Saucony Triumph 24 vs ASICS Gel Nimbus 28: Two Premium Cushioned Daily Trainers Compared

Introduction

If you are shopping for a cushioned daily trainer built for easy miles, long runs, and maximum comfort, the Saucony Triumph 24 and ASICS Gel Nimbus 28 are two of the most obvious candidates. They sit at similar prices, weigh within a few grams of each other, and target exactly the same kind of runner: someone who wants to churn out big mileage in a soft, protective, comfortable shoe.

But the latest updates give them noticeably different personalities. The Triumph 24 received one of the biggest overhauls the line has seen in years, pushing it toward a lighter, softer, more modern ride. The Gel Nimbus 28 stays unmistakably Nimbus: plush, stable, and consistent, with small refinements rather than a revolution.

Specs at a Glance

The Saucony Triumph 24 costs £170 or $170, weighs 256g (9 oz) for men in a size 8, and has a 10mm drop. The ASICS Gel Nimbus 28 costs £180 or $170, weighs 272g (9.6 oz) for men in a size 8, and has an 8mm drop.

Both are heavy-leaning daily trainers with wide platforms and generous stacks of cushioning. Neither is a speed shoe, and neither pretends to be. The differences come down to how each midsole behaves under foot and how much energy it gives back.

Saucony Triumph 24: A Major Update

The Triumph 24 replaces the previous midsole with Saucony’s new foam, and the goal is clear: a softer, lighter, more cushioned ride than the Triumph 23 while keeping the line’s focus as a premium daily cushioned option for easy miles and long-distance running.

The engineered mesh upper is designed to improve breathability while keeping the plush feel the Triumph line is known for, with padding around the heel and tongue for a secure, premium fit. On the outsole, Saucony sticks with XT-900 carbon rubber covering the key contact areas, offering durable traction and protection for high mileage training.

On the run, the changes land well. Testers found the softer, more malleable ride bang on trend, with genuine bounce available on some runs and pillowy landings on heavy-legged recovery days. The foam also delivers a lot of cushioning for the weight, and the shoe feels a bit lighter and nimbler than its spec sheet suggests. The main criticism: the compression and return from the foam can feel slow at times, and runners who want structure and snap may find it a touch too much shoe.

ASICS Gel Nimbus 28: Evolution, Not Revolution

The Gel Nimbus 28 is designed to offer a smooth and comfortable running experience. Much remains the same from the previous version, but the updates aim to improve the ride and trim weight.

The new engineered knit upper provides breathability along with a supportive fit across the length of the shoe, and a redesigned hybrid ASICS grip outsole delivers reliable traction across different conditions while keeping a soft, flexible feel. Returning features include a knit tongue with a loop that makes the shoe easier to slip on, Pure Gel technology for enhanced shock absorption and softer, more stable landings, and an FF Blast Plus midsole for a balanced, well-cushioned ride.

The verdict on the ride: it remains unmistakably Nimbus. It is big, plush, and built for low and slow cruising, with slightly less softness than the Triumph. That firmer tuning creates a more consistent ride, with roughly the same output on fresh or tired legs. Heel strikers get good protection from the gel inserts in the heel, the soft forefoot soaks up the road, and there is mild but real return that avoids the ride feeling lifeless. It is not as springy as the Triumph 24, but it is more fun than previous Nimbus versions.

Fit and Sizing

Both shoes run true to size for most testers, who recommend sticking with your normal running shoe size. Both offer roomy toe boxes with just enough space for toes to splay on easy runs, secure hold around the heel and midfoot, and plenty of padding.

There are a few nuances worth knowing. The Triumph 24 has a slightly more padded tongue and comes up a little narrower down the outside, with some testers finding a bit more space before the big toe; if you want the fit pinned down precisely, going down half a size is worth considering. The Nimbus 28 has a thinner, stretchy knit tongue that saves weight but can move around slightly into the heel collar, though testers reported no real problems with it. One tester called the Nimbus 28 one of the best-fitting shoes they had tried, with high volume in the forefoot and an average width that runners with wider feet might notice. Both shoes have solid heel counters and good lace lockdown across the midfoot.

Ride Comparison: Which Feels Better?

This is where the two shoes separate. The Triumph 24 feeds back what you invest: put more into the stride and you get spring out of it, particularly as you push beyond an easy pace. The new foam has more lift when rolling through onto the forefoot and more spring off the toes than the Nimbus, and it is a lightweight foam that keeps the shoe feeling nimble.

The Nimbus 28, by contrast, gives you the same ride regardless of how you are running. It is more consistent, more stable, and more protective, with a big wide base and a smooth heel-to-toe transition. In a back-to-back run wearing both shoes, heel landings felt reasonably similar: soft without being worryingly squishy, with the Triumph offering a slightly more natural transition and a bit more response off the toes.

For versatility, the Triumph 24 has the edge. It handled steady paces better, while the Nimbus feels big and hefty when you pick things up. Neither shoe suits progression runs or faster workouts; both struggle to keep up when the pace climbs. For easy, steady, and long mileage in comfort, though, both do the job, and testers rated the outsole grip on the Triumph slightly higher while noting similar coverage on both.

Buying Advice

These are both comfort-first cushion shoes, and choosing between them comes down to ride personality rather than quality.

Pick the Saucony Triumph 24 if you want the more modern, lively feel: a softer platform with a bit more energy return, a slightly lighter and nimbler feel on foot, and a touch more versatility if you occasionally roll through to steady paces. Several testers preferred it for exactly those reasons, and if you want a super plush, wide-platformed, high-cushion comfort shoe in a lighter package, it is the stronger pick of the two.

Pick the ASICS Gel Nimbus 28 if you land heavily and want reliability in every foot strike. It excels as a stable, protective, soft but smooth option with a consistent, predictable ride. One tester, who prefers a quicker response over a sometimes-sluggish softness, chose the Nimbus on balance, though they suspected most runners would lean toward the Triumph. Either way, it is the best version of the Nimbus line in recent memory.

Neither shoe is the most versatile cushioned daily trainer on the market, and runners who want a more compact, snappy ride even on easy days may look elsewhere. But as a comfort shoe added to a rotation for marathon training blocks and long runs, both are highly effective.

Conclusion

The Saucony Triumph 24 and ASICS Gel Nimbus 28 are close competitors with similar prices, similar weights, and the same core mission: maximum comfort over big mileage. The Triumph 24’s big update gives it a softer, livelier, more modern ride that most testers preferred, while the Nimbus 28 counters with consistency, stability, and dependable protection for heavier heel strikers. If you want energy from your easy-day shoe, go Triumph. If you want a steady cruise that never changes character, go Nimbus.