The ASICS GEL-Nimbus 29 is the 29th iteration of ASICS’ most premium daily trainer. I am genuinely happy to be reviewing this one, because the Nimbus drifted for a few years after the Nimbus 25, one of my favourites, and never quite met my expectations again. The 29 changes that. The headline updates are a new, softer FF Blast Plus Lux midsole and a new hybrid ASICSgrip outsole. After running it in wet, cold Brussels, my verdict is simple: the Nimbus is back on form, a very good premium daily trainer held back only by its price.
Upper and Fit of the ASICS GEL-Nimbus 29
What works for me
The upper is where ASICS keeps proving it is ahead of the pack. It is a phenomenal, extremely comfortable upper, and the heel work in particular is fantastic. For years the Nimbus has been one of the most comfortable shoes on the market, alongside the Superblast, and the 29 does not depart from that. The heel counter is super stout with a large, plush heel tab, which is genuinely useful when you are pulling the shoe on with gloves in a European winter. The plushness around the heel collar is outstanding. The tongue is semi-gusseted with a very long gusset, so you get a lot of secure wrapping through the midfoot.
What doesn’t work for me
Very little. The fit is not especially wide, so if you have wider feet, note that ASICS typically offers wide versions and the Nimbus 29 should be one of them. Beyond that, the upper is close to faultless for this type of shoe.
Midsole and Ride of the ASICS GEL-Nimbus 29
What works for me
The real changes are in the midsole. The new FF Blast Plus Lux foam is much plusher and noticeably softer than previous Nimbus foams, and the new wave-like design pattern underneath is where ASICS has reworked the platform. Step in and it feels like one of the softest shoes I have ever tried. On the run, though, it is cleverer than pure softness: the foam compresses, then locks into position and firms up, so you get softness on landing and a denser, more supportive platform underneath once you load it. At slow paces this is excellent. I really enjoyed running very easy in this shoe, which is exactly its job.
What doesn’t work for me
The softness has a ceiling. As soon as you pick up the pace, you start to bottom out, especially in the heel. The foam compresses so much and locks so early that you run out of foam, feel the ground, and sense that the geometry is not built to move fast. The forefoot handles it a little better, since you are pushing at the same time and the firmer, locked platform is actually nice to drive off, but this is not a shoe for tempo work. That is an expected trade-off for a premium daily trainer, not a flaw, as long as you use it for what it is.
Outsole of the ASICS GEL-Nimbus 29
Grip and Traction
This surprised me in the best way. The new hybrid ASICSgrip outsole has a generous, strategically placed layer of rubber that is thicker than it looks, undulated through sections so you can see the depth. In daily Brussels rain, temperatures below 10°C, and wet dead leaves on the ground, conditions that trip up plenty of shoes, the Nimbus 29 gripped confidently. The compound is good, but the placement is what makes it work, and I rate it.
Durability
A thick, generous outsole layer bodes well for durability on a shoe meant to absorb daily mileage. Nothing in my testing raised a concern, and the coverage looks built to last.
Conclusion
Value for Money
Here is the one real debate: €200. For a premium daily trainer that is this good but this single-purpose, that price is hard to justify. The Superblast and Novablast sit only €20 to €30 more, the Mega Blast maybe €40 more, and while those serve different purposes, the Nimbus 29 being this close to them in price feels off. I think it should be a premium daily trainer at €170 to €180. I know there is an industry-wide trend of repositioning prices upward, not purely from inflation, but this shoe could and probably should be a bit cheaper for what it offers. Had it been more versatile, the €200 tag would be easier to defend.
Fitting it into a shoe rotation
The Nimbus 29 is a premium daily trainer for recovery, easy paces and a bit of endurance running. It slots in as the plush, protective, leg-saving end of a rotation. As soon as you want to push into tempo zones, reach for something else in the ASICS lineup like the Novablast, which makes a natural uptempo companion. It suits all runners who want comfort and protection on easy days, and favours heel and midfoot strikers who will get the most from that generous, locking heel.
Final Verdict
The ASICS GEL-Nimbus 29 is a strong, solid upgrade and the answer to a few years of Nimbus iterations that did not live up to the Nimbus 25. The upper is best-in-class, the new FF Blast Plus Lux foam is plush and clever, and the new hybrid ASICSgrip outsole is excellent in bad weather. The drawbacks, bottoming out at pace and a geometry built for slow running, are exactly what you expect from a premium daily trainer, so they do not bother me. The only genuine sticking point is the €200 price, which feels high for a shoe this focused. If that does not put you off, the Nimbus is back, and this is a very good one.
Comparisons Against Similar Shoes
ASICS Gel-Nimbus 29 vs ASICS Gel-Nimbus 25
The Nimbus 25 is the version I keep coming back to as a benchmark, because it was one of my favourites and the iterations in between never quite matched it. The Nimbus 29 is the first in a while that feels like a worthy successor. The new FF Blast Plus Lux foam gives it a plusher, softer, more modern ride than the 25, with the clever locking firmness that the older foam did not have. If you loved the Nimbus 25 and felt let down by what followed, the 29 is the one that brings the line back to form.
ASICS Gel-Nimbus 29 vs ASICS Novablast 6
These two are the easy-day and uptempo ends of the same ASICS stable, and they pair rather than compete. The Nimbus 29 is the plush, protective recovery and easy-mileage shoe, softer underfoot and happiest at slow paces. The Novablast is the more versatile, bouncier option that actually wants to pick up the pace, so it is the shoe to reach for when the Nimbus starts bottoming out in tempo zones. If you can only have one and you run mostly easy, go Nimbus 29. If you want one shoe that flexes from easy to uptempo, the Novablast is more adaptable. Ideally they sit side by side in the same rotation.
ASICS Gel-Nimbus 29 Quick Questions
What is the Gel-Nimbus 29 best used for?
Recovery runs, easy paces and daily endurance mileage. It is a premium max-cushion daily trainer, not a fast-paced shoe.
Is the Nimbus 29 good for faster running?
No. The soft foam bottoms out and locks up when you pick up the pace, especially in the heel. Use a Novablast or similar for tempo work.
Is the Nimbus 29 better than previous versions?
Yes. It is the best Nimbus in years and a genuine return to the form of the well-loved Nimbus 25, thanks to the new FF Blast Plus Lux foam.
How much does the Nimbus 29 weigh?
Around 275g in a men’s sample size, slightly lighter than the previous version despite the high stack.
Is the Nimbus 29 good in wet conditions?
Yes. The new hybrid ASICSgrip outsole gripped confidently in rain, cold and on wet leaves, which is a clear strength of this shoe.
Does the Nimbus 29 fit wide feet?
The standard fit is not especially wide, but ASICS typically offers a wide version of the Nimbus, which should be available for the 29.
What footstrike suits the Nimbus 29?
It works for all footstrikes but favours heel and midfoot strikers, who benefit most from the generous, locking heel cushioning.
Is the Nimbus 29 worth €200?
It is a very good shoe, but the price feels high for a single-purpose daily trainer. Around €170 to €180 would be fairer value.
