ASICS Gel-Nimbus 27 vs ASICS Gel-Nimbus 28
A side-by-side comparison grounded in verdicts from 6 reviewers with every source linked. We don't invent quotes; every claim below is attributed.
Specs at a glance
The consensus read
Each paragraph is a synthesis across every reviewer in our database for that shoe — what they collectively concluded after wear-testing. Not a quote. Not one person's take. The shape of the room.
ASICS Gel-Nimbus 27
A maximally cushioned daily trainer that prioritizes comfort on easy and recovery miles, though reviewers split on whether its softer, rolling character or firmer, deadened feel better suits their stride; best for heel strikers and neutral runners seeking protection over versatility.
Reviewers who wore both
Direct paired observations — reviewers who actually ran in both of these and wrote the contrast. This is the strongest comparative signal on the page.
27 is heavier and a touch narrower; 28 fits and runs better
Softer, smoother, heavier, earlier rocker; better for easy/recovery
The 27 was firmer, more stabilized, and blockier; Kofuzi prefers the lighter, airier, more flexible 28 for running, though the 27 is cheaper on sale.
28 is substantially lighter and fits slightly wider; 27 felt like a bit too much overall
Nimbus 28 feels lighter, bouncier and more daily-capable than the sluggish 27
V28 is about 40g lighter, narrower platform, slightly softer, more nimble and versatile; v27 often felt like too much of a landing platform
Nimbus 28 is lighter, more balanced, and slightly more versatile; testers preferred the 28's ride and transition.
Version 28 is about 30g lighter, feels livelier and picks up the pace better while offering a similar overall ride.
Firmer, lighter, snappier, later rocker, more stable; less plush
Nimbus 28 is lighter with slightly more energy and better roll-through than the chunky, heavier Nimbus 27
ASICS Gel-Nimbus 27 — what reviewers say
Ride profile: maximal cushion , neutral stability .
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A softer, smoother, maximally cushioned shoe built for all-out easy-mile comfort, but heavy and limited to slower paces.
Ride:Soft, highly cushioned max-stack ride with a wide stable base and good heel bevel for smooth heel-to-toe transition; can feel slappy and heavy, lacks agility and pop for faster paces
Fit:True to size with a roomy, accommodating toe box and slightly more width than the Ghost; good midfoot and heel lockdown with well-padded heel collar
In their words: "softer, smoother, protective road eating comfort" · "a bit slappy from time to time" · "wide, high volume"
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Dr. Klein prefers the Nimbus 27 over the Diadora Cellula — the foam change made it firmer and more resilient, what he wished the Cumulus could be.
Ride:Bigger direction change: v25/26 were soft, now v27 feels more resilient and slightly firmer; rolls really nicely and feels balanced; approaching stable-neutral without being full stability shoe
In their words: "very different than Nimbus 26 and 25" · "it's not soft anymore" · "broke in very nicely"
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A cool-looking max-cushion trainer that the reviewer liked aesthetically, but it felt heavier and like a little too much compared to the 28.
Ride:Looks more voluminous but felt like a bit too much all over; heavier than the 28
In their words: "just too much all over"
ASICS Gel-Nimbus 28 — what reviewers say
Ride profile: high cushion , firm_responsive feel , low energy return , neutral stability , moderate rocker.
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A good, durable and supportive daily trainer that is just fine, but its foam focuses on protection over fun and feels dull compared to livelier max-cushion options.
Ride:Supportive, stable big cushion cruiser with a slightly firmer, more balanced foam; comfortable and protective but lacks spring and fun, feels muted versus the Vomero Plus.
Fit:Very good fit true to size with plenty of toe box room and a slightly more breathable design than the Vomero Plus.
In their words: "just kind of fine" · "very muted and dull in comparison" · "a big cushion cruiser"
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The Gel-Nimbus 28 is a reliable, comfortable max-cushion shoe that benefits from weight reduction over the previous version, but lacks the excitement or performance edge of competitors. Megan rated it a B overall while Thomas gave it a C, both agreeing it is solid but uninspiring.
Ride:Plush max-cushion ride with a nice roll-through. EVA-based Flight Foam Blast Plus midsole is comfortable but lacks the rebound of more performance-oriented shoes like the Puma MagX 2 or Nike Vomero Plus.
Fit:True to size with no hot spots or rubbing. Heel counter and collar lock in well. Tongue is lighter and less padded than previous version but still comfortable. Upper is slightly more breathable.
