Brooks Glycerin 22 vs ASICS Gel Nimbus 27: Two Cushioned Daily Trainers Compared

Introduction

The Brooks Glycerin 22 and ASICS Gel Nimbus 27 are two of the most established names in the high-cushion neutral trainer category, and both have just received meaningful updates. Both shoes are aimed at the same core job: comfortable, protective daily miles and easy runs, for newer runners and experienced runners alike.

They are close in weight and character, but they do not feel identical on the foot. After putting serious miles into both pairs, one of them emerges as the more versatile and better-value choice, while the other is the pick if all you want is maximum plush comfort for slow miles.

Key Specs at a Glance

The two shoes are close on weight: the Glycerin 22 weighs 308g (10.8 oz) in a UK 9, while the Gel Nimbus 27 comes in slightly heavier at 314g (11 oz). The Nimbus is also the higher-stacked shoe, reaching 43.5mm at the heel, with an 8mm drop compared to the Glycerin’s 10mm.

On price, the Nimbus 27 is the more expensive of the two in the UK at £180 (or $165 in the US), while the Glycerin 22 costs £165 or $165.

Upper, Midsole and Outsole Construction

The ASICS Gel Nimbus 27 uses a jacquard mesh upper with plenty of heel padding, a thinner tongue than most shoes in this class, sidewalls of foam and a big internal heel counter that creates a bucket-seat feel and extra stability at the back of the shoe. The midsole is ASICS’ FF Blast Plus Eco foam with a pure gel insert under the heel. It is a balanced foam that skews comfort. The ASICScript rubber outsole covers the key impact areas but coverage is not extensive.

The Brooks Glycerin 22 counters with a double jacquard knit upper, a plush padded tongue and generous heel collar padding. Its big update is the DNA Tuned midsole, a nitrogen-infused dual-density foam that replaces the DNA Loft v3 in the Glycerin 21. Larger foam cells at the heel create a softer landing, while smaller cells at the front keep the toe-off more responsive. The rubber outsole has slightly better coverage than the ASICS and a thicker layer of it, with only a little exposed foam.

Fit and Sizing

Both shoes fit true to size and both testers stuck with their normal running shoe size with no issues. The Glycerin 22 feels solid all round: good padding, plenty of forefoot space and a consistent plush feel. The Gel Nimbus 27 is the roomier of the two, especially through the toe box, with more wiggle room across the top and extra length at the end. It is still not enough extra length to justify sizing down.

One small gripe on the ASICS is the thin, flat knitted tongue, which can roll up slightly when doing up the shoe and makes a locked-down fit a little harder to achieve. The Brooks has the more substantial padded tongue. Both shoes come in a range of widths, and heel hold is solid on both, so most runners should find a comfortable fit by staying true to size.

Ride and Performance

Both are stable, well-balanced daily cushion shoes rather than max-soft mush, and the Glycerin 22 edges out the Nimbus slightly on stability thanks to its midsole geometry. Neither is a fast-day shoe, and both are best treated as easy-run and long-easy-run options rather than marathon-pace trainers.

The Nimbus 27 is textbook Nimbus: a big, reliable platform that is slightly softer underfoot than the Brooks without adding weight over the previous version. It is very comfortable, especially at the heel for heel strikers, and transition is smoother than earlier models. The limitation is versatility. At anything faster than a slow pace the extra heft and a slightly slappy outsole material make it hard to hold a quicker rhythm over longer sessions. It is genuinely a slow-and-easy specialist.

The Glycerin 22 rolls forward more smoothly and feels more compact, nimble and snappier. The foam is not particularly lively and would not be a pick for fast running, but it handles a bit of uptempo work and progression runs, and it makes longer sessions at a steady comfortable pace easier than the ASICS. Compared to the Glycerin 21, the landing is softer thanks to the new DNA Tuned foam, so fans of the line get a familiar but improved ride.

Outsole durability also favours the Brooks. The Glycerin’s thick rubber layer grips well on wet paths and gravel, and wear has been minimal. The Nimbus has less rubber coverage, and with a large section of exposed midsole foam, visible wear started showing at around 50km, with the rubber layer thin enough that heavy wear could eventually expose the foam.

Verdict: Which One Should You Buy?

These are both reliable, well-cushioned workhorse trainers, and if you liked previous models in either line you will like these updates. The choice comes down to how you run.

If all you need is smooth, protective road-eating comfort for your easiest miles, the Gel Nimbus 27 does that very well in classic Nimbus fashion. It offers more top-level plushness and more foam volume underfoot.

But if you want a shoe that can do easy miles and still tick up through the gears, the Glycerin 22 is the more versatile and better-value option. It feels lower profile, snappier and more stable, and it offers the better all-round ride. For most runners, that makes it the better overall pick.

Conclusion

This is a close comparison between two shoes designed for essentially the same job. The ASICS Gel Nimbus 27 wins on pure comfort and plushness at slow paces, while the Brooks Glycerin 22 offers a smoother ride, better stability, better outsole durability and more range across paces, all at a lower price. If you want one shoe to handle the bulk of your easy and long runs with a little flexibility on top, the Glycerin 22 is the one to get.