Our Thoughts on the Asics Gel-Nimbus 27 After 200 Miles
The Asics Gel-Nimbus 27 is a max cushioned everyday running shoe designed for comfort and long miles. Priced at $165, it competes with shoes like the Hoka Bondi 9 ($170) and Nike Vomero 18 ($150). Here we will give our thoughts about the performance and durability of the Gel-Nimbus 27 after more than 200 miles.
Welcome to the first edition of the 200+ MILE REVIEW Series. Here at Supwell we test a lot of shoes and provide in-depth first-run videos, but we also want to give periodic updates of shoes that we are loving and let you know how they hold up over 200+ miles. Our first shoe is the Asics Gel-Nimbus 27.
Asics Gel-Nimbus 27
Fit & Step-In Feel
On step-in, the Gel-Nimbus 27 isn’t overly mushy or actively soft (a descriptor some runners use for the New Balance 1080 v13), but it still delivers a highly comfortable ride. That said, due to the higher drop (8 mm) and its overall size on foot, we’ve found it better suited for running than walking. During a traditional walking gait cycle, it can feel slightly cumbersome and disconnected between the heel and forefoot—a sentiment we also share about ASICS’ Novablast series.
With this new recipe of ASICS’ FF BLAST PLUS ECO foam, they’ve done an excellent job of creating a softer midsole compared to the previous iteration, while still retaining a moderately dense, supportive, and—dare I say—bouncy ride.
We don’t usually spend much time discussing uppers on the YouTube channel—unless one is exceptionally bad—mostly because we believe the midsole is what really makes the shoe. That said, the Gel-Nimbus deserves some recognition here. For runners who value “creature comforts,” this shoe offers one of the most dialed-in lace-up experiences on the market. The beloved stretchy knit tongue—which debuted in the Gel-Nimbus 24—returns, and while the 27 ditches the full-knit upper found on version 26, the jacquard mesh build ASICS uses here is intended to improve breathability. In our experience, though, we haven’t noticed a meaningful difference between the two.
Ride
On may have trademarked CloudTec, but in our experience, the ride of the Gel-Nimbus 27 is more deserving of the name. It offers one of the most leg-saving experiences on the market, making it a top-tier option for recovery and easy mileage.
But that’s not where its utility ends. The newly refined FF BLAST PLUS ECO foam in the Gel-Nimbus 27 feels surprisingly similar to the FF BLAST MAX foam found in the Novablast 5—there’s just a lot more of it in the Nimbus, and it’s perhaps slightly less squirrely. With 43 mm in the heel and 35 mm in the forefoot, the Gel-Nimbus 27 stands 2 mm taller than version 26, yet it holds steady at around 10.4 oz (295 g) in a men’s size 9.0.
Asics Novablast 5
When we first tested it, we weren’t sure if ASICS had jumped on the “soft everything” trend—a direction we at Supwell haven’t been particularly fond of. And while this version of the Gel-Nimbus definitely toes that line, it still offers just enough rebound to avoid feeling lifeless or doughy during longer efforts.
In fact, we’ve found it surprisingly capable for strides and short, fast efforts—unlike some shoes in the max-cushion category that feel like the foam is actively working against you at quicker paces (or even at recovery paces, for that matter). The subtle, but noticeable, rocker of the Gel-Nimbus delivers a smooth cruising experience at easy paces—a pleasant change from the slappy, more awkward transitions we’ve felt in ASICS’ Novablast and especially the Superblast series.
The Gel-Nimbus 27 strikes a delicate balance between pillowy softness and supportive stability—a max cushion king in the daily trainer segment.
Durability
At just over 200 miles, the HYBRID ASICSGRIP outsole rubber is holding up extremely well. And while not a direct measure of durability, it’s worth noting that this outsole compound performs significantly better on slick pavement than the AHAR LO rubber used in the Novablast line.
While we’re doing in-brand comparisons, the FF BLAST PLUS ECO midsole in the Gel-Nimbus still feels just as comfortable and lively as it did out of the box. Conversely, both in our experience and from reading reports from fellow hobby joggers on the Supwell app, the FF BLAST MAX foam in the Novablast 5 seems to have worse longevity—many runners have reported retiring their pairs around the 200-mile mark. Clearly, these two shoes serve different use cases for a lot of runners, but it’s a distinction worth calling out.
Summary
The Asics Gel-Nimbus 27 is an ultra-comfortable and plush max-cushion daily trainer with surprising pace versatility after 200 miles.
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