An almost flawless high mileage shoe but with a hefty price tag
As running shoe technology develops the range of new options becoming available is growing at an impressive rate. However, there are those shoe lines that have been around for years that still deliver the goods.
With over two decades of iterations, the Asics Gel Nimbus is a shoe with a lot of history behind it, and one that has seen a large following from runners looking for reliability and cushioning.
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Designed for high-mileage comfort, the Gel Nimbus 23 is a plush ride built with impact absorption at its core. As well as a generous level of midsole foam it also incorporates Asics’ gel technology and features a minimal level of stability.
We’ve been testing the shoe out over a range of speeds and distances to see if it’s worth investing in as your next daily trainer.
The specs
Price: £155 | Weight: 310g/10.9oz (men) 260g/9oz (women) | Type: Road | Stability: Minimal | Heel to toe drop: 10mm (men) 13mm (women) | Sizing: Fits to size | Alternatives: Saucony Ride 13, Nike Pegasus Turbo 2, Brooks Glycerin 18, Saucony Triumph
Design
The Gel Nimbus line of shoes is one of those classic old favourites that continues to deliver reliability despite an onslaught of new products hitting the running shelves. Like it’s many predecessors, the Gel Nimbus 23 is built for cushioning, durability and comfort for many miles.
Not a great deal has changed in this most recent iteration of the shoe, which, if you’re a fan of the previous versions will be welcome news. There are a few slight modifications to various elements of the design which include a thicker tongue, additional gel to improve impact minimisation, an updated midsole to add cushioning, and a new upper that is made from 20% recycled fibres.
Overall, everything about Gel Nimbus 23 is built for high mileage, whether that’s long runs or cumulative daily miles. The Flytefoam midsole, combined with gel in both the front and heel sections aims to limit impact, and there’s also a stiff Trusstic block in the arch of the shoe to offer additional stability.
The upper combines plush cushioning that’s most noticeable in the thick tongue with an Ortholite sockliner to offer a soft, comfortable fit as soon as you step into it.
On the outsole, there’s also a generous helping of rubber coating to help with durability and grip.
Road testing
Unlike many of the latest technologies that we’ve seen over the past few months, the Asics Gel Nimbus 23 is a shoe all about reliability instead of noticeable performance gains. It’s a shoe that you can happily wear day after day without thinking about it, offering an instant level of comfort and support for every run.
That is in no way a bad thing and there’s a lot to be said for a shoe that is largely flawless in its ability to go unnoticed as you clock up the mileage.
We’ve tested the shoe from short distance recovery runs to 15-mile longer efforts and found it delivers a consistently positive experience. The level of cushioning is very good and isn’t so soft that it feels sluggish. It’s not designed for tempo runs or race pace speed, but it has enough responsiveness in the midsole foam to allow you to run at a quicker pace if you want to.
The upper offers a soft, roomy feel, especially in the forefoot, and the plush ankle colour twinned with the noticeably thick tongue makes for an extremely comfortable feel from the first time you put your foot into it.
Summary
The Asics Gel Nimbus 23 is a good all-round shoe if you’re looking for comfort, durability and cushioning when it comes to daily training miles, and fans of the Gel Nimbus line won’t be disappointed.
The only problem comes down to the hefty price tag, especially when compared with other daily running options that come in cheaper like the Saucony Ride 13 or the Brooks Glycerin 18. £155 is a lot of money for a running shoe that’s main benefits are reliability and comfort and we feel there are many other options out there that deliver a similar experience for cheaper.