A necessary preamble!
Here’s a faithful, fluent English version that keeps your tone—direct, transparent, a bit provocatorio ma sempre professionale: I say this as a real user, not as a walking press release. I lived in the Nimbus 28, I didn’t just test it. ASICS, a 4running client since our very beginnings, has always trusted the authenticity and authority of what we write. Personally, I’ve been testing shoes from the Land of the Rising Sun for at least ten years, and I’ve never paid for a single pair. We’ve always received them for free. But that doesn’t mean what we write has to sound reverential or promotional toward those who pay us. Our tests are genuine. What we write is dictated by our feet, not by sterile—albeit effective—press releases. #theshoemustgoon
Una Nimbus che cambia pelle, finalmente più snella
The first thing I noticed was how much the shoe has changed compared to previous versions. It’s still a Nimbus, of course, but it feels as if it has gone through a kind of mental and physical lightening. The lines are cleaner, the silhouette less bulky, the overall feel more modern. And those 20 grams shaved off compared to the 27 are no minor detail — you can absolutely feel them on your feet.
The fit: soft, stable, zero irritation.
ASICS did an excellent job on the upper. The Engineered Knit is softer than the old Jacquard Mesh, it wraps the foot without squeezing and creates no pressure points. The elasticated tongue stays in place without folding, and the heel — while still offering solid structure — is more flexible and more welcoming. I have a foot that doesn’t get along with overly rigid heel counters, and here I felt at home right away.
Elastic eyelets? A very welcome addition!
The lacing system is smarter, too: the first elastic eyelets help distribute tension, and the flat laces hold perfectly. I always double‑knot, especially on long runs, and I never had a single issue here.
Real comfort, not just marketing talk.
The Nimbus 28 is a shoe that runs with you, without asking anything in return. The FF Blast PLUS midsole isn’t the softest on the market, but it’s the one that gave me the best balance between protection and support. It’s a shoe that lets you run relaxed, without that “too much” feeling I had with versions 26 and 27. Here, everything feels more harmonious, more natural.
A surprisingly smooth roll.
The reduced weight genuinely changes the shoe’s behavior. Transitions feel easier, the toe‑off is quicker, and the whole ride becomes smoother. It’s not a shoe designed for fast running, but when I tried to pick up the pace, it responded. And for a max‑cushion daily trainer, that’s anything but guaranteed. It’s a characteristic I didn’t find in the previous 27: I appreciated its generous cushioning, but not its responsiveness. For my taste, it was a shoe that felt a bit too “flat” and passive underfoot.
Breathability and everyday reliability.
The double‑layer knit isn’t the most ventilated material out there, but it gets the job done. I ran in autumn temperatures and never felt my foot heat up excessively.
Grip approved with full marks!
The outsole, built with the Hybrid Asicsgrip structure, delivers solid traction on dry and wet asphalt, as well as on the typical gravel paths of city parks. The rubber‑free midfoot section helps shave off weight without compromising durability.
Stability and protection: a reassuring safety net for many runners.
The platform is slightly narrower than on the 27, and for me that’s an improvement: the shoe feels more agile, less like a “floating platform.” The 27 offered great stability, but it bordered on being intrusive… With the 28, ASICS has definitely taken a step forward. I have a mild tendency to overpronate and never felt short on support. There’s plenty of protection, but it doesn’t disconnect you from the ground the way the previous version did: you feel what you need to feel, without absorbing the impact.
PureGEL is definitely there!
The PureGEL in the heel does a clean job — soft but never mushy. It’s one of those technologies you barely notice while running… until you take the shoe off and suddenly realize how much it was actually helping you.
Who I genuinely recommend it to
ASICS Gel‑Nimbus 28 is the ideal shoe for anyone looking for a reliable partner for everyday training. It works beautifully for medium‑to‑heavy runners, but thanks to its reduced weight it’s also perfect for lighter athletes like me, sitting around 67–68 kg. It’s built for easy and moderate paces, yet it doesn’t shy away when you want to add a bit of spark to your session. I appreciated it not only on recovery days and slow runs, but also during lively fartleks and pace variations.
A lot of money, but money well spent.
The only real drawback is the price: 200 euros is no small amount. But with an estimated lifespan of around 800 km and a build quality that truly holds up, it ends up being a smart investment.
My conclusion
The review definitely went a bit beyond the usual parameters used to evaluate a running shoe, but the feeling I got while running in the Gel‑Nimbus 28 was truly remarkable. I didn’t just focus on the practical use of this model — I tried to share with you, as honestly as possible, the running sensation it gave me. And yes, I’ll say it again: for me, this is the best Nimbus ever.