Our verdict
Comfier miles are in sight with the 25th version of the Gel Nimbus series. These good-looking daily trainers not only turn heads but make feet happy as well. With a plush material underfoot and a super comfy upper that lets feet feel welcome and secure, these neutral runners from ASICS make easy miles feel so much easier. As an added bonus, eco-friendly runners can celebrate with these sustainable trainers.
Pros
- Beyond comfortable
- Like running on marshmallows
- Surprisingly stable
- Feels light on feet
- True to size
- Sustainable materials
- Looks great as a casual shoe
Cons
- Not a very responsive ride
- An oven for the feet
- Pricey
Who should buy the ASICS Gel Nimbus 25
The ASICS Gel Nimbus 25 is a solid pick for:
- Runners who are looking for a daily trainer that can keep their legs feeling fresh for longer runs.
- Those in the market for a pair of running shoes that not only feel great but look the part too.
- Fans of max-cushioned shoes that keep feet stable despite the height.
Who should NOT buy the shoe
Those who would want a more responsive and peppy ride can put their feet in the ASICS Superblast. Also, for runners who are looking for a more budget-friendly daily trainer, the ASICS Gel Contend 7 is your best bet.
Lastly, the ASICS Novablast 3 is an excellent daily trainer that lets your feet breathe better.
Treat your feet to a day at the spa with the ASICS Gel Nimbus 25
Each part of the overall construction of these daily trainers has an incremental effect on the superb comfort that runners experienced in the Gel Nimbus 25.
Here is how experienced runners describe the feel of the Nimbus 25:
- “a cloud disguised as a shoe”
- “feels exceptionally soft on the feet”
- “plusher and more comfortable than before”
Comparing the durometer measurements of the Nimbus 24 and 25, we found that the latter got 48% softer! The videos below make the difference pretty clear too.
Previous version: Nimbus 24
ASICS Gel Nimbus 25
Disclaimer: We take the measurement five times to ensure accuracy. The photo above shows the final result.
Based on our measurements of the shoe's foam softness, we can claim the Nimbus 25 to be softer than 80% of road running shoes in our catalog.
A few runners also commended the heel collar which one said to be “seriously cushioned.”
Despite having a rather thin upper, this ASICS shoe is indeed very generously padded around the ankle.
Unfortunately, it's a bit of a sauna too
There have been complaints about the lack of ventilation in the shoe. As one expert pointed out, his "feet were pretty toasty even in near-freezing temperatures."
We tested the shoe's breathability using a smoke-pumping machine. Assessing the amount of smoke passing through the upper per second, we rated the shoe's breathability as 3 out of 5, where 5 is the most breathable.
ASICS Gel Nimbus 25 (left): average breathability; Asics Gel Excite 9 (right): highly breathable
As you can see, most of the smoke is coming through the tongue. It is actually very thin in the Nimbus 25 - 1.9 mm compared to the average 5.6 mm.
The transparency test below also makes it clear that the ventilation pores are all centered on the tongue of the shoe.
Too much cush might be a bad thing
Plain and simple, a critic called these: “a daily trainer meant to chew up miles.” As a daily trainer for the longer and slower sessions on the road, a consensus was reached by testers that these max-cushioned trainers fit the bill.
The plush ride of the ASICS Gel Nimbus 25 is “a little on the spongey side” as a runner described.
To put the shoe's plushness in context, after sitting 20 minutes in the freezer and getting 36.3% firmer, the cushioning still remained as soft as most running foams at room temperature.
However, too much of a good thing might not be all too great as a critic said: “I thought there was too much of that sinking feeling going on with this shoe.” Another expert agreed as they mentioned that these shoes are so soft that picking up the pace was a challenge. One even said that “these made the shoes less peppy.”
The shoe's claimed heel stack is 41.5 mm but we measured it at 38 mm. And yet, the Nimbus 25 still makes it to the 3% of most cushioned road running shoes.
In the forefoot, we measured the stack height at 30.2 mm - a little thinner than the stated 33.5 mm but still notably thicker than the average 24.5 mm.
As for the heel-to-toe drop, it remains true to the claimed 8 mm based on our measurements (7.8 mm).
Disclaimer: We always measure stack with the insole included.
The insole in the Nimbus 25 (5.5 mm) is also more cushioned than average (4.5 mm).
Given its generous stack, the Nimbus 25 has a moderate level of flexibility.
Checking the shoe's resistance to bending, we found that it is less flexible than 70% of our lab-tested shoes.
The manual assessment also confirms that the shoe is not the most pliable. On a 1-5 scale where 5 is the stiffest, we ranked the shoe's longitudinal flexibility as 3 out of 5 and its torsional flexibility as 4 out of 5.
A bit heavy on the scale but not on the feet
“The Nimbus finally feels like a Nimbus” was what a reviewer said when they were surprised with these 10.5 oz (299 g) daily trainers. They felt that this iteration of the Gel Nimbus was lighter than what it actually weighs. Another runner even mentioned: “I would have guessed the shoe was an ounce lighter.”
