ASICS Gel-Nimbus 27 vs Gel-Nimbus 26: More Foam, Same Price, Same Role

Introduction

The ASICS Gel-Nimbus 27 is an incremental update to one of the most established max-cushion road shoes, and after a first wet 10K in them, the story is clear: more foam, a new upper, and the same US price of $165. We also ran the 27 and 26 side by side, with one shoe on each foot, to work out whether the changes matter in practice.

What’s New in the Gel-Nimbus 27

The biggest change is the stack. The Gel-Nimbus 27 now comes in at 43.5mm in the heel and 35.5mm in the forefoot for an 8mm drop, which is the same drop but 2mm more midsole foam across the whole foot. The foam is the same FF BLAST+ ECO Plus as before, with a tweaked recipe that adds cushioning without adding weight.

Despite the extra foam, the Nimbus 27 weighs 10.8oz, or 307g, in a UK men’s size 8, marginally lighter than the Nimbus 26. The upper also moves from the knit of the 26 to a jacquard mesh, which feels a little more structured and a bit more premium, and should hold less water in the wet. The heel package, padded heel collar, and tongue details carry over unchanged.

Ride and Cushioning

On the road, the extra 2mm of foam is noticeable. The 27 feels softer and plusher than the 26, with a touch more bounce and spring-back, while the 26 feels slightly stiffer by comparison. Neither shoe was lacking cushioning to begin with, but the 27 adds another layer of road-eating impact protection for long, easy miles.

The extra stack does come with a small trade-off: a touch less stability and a feeling of sitting slightly higher off the ground. It is not a dramatic difference, but it could matter to some runners. At faster paces, a longer progression run brought a bit of a hotspot under the ball of the foot, which reinforces that this is a shoe built for slow, easy mileage rather than speedwork.

Gel-Nimbus 26: Still Worth Buying?

If you already own the Nimbus 26, there is no urgent reason to upgrade. The ride is very similar, the heel and tongue package is identical, and both shoes serve exactly the same role: the easiest, slowest runs where you want maximum plushness and guaranteed comfort. If you like the 26 and did not wish for more softness, sticking with it makes sense.

If you want even more softness, more cushioning, and a taller stack, the 27 delivers on that promise. The jacquard upper also looks nicer and should be a bit more protective in wet conditions, though both uppers are roomy and neither is clearly more comfortable than the other.

Fit, Upper, and Comfort

Fit is true to size, with ample room at the end of the toe box, good clearance over the toes, and plenty of flex. The jacquard upper has a bit more structure than the knit of the 26, but it still flexes comfortably and the toe box remains spacious and unhugging.

Lockdown across the midfoot is solid, the tongue is loose and lightly padded rather than heavily cushioned, and it needs to be positioned correctly in the heel collar. The heel package matches the 26, with lots of plush padding, a heel counter that is present without being stiff, and no slipping during the first runs.

Conclusion

The Gel-Nimbus 27 is business as usual for the Nimbus line: a slightly softer, slightly higher ride in a marginally lighter package with a nicer-feeling upper, at the same $165 US price. It remains a very competent, super-cushioned shoe for long easy miles, and fans of the range will feel right at home. Owners of the 26 can wait until it is genuinely time to replace them.