Facts

  • Discontinued
    Update: Asics Gel Nimbus 21
  • Terrain

    Road

    Shoes best for road, track and light gravel. See the best road shoes.

    Trail

    Shoes best for trail, off road, mountains and other unstable surfaces. See the best trail shoes.

    Good to know

    As long as you stick to the road or path, and if you want just one running shoe, buy a road running shoe.

  • Arch support

    Neutral / cushion / high arch

    Shoes for runners who do not need any additional arch support (Around 50% of runners). Best for people with normal, high or medium high arches. See the best neutral shoes.

    Stability / overpronation / normal arch

    Shoes for runners who need mild to moderate arch support (Around 45% of runners). Best for runners with a low arch. See the best stability shoes.

    Motion control / severe overpronation / flat feet

    Shoes for runners who needs a lot of arch support. Best for runners with flat feet. See the best motion control shoes.

    Good to know

    - Rule of thumb: If in doubt, buy neutral shoes to avoid injuries.
    - More about arch support in this video.
    - Find your arch type by following steps from this video.

  • Use

    Daily running

    Cushioned shoes for your daily easy running. Great comfort. See best shoes for daily running.

    Competition

    Lightweight shoes good for races, interval training, tempo runs and fartlek. Here are the best competition running shoes.

    Good to know

    If you want just one pair of shoes, buy a shoe for daily running.

  • Price
    €190
  • Weight
    Men: 306g
    Women: 249g
  • Heel to toe drop
    Men: 10mm
    Women: 13mm

    The height difference from the heel to the forefoot, also known as heel drop, toe spring, heel to toe spring or simply drop.

    There are many opinions about what a good heel drop is. We do not recommend any in particular. Lean more in this video.

  • Heel height
    Men: 23mm
    Women: 25mm
  • Forefoot height
    Men: 13mm
    Women: 12mm
  • Width
    Men: Normal
    Women: Narrow, Normal, Wide, X-Wide
  • Release date
    Feb 2016
Show more facts

Rankings

A top rated Road running shoe
A top rated Asics running shoe
A popular pick

Expert Reviews

Experts are runners, who post reviews at youtube, directly at RunRepeat or at their own websites. Each expert is categorized from level 1 to level 5 based on expertise. See stats on expert reviews and how we calculate scores here.

Are you an expert? Apply to contribute here.

85 / 100 based on 19 expert reviews

  • 86 / 100 | Phidippides TV | | Level 4 expert

    It's a soft ride. It's nice and plush, has a nice open material on the upper for nice, luxurious feel. Very neutral, very balanced, and very comfortable.

  • 89 / 100 | HRDLPN | Level 2 expert

    It gives you a little bit more of that cushioned, comfortable feel, so you're really running on clouds, as they say it.

  • 82 / 100 | Motion Control Running Shoes | Level 5 expert

    If nothing else, the ASICS GEL-Nimbus 18 may feel a bit more comfortable and secure.

  • 82 / 100 | Runner's World | Level 5 expert

    While the shoe is noticeably heavier than other models, all the testers appreciated the familiar plush ride, and women raved about the fit and comfort of the flexible mesh upper.

  • 82 / 100 | Sportskeeda | | Level 5 expert

    Performance is great on flat surfaces such as roads and tracks.

  • 77 / 100 | Solereview | Level 5 expert

    The ride is supportive, and comes with a better transition quality. 

Become an expert

  • The upper built and fit of the Asics Gel Nimbus 18 was changed. As compared to the previous version, the shoe has a lesser room in the toe box. It also comes with an enhanced heel counter molding design that delivers a snugger collar area. The shoe also uses new and smoother laces.
  • Another notable update in the Nimbus 18 is the cushioning which is a lot firmer as compared to the previous version. Firmer cushioning is observed in the forefoot and heel. The firmer cushioning is due to the improved foam density used.
  • The Nimbus 18 is approximately 10 grams heavier than the previous version. The increased in the weight is due to the redesigned heel counter molding of the shoe.

When it comes to sizing, the Nimbus is available in standard running shoe length and width. However, the fit of the shoe is a little different from the previous version. The toe-box of the shoe have less room for the toes to move and it comes a narrower heel molding.


The Nimbus 18 features the same outsole materials found in the Nimbus 21. The outsole design aims to provide durability and traction to a wide variety of surfaces.

The Asics Gel Nimbus 18 features the Asics High Abrasion Rubber (AHAR) that delivers maximum durability. With the help of the DuraSponge technology strategically placed in the forefoot area, the shoe delivers added cushioning and flexibility. The forefoot also made from blown AHAR element that gives added durability.


The midsole of the shoe uses the notable Asics Rearfoot and Forefoot Gel cushioning that is specifically designed to absorb shock efficiently for a more responsive ride. The FluidRide technology also provides a responsive cushioning and added durability without affecting the overall weight of the shoe. The Guidance Trusstic System provides lightweight support system while giving enhanced torsional rigidity.


The upper of the Asics Gel Nimbus 18 delivers a lightweight and breathable coverage through the engineered mesh material. Aside from the breathable environment, the shoe also gives irritation-free running experience through the seam less upper construction. Also, the FluidFit technology delivers a glove-like fit.

This Asics running shoe also comes with a heel clutching system that comes in an exoskeletal design. It wraps the heel comfortably while delivering a more secure fit.

The Asics Gel Nimbus 18 also comes with a new set of laces, which are smoother than the previous version. The shoe also has discrete eyelets that are designed to disperse lace tension and give additional comfort.

Comparison