Shoes Similar to Asics Gel-Nimbus | 5 Best Alternatives

By: Jeremy Neisser

Ever worn the Asics Gel-Nimbus? They are one of the most popular neutral running shoe models on the market. 

You might like to try something else with a similar style, so let’s take a look at the top-rated running shoes similar to the Asics Gel-Nimbus.

All of the shoes listed below are ones that I have owned, so I am speaking from experience and extensive research. Let's dive into the alternatives. 

5 Running Shoes Similar To Asics Gel-Nimbus:

1. Brooks Glycerin 19 Shoes

A plush and comfortable approach to a premium daily trainer, the Brooks Glycerin is a great option for those looking for a cushioned shoe with a little snap in a more traditional package.

The Glycerin fits right into its category of the $150(ish) premium daily training with a traditional take—given the construction and higher heel-to-toe offset (10mm). 

The Engineered mesh upper feels very good at the first instep and has plenty of soft cushioning around the tongue and ankle collar. It is breathable, but there is still plenty of material to provide a great lockdown and protection from the elements.

The shoelaces up really well and has plenty of tying options to fit anyone’s particular needs for a specific lockdown.

The DNA Loft and BioMoGo midsole foam feel like a premium cushion option, not soft like a Hoka, but soft is a way that someone who likes having a higher stack height with a comfortable, but not spongy foam.

It is a neutral shoe through and through, but Brooks now offers a GTS stability shoe version that adds its signature guardrails to this same basic frame, which some who require some extra stability will enjoy.

The Blown Rubber covers nearly the entire bottom of the shoe and has plenty of grooves for added flexibility in your stride. Furthermore, the Omega Flex Grooves are a great way to maintain a flexible midsole amid all of the cushioning.

-You may be interested, I wrote a complete comparison of Brooks Glycerin vs Gel-Nimbus from Asics. 

The fit is true to size and the price is amazing at $150 in most places, which is the standard going price for “premium” daily trainers. 

2. New Balance Fresh Foam 1080v11 Shoes

Talk about a comfortable premium daily trainer, the NB Fresh Foam 1080v11 is a great lightweight shoe that offers some great impact absorption while still giving you some good bounce in your toe-off. 

The FreshFoamX midsole variant is a great rendition that improves upon the rather underwhelming standard fresh foam. It feels softer, lighter, and bouncier overall than its original counterpart and provides ample space in the toe box. Overall a well-cushioned trainer. 

The one issue with the midsole is that it only feels great through 200(ish) miles before it pancakes out to the side and loses both its bounce and cushioning feeling. That is disappointing for a premium daily trainer. All of that said, it’s a very enjoyable 200 miles!

The Knit Upper is a very welcome sight because it helps the shoe maintain a lighter weight and provides some extra space in the toe box, but the knit material then tapers off in the midfoot to help provide a more secure lockdown with the laces. It’s all the benefits of a knit upper, but without many of the usual drawbacks of instability and lockdown. 

That being said, the lacing system feels backward, in that it is laced through the eyelid chains in the opposite direction that you usually see with shoes and it throws me off every time I tie them up. This is not a huge deal, it is just something to get used to. 

The outsole is strategically placed in high-wear areas, like the lateral heel and the medial toe box areas. Normally it would feel like a red flag, but in all candor, the cushioning will flatten out long before the exposed midsole will wear on the bottom.

-You may be interested, I wrote a FULL REVIEW of the Fresh Foam v 11

Overall, the 1080v11 might be the most fun shoe in this lineup, but it might also be the quickest to wear down above most of the other shoes in this lineup as well. You can decide where your priorities lie!

3. Mizuno Wave Sky Shoes

With all of the other brands launching huge marketing campaigns about their amazing foams and incredibly smooth rides, Mizuno does not really get the love that it deserves. They make super solid shoes, albeit boring, but solid nonetheless. 

-Full transparency, my wife wore these shoes and provided feedback that used for this analysis. 

