The Nimbus, which is now in its 26th iteration, is a classic because of its soft ride and its luxurious upper. It’s one of the most popular ASICS trainers because it has plenty of long-distance comfort. It costs $160.
The Novablast is a new shoe and only in its 5th iteration. It costs $140.
Which one of these ASICS trainers is better for you?
The Nimbus has a midsole made of super soft FF Blast+ Eco. It delivers a really plush underfoot feel. The Nimbus has one GEL unit, in the heel. The GEL unit absorbs vibration during foot strikes.
The Novablast also uses ASICS’ new midsole foam, FF Blast Max. Its ride is firmer than that of the Nimbus. There are no GEL units in the Novablast’s midsole and it has a smoother ride.
The Nimbus is better for relaxed runs such as easy and recovery runs because of how plush its midsole foam is. Your feet sink down into the soft foam with every foot strike, making slow runs more enjoyable and giving your feet better protection.
The Novablast is better for faster runs like steady runs, tempo runs and threshold runs. Its midsole returns more energy so it’s easier to pick up the pace and go at speeds below 5 minutes per kilometre.
Both trainers use ASICS’ AHAR outsole rubber but the difference is that the density of the outsole rubber on the Nimbus is softer and not as durable as the outsole rubber of the Novablast. Landings also feel softer in the Nimbus than the Novablast because of the softer rubber used.
Stability is better in the Nimbus than in the Novablast because of its thinner midsole.
The upper of the Nimbus has generous amounts of padding in its collar and heel tab. It has a gusseted tongue so there is no tongue slide and foot lockdown is excellent. With all the padding, the shoe runs warm and it also absorbs a lot of liquid so when running in the rain, it will pick up a lot of weight. The Nimbus fits narrow but also comes in additional widths if you need them.
The upper of the Novablast has moderate amounts of padding in its upper but is still a very comfortable upper. It also has a gusseted tongue to prevent tongue slide. The Novablast’s upper doesn’t run as warm as the upper of the Nimbus but its padding still absorbs liquid. The Novablast’s upper runs true to size and also comes in a wide version.
If you’re looking for a max-cushioned trainer for mainly slow-paced runs, the Nimbus is the shoe for you. It has an extremely comfortable, luxurious upper with plenty of padding. The Nimbus has a GEL unit for extra shock absorption as well as more stability than the Novablast. It’s more expensive than the Novablast and slightly heavier.
If you’re looking for a versatile daily trainer, the Novablast is the better option for you. The Novablast can handle faster paced runs as well as slower runs because its midsole has a balanced ride character. It also has more bounce and energy return with each foot strike. The Novablast has a more durable outsole, is $20 cheaper but has less stability than the Nimbus.
