Asics Gel-Nimbus 19 Review

The GEL-Nimbus 18 is a great shoe for the runner in need of a stability and a sturdy, long-lasting tank of a shoe.

Responsiveness

The GEL-Nimbus 18 uses Asics' own high abrasion rubber outside and DuraSponge® to create a stiff, responsive sole, though the forefoot and heel both have Asics' Gel cushioning to mitigate percussion. We rated the GEL-Nimbus 18 among the most responsive shoes, but found the forefoot's response somewhat lacking relative to the rearfoot. For us, the Altra Torin 2.5 had a more uniform responsiveness across the entire sole, making it an ideal shoe for the all-around runner. The GEL-Nimbus, however, is well suited to heel-strikers and those who feel they need stability.

Landing Comfort

The GEL-Nimbus 18 uses its Trusstic System® and Guidance Trusstic System® along with a number of other stability features to help move the foot into a natural landing and takeoff. This model focuses much of its comfort and padding on the rearfoot, though the Asics Gel is found throughout the high impact areas beneath the foot. For those of us who are midfoot and forefoot runners, the cushioning is less than ideal, but still doable.

The GEL-Nimbus 18 also includes their Heel Clutching System®, which sits along the outside of the upper to hold the heel in place. In our case, we found that the heel counter was too severe and limited our range of movement, particularly in forefoot planting. This feature should function well for those who are concerned about having feet perpendicular to their shins, but for those interested in less stifled motion, a shoe without this particular stability feature, like the Mizuno or even the neutral Brooks Ghost, might be a better choice.

Upper Comfort

The smooth upper of the GEL-Nimbus 18 includes the ComforDry sockliner and insole. The padded heel and ankle areas felt great, but quickly gave way to the thin, seamless upper. This caused slight annoyance because it felt like a thin sock should have been used for the heel and ankles while a thick sock should have been used for the remainder of the foot. Overall, however, the upper felt good, but it received a lower rating because of the aforementioned heel counter that digs into the achilles tendon when the heel is not at a 90 degree angle or less to the leg.

The comparable Mizuno Wave Prophecy 5 has more uniform padding and a more secure feeling than the GEL-Nimbus 18, without the cutting heel counter, earning it a slightly higher score in upper comfort. This is a more solid upper that will not budge for your feet. If you feel you need an unmovable, but cushy shoe, this is a good choice. If you like the more traditional, flexible, malleable upper, stick with the GEL-Nimbus 18. Moving up near the top of the upper comfort category is the Hoka Clifton 3 with its thick, padded collar and form-fitting nylon mesh. While this is a maximalist shoe with a lower heel-to-toe drop, this is a very good choice if upper comfort in a comparable shoe is the aim.

Breathability

This shoe rated near the top of breathability with its thin upper along the toes and forefoot and the ComforDry technology to manage moisture. We ranked the GEL-Nimbus just behind other models like the Nike Flex Fury 2, Brooks PureFlow 6, Saucony Kinvara 8, and Vibram V-Run because each of these running shoes either has large ventilation holes, as in the V-Runs, larger mesh gaps, as in the Flex Fury 2, or as in the case of the Kinvara 8, a multi-layered mesh system with superior breathability.

Weight

This contender is the second heaviest shoe in this lineup with a pair of men's size 11 coming in at 26.1 ounces, almost three and a half ounces lighter than the heaviest shoe, the Mizuno Wave Prophecy 5, about one ounce heavier than the Pearl Izumi E:MOTION Road N3, and almost six ounces heavier than the Hoka Clifton 3. Most runners looking for stability shoes will not be as focused on weight as stability features. However, if you are interested in a much lighter shoe, we suggest the Clifton 3.

Durability

Earlier in this review we referred to the GEL-Nimbus 18 as a tank and we meant it.

We only scored the Brooks Ghost 9 and Mizuno Wave Prophecy 5 higher in durability. The Brooks Ghost 9 is considered a neutral shoe, but it has a similar design and weight. The Ghost 9's thick mesh and carbon rubber allow for a more durable shoe. If stability is not necessarily the prime motive and durability in a very similar model is the motive, the neutral Ghost 9 could be a better choice. If both stability and durability are top choices, we suggest the Mizuno Wave Prophecy 5. With a less punishing heel counter, the Prophecy 5 has a thick AIRmesh upper crisscrossed by reinforcing composites and stabilizing lines sitting atop a hard carbon rubber. This substantial amount of reinforcement does make the Prophecy our heaviest shoe at 29.5 ounces a pair, but the GEL-Nimbus comes in at the second heaviest at 26.1 ounces a pair.

Best Applications

This shoe is ideal for over-pronators wanting a sturdy, reliable stability shoe.

Value

At $150, the GEL-Nimbus 18 is in the mid-range of road running shoes and not a bad price for a stability shoe. While the Pearl Izumi EM Road N3 is a less expensive shoe, we feel that the Asics Gel-Nimbus 18 is a more pure stability shoe with more desired features that will better serve those looking for a stability shoe, especially given the premium expected for some models like the $220 Mizuno Wave Prophecy 5.

Conclusion