Max Cushion Running Shoes Compared: GEL Nimbus 25 vs the Squishiest Rivals

Introduction

Max cushion running shoes have quietly become the comfort-first category of running. With the Asics GEL Nimbus 25 launching imminently, we lined it up against three of the most cushioned shoes around: the Nike Invincible Run 2 Flyknit, the New Balance SC Trainer, and the Saucony Endorphin Shift 3. The question is simple: is the new Nimbus really the most comfortable running shoe out there?

All four shoes are very good, and the right pick depends on what you need in your rotation. Here is how they compare.

The Stats: Stack, Weight and Width

The new Nimbus comes in at around 357 grams (12.6 ounces) in a UK size 11, with roughly 42 millimeters of stack at the heel and about 34 millimeters in the forefoot. The heaviest shoe of the group is the GEL Nimbus 25, with the Saucony Endorphin Shift 3 the lightest by about 50 grams.

The Nimbus strikes a nice balance between cushion and stability. Forefoot width is much of a muchness across all four shoes, with only about half a centimeter of difference, though the Invincible Run 2 Flyknit easily has the most underfoot surface area. The SC Trainer is surprisingly minimal in that respect.

Notably, the SC Trainer is the only shoe here with any carbon element in the midsole; the others rely simply on a large portion of foam underfoot.

Asics GEL Nimbus 25 vs Nike Invincible Run 2 Flyknit

The uppers tell very different stories. The Nimbus upper feels more refined: smooth, plush, and genuinely good looking, with padding that does a great job of locking your foot into the shoe. The Invincible Run 2 carries a lot of material, and the tongue and heel padding feel oddly positioned, almost as if they sit on the outside of the shoe rather than adding comfort for your actual foot. It is not the most visually appealing shoe either, with a bulbous look and strange upper.

Cushioning is where the contrast sharpens. The Invincible’s Zoom X slab delivers a ridiculous level of squash, more than the FF Blast Plus foam in the Nimbus, which is firmer and more consistent across the footbed. Nike leans heavily on stability elements at the rear of the shoe; without them, the ride would be wild, and slow paces would feel very off. The Nimbus offers a controlled, rolling feel, while the Invincible is more of an impact absorber that compresses a great deal underfoot.

One area where the Invincible wins is the outsole: the waffle pattern offered a peculiarly good level of traction across all surfaces. But it is by far the less stable of the two. If stability matters to you, the Nimbus 25 comes into play, especially for easy paces where the Nike’s deep squash does not suit everyone.

New Balance SC Trainer: Tall, Bouncy, Single-Minded

On paper, the SC Trainer looks like a close match for the Nimbus 25. On foot, it feels completely different. The upper has far less padding, which brings a slight weight reduction of about 20 grams (0.8 ounces), though neither shoe feels heavy in practice.

The SC Trainer is the tallest of the bunch by far, with about 47 millimeters of stack at the heel in a UK 11.5. Its Fuel Cell foam is extremely squashy, and without the embedded carbon plate it simply would not work; the underside of the midsole is cut away so much that the ride would be completely unstable. The result is almost trampoline-like fun, and it makes the SC Trainer more of an out-and-out running shoe. It fits a long-run vibe and perhaps slightly faster paces, but it is not a shoe for tempo sessions or faster reps, and it is not something to wear around town.

If you want that exciting, squashy Fuel Cell ride, this is probably the one. If you prefer conventional cushion and sensible squash, the Nimbus takes a more subtle, considered approach designed to appeal to a much broader range of runners.

Saucony Endorphin Shift 3: The Lightweight Cushion Option

The Endorphin Shift 3 shares a similar heel stack with the Nimbus but with a much lower drop, so there is noticeably more foam in the forefoot, and you can feel it. Like the SC Trainer, it is not a casual-wear shoe. The upper is stripped down: less padding in the heel area, a weight-relieved toe box, and Saucony has been careful to place padding only where it counts. That makes it roughly 50 grams lighter, which could suit lighter runners, while heavier-built runners may prefer the Nimbus.

The PWRUN midsole foam behaves closer to the Nimbus’s FF Blast Plus than to Fuel Cell or Zoom X: reliable, calculated, and not prone to deep compression. Firmer foams are not for everyone, but some runners simply need them. The Shift 3 also shares a rocker-like mid-to-forefoot feel at toe-off that is very similar to the Asics shoe.

The trade-off is durability and coverage: there is far less rubber on the outsole, with exposed midsole foam doing some of the traction work. The Asics, by contrast, uses genuinely tough rubber in both the forefoot and heel. If you want a weight-relieved take on the Nimbus formula, the Shift 3 is the one to look at.

Overall Buying Advice

The other three shoes in this comparison work well as running shoes, but they are not shoes you would want to wear casually or for recovery days. They are built for easy runs and longer efforts, and they demand a bit more diligence in terms of foot strike.

The GEL Nimbus 25, by contrast, has been used extensively for casual wear too. Its cushion is reliable and predictable, it doubles as a really great walking shoe, and it is super forgiving on foot strike. The plush upper feels genuinely luxurious, like stepping into something properly comfortable.

For versatility with changes of pace and less concern about stability, the SC Trainer and Invincible Run 2 are the stronger picks. The Shift 3 suits runners who want the Nimbus experience at a lower weight.

Conclusion

For easy days, recovery efforts, long runs, and even casual use, the Asics GEL Nimbus 25 probably is the most comfortable shoe of this group. It feels like Asics has completely rejuvenated the Nimbus line: still maximally cushioned, yet surprisingly stable. All four shoes are very good, though, and it comes down to what you need in your rotation. If you want luxury and forgiveness, go Nimbus. If you want bounce, look at the SC Trainer or Invincible Run 2. If you want that comfort lighter, the Endorphin Shift 3 is waiting.