One expert also appreciated how these shoes didn’t feel “bottom-heavy” as they found the weight to be equally distributed across the shoe.
For reference, daily trainers with similar heel height (38-41 mm) weigh 10.3 oz (292 g) on average.
Keep feet stable and locked in with the ASICS Gel Nimbus 25
The revamped upper material of the Gel Nimbus 25 is commended by a reviewer who found it “stretched and conformed perfectly to the foot.” Another commented that the knit upper is not only stretchy but supportive too.
The use of a semi-gusseted tongue is another huge plus to the shoe's midfoot lockdown.
As for the shoe’s platform, the heel pillows are described by an expert as providing a “plush lockdown.” Also, the wider and more stable platform was also a welcome improvement as a critic found that it helped make the shoe “surprisingly stable.”
The Nimbus 25 has a stunningly wide platform. We measured the widest part of its forefoot at 119.4 mm (6.9 mm wider than average)...
...and its heel width at 98.9 mm (9.4 mm wider!).
This way, the Nimbus 25 is wider than the previous 24th iteration (115.1 / 91.6 mm) and is even wider than ASICS' flagship stability shoe, the Kayano 29 (111.3 / 90.4 mm)!
Fits as expected
According to most reviewers, there have been no bad surprises with the shoe's fit or sizing.
Measuring the shoe's toebox in the widest part, we got 95.6 mm. This is considered medium width and is slightly narrower than the average 97.8 mm. Thus, it may feel slightly tight for wide-footers. But luckily, the Nimbus 25 is available is Wide and Extra Wide options.
As for the shoe's length, we measured it at 260.4 mm in a men's US 8. This corresponds to the US 8 size in ASICS' official size chart.
Pricey for the daily miles
The ASICS Gel Nimbus 25 is priced at $160. This makes it almost 34% more expensive than other daily trainers on the market which have an average price of $114.
But compared to daily trainers with similar stack height, the Nimbus 25 is actually not that much more expensive. The average price of these shoes is $155.
The ASICS Gel Nimbus 25 makes runners look good
With the PureGEL tech integrated into the shoe’s midsole, the improved aesthetic of the Gel Nimbus 25 is making heads turn. A Nimbus fan said that “it looks better without compromising on running performance.” Another said that they, too, couldn’t believe that they would take the Gel Nimbus out on a casual stroll.
Put these on to help save the earth
The FF Blast Eco Plus cushioning is made of at least 20% bio-based material from renewable resources. Also, the main upper material of the ASICS Gel Nimbus 25 is made of recycled content that is aimed toward the reduction of waste and carbon emissions.
A tiny bit of reflectivity
The small round logos at the back of the shoe light up in the dark. Well, still better than nothing.
Complete lab-specs overview
| ASICS Gel Nimbus 25 | Average | |
| Whole shoe |
||
| Weight (g) |
272 (men's US 8) 289 (men's US 9)* |
264 |
| Drop (mm) | 7.8 | 8.8 |
| Overall Internal Length (mm) | 260.4 (men's US 8) | - |
| Flexibility of the shoe (N) | 35.9 | 34.0 |
| Flexibility of the shoe (Freezer 20 min) (N) | 55.5 | 47.0 |
| Flexibility of the shoe (% of change) | 54.5 | 44.4 |
| Longitudinal flexibility (1-5 scale, 5 being the stiffest) | 3 | 3.0 |
| Torsional flexibility (1-5 scale, 5 being the stiffest) | 4 | 3.1 |
| Upper |
||
| Breathability - smoke test (1-5 scale, 5 being the most breathable) | 3 | 3.8 |
| Thickness - Tongue (mm) | 1.9 | 5.6 |
| Width Upper - Forefoot (mm) | 95.6 | 97.8 |
| Width Upper - Heel (mm) | 78.0 | 75.2 |
| Heel counter stiffness (1-5 scale, 5 being the stiffest) | 3 | 2.6 |
| Tongue: gusset type | both sides (semi-gusseted) | - |
| Heel: pull tab | finger loop | - |
| Midsole |
||
| Width Midsole - Forefoot (mm) | 119.4 | 112.5 |
| Width Midsole - Heel (mm) | 98.9 | 89.5 |
| Stack - Forefoot with insole (mm) | 30.2 | 24.5 |
| Stack - Heel with insole (mm) | 38.0 | 33.2 |
| Durometer Midsole Heel (Room temperature) (HA) | 18.6 | 25.9 |
| Durometer Midsole - Heel (Freezer 20 minutes) | 25.4 | 33.1 |
| Durometer Midsole - Heel (% of change) (TEST) | 36.3 | 27.3 |
| Outsole |
||
| Outsole thickness (Heel) (mm) | 2.9 | 3.4 |
| Durometer Outsole Heel (Room temperature) (HC) | 78.4 | 79.7 |
| Insole | ||
| Insole Heel Thickness (mm) | 5.5 | 4.5 |
| Insole: removable | yes | - |
