ASICS Gel Nimbus 26 review

We highly recommend the ASICS Nimbus 26 for:

• Runners seeking a luxurious, comfortable experience on easy and moderate runs.
• ASICS fans desiring a super-cushioned shoe for long distances and daily training.
• Those who prioritize top-notch uppers, as the Nimbus 26's knit material offers a premium feel, excellent lockdown, good ventilation and ample toebox space.

While the Nimbus 26 does offer a protective ride, we do not recommend it for runners seeking a lightweight shoe for uptempo paces. ASICS also has in its lineup a better—albeit pricier—alternative in the Superblast, which is significantly bouncier and lighter.

We also believe the Nimbus 26's price point may deter some runners. For those seeking a more budget-friendly option without sacrificing the super-high stack height, we've lab-tested the ASICS Novablast 4 and the Brooks Ghost Max. These models provide a comparable cushioned experience at a slightly more accessible price.

For those seeking an affordable yet cushioned running shoe, we suggest the Saucony Axon 3.

One of the major complaints we had—and so did many users—about the Nimbus 25 was its limited breathability, owing to the thick, pillow-like knit upper. It felt almost suffocating in the sweltering summer heat and delivered blisters everywhere.

We found that ASICS was quick to pick up on this issue right from the get-go and, to our delight, they've made significant improvements in the v26. With our smoke-pumping machine at work, we clocked a breathability score of 4/5—a top-notch performance that makes it an ideal choice for all-weather training, in our opinion.

The light test, despite its simplicity, remains a lab favorite for its ability to vividly showcase where a shoe breathes best. In the Nimbus 26, it's evident—ASICS has given special attention to the tongue and the toebox, though the midfoot remains less ventilated.

Moving on to the microscope, it proved to be the ultimate tool for examining the ventilation holes we'd initially spotted with the light test.

ASICS has punched holes at regular intervals, a few millimeters apart, ensuring optimal airflow.

Finally, when we got hands-on with the knit upper, we loved it. From our standpoint, it ranks as one of the most comfortable, plush uppers we've ever had the pleasure of testing in the lab. The entire knit exudes a premium, stretchy feel, and the heel padding is mind-blowing, focusing purely on comfort.

Durability often emerges as a weak spot in knit uppers, as the softer yarns are more susceptible to damage. Thus, we approached our initial Dremel test with moderate expectations.

Contrary to our assumptions, the Nimbus 26 showcased its resilience, underscoring the value of rigorous lab testing. The outstanding 4/5 rating we awarded this shoe was a pleasant surprise, with the knit upper displaying remarkable toughness.

We then shifted our focus to the pillow-padded heel, which, based on typical outcomes with other shoes, we initially thought would score low.

Yet again, we were pleasantly surprised, as it impressively secured another 4-out-of-5, truly deserving our applause. Wear and tear in the heel area is now the least of our concerns.

Another major thing regarding wear and tear in any road running shoe is the outsole, particularly in a high-end daily trainer like this one, priced at $160—early wear could be disastrous for your wallet.

To gauge its performance in this aspect, we began by measuring the outsole's hardness. We clocked it at 83.5 HC, which is around the average.

We put the outsole's durability to the test in the heel area—typically the first to show wear for many runners, especially those facing stability challenges.

Our second Dremel test yielded another impressive result. The tool managed to remove only 0.6 mm of the AHAR+ rubber from the heel, indicating that the outsole is built to last for the long haul!

In our final assessment of the outsole, we turned our attention to the outsole thickness. ASICS opted for a slightly thinner design here, which we consider a positive move, especially given the outstanding results from our previous tests.

Choosing a thicker outsole often guarantees durability but can mute the feel of the ride, rendering the shoe somewhat cumbersome for long runs and significantly heavier.

Therefore, a 2.3 mm thickness seems to hit the sweet spot for us, yet we believe ASICS could potentially reduce it to below 2 mm for next year's version.

Addressing the weight is unavoidable when discussing the Nimbus 26—it's the glaring issue we can't overlook.

Tipping the scales at 10.7 oz (303g), it's not only heavier than its predecessor but also feels quite bulky by modern standards. While it's not excessively heavy to the point of being a deal-breaker, we firmly believe ASICS should aim to bring this shoe under the 10-ounce mark.

The Nimbus 26 has fully embraced the maximalist, high-stack trend, with the stack height climbing an additional 2.4 mm from last year, reaching a skyscraper-high, 40.4 mm in the heel.

What's the takeaway of this increase? The Nimbus has long been ASICS's flagship model for max-cushioning and comfort, and it seems they're doubling down to ensure a cloud-like, ultra-comfy ride for every runner, regardless of weight.

Furthermore, as evidenced next to our digital caliper, it's not all foam at play here—ASICS has used again the PureGEL technology, amplifying the softness of each heel landing. More on this later!

During all our test runs, we experienced absolutely no ground feel and a significant amount of cushion under the ball of the foot.

This didn't come as a surprise, especially after our second measurement in that area revealed a whopping 32.0 mm of cushioning—ideal for long runs!

ASICS claims the Nimbus 26 has an 8-mm heel-to-toe drop, and our lab measurements (8.4 mm), taken following the official guidelines from World Athletics, confirmed they were really close. This is a rarity, since we often encounter larger discrepancies.

With this offset, we believe it accommodates all types of runners, from those who strike with their rearfoot to those who hit the ground first with their forefoot.

The insole, crafted by Ortholite, is exceptionally plush with a substantial thickness of 5.0 mm.

