evolutionary than revolutionary. It still relies on a soft, engineered knit fabric that offers high comfort and a pleasant fit. However, this isn’t the most breathable construction on the market—despite the material being slightly thinner, breathability remains rather average, especially on warmer days.
The material is moderately elastic and conforms well to the foot, making it comfortable and allowing it to adapt to various foot shapes. The forefoot offers a reasonable amount of space—more rather than less, though this isn’t a shoe with particularly ample toe room. In practice, its fit can be described as safe and versatile—most runners should find it comfortable, especially since we’re talking about a shoe designed for racking up miles, which by nature is meant to make more space available.
The tongue is thin, soft, and integrated into the upper as part of a flexible construction. Its softness and the way it hugs the foot feel very comfortable. It stays securely in place and causes absolutely no discomfort.
The back of the shoe remains classic—with an internally reinforced heel counter and an above-average amount of soft foam. The heel counter is stiff enough to provide stability for the heel. At the same time, it is also soft enough not to put pressure on the Achilles tendon. It makes a balanced, soft, and secure fit. Ideal for neutral shoes.
Lighter, but Still Sturdy
The Asics Gel-Nimbus 28 manages to be slightly lighter than its predecessor, while maintaining a very high level of cushioning. The men’s shoe weighs 281 grams and the women’s 242 grams, which represents a weight reduction of about 20 grams. For a shoe with so much foam underfoot, that’s still a very good result.
Weight differences, of course, depend on size. In my size, US 12, the Nimbus 28 weighs 319 grams, which means it’s a full 32 grams lighter than the previous edition. This is a significant difference, though it’s worth remembering that with shoes this well-cushioned, weight takes a back seat. Long-distance comfort is more important than a few dozen grams more or less. Thanks to the weight reduction, the Nimbus 28 is lighter, perhaps less “clunky,” but it’s still a solid urban limousine.
Compared to the competition in the maximum cushioning segment, it performs decently. It isn’t the lightest in its class, nor is it the heaviest. It falls right in the middle. This is exactly the weight you’d expect from a shoe designed for comfort and long distances.
Summary
The Asics Gel-Nimbus 28 is an evolution of one of the most recognizable max-cushioned shoes on the market, consistently prioritizing maximum comfort and protection during long, easy runs. It doesn’t try to chase trends or pretend to be a jack-of-all-trades—it stays true to its purpose. And that’s just fine, because in this case, there’s no need for a revolution—if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it; let the Nimbus remain the Nimbus.
