Asics Gel-Nimbus 28 running shoes

ASICS Gel-Nimbus 28 upper

The upper of the ASICS Gel-Nimbus 28 running shoe is made from a comfortable, more flexible-than-average engineered knit mesh. Just like in the previous versions, the upper is all about maximum comfort. The fit is medium width, and the more elastic knit material nicely wraps around the shape of the foot. Good news: the Nimbus 28 running shoe will also be available in wide (D) and extra wide (2E) widths. It fits true to size, although it might feel a touch long. There is generous room for the toes, maybe even a bit too much lengthwise, so it is worth trying a half size down as well. The tongue of the Nimbus 28 is anything but standard. As in the previous versions, it is made from a thin but very flexible, stretchy mesh that hugs the foot well, and the pull tab at the top of the tongue helps a lot with getting the shoe on quickly. The tongue is gusseted, so it stays in place and does not slide during running. The heel collar is firm, and thanks to the thick padding it is not only comfortable, but also locks the rearfoot in very securely. There is also a pull tab on the heel, from which a thin elastic rubber edge starts to run around, but unlike in the previous version it does not go all the way around, probably to reduce weight.

ASICS Gel-Nimbus 28 midsole

The midsole of the ASICS Gel-Nimbus 28 running shoe is made from FlyteFoam Blast Plus foam, which is a very well-balanced compound: not too soft and not too firm, providing excellent comfort even on longer runs. In the heel there is a Pure-Gel unit located directly under the foot, made up of hexagonal, honeycomb-like gel pods. This layer improves the shoe’s shock absorption and further enhances comfort. The Nimbus 28 is a neutral running shoe, and despite the high stack the stability is better than average. The reason is that the midsole is not overly soft, it wraps up around the upper and forms a cradle for the foot, and the midsole height is paired with sufficient width. The midsole delivers 100% what ASICS intends it for: maximum comfort, even on your longer runs. There is some liveliness and energy return in it, but not too much; it is not overly soft or overly firm, the stability is good yet unobtrusive – it simply disappears underfoot in a good way.

ASICS Gel-Nimbus 28 outsole

The outsole of the ASICS Gel-Nimbus 28 running shoe uses HYBRID ASICSGRIP technology, which means it is made from two different rubber compounds with different hardness. In the forefoot and at the heel, where the wear is higher, the outsole uses a harder rubber compound called AHARPLUS (AHAR+). Because this is a harder rubber, its durability is better than average. In the midfoot area a softer rubber compound is used, called ASICSGRIP. This is the same compound ASICS uses in its racing shoes; this section offers above-average grip, even on wet surfaces. This is the part most runners use when manoeuvring, changing direction and cornering, so here it is especially important that the outsole grips well. Thanks to the hybrid solution, you get excellent grip where you need it, and extra durability where you need that. The outsole of the Gel-Nimbus 28 is segmented and does not fully cover the midsole. There are two reasons for this. Firstly, it significantly reduces the weight of the shoe, as solid rubber is the heaviest material on a running shoe. Secondly, it improves flexibility considerably, lowering torsional stiffness. This is a particularly good property for covering longer distances. There is no need for the outsole to add extra rigidity or stability to the midsole, because the midsole itself is not overly soft and is relatively wide.

ASICS Gel-Nimbus 28 vs. Gel-Nimbus 27 – what has changed in the new version?

The ASICS Gel-Nimbus 28 running shoe has been updated in every part, and apart from the outsole, the changes may look minor at first glance. However, with exactly these small tweaks ASICS managed to reduce the weight of the Nimbus 28 by a significant 24 grams compared to the Nimbus 27.

Upper changes:

• made from a new, lighter engineered knit mesh
• the tongue and the upper part of the tongue construction are thinner
• the rubberised edge at the top of the heel collar has been redesigned

Midsole changes

• they slightly changed the geometry, the heel section protrudes less, so the shoe feels less heel heavy

Outsole

• the outsole design is completely new, with lower volume, so it is much lighter while grip performance has not decreased