SCORE: 9/10

Weight: 10.2/ 290g for Men size 9

Heel Drop: 8 mm

Stack Height: 41.5mm / 33.5 mm (M), 

Shoe Type: Premium max-cushioned Daily Trainer

Running Speed: Easy and moderate paces

Running Surface: Road

: 

Pros 

• Plush cushioning from stacked midsole foam (FF Blast + Eco foam)
• Balanced softness with marshmallow feel 
• Comfortable upper 
• Chunky midsole
• Comfortable over long miles
• Snug fitting
• Roomy toe box
• Stretchy tongue
• Smooth transitioning at eazy paces
• Premium appearance
• No Trusstic at the midfoot
• Mildly supportive

Cons  

• It is pretty heavy at 10.3oz
• Low energy return
• Overly wide heel that feels bulky

Take Away

The Asics Nimbus 25 is a fantastic shoe but, Asics has deviated from the traditional Nimbus series by introducing the maximalism concept. Asics was also careful with the updates. Despite raising the stack height to over 40mm, the Nimbus 25 is relatively lightweight and exceptionally stable. 

Introduction

Asics Gel-Nimbus is one of the most popular Asics shoe models. For 24 years, this shoe hasn't changed much. Asics has been cautious not to upset the loyal customers of Asics Nimbus. For years, Asics has been making slight improvements to avoid messing up with this shoe's design. However, this year, Asics threw caution to the wind by releasing a different Asics Nimbus 25. It differs from what customers are accustomed to, and Asics knows this too well. So it aggressively pushes a marketing campaign with the message, "Asics Nimbus 25 is the market's most comfortable daily training shoe."

Indeed, a lot has changed even though the price is constant. The design is unique; there is enhanced comfort but a touch heavier than its predecessor Nimbus 24.

Asics Nimbus 25 Instant Impression

I have the Gel-Nimbus 23 and 24, but this one looks and feels differently from its predecessor. The Nimbus 25 has an entirely different but exciting design. I first saw the Nimbus in an advert. It was shot in a pure white colourway, and there was no gel component in the video, which has been a traditional signature for Asics Nimbus. I thought Asics had completely gotten rid of the gel. However, when I got my pair, I realized that Asics infused the gel within the midsole foam. On the side, Asics has indicated that it has PureGel and a closer look suggests a gel pod is built within the midsole. 

The upper looked utterly different. The new knit upper looked nice, soft and stretchy. My foot slipped seamlessly into the shoe because of the pull tab and was welcomed with comfort. The generously padded collar seemed huggy, and the overall fit was secure. Besides, the lack of a Trussstic system made things better for me.

I noticed that the Asics Nimbus 25 felt gel-like, soft and squishy in the heel area and somewhat solidified towards the forefoot. Hence, it was apparent that the heel area had more comfort and step-in feel than the forefoot area, which was noticeable during my first run. 

They felt softer towards the heel area than in the forefoot. During my initial five-kilometre runs, I enjoyed the run. It felt like a max-cushioned running shoe. Overall, I had a pleasant initial impression of Asics Gel-Nimbus 25. 

 Asics Gel-Nimbus 25 Upper Design and Fitting 

The upper layer is where the Nimbus 25 has outdone other daily trainers. This shoe is a total overhaul. So the engineered mesh featured in the previous versions is replaced with the soft and stretchy sock-like knit upper that gives the shoe a premium appearance. This is the first time Nimbus has a knit upper. The soft, stretchy knit mesh offers a secure fit without requiring stiff overlays to reinforce the foothold.

Asics made excellent design efforts in the upper because knit material usually depends on reinforcements like overlays to obtain the proper foothold. However, in Nimbus 25, there is evidence of ingenuity by Asics. Asics has extended the knit upper until it wraps the ankle and heels, and bingo! There is enough lockdown.

The pull tap looks like a simple addition yet unique. It is stretchy and combines well with the extended knit upper to give the shoe a beautiful structure.  

Despite being a fan of Gel-Nimbus 24, I am incredibly impressed with this new kit upper, especially with the lockdown at the midfoot. The upper material wraps nicely around the foot while maintaining its shape. Also, Asics gave this shoe a generous toe box, so I find my toes splaying comfortably. The toe box design is also impressive. The bumper extends above the toes, creating a beautifully sculpted shape.

The padding around the ankle helps with the fit and enhances comfort. So you feel cushioning around the ankle. There is also something extraordinary about the tongue. It is gusseted, somewhat padded, but stretchy; thus fun to pull, especially when slipping the foot into the shoe. Unfortunately, the somewhat thinness of the tongue ensures it doesn't fully protect the instep of the foot from the thin laces. Still, this is not a problem because Asics used flat laces. Besides, tightening the laces further is unnecessary because the fitting is true-to-size. Hence, this tongue adds to the plushness of the shoe.

 Overall, the stretchy knit mesh and generous padding around the heel collar make Asics Nimbus 25 highly plush and marathon ready. The heel area is snuggly yet forgiving. The only problem is that with thick material, there is diminished breathability. This can be good during winter but can leave you sweating more when running in high temperatures.

Therefore, the upper is designed for maximum comfort and secure fitting. I am pleased that Asics paid attention to every detail. Besides being one of the most comfortable daily trainers I have run in, this upper layer has nothing short of a premium vibe.

Asics Gel-Nimbus 25 Midsole Design and Performance

Asics made drastic changes to the midsole. The designers first increased the stack height and then widened the platform. The stack height has risen above 40mm. It reminds me of max-cushioned daily trainers like the New Balance FreshFoam X More V4 and the SuperComp Trainer.

