ASICS Gel Nimbus Lite Review
Lighter on Foot and on the Planet
Likes
- Lightweight
- Eco-Conscious Materials
- Well Cushioned
- Smooth Ride
- Durable
Dislikes
- Poor Color Options
What's New
Although the Nimbus Lite may look like a classic ASICS trainer, it features materials and construction that give it a whole new feel. This shoe has a cushioned ride with just the right amount of responsiveness, and the full-length Flytefoam midsole features encapsulated Gel for a soft landing that bounces back with every stride. What this shoe showcases is the brand's eco-friendly technologies, including recycled polyester mesh and lacing in the upper as well as a sustainable midsole foam made of wood-derived fibers. Finished off with the classic ASICS durable rubber outsole, the Gel-Nimbus Lite is made to last so you can feel good about the effect of your purchase on your wallet as well as the planet.
The Bottom Line
The Nimbus series has become known for its soft underfoot cushioning, and now, with the addition of the Nimbus Lite, things are no different. The shoe’s eco-friendly Flytefoam midsole offers a soft step-in feel that’s plush over long miles but doesn’t bottom out. Although almost an ounce less than its standard Nimbus counterpart, the Nimbus Lite is not as lightweight or bouncy when compared to the newest contenders from other brands, but that was never the end goal of the product. The Nimbus has always been about durability, comfort, and cushioning, and the Nimbus Lite checks all of those boxes.
Shoe Performance
Softness i
Ride/Energy Return i
Underfoot Protection i
Flexibility i
Upper Support i
Specifications & Fit
How It Fits
| Toe Box | Width: Medium | Height: Medium (Women's: Medium to low) | |
| Midfoot Volume | Medium | |
| Heel Width | Medium | |
| Arch Height | Medium |
Shoe Specs
| Weight | Men's: 9.6 oz (size 9) | Women's: 8.6 oz (size 8) | |
| Stack Height | 36mm (Heel), 26mm (Forefoot) | 10 mm Heel-Toe Offset | |
| Terrain | Road | |
| Stability | Neutral | |
| Sizing | True to Size |
Our In-Depth Look
Shoe Softness i
The Nimbus Lite has a pillowy softness that begins once you slip it on and continues as you run. Our testers loved the plush underfoot feel that it provided and appreciated the lightweight cushioning during their runs.
David K: "This was surprisingly soft underfoot. With many other brands creating softer and lighter shoes, it is nice to see ASICS getting into the mix and doing a great job of it. The Nimbus Lite feels like a sporty version of a HOKA."
Connor: "With so many versions of Flytefoam cushioning used over the years, different variations in different models have been hit or miss for me. The compound used in the Nimbus Lite is my favorite to date for daily training and delivers an awesome step-in experience that maintains the ultra-soft sensation you’d expect from a premium highly cushioned trainer."
Ride/Energy Return i
The Nimbus Lite offers a responsive feel that quickly adapts to your stride as you change paces. If you are looking for plush cushioning with a hint of energy return, the Nimbus Lite truly delivers.
David K: "While not feeling extremely bouncy, the Nimbus Lite has plenty of responsiveness. I have no issues going from a 9 minute/mile pace to a 6:30 minute/mile pace. The shoe has a great range and doesn’t feel restricted to long or slow runs."
Ben: "I felt that the Asics Nimbus Lite was definitely bouncier than the regular Nimbus 22. The new Flytefoam midsole definitely does the trick; I have no problem picking up the pace in the Nimbus Lite."
Underfoot Protection i
The shoe has a high stack height that offers all the cushioning you could need for long miles on the roads. Our testers felt that the Nimbus Lite was one of the most cushioned ASICS running shoes yet, and they agreed that it offered plenty of protection for anything from daily training to recovery runs.
David K: "I switched primarily to running in very high stack height shoes for long distances, due to knee pain, but I recently ran 10 miles in the Nimbus Lite with no issues."
Connor: "When most people think about the Nimbus, they think soft cushioning and a lot of it, and that’s exactly what you receive with the Nimbus Lite, except in an even lighter package. From recovery efforts to 20 mile long runs, the Nimbus Lite offers the cushioning to keep my body training day in and day out."
Underfoot Flexibility i
The Nimbus Lite offers a flexible ride thanks to generous flex grooves throughout the outsole as well as the omission of the brand's signature TRUSSTIC System. This gave the shoe a smooth and flexible ride despite the high level of cushioning that they provide.
David K: "Typically, flexible shoes aren’t a good match for me since they don’t offer much padding or protection, but the Nimbus Lite somehow creates a blend of both cushioned and flexibility that felt smooth and comfortable."
Connor: "The shoe has a slight flex due to the flex grooves that run throughout the shoe. These groves, along with the removal of the hard plastic piece in the midfoot, help create a slightly more flexible experience over the Nimbus 22."
Upper Feel i
Despite being lighter and thinner than the regular ASICS Nimbus 22 upper, the Nimbus Lite still offers the plush yet supportive hug of the foot that's known to the brand.
Connor: "The upper of the Nimbus Lite is even lighter and thinner than before, but that doesn’t take away too much from its supportive design. I found the shoe upper had a luxurious feel that offered a highly supportive and locked-in fit."
Ben: "The structured heel and midfoot fits securely around my foot, but the flexible toe box allows my toes to spread out. In many shoe models, my toes rub, but in the Nimbus Lite, I did not have this problem."
Individual Thoughts
The ASICS Nimbus Lite provides a cushioned, springy, and lightweight ride for the runner seeking a protective daily training shoe. The soles are very durable, and after close to 100 miles, the soles showed only a moderate amount of wear. Also, I really appreciated the comfortable upper. The toe box is wider than some ASICS models that I have tried in the past. In my opinion, the Nimbus Lite is worth every penny.
Softness
FirmSoftRide/Energy Return
Less SpringyMore SpringyUnderfoot Protection
LowHighFlexibility
RigidElasticUpper Support
StructuredAdaptable
The ASICS Nimbus Lite takes the reliable and highly cushioned philosophy of the Nimbus series and lightens it up to create an even sleeker and more nimble experience. From recovery runs to daily training to long runs, the Nimbus Lite offers a soft and plush underfoot feel without all of the extra bulk.
Softness
FirmSoftRide/Energy Return
Less SpringyMore SpringyUnderfoot Protection
LowHighFlexibility
RigidElasticUpper Support
StructuredAdaptable
This is a great upgrade to the ASICS line. The traditional Nimbus model has always felt heavy and clunky to me, but the new Nimbus Lite feels like a great hybrid between a super plush shoe and something more lightweight and flexible. My main critique is of the sizing. The fit of this shoe didn't seem "dialed-in" and my toes were too close to the end of the shoe; otherwise, it would’ve been nearly perfect. On the multiple short and long runs I took them on, I barely even noticed the shoe on my foot (except steep downhills). ASICS really hit the mark and I would strongly recommend the Nimbus Lite to family and friends as a great lightweight durable trainer.