ASICS

GEL-Nimbus 21

GEL-Nimbus 21
Daily trainer · Neutral · Road
Good (80/100)

Shoe details

Weight
11.1 oz
Release
2018 Q4
MSRP
$160
Stack Height
35mm heel - 27mm toe
Drop Height
8mm

Ratings & Reviews

Good (80/100)

Based on product-line history, external ratings, and runner reviews.
?

Scores better than 61% of all shoes.

Our ratings use detailed reviews from knowledgeable runners, ratings for shoes in the same product line, and reliable product information from trusted retailers.

Rating breakdown

Better Shoes Rating. Shading shows the expected rating range.
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Rankings combine runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, direct comparisons to other shoes, related product-line performance, and trusted external ratings.

The darker band shows the central rating range. The lighter band shows a wider range of reasonable outcomes. More reviews for this shoe usually narrow both bands.

Overall

Good (80/100)

Overall rating

We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.

Better Shoes Rating

Good (80/100)

Compared To Other Shoes

Scores better than 61% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

The shaded band shows the rating range we think is most likely.

Cushioning

Exceptional (98/100)

Cushioning rating

We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.

Better Shoes Rating

Exceptional (98/100)

Compared To Other Shoes

Scores better than 97% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

The shaded band shows the rating range we think is most likely.

Comfort

Exceptional (97/100)

Comfort rating

We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.

Better Shoes Rating

Exceptional (97/100)

Compared To Other Shoes

Scores better than 95% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

The shaded band shows the rating range we think is most likely.

Durability

Very good (88/100)

Durability rating

We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.

Better Shoes Rating

Very good (88/100)

Compared To Other Shoes

Scores better than 82% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

The shaded band shows the rating range we think is most likely.

Appearance

Good (76/100)

Appearance rating

We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.

Better Shoes Rating

Good (76/100)

Compared To Other Shoes

Scores better than 50% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

The shaded band shows the rating range we think is most likely.

Value

Good (74/100)

Value rating

We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.

Better Shoes Rating

Good (74/100)

Compared To Other Shoes

Scores better than 50% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

The shaded band shows the rating range we think is most likely.

56%

5/9

Prefer this shoe over another.

Reviewers said this shoe was better than another shoe they ran in.

All Running Shoes

Scores better than 61% of 2,617 running shoes.

Good

Daily Trainers

Scores better than 59% of 1,872 daily trainers.

59%

GEL-Nimbus Family

Scores better than 57% of 10 gel-nimbus family.

57%

ASICS

Scores better than 75% of 266 ASICS shoes.

75%

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • A majority of reviewers like this shoe more than their last shoe.
  • Popular shoe among LetsRun.com readers.
  • Rated among the top 25% of shoes overall.
  • Rated among the top 10% of shoes on comfort.
  • Rated among the top 5% of shoes on cushioning.

Cons

Compared to other shoes

See how this shoe compares to others like it.

Current shoe
Reference shoe
Lightest / Newest / Lowest price
Best overall / Best comfort / Best cushioning
Shoe properties
Type
Daily trainer
Daily trainer
Daily trainer
Pronation
Neutral
Neutral
Neutral
Weight
11.1 oz M
9 oz M Lightest
Stack
35/27mm
43/35mm
Drop
8mm
8mm
7mm
Release
2018 Q4
2024 Q4 Newest
2024 Q2
MSRP
$160
$165
$200
Best price
$124.99 Lowest price
$149.99
Ratings
Overall
Above average (61%)
Average (43%)
Exceptional (>99%) Best overall
Comfort
Excellent (95%)
Excellent (92%)
Exceptional (99%) Best comfort
Cushioning
Excellent (97%)
Excellent (95%)
Exceptional (99%) Best cushioning
Durability
Very good (82%)
Very good (88%)
Exceptional (99%) Best durability
Appearance
Average (50%)
Below average (38%)
Exceptional (98%) Best appearance
Value
Average (50%)
Below average (26%)
Very good (86%) Best value
Specific shoe

Search for the exact model to add to this comparison.

Where to buy

No offers available

Better alternatives

Higher-rated shoes similar to this one

More from ASICS

Reader Ratings

9 reader ratings

Review a shoe

Showing 1–5 of 9 written reviews

Nimbus 21

Anonymous runner · Jan 8, 2020

4/5

Overall

I have a neutral foot. These are pretty perfect. I have worn Asics for several years now and turned to the specific nimbus model a year ago. No complaints.
Comfort
4/5
Cushioning
4/5
Durability
3/5
Appearance
4/5
Value
3/5

Reader review

Anonymous runner · Aug 11, 2019

4/5

Overall

Comfort
4/5
Cushioning
4/5
Durability
4/5
Appearance
4/5
Value
4/5

Gel nimbus

Anonymous runner · Jul 23, 2019

5/5

Overall

Pretty good I like them a lot the are good for neutral runners
Comfort
5/5
Cushioning
5/5
Durability
4/5
Appearance
4/5
Value
5/5

35 years of ASICS

Anonymous runner · Jul 10, 2019

5/5

Overall

I’ve run in ‘ASICS shoes for many years and they have always performed very well. Primarily for me, they fit perfectly for my foot size and shape. I’ve used the entire 2000 series, but in recent years switched to the Nimbus model and they are terrific. Just the right amount of cushioning, neutral control, reasonable weight, and fine durability. Any time I have tried other shoes they did just not feel as comfortable.
Comfort
5/5
Cushioning
5/5
Durability
4/5
Appearance
5/5
Value
4/5

Nimbus review

Anonymous runner · Jul 10, 2019

5/5

Overall

Experience very good, and I’ve been Nimbus man for several years already.
Comfort
5/5
Cushioning
5/5
Durability
5/5
Appearance
4/5
Value
5/5