Shoe Review: Asics Gel-Nimbus 27 ($165)Very similar to last year’s model – only much better

By Brian Metzler

It’s that time of the year – time to start coming to grips with how your favorite running shoes have been updated for 2025. As new running shoes begin to appear at running stores and online shops, runners will start to realize how much their favorite models have changed over their previous edition. Some have changed a little, some have changed a lot. The best way to find out is to visit your local running store (or one of the 50 best stores in the U.S.) and try on a variety of models to see what works best for you.

Why do running shoe brands update popular models every single year when a specific model might have already won shoe review awards in the running media? Because, just like you as a runner, if you keep doing what you’ve done, you will likely get the same results. The bottom line is running brands update shoes to sell more shoes. Sometimes that means making little tweaks and changes, while other times it means a vast overhaul that results in a completely re-engineered shoe. That means you might have loved a shoe one year – no matter if it's the Hoka Clifton, Nike Pegasus, Brooks Ghost, or Asics Gel-Nimbus – and you might either love it more the next year or you might really not like it at all. That’s just the way it goes.

Fortunately, the new Asics Gel-Nimbus 27 ($165) has only gone through minor updates – or should I say minor but significant enhancements. While it has a new upper, and it’s a little bit cushier and a tad lighter, it’s still the same well-cushioned, smooth-riding shoe that it’s always been. Sure, it went through some huge changes two years ago when the Gel-Nimbus 25 became a max-stacked shoe, but the new Gel-Nimbus 27 is a slightly refined version of the last two models. This year’s version, which launches January 1 but is available for pre-order now, returns as a maximally cushioned everyday training shoe that fits better, feels better, and rides better than it did last year in the 26th edition. Bravo, Asics! Well done.

What’s New: This year’s shoe has a handful of key changes. It has a new one-piece engineered jacquard mesh upper that is noticeably more breathable than last year’s engineered knit upper, and it offers a more snug and supportive fit than the previous version of the shoe. The biggest update is that it has a 2mm thicker FF Blast Plus Eco midsole cushioning without adding any weight. It also features Asics’ signature rearfoot PureGEL technology, a lighter version of the brand’s premier cushioning enhancement material, a stretchier tongue, and stretchy heel tab that makes the shoe easier to pull on. 

Fit/Feel/Ride: The Gel-Nimbus 27 fits true to size with a medium-volume interior and sufficient room for my toes to wiggle in the forefoot. (It is available in three widths: standard, wide, and extra wide.) The step-in feel is soft, plush, and extremely comfortable, one of the coziest road running shoes I’ve ever slipped my foot into. The new stretch-knit tongue is fully gusseted and serves up a snug, sock-like fit around my feet that, along with the premium sockliner underfoot, creates optimal creature comfort throughout the interior.

The ride is soft, resilient, and very stable, but not overly bouncy or energetic. It does a great job of softly absorbing the shock of heel-striking strides and then transitions to a semi-firm sensation as it effortlessly rolls through to the midstance and toe-off phases. There doesn't seem to be a lot of energy return in the second half of a stride but I could feel a little bit of spring in each step. It’s not an energetic “pop” like some training shoes we’ve been spoiled with in recent years, but it’s consistent and smooth, and I have appreciated that on all of the runs I’ve done recently in this shoe.

Why It’s Great: Let me put it to you straight: The new Gel-Nimbus 27 is one of the most comfortable shoes I’ve ever run in. Period. The interior comfort is stunningly good, and it reverberates in all the best ways out on a run. The foam midsole and premium sockliner felt just as great after I finished a 10-mile run on concrete bike paths and asphalt roads as they did when I first laced them up. I’ve found this shoe to be an uplifting companion on easy-paced runs after long work days and cold evening runs after the sun sets. While it doesn’t provide a jolt of energy in every step – and isn’t a shoe that feels great running fast – it has provided consistent smoothness in every run I’ve done. 

Specs

Weights: 9.3 oz (women’s 8); 10.7 oz. (men’s 9)

Heel-Toe Offset: 8mm; women’s 42.5mm (heel), 34.5mm (forefoot) 

men’s 43.5mm (heel), 35.5mm (forefoot) 

Why You’ll Love it: The Gel-Nimbus 27 is a reliable, super-cushy trainer that will feel good and perform well on most of the runs you do. If you’re looking for a straightforward comfortable cruiser for high-mileage training as you prep for a half-marathon and marathon, this shoe is a good one to consider. It doesn’t offer a lot of pace variability, but it’s consistent at slower to moderate places. I pushed it to tempo pace on several occasions, but that honestly took some considerable effort. What I appreciated most about it was the cool comfort and extra cushiness it provided without inhibiting my stride.

Pro: Asics says the Gel-Nimbus 27 has a carbon footprint that is 27% lower than the industry average with a +10.6kg CO2e score. At least 75% of the shoe's main upper material is made with recycled content to reduce waste and carbon emissions. The sockliner is produced with the solution dyeing process that reduces water usage by approximately 33% and carbon emissions by approximately 45% compared to the conventional dyeing technology.

Con: The Gel-Nimbus 27 serves up a bit of a one-dimensional ride. It’s soft and resilient, but it lacks dynamic movement and agility because the proprioceptive feel for the ground is decidedly muted. It’s still a great shoe and terrific for moderate-paced road running, but because it’s harder to feel the ground, it’s harder to ramp up to faster paces and really feel in control of your stride.