Asics Nimbus 28 Review: A Leaner, More Lively Max Cushion Shoe

Introduction

The Asics Nimbus 28 looks a lot like the Nimbus 27 at first glance, but the changes under the surface add up to a meaningfully different shoe. The stack height stays at 43.5 mm with an 8 mm drop (35.5 mm in the forefoot), and the foam is the same as last year. What has changed is the geometry, the weight, and the way the shoe runs. The result is a Nimbus that feels leaner, airier, and noticeably more enjoyable on easy miles.

Who This Shoe Is For

This is a max cushion daily trainer, best suited to runners who want a comfortable, forgiving shoe for easy days, recovery runs, and treadmill sessions. If you use one shoe for everything from easy miles to all-day wear and travel, the Nimbus 28 fits that role well. It is also a sensible pick if you found the previous version too blocky for your taste but still want maximum cushion.

Main Strengths

The biggest change is in the midsole geometry. The Nimbus 27 had more cupping in the heel and a flared, trapezoidal shape that locked the foam down, which helped with stability but made the ride feel rigid. The Nimbus 28 trims that structure back and sends the sidewall down more vertically, so the foam compresses and decompresses more dynamically. The ride feels less dense and airier than last year.

The upper switches from a jacquard mesh to an engineered knit, though the fit feels largely the same in cooler conditions. The fit is comfortable without being too snug, and the shoe is available in wide and extra wide versions.

Weight is another clear win. Thanks to a trimmed perimeter and a reworked hybrid grip outsole layout with less rubber and more exposed foam, the Nimbus 28 comes in at 281 g (9.9 oz), which is 24 g lighter than the Nimbus 27. The hybrid grip rubber is still durable in high-wear areas and softer where grip matters more, and there is still some Gel in the heel for impact protection.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The Nimbus 28 is not a bouncy, springy shoe, and it does not try to be. The foam is well tuned for cushioning and comfort rather than pop. If you want a lively tempo shoe, this is not it.

The price is also worth thinking about. At $170, it is $5 more than the Nimbus 27 was, which itself was $5 more than the version before. That is a $10 increase over two years, and it puts the Nimbus in genuinely expensive territory.

Buying Advice and Alternatives

If you are a long-time Nimbus fan trying to save money, the Nimbus 27 can be found on sale for around $125. It is still a comfortable all-day and run-walk shoe, and it felt more firm and stable than the new version. That said, if you prefer the new, more dynamic feel, the Nimbus 28 is the better running shoe of the two.

The most obvious alternative is the Brooks Glycerin 22 at $165 retail, also on sale for around $125. It targets the same runner with plush uppers and a heavily padded heel, but it has a more stabilized heel and a 10 mm drop, which makes it more of a heel striker’s max cushion shoe. A more unusual option is the Diadora Challanger 2 at $185. It feels dense and boxy with a very puffy heel cup, but it has a springy forefoot insert and a quality insole that liven it up. It is essentially a Nimbus in reverse: the cushioning focus sits in the forefoot rather than the heel. It is hard to recommend enthusiastically at that price, but it is an interesting alternative for Nimbus or Glycerin fans looking beyond the usual suspects.

Conclusion

The Nimbus 28 is a well-executed update. Asics kept the cushion and comfort that define the Nimbus while trimming weight and unlocking a more flexible, enjoyable ride. The $170 price is the main sticking point, and shoppers on a budget can find strong value in a discounted Nimbus 27 or Brooks Glycerin 22. But for daily max cushion miles, the Nimbus 28 is the one to beat in this trio.