In Asics Nimbus 25, the heel measures 41.5mm and the forefoot 33.5mm for mens size 9; thus, 8mm heel drop. The platform increased from 110mm to 115 mm in the forefoot and 97mm to 94 mm in the heel. Asics compensated for the overly sized heel platform with a massively curved bevel in the rear of the heel. The designers then added a profound rocker in the forefoot to eradicate planted foot strikes and create a smooth and balanced transition from heel to toe.

Within this highly stacked heel section, Asics inserted is PureGel, making this area highly cushioned. The pure gel doesn't feature in the forefoot. Therefore, it is reasonably solid than the heel. Still, the abundant foam underneath makes the forefoot sufficiently cushioned, but not marshmallow.

Another huge difference is how the Asics deployed the midsole foam. In the previous version.Asics blended the Flytefoam blast with Flytefoam Blast Plus. It placed the Flytefoam Blas[t in the top layer and the Flytefoam Blast plus in the bottom layer. In the Nimbus 25, Asics has utilized the single-density FF Blast + Eco midsole foam, which I see is the usual Flytefoam Blast Plus.

Therefore, while the wide platform is noticeable underfoot, it is not destructive because it exudes cushioning and stability upon impact. After all, the FF Blast Plus foam absorbs the landing impact and creates a substantial rebound. This makes running in the Gel-Nimbus 25 exciting during recovery runs.

Outsole

Asics changed the entire outsole design. It has a blown ASICS Lite rubber, which is softer than the AHAR rubber common in Asics shoes. Though faintly soft in the outsole, it is still strong with a reliable grip on wet surfaces. The heel areas have robust AHAR+ rubber to protect this ground contact area from abrasion. Placing the ASICS Lite rubber would have made the heel area awfully softer, considering it has the PureGel.

The outsole rubber is not as segmented as in the Asics Nimbus 24. It is more continuous to the forefoot and somewhat stiff to maintain the rocker shape and enhance stability during toe-off. Hence the matching of the rubber spread ensures a smooth transition. The reasonably soft outsole rubber in the forefoot creates a soft and non-slappy underfoot feel, thus making the ride pleasant, especially at slow and moderate paces.

Stability

Despite being a neutral running shoe, there are several stability features in Nimbus25. The overall structure of the shoe comprises sidewalls, a supportive upper, a broad platform, complete ground contact and flaring sole, and an early rocker. These features may make runners confuse Asics Nimbus 25 with a stability trainer. However, the lack of a midfoot Trusstic plate in the previous version and the utilization of full-length single-density FF Blast + Eco foam makes it a neutral running shoe.

It works well for runners preferring mild stability. Unfortunately, those sensitive to soft marshmallow midsole will have a problem with Nimbus 25. In my case, I love the idea of doing away with the Trusstic plate since I do experience slight irritation in the arch when running in Asics Gel-Nimbus 24. As a neutral runner, I am pleased with the Gel-Nimbus 25 as a borderline stable neutral shoe.

Performance and Ride

The bulking up of the midsole foam, widening the platform and PureGel inserted within the heel have ensured that Asics Nimbus 25 doesn't ride like the Nimbus 24, which was pretty squishy in the forefoot. Despite lacking a marshmallow feel, the underfoot protection of Nimbus 25 is fantastic for long-distance running. However, this has diminished the bounciness of the midsole.

The little bounce does enough to keep daily miles exciting, specifically during easy paces, because it cannot pick up the speed. Besides, it is pretty heavy for tempo exercises. Therefore, long easy runs have been exciting with the Nimbus 25. At 83 miles, this shoe performs well in recovery or easy runs across long distances.

I prefer running shoes with snappy toe-off,  high energy return and soft cushioning for high mileage runs. Hence, the FuelCell SuperComp trainer is my regular training  shoe. Unfortnately, with Asics Nimbus 25, I have to trade high energy return with soft cushioning. 

Still, it is likable, especially the idea of having a soft heel and firmer forefoot for a significant toe, which makes slow runs exciting for a beefed-up trainer shoe. If not for the overly broad platform, the Gel- Nimbus 25 could cruise faster. At least the flared medial toe-off makes the transitioning from heel to toe easier, smoother and consistent throughout the ride. Hence, moderate and slow daily miles perfectly suit the Nimbus 25.  

 Who is Asics Nimbus 25 For?

It is not marshmallow soft or responsive, but the slight bounciness is enough to keep you going over long miles. Hence, Nimbus 25 fits someone who doesn't prefer soft but not marshmallow-like soft daily trainers for recovery runs but has an emphasis on comfort. It also suits those seeking a neutral max-cushioned daily trainer for recovery or easy runs.  

The snug-fitting toe box hence fits persons with narrow to regular-width feet.

The Asics Nimbus is a premium running shoe at an affordable price. It has a smooth ride, but the chunky midsole foam, the rounded heel area and the broader platform that inhibits quick turnovers make Nimbus 25 a high-mileage shoe.

 Asics is different from the regular daily trainers because it is max-cushioned.

What shoes models does Nimbus 24 Compare to 2

Asics Nimbus 25 rides like the Nike ZoomX Invisible Run 2, but it is pretty slow and firmer.

Recommendations 

I recommend that Asics reduce the width of the rear platform to make it feel less clunky when running. Asics could also add more padding to the tongue and make the upper more breathable.

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Reviewed by Mike Hardy