The GEL-NIMBUS 29 brings a new midsole compound, a redesigned outsole and more rubber underfoot, and goes on sale on 1 December.
- The new FF LUXE PLUS foam and the wave pattern on the outsole
- The role of PureGEL in the heel
- Technical mesh upper and increased rubber coverage
- Weight, price and availability compared with the GEL-NIMBUS 28
- Aimed at runners who want to cover long distances in as much comfort as possible
With the GEL-NIMBUS 29, ASICS has gone to work on the part of the shoe that everything else rests on: the midsole compound. On the 28 the star was FF BLAST PLUS. On the 29 it’s the new FF LUXE PLUS, paired with an outsole with a different geometry and more rubber in contact with the tarmac. We’ll be testing it on the road over the coming weeks. Until then, the technical data is worth a close look for what it tells us to expect.
One thing barely changes, though: the weight. It’s practically the same as the previous version, a couple of grams lighter on the men’s model and four on the women’s. That’s probably the right call. The 28 had already done the heavy lifting on the scales, shaving more than 20 grams off the 27. The 29 leaves the weight where it was and works on the feel underfoot, which is what matters most in a shoe people choose mainly for comfort.
What Changes Underfoot
First, FF LUXE PLUS. It’s a light, soft compound designed to keep comfort consistent kilometre after kilometre. The foam doesn’t work alone, though. Just as interesting is the shape of the outsole: underneath, a wave pattern lets the shoe compress further with every footstrike, so it feels softer.
To see why shape matters as much as compound, think of the flexible duct on a kitchen cooker hood, the concertina-style one. It’s aluminium, yet you can squash and bend it with one finger, because the folds give it room to yield. A smooth tube of the same thickness would resist. The waves under the GEL-NIMBUS 29’s outsole follow the same logic. They give the foam extra room to cushion as the foot lands, and that extra room is what you feel as softness. ASICS is finding comfort by working on shape rather than adding foam, so the shoe’s overall weight stays the same.
In the heel there’s still PureGEL, the softest version of the gel that gave the line its name, positioned to absorb impact better and make landings smoother. For heel strikers, it’s the first part of the shoe to meet the ground. The gel works at the moment of impact. The foam and its waves carry the rest of the stride through to toe-off.
The design direction fits squarely with what the Nimbus has always been: the shoe runners pick for protection and comfort on long runs of any distance and duration. ASICS has gone looking for more softness without straying from that character.
The Upper and the Rubber
Up top, the 29 moves from the 28’s engineered knit to a new technical mesh structure, which ASICS designed to be soft and breathable without losing support. A knit tongue and ribbed collar wrap the foot, and a heel pull tab makes the shoe easier to slip on. It’s an upgrade to an upper that was already well above ‘premium’ level.
Underneath, the HYBRID ASICSGRIP outsole has more rubber coverage than the previous model, for better grip and durability across different surfaces. It’s the least visible detail on the shoe, and the one that interests us most. You buy a Nimbus to pile on the kilometres, and the rubber is the part you watch wear down, run after run. More rubber usually means a few extra grams as well, because it weighs more than foam. Here, the weight has come down all the same.
A Design Inspired by Clouds
ASICS has named the 29’s aesthetic concept ‘Soaring Cloud’. The starting point is the lightness you feel when you let an updraught carry you. The sculpted midsole echoes the fluid movement of clouds and the graceful lines of traditional Japanese painting, while soft colour gradients and small luminous accents recall sunlight catching the edges of a cloud. For a shoe that carries a cloud in its name (nimbus is Latin for cloud), the reference was almost inevitable. What ASICS deserves credit for is carrying it into the shape of the midsole itself, not just the colours.
The Key Specs
ASICS lists the following:
- Midsole: FF LUXE PLUS, with PureGEL in the heel
- Outsole: HYBRID ASICSGRIP, with more rubber coverage than the 28
- Upper: technical mesh, knit tongue, ribbed collar
- Weight: approx. 279 g men’s / 238 g women’s (281 g and 242 g on the 28)
- RRP: €190 (€10 less than the previous model)
- Availability: from 1 December 2026
Who It’s For
The Nimbus 29 is aimed at the same runners as ever: those who put comfort ahead of speed, and anyone training for a half or full marathon who wants a companion for their long runs. If you’re choosing within the ASICS range, our guide to ASICS road running shoes will help you find your way through the different models.
We’ll report back on how it performs on the road in a few weeks’ time.
