6Rank 06 of 8 · Best Running Shoes for Beginners
Asics Asics Gel-Nimbus 28
Asics's max-cushion flagship and its best in five years — but measurably firmer than the cheaper Cumulus, the stiffest shoe here, and the worst breathability at 64/100.
8.0BPR score
- €120Price
- 278 g (RunRepeat lab)Lab-measured weight
- 6 of 8in Best Running Shoes for Beginners
- 8.0BPR score 0–10
Review
What this product is
Written after the analysis, from the same sources the score is built on: the manufacturer's documentation, available studies and verified owner feedback.
A good shoe with a marketing story that its own lab data does not support.
RunRepeat scored it 86/100 "Great" and called it the best Nimbus of the last five years, which is a real endorsement. Lab weight 278 g against a 283 g claim. Outsole is a hybrid ASICSGRIP and AHAR rubber at 3.3 mm with 1.0 mm wear — very good, and far better than the cheaper Cumulus 28's foam outsole.
But this is the "max cushion" model, and it measured 38.8 AC — firmer than the Gel-Cumulus 28 at 31.9 AC, which costs €40 less. Stack height is high at 39.5 / 34.3 mm, but height is not softness, and shock absorption measured 137 SA with energy return of only 44.2% at the heel.
The lab-versus-claim gap is the largest inversion here. Asics claims 43.5 / 35.5 mm for an 8 mm drop; RunRepeat measured 39.5 / 34.3 mm for a 5.2 mm drop. That is a 2.8 mm difference in the wrong direction from what most buyers would expect.
Two properties argue against it for beginners specifically. Breathability measured 64 out of 100 — the worst here, with toebox height of only 22.7 mm. And it is by far the stiffest shoe in the ranking: flex 23.1 N and torsional rigidity 20.5 Nm. A tall, heavy, stiff shoe is not automatically a forgiving one, and stiffness at the forefoot requires more from the foot rather than less.
Widths are listed as normal, wide and extra-wide, but Asics's German site offers standard only — the recurring European width problem.
At €120 street against a €200 RRP the discount is real, but the €84.99 adidas is softer, lighter, roomier and better ventilated.
Technical data
Specification
Figures from the manufacturer's documentation, verified against available outside sources. Values we could not confirm are marked as declared.
- Lab weight
- 278 g (brand claims 283 g)
- Lab stack
- 39.5 mm heel / 34.3 mm forefoot
- Lab drop
- 5.2 mm (official 8 mm)
- Midsole
- FF Blast+ with PureGEL heel insert
- Midsole softness
- 38.8 AC - firmer than the cheaper Cumulus 28
- Shock absorption
- 137 SA
- Energy return
- 44.2% heel
- Outsole
- ASICSGRIP + AHAR hybrid, 3.3 mm, 1.0 mm wear
- Breathability
- 64/100 - worst here
- Toebox height
- 22.7 mm
- Flex / torsional rigidity
- 23.1 N / 20.5 Nm - stiffest here
- Widths on asics.de
- Standard only
- RunRepeat score
- 86/100 Great
- Price
- EUR 200 RRP; from EUR 120 street
Component scores
Where the score
comes from.
Four components, equal weight, each on a 0–10 scale and each resting on a named source. The overall score is their mean — the full procedure is in the methodology.
What we liked
- RunRepeat 86/100 Great — described as the best Nimbus in five years
- Hybrid ASICSGRIP and AHAR outsole, 3.3 mm, 1.0 mm wear
- 278 g against a 283 g brand claim
- High stack at 39.5 / 34.3 mm for plenty of material underfoot
- PureGEL heel insert
- Street price €120 against €200 RRP
Worth knowing
- 38.8 AC — firmer than the cheaper Gel-Cumulus 28 despite being max cushion
- Breathability 64/100, the worst in this ranking
- Stiffest shoe here: flex 23.1 N, torsional rigidity 20.5 Nm
- Measured drop 5.2 mm against 8 mm official
- Energy return 44.2% at the heel
- Asics Germany offers standard width only
- €200 RRP is the highest here
Comparison
How it compares
within the category
All values come from the same analysis and are comparable only within the category Best Running Shoes for Beginners.
| Product | Score | Lab-measured weight | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Puma Velocity Nitro 5Top score | 8.9 | 242 g (RTINGS lab) | €130 |
| Asics Gel-Nimbus 28This product | 8.0 | 278 g (RunRepeat lab) | €120 |
| Category average8 products analysed | 8.2 | — | — |
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Why is the max-cushion shoe firmer than the cheaper model?
Because stack height and softness are different properties, and marketing conflates them. This shoe has more material underfoot — 39.5 mm at the heel — but that material measures 38.8 AC, while the Gel-Cumulus 28's measures 31.9 AC. More foam that is firmer can feel less cushioned than less foam that is softer. Read the durometer figure, not the stack height.
From the same ranking
Other products in Best Running Shoes for Beginners.
The same protocol, the same key parameter, the same set of sources.
-
No. 018.9/ 10
Puma Velocity Nitro 5
The lightest shoe here at 242 g, on nitrogen-injected TPU with PUMAGRIP — widely regarded as…
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No. 028.8/ 10
Brooks Ghost 18
The most outsole rubber here at 3.5 mm with excellent durability, a rigid heel counter that…
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No. 038.7/ 10
adidas Supernova Rise 3
The softest midsole here at 28.6 AC on PEBA foam, the highest energy return, and the most…
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No. 048.4/ 10
Hoka Clifton 11
The best breathability here at 93/100 and the only shoe with narrow through extra-wide…