In their words: "great for easy days, recovery days" · "very much a max cushion comfortable shoe" · "very sturdy, reliable shoe"
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Kofuzi finds the Nimbus 28 a leaner, more enjoyable max-cushion daily trainer than the 27, with welcome midsole geometry and weight updates, though he thinks the $170 price is too high.
Ride:Leaner and lighter than the 27 with a less dense, airier midsole; foam compresses and decompresses nicely but isn't springy or bouncy; trimmed midsole geometry allows more dynamic compression.
Fit:Fits true to size with the same amount of space as the Nimbus 27; also available in wide and extra wide; very comfortable knit upper with plush heel collar.
In their words: "a leaner, meaner Nimbus" · "a more lively and flexible shoe" · "optimal for my easy daily training miles"
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A good incremental update that shaves meaningful weight and feels lighter and more responsive than version 27, but the platform is starting to lag behind competitors using newer foams and needs a bigger innovation leap next cycle.
Ride:Max stack comfortable daily trainer that feels noticeably lighter and livelier than the previous version; picks up the pace better, felt good down to around 6:45-7:00 min/mile while still cruising nicely at 8:00 min/mile.
Fit:Fits true to size in UK 9.5 but the left shoe rubs the little toe on the outside over 10 miles; wide version is available and recommended for wider feet.
In their words: "definitely feels lighter on foot" · "Definitely feels more alive than the previous version" · "lot lighter, a lot faster feeling"
Who should buy which
Use cases the reviewers above actually call out — one bullet per distinct take, attributed. Where reviewers converge (e.g. "5K to half marathon" appearing across multiple takes) the agreement is a stronger buying signal than any single voice.
Consider the ASICS Gel-Nimbus 27 if
- Runners prioritizing all-out comfort and protection on easy and recovery miles, particularly heel strikers and heavier runners — The Run Testers
- Runners who want a stable, firmer-feeling max-cushion comfort shoe, or walking — The Run Testers
- Neutral runners wanting max cushion for easy runs and long runs, especially heel strikers who want extra protection and forefoot cushion. — The Run Testers
- Easy runs, long runs, recovery for neutral runners wanting soft premium cushion — Doctors of Running
- Easy/long runs for most runners, including those who want one cushion shoe that can also handle some faster running — The Run Testers
Consider the ASICS Gel-Nimbus 28 if
- Max-cushion easy daily training, recovery runs, treadmill miles, and all-day comfort. — Kofuzi
- Runners who want a max-cushion neutral trainer that is actually runnable for long distance, not just a walk-around shoe — Run Moore
- Easy runs, recovery runs, and longer runs at easy pace for neutral runners who want plush cushioning with moderate stability. — The Run Testers
- Easy runs for runners wanting cushioned comfort — The Run Testers
- Versatile daily trainer that can occupy multiple rotation positions; good travel/run shoe — EDDBUD
- Club runners wanting a do-it-all daily trainer — easy runs, long runs, aerobic efforts, and even marathons for lighter runners. — EDDBUD
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between the ASICS Gel-Nimbus 27 and the ASICS Gel-Nimbus 28?
The ASICS Gel-Nimbus 27 is a recovery / easy and the ASICS Gel-Nimbus 28 is a recovery / easy. By the numbers, the ASICS Gel-Nimbus 27 weighs 295g, has a 43mm heel stack and an 8mm drop, while the ASICS Gel-Nimbus 28 weighs 272g, has a 42mm heel stack and an 8mm drop. MSRP is $165 for the ASICS Gel-Nimbus 27 and $170 for the ASICS Gel-Nimbus 28.
Should I buy the ASICS Gel-Nimbus 27 or the ASICS Gel-Nimbus 28?
The Run Testers on the ASICS Gel-Nimbus 27: Runners prioritizing all-out comfort and protection on easy and recovery miles, particularly heel strikers and heavier runners. Kofuzi on the ASICS Gel-Nimbus 28: Max-cushion easy daily training, recovery runs, treadmill miles, and all-day comfort.
Per The Run Testers, Kofuzi.
Has anyone reviewed both the ASICS Gel-Nimbus 27 and the ASICS Gel-Nimbus 28?
Yes — Run Moore, Doctors of Running, Kofuzi, The Run Testers, EDDBUD, and FORDY RUNS directly compared the ASICS Gel-Nimbus 27 and the ASICS Gel-Nimbus 28 in their reviews.
Per Run Moore, Doctors of Running, Kofuzi, The Run Testers, EDDBUD, FORDY RUNS.
Which is lighter, the ASICS Gel-Nimbus 27 or the ASICS Gel-Nimbus 28?
The ASICS Gel-Nimbus 28 is lighter, at 272g versus 295g (men's 9) — about 23g less.