ASICS Gel-Nimbus 28 Review: Lighter, Lower Than Claimed, and £180 on Paper

The Nimbus 28 replaced the 27 in December 2025, and it is the current Nimbus as of October 2026. It is about 20 g lighter, every reviewer finds it very comfortable, and nobody thinks it is fast. Two things the box will not tell you: the lab tapes measure less stack and less drop than ASICS states, and almost nobody in the UK is charging the £180 RRP.

Published 4 October 2026 · Reviews and prices last checked 4 October 2026 · Shopbam summarises other people's testing; we did not run in this shoe ourselves.

The three reviews this summary is built from

• RunRepeatLab test: weighed, measured, cut in half and abraded. Scores 86/100.
• Road Trail RunA specialist reviewer's run test, with weights at three sizes and a direct comparison with the 27.
• Zappos4.4/5 from 73 buyer reviews (US retailer, checked 4 Oct 2026). 86% say it is true to size.

Specification at a glance

RunRepeat

Editorial test Lab review: weighed, cut in half, measured with a durometer and abraded · runrepeat.com · 86/100, checked 4 October 2026

RunRepeat's method is the useful one for a max-cushion shoe, because it measures the things the box claims. Its pair weighed 278 g against a brand figure it quotes as 283 g, and it calls the shoe 7% lighter than the 27. The surprise is the stack: the lab measured 39.5 mm at the heel and 34.3 mm at the forefoot, a 5.2 mm drop, against ASICS's 43.5 mm, 35.5 mm and 8 mm. RTINGS, testing a separate US 9 pair, got 42.5 mm and 36.1 mm, a 6.4 mm drop. Labs measure from slightly different points, so neither is "the" figure, but both say the drop is lower than 8 mm. That matters if you are moving from a higher-drop shoe or managing an Achilles niggle.

On durability it is mixed. The Hybrid ASICSGrip rubber lost only 1.0 mm in the abrasion test, which RunRepeat calls strong. The toe box and the heel lining each scored 3/5. RunRepeat says the heel padding wore "slightly more than usual" but is still fine for regular use. The foam is a touch softer than the 27's (38.8 against 39.3 on the Asker C scale). Energy return is poor at about 44–46%, breathability is below average, and the toe box is 72.5 mm wide, which RunRepeat calls standard. Its main complaint is that the shoe "needs a more modern midsole" at this price.

🎬 Watch: ASICS GEL-Nimbus 28 Full Review

Road Trail Run

Gear blog Ryan Eiler's review, 15 January 2026, scored 8.6/10 · roadtrailrun.com · weights at three sizes, and the 27 comparison

Road Trail Run is a specialist running site whose reviewers buy or are sent shoes and run in them. This review is one runner's view, so do not treat it as a survey. It is most useful on weight, because it gives figures at three sizes: 272 g at US 8.5, 278 g at US 9 and 282 g at US 9.5. That works out to roughly 5 g per half size, so a UK 11 will be noticeably heavier than the headline figure. Eiler puts the 28 at about 9.6 oz against the 27's 10.7 oz. Road Trail Run's own Nimbus 27 review gave 302 g at US 10, so the comparison is not quite like for like, but the weight saving is real.

His other findings are the ones the lab cannot give you. The 28 feels stiffer and blockier than the softer, more flowing 27. The upper holds well with plenty of width, and sizing is true. On wear, he saw some heel-rubber wear and graining on the midfoot foam after just a couple of runs. That is a cosmetic early sign, not a failure, but it sits awkwardly next to RunRepeat's good outsole result. Women's Running's UK tester, Laura Fountain, rated the shoe 4.5/5 over several 10k runs. She liked the lower collar at the Achilles, but found the price steep and noticed a slapping sound as she ran.

🎬 Watch: ASICS Gel Nimbus 28 vs. 27

Zappos

Retailer ratings 4.4/5 from 73 reviews, 74% five-star, checked 4 October 2026 · zappos.com · a US retailer; we found no UK page with a counted rating

These are customer reviews hosted by a shop that sells the shoe, and Zappos is American. We use it because none of the UK retailers we checked (ASICS UK, SportsShoes, Sports Direct) showed a counted rating on their Nimbus 28 pages. The spread is 74% five-star, 10% four, 10% three, 3% two and 4% one-star. 86% of reviewers say it is true to size and 86% say the width is right. Many of the reviews come from people walking or standing all day, such as nurses, not just runners.

The complaints are more useful than the score. Several long-time Nimbus buyers say the toe box is narrower than the 27's (and the 25's). Some report holes in the toe and side of the upper, which fits RunRepeat's middling 3/5 for the upper. Others mention a high, tight ankle collar, a stretchy tongue some find awkward, and a forward-rocking feel that not everyone likes. One sizing note to check: SportsShoes' SS26 page says testers found it about half a size large, while its AW26 page says true to size.

🎬 Watch: ASICS GEL-Nimbus 28 Review

Strengths and weak points

Who it actually suits

Buy it if you want a soft, stable, high-cushion shoe for easy miles, long runs or long days on your feet, and you can buy it at £130–£135 or less. It also makes sense if you need a wide fitting, because ASICS UK sells the Wide at the same price as the standard.

Look elsewhere if you want a shoe with some pop for faster sessions, if you run hot, or if the 27's roomier toe box suited you. In that last case, buy the 27 while Sports Direct still has it from £90 and save £40 or more. And if £130 is more than you want to spend on running shoes, our six shoes at or under £50 covers the budget end.

Sources and prices last checked 4 October 2026. Nimbus prices change by colourway and by the week, so check the listing in front of you before ordering.