ASICS Gel-Nimbus 28 Review: Lighter, Better – But Falling Behind?
- FORDY RUNS
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
The ASICS Gel-Nimbus 28 has arrived, continuing the brand’s journey into the max-stack, max-cushion daily trainer world they helped kickstart a few versions ago. But with the competition moving fast, the big question is whether this long-time fan favourite is still holding its own.
What’s New?
The Nimbus 28 doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but ASICS has made several targeted updates—most of them aimed at one key goal: cutting weight.
Key Updates
New, lighter engineered upper
Reworked heel design to strip out excess bulk
Updated outsole using AHAR+ and ASICS’ hybrid grip
Weight reduction down to 300g in a UK 9.5 (down from 327g in the Nimbus 27)
FlyteFoam Blast+ midsole and PureGEL in the heel remain
40mm+ stack height (approx. 43.5 mm), with an 8mm drop
True-to-size fit (but with a notable caveat…)
The upper is cleaner and sleeker, and the lighter tongue and trimmed-down heel make the shoe feel more refined overall. ASICS deserves real credit here—this is a meaningful weight reduction, and the shoe feels better because of it.
Fit: A Quick but Important Warning
While the shoe fits true to size, there’s a recurring issue that’s carried over from previous Nimbus models:the left shoe’s lateral side digs into the little toe. This becomes a real problem if you go past 10 miles, where rubbing can become pretty uncomfortable. If you’ve got even a slightly wide foot, it’s worth considering the wide version, which ASICS does offer and solves the issue for many runners.
Performance
This update performs exactly as loyal Nimbus fans would expect—with a little extra spark thanks to the reduced weight.
The Ride
Still plush, cushioned, and ultra-comfortable
Still a max-stack cruiser at heart
But now feels noticeably lighter and slightly livelier
On one run, I was cruising at 7:00–6:45 per mile, and the shoe handled the pace surprisingly well—arguably better than it did at easier 8:00 mile cruising speeds. It doesn't transform the Nimbus into a tempo shoe, but it’s more responsive and more willing than the version before it. Overall, the ride is familiar but improved. Fans of the Nimbus 25–27 will feel right at home, just with a bit more agility.
Where the Nimbus Is Struggling
Here’s the honest bit: ASICS has pushed this platform as far as it can go. The Nimbus 28 is a good update, but the competition has stepped things up with newer foams and more modern geometry. Shoes like:
Nike Vomero (now cheaper at £155 and using ZoomX)
Brooks Glycerin Max
Other max-stack trainers using innovative, next-gen foams
…are raising the bar.
ASICS does have new midsole technologies coming (Lux+, new Blast foams, etc.), and with so many big upgrades landing across their 2026 lineup (NovaBlast 6, SuperBlast 3, Yuuri Speed, etc.), it feels like the Nimbus is due for a major overhaul. The current formula is solid, but it’s starting to lag behind.
Verdict
The ASICS Gel-Nimbus 28 is:
👍 A worthwhile upgrade if:
You liked the Nimbus 25, 26, or 27
Comfort is your top priority
You want a lighter, livelier version of a shoe you already love
👎 But not the most compelling option if:
You’re looking for cutting-edge foam or modern geometry
You want the best value in the max-cushion category
You have a wide forefoot but don’t want to buy a wide model