ASICS Gel Nimbus 26 Review Australia
Return of the Cushion King
Likes
- More responsive ride
- Improved outsole traction
Dislikes
- Takes effort to dial in fit for some
- Mixed feelings on firmer feel
What's New
With the ASICS Gel Nimbus 26, we see some minor updates to the upper and outsole designs. The upper features a refined knit material for a soft yet breathable fit, along with suede-like eye stays for a secure wrap. The outsole is now equipped with Hybrid ASICSGRIP rubber in addition to AHAR rubber for better traction and increased durability.
The Bottom Line
The miles have been run and the results are in–ASICS' has got another winner on its hands! It was a mere year ago when the ASICS Gel Nimbus 25 blew our socks off and became an instant favourite in our building and within the broader running community. The plush cushioning combined with the carefully crafted upper made for an unrivalled underfoot experience in the max cushioning daily training category. The Nimbus 26 picks up where the Nimbus 25 left off and our testers appreciated the ride offered by the Nimbus 26, even if they did not unanimously agree on the decreased squishiness of the midsole.
Although the Nimbus continues to face stiff competition in the max cushion category (see HOKA Bondi 8, Saucony Triumph 21), it separates itself from the pack by offering a top-to-bottom premium experience. And because of that, it is easy to recommend this shoe to runners of all experience levels. If you're looking for a highly cushioned, cloud-like underfoot experience on your daily runs and longer efforts, the ASICS Gel Nimbus 26 is an excellent option.
Specifications & Fit
Shoe Specs
| Weight | Men's: 10.7 oz (size 9) | Women's: 9.2 oz (size 8) |
| Stack Height | 41.5 mm (Heel), 33.5 mm (Forefoot) | 8 mm Heel-Toe Offset |
| Terrain | Roads |
| Stability | Neutral |
| Sizing | True to Size |
Our In-Depth Look
Upper
Jon: The upper is where the Nimbus 25 really blew me away. It redefined what a premium upper should feel like so the bar was set high for the Nimbus 26. The soft and plush feel that I loved in the Nimbus 25 carries over to the Nimbus 26, but I have to say, the fit was not quite as seamless for me in the Nimbus 26. One of the changes in the upper of the Nimbus 26 is the suede like material that makes up the eye stays as opposed to the flexible "looped" design of the Nimbus 25. Although this seemed like a subtle change on paper, it actually marked a significant difference in how the shoe fit my foot. I found the Nimbus 26 to be more inflexible on top of my foot, which made the shoe fit more snug than I liked. I also felt the tongue bunch as well, which was not ideal. I was able to loosen the laces a bit to achieve a more comfortable fit, but I still prefer the stretchiness and give that the upper of the Nimbus 25 provided. I do think runners with narrower feet will like the fit of the Nimbus 26's upper better and find it more secure.
Risa: I love the Nimbus upper. Once again like version 25, it feels soft and premium, and I also felt like it was a little less sloppy and more secure, though I’d still say the shoe is accommodating. I didn’t really have issues with breathability, but it might run a little warm.
Midsole
Risa: The Nimbus 26 midsole is still soft and amazing, but there is less of a sink-in, memory foam-like softness than the previous version. I did feel like it was easier to go faster in version 26, but that’s not why I would wear this shoe. I still see the Nimbus as a cruiser; I personally don’t care about it becoming more responsive as I have other shoes for different types of efforts.
Jon: The Nimbus 26 features the same FLYTEFOAM BLAST PLUS ECO midsole foam that we saw in the Nimbus 25 as well as the ASICS Novablast 4. As we know however, just because a foam carries the same name from shoe to shoe, it does not mean the foam is tuned the same in terms of softness. In fact, the underfoot experience between the Nimbus 25 and Novablast 4 is quite drastic. The Nimbus 25 is supremely soft and has a sink-in feeling whereas the Novablast 4 feels quite bouncy and energetic with a slightly firmer underfoot feel. The Nimbus 26 falls somewhere in the middle for me, which I appreciated. After running the Nimbus 25 for a bit, I actually felt like the midsole was too squishy and therefore, not very responsive. the Nimbus 26 is noticeably firmer and responsive, but still plenty soft. And with the trusty PureGel insert in the heel, the impact absorption and overall protection really helped on my recovery runs/easy efforts.
Outsole
Risa: I didn’t notice any issues with the outsole of the 25. However, I know that was a common complaint, and version 26 does feel more grippy.
Jon: The outsole traction has been markedly improved with the additional of Hybrid ASICSGRIP rubber that's been strategically placed in the outsole, along with AHAR rubber. The increased grip was immediately noticeable to me and it performed very well throughout testing. I ran on some dirt roads a bit and even got to run on wet pavement after a rainy day, and I thought the outsole tackled those challenges with ease.
Comparable Shoes
ASICS Gel Nimbus 26 vs. ASICS Novablast 4
Jon: I touched on these two shoes a bit already, but I think it's worth mentioning it here since we get asked to compare these two models to each other quite often. From my perspective, these two shoes are drastically different from one another and serve different purposes. The Nimbus 26 specialises in plush cushioning that prioritises comfort over everything. This makes the Nimbus 26 the perfect choice for runners who want a really soft underfoot experience, even if it comes at the expense of speed. in contrast, the Novablast 4 is extremely versatile and does have the ability to handle speed workouts, thanks to its lightweight design and energetic midsole cushioning (even though both shoes feature FF Blast+ Eco). These shoes actually complement each other very well in a shoe rotation, but if I could only have one, I would go with the Novablast 4 since I value versatility over any other quality.
ASICS Gel Nimbus 26 vs. New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080 v13
Risa: I’ve been able to test a lot of max cushion shoes, and I would still suggest the Nimbus 26 over all the other options. I think the foam is the most comfortable on the market. I would put the New Balance 1080 in second place. The 1080 is max cushion but offers more ground feel and bounce.
Individual Thoughts
Overall, I really enjoyed my runs in the ASICS Gel Nimbus 26 and even thought the underfoot experience was an improvement from the Nimbus 25, but it was hard to be blown away with this version given how massive an update the Nimbus 25 was just a year ago. The Nimbus 26 offers small upgrades, but I imagine a lot of runners will not be in a huge rush to move on from their Nimbus 25s.
But taking a look at the Nimbus 26 in a vacuum, runners are getting an extremely well cushioned and plush underfoot feel that has just enough firmness to offer excellent protection, responsiveness, and stability. While it lacks the versatility that I covet in a running shoe, it excels at what it's designed for and it will serve runners across all experience levels, either as a premium easy effort/recovery shoe, or a daily training workhorse.
Overall, while I slightly prefer the previous version, I still think the Nimbus is the best max cushion shoe on the market. It is a shoe that you put on and it has that wow effect that continues on the run. In my opinion, it is the perfect cruiser. Version 26 was designed to be a little more responsive and lost some of its squishy softness, which I will miss. However other runners are sure to appreciate the added versatility of version 25. Overall version 25 sees minor tweaks, and I absolutely love this shoe.
