SHOE REVIEW: Asics Gel-Nimbus 26
The Asics Gel-Nimbus 26 remains an excellent easy-run or long-run shoe, with just a few key updates over the very popular 25
Photo by:
Nick Iwanyshyn
Last year Asics came out with an unbranded mystery shoe that looked unlike anything they’d made before. It was an instant hit, and when the final version hit the market, we learned it was the Nimbus 25. The Nimbus series has been a best-seller for Asics and a real workhorse shoe that can do it all.
Category: Neutral
Weight: 260 g (women’s size 8)
Drop: 8 mm
Price: $210 CAD
Release date: January 15,
Sometimes a rebrand of a shoe is slow to take or misses the mark–but the Nimbus 25 was a huge success, working with long-time lovers of the shoe and converting many newbies to the brand. Since the 25 worked so well, the 26 (coming in January) has only a few careful updates to the upper and outsole, improving the shoe but not changing the fundamentals.
Upper
The Nimbus 26’s upper is an engineered mesh, which is very breathable, and now has a better fit along the midfoot. I found the upper very comfortable, much like the 25–it fits snugly but comfortably. Thanks to the mesh, the shoe dries out quickly, so feel free to run in it in sloppy conditions.
Midsole
Fortunately, the shoe’s excellent midsole is unchanged. It uses the FF Blast Plus Eco foam, made of 24 per cent bio-based materials, reducing the shoe’s environmental impact.
As for the ride, it’s great. This is a perfect shoe for someone just getting into running, getting back into running after being away from the sport, or an easy-day trainer for an experienced runner. It’s a smooth, comfortable ride, ideal for getting some kilometres in.
Outsole
The outsole has also seen some updates–making it even more durable and improving its traction. This outsole uses a combination of ASICSGRIP and AHARPLUS, their two strongest outsole materials, so that you can get a run in in almost any conditions (ice/snowstorm notwithstanding). Thanks to its improved durability, this outsole will also lengthen the lifespan of your shoe.
Final thoughts
This remains a favourite shoe of mine–it’s a go-to on easy days or for warmup runs. It’s comfy, it pops and it’s very light–the ideal combination for a trainer. No matter what kind of runner you are, the Nimbus has a spot in your lineup!
