Analysis carried out by Miguel Marne Martínez @miguelmarne
If there is an Asics model that has marked an era, that is the Gel Nimbus. It has been one of the banners of the Japanese brand, which marked a new era by introducing GEL™ technology, which it developed at the end of the 90s.
Since its origins, the brand has focused on bringing sport to the whole world, and promoting physical activity as a lifestyle (ASICS is an acronym for “Anima Sana In Corpore Sano”), and for this it focused on developing comfortable footwear, adaptable and accessible to both professional and popular athletes. ASICS GEL™ technology reduces impacts, increasing its absorption, and is strategically placed to offer the greatest possible comfort, something that makes the shoes that incorporate it synonymous with comfort.
The latest models of the Gel Nimbus have been marked by very characteristic lines, and a very significant model when it comes to fitting the cushioning and upper. It can be said that it was a model that worked and therefore it had not been necessary to introduce any important changes.
But the revolution that has taken place in the world of running-oriented sports shoes in recent years has not only brought carbon plates to our training sessions, but has also led to radical changes in the way of understanding the cushioning and efficiency that we can get with this. The change towards hand maximalism with oversized cushioning has permeated all brands, and no one has wanted to be left behind. That is why, with certain airs of intrigue and secrecy, ASICS announced a few weeks ago the arrival on the market of a revolutionary shoe in its history, and showed us the lines of what was going to be its new “banner”. All that intrigue was going to lead us to discover the latest and most radical version of the Nimbus.
As always, we will objectively analyze the constructive characteristics of this model, and we will carry out an analysis based on personal perception and that will provide data on the main dynamic parameters of the race.
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UPPER
It is a particularly comfortable upper, built with a seamless “knit” mesh that prevents any type of uncomfortable touch inside, also adding perfect breathability to evacuate sweat. It is a consistent fabric, so we are not going to find a “super light” mesh, but with a higher degree of comfort.
The internal reinforcements of the shoe, both in its front part and in the heel, are more than enough to ensure good protection in these more sensitive areas, as well as favoring the stability of the tread. So that this reinforcement does not detract from the comfort of the set at any time, the padding in this area is generous and at no time do you feel any point that could cause chafing.
As a distinctive and novel aspect we are going to mention the tongue: elastic and anchored by three points to both the upper and the midsole, offering us two great advantages: on the one hand, we will ensure that there are no unwanted movements of it during the race, and on the other it offers us an ease to put it on that we had not seen in any other model. In addition, it is complemented with a grip “loop” on the back that makes this action even easier. If we think of sports like triathlon, these would be details to take into account when improving in a transition.
We complete it with a tubular construction lace that ensures a good fit and avoids possible discomfort in the instep, and an insole with OrthoLite™ X-55 technology, which improves the footprint and provides excellent resistance and breathability.
On the other hand, at least 75% of the main material of the upper is made with recycled materials to reduce the carbon footprint. The inner lining results from a solution dye process that reduces water use by approximately 33% and carbon emissions by approximately 45% compared to conventional dye technology. It is not a fact that improves our race, but it is a fact that we thank ASICS for having taken into account.
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THE MEDIEVAL
ASICS incorporates its FlyteFoam Blast Eco Plus technology (with 20% more foam) into the Nimbus, a compound that provides extremely comfortable cushioning, to the detriment of excessive reactivity. And although it mightily draws the attention of any connoisseur of this model, and visually we don’t find it as in previous models, ASICS continues to incorporate its PureGEL technology, now renewed and softer, providing even more pleasant landings and transitions.
Next we will analyze the main construction characteristics of this model:
Drop: We take measurements of the “stack”, and with 38mm in the heel and 30mm in the metatarsus we obtain a drop of 8mm, which coincides with the one indicated on its data sheet. It is a drop that is within what is expected in this type of shoe, although it is worth noting its great stack, close to the known 40mm limit that it must comply with. Therefore, generous cushioning.
Base: We measure the width along the length of the shoe that describes its projection, obtaining 101 mm at the heel, 86 mm at the bridge, and 120 mm at the metatarsus. It is clear that we have an important widening that helps to stabilize a shoe that lacks stiffening elements in this area. The size of the bridge draws attention, which if we compare it with some other model shows a significant width in this area, and favors the support of the plantar bridge.