The Mizuno Wave Sky is no exception, as that U4icX midsole is quite soft and fun to run in. It feels deceptively lightweight as well. The only drawback is the name because I can’t believe they made it so hard to remember when they could have just called it something like “SuperWave” or something like that. 

Complementing this U4icX foam is the more standard Mizuno Energy foam that really does find a satisfying mix between a soft impact and a responsive ride.

The Woven Upper is definitely comfortable and accommodating to most foot types. The lockdown is good overall, but nothing incredible pops out as outstanding. 

The X10 outsole rubber can be found in the heel and forefoot and is made from a pretty durable carbon to enhance the traction, which I noticed to be quite true. It’s been raining a lot where I live and the grip is handling faster paces just fine.

Overall, it is a solid shoe to grab out of the rotation for that premium daily trainer feeling underfoot. Quite honestly it would probably make most runners quite happy, but because Mizuno does not nail the marketing (at least in the US) it will probably not get the attention it deserves. 

4. Saucony Triumph Shoes

If you want a shoe that might actually last for a year while still providing some premium cushioning underfoot and a signature sleek and premium lockdown around your foot then the Saucony Triumph is a great option to explore. 

The PWRRUN+ midsole foam is made up of tiny EVA balls that are fused together to provide a masterful mix of shock absorption and rebound. It feels great underfoot, but it does feel heavy. The durability makes up for the extra weight in my book.

The engineered mesh stays true to the signature Saucony comfortable fit, and this is enhanced by the integrated FORMFIT Contoured footbed that cradles your foot and provides some extra inherent creating a solid stability shoe offering a tremendous comfortable ride.  

The Outsole has a Tri-Flex design to increase the flexibility of the shoe even in the presence of the extra cushion. That rubber is the XT-900 Carbon rubber that is made to be durable and provide traction. The jury is still out on the extra traction, as it feels standard at best, but the durability is definitely real.

The lacing system is super smooth and easy. It pretty much stays tied no matter what and I enjoy it so I really didn’t notice anything about it. That’s my favorite part. 

5. Hoka Bondi

If you want ample cushion, then we won’t beat around the bush here. The Hoka Bondi is the most cushioned shoe on the market, and it’s not even close. 

The Eva midsole is stacked with cushioning that feels soft underfoot whether you are walking, jogging, or running. Hoka is still coming out with the (not so) Early Stage Meta-Rocker in the midsole for that signature forward roll and natural stride even with all of the extra cushioning underfoot.

The upper mesh material is comfortable as well, it is not the “standout” performer of the shoe because the cushioning is so great, but it sure feels good when you lace them up and feel the padded tongue and heel collar. This is one of those shoes that just feel good regardless of the situation. 

Most people will like this shoe to run a marathon, but also wear it around for a full weekend at Disneyland—if you’ve ever done a weekend there then you know what I mean.

The fit is true to size, the lacing system is easy and the lockdown is super solid. 

Do not worry about being on such a high platform of cushioning either, as the midsole works as a bit of a bucket that allows you to almost sit inside of the midsole foam for extra stability that won’t let you roll your ankles. 

The high-abrasion outsole rubber is fairly comprehensive and has never been the limiting factor of durability. It will hold up with any of the industry-standard rubber on the market in comparison to other shoes. 

There is less flexibility in this shoe due to the sheer amount of cushioning underfoot, but the meta-rocker limits the need for flexibility, as the transition just takes care of itself. 

Asics Nimbus Alternatives - Wrap-Up

 There you go! Those are 5 shoes that are similar to Asics Gel-Nimbus. 

 To summarize, if you want a more comparable shoe from another brand then the Brooks Glycerin 19, New Balance 1080 v11, and Saucony Triumph are good options for you. 

If you want a plush cushioning then the Mizuno Wave Sky and the HOKA Bondi are great options to give a try.

Even with all these other options some of you may still prefer the Asics Gel-Nimbus, and that’s absolutely fine! Every runner is different and deserves a chance to run in a pair of shoes that works for them. 

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