Editor rating:
8/10 on
DANIEL CHO
User's rating:

PROS

  • Plenty of soft cushioning
  • Luxurious feel
  • Flexible

CONS

  • A big, heavy shoe
  • Not suited for faster paces
  • Potential for hotspots
  • Expensive

OUR VERDICT

A great choice for runners looking for premium soft cushioning
SHOE INFO
Brand
Gel Nimbus 15
Model
Type
11.6 oz. (329 gr.)
Weight
145 US$
MSRP
Previous model
WHO IS IT FOR
Any neutral runners wanting maximum cushioning

Asics Gel Nimbus 15 Overview

Fans of the Asics Gel Nimbus 14 will love the 15th version.

Asics has made minor changes to the upper construction, but it has kept the Nimbus basically the same. This is not necessarily a bad thing.

While innovation is fun and exciting, runners sometimes appreciate predictability in their shoes. What has changed is the price tag—a $5 increase. Runners will have to decide whether the qualities of the Nimbus 15 are worth that increase in price.

Asics Gel Nimbus 15 First Impressions

Out of the box, the Nimbus 15 looks almost identical to its predecessor. Even the overlay patterns look the same.

The shoe still has a very flexible forefoot, which gives it a fast transition heel-to-toe (maybe too fast). Side-to-side, the shoe is a bit rigid, but its not stable enough to appeal to even a moderate overpronator. A stiff heel counter locks the foot in place.

I had the opportunity to review the Gel Cumulus 15. In that review, I commented that the Cumulus felt at least a half-size too small. I did a side-by-side comparison with the Nimbus, and the Nimbus felt true to size. If you can’t seem to find the correct size in the Cumulus, you may want to try the Nimbus, which I felt had a superior fit.

When I had both the Nimbus and the Cumulus on, I also noticed the difference in Gel cushioning. The Nimbus had noticeably more Gel, especially in the forefoot. Runners who put a lot of stress on the forefoot may want to consider the Nimbus over the Cumulus for that reason.

Another difference between the Nimbus and the Cumulus is the amount of foam throughout the upper. Asics does not hold back when it comes to memory foam in the Nimbus’s upper. In my review of the Cumulus, I commented that the upper was light and breathable. On the flip side, the Nimbus has a fairly substantial upper, which gives it a luxurious feel, but also means it is slightly less breathable and heavier feeling.

Asics Gel Nimbus 15 Sole Unit

The sole unit of the Nimbus 15 is identical to the previous version (as well as the Cumulus). Running Shoes Guru received some comments from runners who experienced some discomfort in the Nimbus 14, and the particular outsole pattern may be a contributing factor.

The outsole has only a couple of very deep flex grooves. This is what gives the shoe its flexibility. But those deep flex grooves also means a very fast transition. The Nimbus does not have the structure needed to slow your foot down through the transition, and for some runners, that may cause discomfort. Also, if those flex grooves do sit in the appropriate spot on your foot, it may cause flexing where your foot normally does not flex, which again may cause discomfort with some runners.

Like I said above, Asics did not hold back when it comes to Gel in the midsole. As a result, the Nimbus feels well cushioned, and capable of whatever mileage you can dish out. That Gel is especially noticeable in the forefoot, which may appeal to forefoot strikers, especially. With all that cushion underneath, the Nimbus is well-suited for everyday training, long runs, recovery runs–just about anything. It is, however, a lot of shoe, so those who prefer something lightweight for faster paced runs or races may need to put the Nimbus in a rotation with a more minimal shoe.

Asics Gel Nimbus 15 Upper

The upper is again almost identical to the 14. That means generous amounts of memory foam throughout the upper, which gives the Nimbus 15 a very luxurious, almost pampering feel. The overlays are slightly smaller than those found on the 14. But the shoe does not feel any lighter than it did a year ago, so whatever weight the new overlay technology might have saved, it must be minimal.

Asics Gel Nimbus 15 Opinion

Like the 14, the Asics Gel Nimbus 15 is a great shoe for any runner wanting to maximize the amount of soft cushion in their trainer. Anyone who was less than satisfied with the Nike Vomero 8, may want to take a look at the Nimbus 15. The only downside I see is for those who experienced hotspots in the Nimbus 14—that issue won’t be resolved in the 15.

We thank the nice people at Asics for sending us a pair of Gel Nimbus 15 to test. This did not influence the outcome of the review, written after running more than 50 miles in them.

Asics Gel Nimbus 15 Price Comparison

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