Rocker: It presents a “rocker” in both heel and toe, and we measured a 17mm “heel rocker” and a 48mm “nose rocker”. The first facilitates the landing phase, and does not penalize those runners whose technique is not very refined in their landing phase, while the second is not very aggressive, and gives us an idea of the type of shoe we have before us.
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SOLE
The sole has “AHAR™ outsole rubber” technology, which improves its durability and means that its design does not have much material, allowing a few grams of weight to be reduced in the shoe as a whole.
We observe that the areas of flooring only correspond to the points of greatest exposure to footfall – metatarsal and heel area – leaving the midsole exposed in the rest of the base. This trend, which is already common in “high performance” shoes, is being transferred to another type of footwear that is not so “radical”, but which can benefit from this reduction in material and use better compounds only in the areas that are going to accumulate practically all of the wear.
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ANALYSIS
As soon as we put on the shoes, the entire marketing campaign for this Nimbus makes sense: they are really comfortable! It is the first sensation that one has since preparing the footwear. Friendly touch, elastic tongue and “pull” on the heel to facilitate the introduction of the foot; padding in the back that avoids any sensation of “contact points” with the reinforcement, adaptive mesh and eyeletless lace routing on the instep. All this to achieve a “sock” effect, which provides the sensation of wearing a “one-piece” upper.
Once on, and despite that extra foam in its midsole that it has, the feeling is one of stability. Already in the race it is confirmed that at no time does this lack of “stabilizing elements” penalize support. The terrain where they have been tested is mixed, and not even in the most irregular areas have there been any problems.
The running dynamics are pleasant at constant pace, and the geometry of the shoe provides both comfort and ease of execution. It does not hinder or penalize due to its large plan dimensions and the weight is contained enough not to weigh us down. The 8 mm drop does not condition the possible deficiencies in the running technique, and at the same time it does not facilitate the “heel” in the stance phase. It is for us a more than acceptable solution for a shoe that, as we will see later, can be classified as “training”.
The cushioning for its part meets expectations, and generates a feeling of comfort and very marked impact containment. No stress is generated and this allows you to lengthen the runs without fear. On the other hand, it is possible to miss a little more reactivity, since this marked cushioning tends to “sleep” the foot during landing, softening the impact but reducing the necessary return during takeoff. We should not interpret this as a weakness, since it will always depend on the use we intend to give our footwear. If we are not looking for punctual performance, but comfort and the need to run “long”, this characteristic becomes a pleasant advantage.
As for the sole, we have been able to verify its effectiveness both on asphalt and on dirt tracks, obtaining optimal results in the first and quite acceptable results in the second. Obviously they are designed to run on firm and grippy terrain, but we can use them, without much aspiration, also “off-road”.
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CONCLUSIONS
We can definitely assure without fear of being wrong that ASICS has developed a magnificent evolution of one of its most successful models, the Nimbus. From now on we have one of the best and most versatile options if what we are looking for is our training shoe.
Abandoning a line that had been given continuity for 24 editions to introduce such a radical change had to be sustained with improvements and obvious innovations, and it has been so. A great shoe has been achieved, with its own character, and which becomes part of this new segment of “hyper-cushioned” training shoes that does not lose effectiveness or stability to achieve extraordinary comfort. Maximalism finds its place in this segment also with the Japanese brand.
We therefore have a neutral training shoe with a geometry and fit that can be adapted to any type of runner. They are extremely comfortable and are going to give us miles of filming with extra protection and comfort. We will not try to find a shoe oriented towards maximum efficiency, competition or quality training, but it is the perfect complement to accumulate distance at shooting rhythms.
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TECHNICAL SHEET (official data)
- Upper: Engineered knit (one-layer mesh that wraps the foot and improves breathability.)
- Mediasula:
- FF BLAST™ ECO PLUS technology (with 20% more material that improves shock absorption).
- PureGEL™ (evolution of ASICS Gel technology).
- Sole: AHAR™ (greater durability).
- Drop: 8 mm.
- Weight: 305 g (size USA10 -men-).
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