Nearly three decades old, the Asics Gel-Nimbus certainly deserves its “Legend” status, a moniker applied to the group of Asics trainers that has formed the core of the brand’s lineup for years. The name is old, but this highly cushioned training shoe certainly isn’t stuck in the past: Asics keeps updating it every year. The latest version, the Gel-Nimbus 29, has just been announced, and it’s a thorough revamp that should be a boon for runners who want a soft, well-cushioned platform underfoot.
Here’s what you need to know about this update to one of Asics’ most acclaimed shoes. The Gel-Nimbus 29 represents a fairly significant update, and the most notable changes are in the midsole. Like previous Nimbuses, this shoe uses a combo of FlyteFoam with a layer of Gel under the heel, but the compounds themselves have evolved.
The 29th iteration utilizes FlyteFoam Luxe Plus, a new foam that’s even softer than the FlyteFoam Blast Plus material found in the Gel-Nimbus 28. Asics also says the Gel layer is 65 percent softer. The Gel-Nimbus 29 also has a wide sole shape, which gives it a naturally stable, planted feel, and it has slightly increased outsole coverage for better grip and durability.
Asics hasn’t released a full spec sheet on the Gel-Nimbus 29, but the brand states it weighs 9.8 ounces in men’s and 8.4 ounces in women’s. That’s slightly heavier than the 28, which weighed 9.3 ounces in men’s and 8.1 ounces in women’s, but it compares favorably to competing shoes like the New Balance 1080v15 (9.2 ounces in men’s) and the Brooks Glycerin 23 (10.6 ounces). Overall, you can expect a very well-cushioned ride with this shoe.
The Gel-Nimbus 29 makes an excellent choice for long runs, when you need a comfy trainer to support your feet as the mile count grows. The shoe retails for $170 (the same MSRP as the Gel-Nimbus 28). It’s in preorder now, and it’ll officially go on sale on December 1.
And as one model moves in, its predecessor hits the sale rack: The Gel-Nimbus 28 is available at REI, Amazon, Nordstrom, and Asics for $130, a 23 percent discount. While the 28 lacks the updated midsole found on the 29, it’s still a highly capable shoe (it earned a spot in our best-of guide for Asics earlier this year). RW testers loved its lightweight feel and soft-yet-supportive cushioning, a combination of FlyteFoam Blast Plus and PureGel in the heel.
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