Its considerable thickness also makes it an ideal choice for those looking to increase space within the upper by substituting it with a thinner insole.

ASICS has incorporated a full-length layer of FF Blast+ ECO foam, same of last year's version. Our durometer readings showed a softness level at 18.5 HA, indicating a plush sensation without excessive sink.

This balanced approach is beneficial, given the foam's composition of EVA and Olefin, making it best suited for easy to moderate runs, as it's not very resilient.

Because of that, it's not designed for anything fast that demands massive energy return from the midsole. For runners seeking that, the Nike Invincible 3 might be a better fit, featuring the super-bouncy ZoomX foam in a similar design.

As mentioned earlier, the heel boasts one of ASICS's latest innovations: PureGEL.

This advanced version of the traditional GEL technology ASICS has utilized for years is a compact piece positioned above the foam in the rearfoot area, facilitating softer landings. True to its design, it delivers precisely that sensation, yet obviously lacks any energy return. It's all about comfort.

The FF Blast+ ECO foam isn't merely standard EVA, as we mentioned earlier, but a blend of EVA and Olefin developed by Dow. This distinction was crucial in our testing, given that EVA foams typically falter in cold conditions, hardening significantly.

Yet, the Nimbus 26 demonstrated moderate resilience in our cold-temperature test, stiffening by just 27% after a 20-minute stint in our freezer. This is a result that leaves us content.

With over 40 mm of stack height—even exceeding the race-day legal limits—we braced ourselves for a potentially wooobbly ride in the Nimbus 26.

However, while it's not the go-to option for those seeking stability (if that's you, the Kayano 30 might be a better fit), we found it surprisingly offers a reasonably stable ride.

ASICS managed this feat by designing a rigid, wide sole and incorporating sidewalls that gently steer the feet forward in every stride. We think this approach is a good choice for providing stability in a shoe with such a high stack.

After testing over 500 shoes in the lab, we've learned that shoe design is all about trade-offs, balancing one feature against another. In the case of the Nimbus 26, the trade-off is between flexibility versus stability.

The Nimbus 26 turned out to be exceptionally rigid, almost mirroring the stiffness of a carbon-plated shoe. We had to award it 5/5 in rigidity, so we caution against choosing this model if you prefer a natural running feel, where the shoe flexes in harmony with your feet. Consider the Nike Pegasus 40 as an alternative.

The heel counter is notably less stiff, a feature we genuinely appreciated, as anything stiffer might have been overkill given the shoe's extreme torsional rigidity.

We deduced that ASICS was able to integrate a moderately firm heel counter (rated 3/5) due to the shoe's well-designed geometry and the supportive midsole sidewalls. These elements effectively guide the foot straight, eliminating the need for an excessively rigid component in the heel.

The forefoot is relatively wide, though not to the extent often seen in stability shoes. We measured it at 118.4 mm.

This design choice resonates with us, considering the shoe primarily caters to heel strikers. Opting for an overly wide forefoot would have unnecessarily added to the shoe's weight and bulk.

ASICS significantly widened the heel platform to guarantee secure landings for rearfoot strikers. Our measurements showed a width of 101.7 mm, surpassing the width of many stability shoes.

This design choice contributes to a notably stable feel in the heel for neutral runners. For this reason, if you have mild stability needs, the Nimbus 26 might be worth considering, though we lean towards recommending the ASICS GT 2000 12, which is tailored specifically for those with slight stability concerns.

Previously, our manual assessment revealed the shoe's exceptional rigidity, as we couldn't twist or bend it. Yet, evaluating it longitudinally was still on our to-do list.

During this 90-degree longitudinal bend test, we discovered the shoe to be more flexible than from a torsional standpoint, displaying average stiffness. It required only 30.2N of force to bend, which bodes well for comfort and gets the easy-pace seal of approval.

Similar to our midsole softness test, we reassessed the stiffness after a 20-minute chill in the freezer.

Remarkably, the shoe became just 10.4% firmer, further highlighting the outstanding qualities of the FF Blast+ (EVA mixed with Olefin) foam. This level of performance is exactly what we anticipate from a premium-priced shoe.

We've found that ASICS has taken the users' feedback to heart, as the toebox now spans 99.2 mm at the same measurement point. This is considerably wider than the Nimbus 25.

This adjustment creates additional space inside the shoe, making it more accommodating for runners with wide feet. Moreover, those needing even more room have the option to choose a wide or extra-wide size in certain markets.

The big toe area is notably comfortable, thanks to its minimal tapering. Our measurement of 79.1 mm confirms it's broader than many other running shoes in its category.

When it comes to vertical space in the toebox, there's ample room for most feet, although it doesn't feature an exceptionally high design. However, we already shown that the upper is made from an ultra-soft, stretchy knit material, which ensured we experienced no discomfort, a common issue with many rigid, mesh-based uppers.

We shifted our focus to the tongue area and observed that the tongue is semi-gusseted—a remarkable strategy for achieving optimal lockdown.

Yet, we were surprised, as knit uppers typically come with fully-gusseted tongues, or even bootie-style designs.

The Ortholite X-55 insole is fully removable, making it a snap to swap with aftermarket orthotics if needed. We tested this with several different insoles and found the process completely hassle-free.

The Nimbus 26 includes a few, basic reflective pieces. Frankly, this feels like the bare minimum.

It's apparent that ASICS follows the same pattern year after year—those wanting full reflectivity need to wait for separate Lite-Show versions of the shoe.