Nimbus 21
4/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Jan 8, 2020
35 mpw training for a half marathon came from the ASICS GEL-Cumulus 19
- Comfort
- 4/5
- Cushioning
- 4/5
- Durability
- 3/5
- Appearance
- 4/5
- Value
- 3/5
ASICS GEL-Nimbus 21
Daily trainer · Neutral · Road · 10.1 oz · 35/27mm stack · 8mm drop
Discontinued — we no longer see this shoe in stock. The ASICS GEL-Nimbus 22 replaced it
How it ranks
The ASICS GEL-Nimbus 21 ranks above most daily trainers in our data. Cushioning and comfort are its strongest sub-ratings. Looks scores well below its other sub-ratings. The rating is based on 9 runner reviews and 13 other rated shoes in the GEL-Nimbus product line.
Decent
Confidence
How settled the rating is against every other rated shoe. A shoe can rate high on confidence with relatively few reviews of its own when its product line has a long record and external ratings from retailer sites agree. Confidence is low when we have few ratings or when runners disagree.
Confidence
89 High
Based on
The bars show roughly how much each source contributes to this shoe’s rating. Their influence depends on how many reviews we’ve collected, how many earlier versions are in the product line, and the external ratings available.
- Product line track record
- Our ratings
- External ratings
What runners say
“This version has too much cushioning and actually bothers my knees because it is too spongy and my impact phase feels weird”
“Just the right amount of cushioning, neutral control, reasonable weight, and fine durability”
“These shoes last 3 times longer than Nike”
“They fit perfectly for my foot size and shape”
“They aren't the lightest shoe, or the flashiest looking”
“Has amazing cushioning and support”
“Any time I have tried other shoes they did just not feel as comfortable”
“It lasts quite a bit!”
“In bad weather conditions this shoe is also the best!”
Prefer this shoe over another
56% 5/9
Where to buy
No offers available
Affiliate links included. They never affect our ratings.
Prices updated daily. Last checked Oct 22.
Pros
- Reviewers repeatedly single out the comfort and cushioning for daily miles.
- Several long-time ASICS runners report the shoes last well.
- One reviewer with hammertoe says the wide fitting kept her running.
Cons
- At 11.1 oz reviewers keep lighter shoes for faster running.
- One reviewer finds it has too much cushioning and prefers the ride of the version before it.
Rating & Confidence vs. other shoes for sale
Each dot is one rated shoe for sale, placed by its rating and by how much evidence sits behind it. Shoes toward the top right are both well rated and well established.
Better Shoes Rating
Better Shoes Rating of prior versions of the ASICS GEL-Nimbus
Each dot is one version of the GEL-Nimbus, placed by its rating and release year. The gold dot is this shoe.
Release year
-
2026 · 5 reviews
85 Good
79 Confidence
-
2024 · 2 reviews
82 Good
79 Confidence
-
2024 · 25 reviews
84 Good
92 Confidence
-
2023 · 88 reviews
95 Excellent
99 Confidence
-
2022 · 18 reviews
87 Good
93 Confidence
-
2020 · 4 reviews
78 Decent
83 Confidence
-
2019 · 1 review
81 Good
75 Confidence
-
GEL-Nimbus 21 This shoe
2018 · 9 reviews
78 Decent
89 Confidence
-
2017 · 7 reviews
72 Decent
92 Confidence
-
2017 · 11 reviews
66 Below average
92 Confidence
-
2016 · 4 reviews
74 Decent
88 Confidence
-
2015 · 3 reviews
72 Decent
85 Confidence
-
2014 · 38 reviews
68 Below average
96 Confidence
-
2013 · 53 reviews
69 Below average
98 Confidence
Specs & fit
Sizing and ride details at a glance.
- Weight
- 10.1 oz
- Men's / women's
- Men's 11.1 oz · Women's 9.0 oz
- Release
- 2018 Q4
- MSRP
- $160
- Stack
- 35/27mm
- Drop
- 8mm
Runner reviews
4/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Aug 11, 2019
35 mpw training for a half marathon
- Comfort
- 4/5
- Cushioning
- 4/5
- Durability
- 4/5
- Appearance
- 4/5
- Value
- 4/5
Gel nimbus
5/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Jul 23, 2019
45 mpw training for a half marathon came from the ASICS GEL-Kayano 5 360
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 4/5
- Appearance
- 4/5
- Value
- 5/5
35 years of ASICS
5/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Jul 10, 2019
45 mpw came from the ASICS GT-2000 6
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 4/5
- Appearance
- 5/5
- Value
- 4/5
Nimbus review
5/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Jul 10, 2019
39 mpw came from the ASICS GEL-Nimbus 20
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 5/5
- Appearance
- 4/5
- Value
- 5/5
Alternatives
Other shoes worth considering.
More from ASICS
Compared to other shoes
See how this shoe compares to others like it.
ASICS GEL-Nimbus 21 In Context
More on the ASICS GEL-Nimbus
- ASICS GEL-Nimbus 28
- ASICS GEL-Nimbus 26
- ASICS GEL-Nimbus 27
- ASICS GEL-Nimbus 25
- ASICS GEL-Nimbus 24
- ASICS GEL-Nimbus 23
- ASICS GEL-Nimbus 22 next version
- ASICS GEL-Nimbus 20 previous version
Reviewers Also Ran In
- ASICS GEL-Nimbus 19 1 runner
- Saucony Ride 8 1 runner
- Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 35 1 runner