Introduction
The ASICS Gel Nimbus has been a staple in the shoe game, owning the label of a premium max cushion for decades. The Nimbus may be old enough to be on its own insurance, rent a car, and a couple of license renewals but will the Nimbus 27 unlock that childhood joy underfoot?
Gel-Nimbus 27 Max Cushions at Its Finest?
The Upper:
ASICS ditches the knit upper of the 27 and goes with a premium jacquard mesh upper. Now this may look like a fairly standard upper but where ASICS shines is in the attention to detail. 3 key things make this upper stand out
- Padded Heel collar: helps keep your heel locked into place with a delightful little pillow around the heel
- GUSSETED knit tongue!!: Maybe my favorite feature to the upper, the knit tongue comfortably wraps the foot, molding to all foot shapes for top tier lockdown and ZERO tongue slippage!
- Pull Tab: Maybe the tiniest detail but the stretchy pull tab is a marvel when taking your shoes on and off. Again such a minute detail but sometimes you don’t know what you’ve been missing out on until you’ve experienced it.
Overall the Nimbus 27 upper is soft, breathable, comfortable, and provides an excellent fit. Tbh 10/10 zero notes, great job ASICS!!
The Underfoot: Stepping on Clouds?
When people think of the Nimbus they think of max plush cushion, it is named after a cloud after all. And that’s exactly what the Nimbus 27 delivers with a thicc stack of FF Blast+ foam (43.5mm for Men’s and 42.5mm for Women’s to be exact) and their trademarked PureGel unit in the heel. Although it’s the same foam as the Nimbus 26 the 27 is amazingly the same weight but with a slightly different underfoot sensation.
Like Lawrence Olivier between takes, The FF Blast+ gets a new personality and I think all for the best! The 26 could be described as almost too soft, giving it almost a quicksand-like feeling underfoot, ASICS took this feedback and ran with it (haha get it? “ran with it”) but the Nimbus 27 maintains that plush step in feel and soft cushion when walking but adds a little bounce! When running I found the foam to have a great initial sink and right at the perfect time gave some of that energy back. Now I wouldn’t say this is anywhere near as responsive as the Novablast, but for recovery runs, long runs, and general miles I love LOVING the cushion! At the end of the day the Nimbus 27 delivers to being a max cushion premium daily trainer great for walking, working, and running!
Who Is Gel-Nimbus 27 For?
The Nimbus is one of the popular models and for a good reason, this neutral max cushion shoe is a favorite for runners, walkers, healthcare workers, anybody that’s on their feet all day, or those wanting a comfy everyday shoe. These are some uses I would recommend the ASICS Gel-Nimbus 27 for:
- Everyday Mileage
- Recovery Runs
- Long Runs
- All-Day Wear
- Casual Wear
Who Might the Gel-Nimbus 27 Not Be Right For?
As much as I would like to say one shoe will for everyone we know that’s not the case. If you’re not a fan of max cushion and want a lower stack height but don’t want to sacrifice a softer feeling I’d recommend the ASICS Gel Cumulus. And if you crave a bit more versatility and energy check out the ASICS Novablast 5 (you can even read my review here) Maybe you love the max cushion but need a guidance shoe? ASICS makes a Nimbus counterpart called the Kayano!
Why the Gel-Nimbus 27 Deserves a Spot in Your Rotation
Because who doesn’t love cushion!? The Nimbus 27 is such a joy to wear underfoot, from running, working, and roaming the cheese section at Aldi I felt premium comfort underfoot with every step. If you’re looking for a durable shoe with comfort for miles, hours, or even just seconds the ASICS Gel-Nimbus 27 has you covered.
Always dreamed of stepping on clouds? Visit The Running Well Store today to try the ASICS Gel-Nimbus 27, or shop online at therunningwellstore.com and get it delivered straight to your door!
Now for the Specs:
Price: $164.95
Drop: 8mm (Men’s: 43.5mm heel/35.5mm forefoot; Women’s 42.5mm heel/34.5 forefoot)
Weight 10.8oz Men’s/ 9.4oz Women’s
Category: Neutral
About the Author
Joseph aka “Baby Joseph” has been with The Running Well Store since 2019. He is currently the Inventory Manager but spent 5+ years working the floor as a Guru. He may quite literally own more shoes than everyone in your contacts combined, and that doesn’t stop him from buying more (it’s only an addiction if it’s a problem). An active member of the community you can find Joseph at various group runs, races, and local breweries. If you see Joseph out and about and he’s always willing to talk shoes so feel free to pick his brain!
