Asics Gel-Nimbus vs Hoka Bondi
Comparing the current Gel-Nimbus 28 and Bondi 9. Specs are men's US 9.
Amazon links on this page pay us a commission. It never changes your price. Details
THE SHORT ANSWER
Drop is the real difference: 5 mm on the Bondi 9 against 8 mm on the Gel-Nimbus 28. Coming off the Gel-Nimbus 28, the Bondi 9 loads your calves and Achilles harder for the first couple of weeks. Both sit in the same role (max cushion). The Gel-Nimbus 28 lists $5 lower.
- Asics Gel-Nimbus 28Men's at AmazonWomen's
- Hoka Bondi 9Men's at AmazonWomen's
Availability last checked Jul 31, 2026. Prices and stock change without notice.
Every spec, side by side
| Spec | Gel-Nimbus 28 | Bondi 9 |
|---|---|---|
| FIT AND WEIGHT | ||
| Weight | 9.9 oz | 10.5 oz |
| Widths | D, 2E, 4E | D, 2E, 4E |
| Upper | Lighter engineered knit with a redesigned heel and tongue loop | Structured knit with zonal venting and a 3D-molded collar |
| CUSHIONING GEOMETRY | ||
| Heel stack | 43.5 mm | 43 mm |
| Forefoot stack | 35.5 mm | 38 mm |
| Drop | 8 mm | 5 mm |
| MATERIALS | ||
| Midsole | FF Blast+ foam with a PureGEL heel | Supercritical EVA with an Active Foot Frame heel cradle |
| VALUE | ||
| List price at launch | $165 | $170 |
Which line changes its ride more often?
The Gel-Nimbus has done it once in 7 versions, most recently with the Gel-Nimbus 25 in 2023, and the Bondi has done it 2 times in 3 versions, most recently with the Bondi 9 in 2025. If you want a shoe you can rebuy without reading a review first, the Gel-Nimbus has the steadier record.
Buy the Gel-Nimbus 28
Stocked at AmazonAvailability last checked Jul 28, 2026.
Buy the Bondi 9
Stocked at AmazonAvailability last checked Jul 31, 2026.
Chasing a specific older version rather than choosing between the current two? The Asics Gel-Nimbus lineage and the Hoka Bondi lineage track every version and what changed in each update.
Questions runners ask
- Is the Asics Gel-Nimbus or the Hoka Bondi lighter?
- The Gel-Nimbus 28, by 0.6 oz in a men's US 9 (9.9 oz against 10.5 oz).
- Can I switch from the Asics Gel-Nimbus to the Hoka Bondi?
- Yes, but ease into it. The drop moves 3 mm (8 mm on the Gel-Nimbus 28, 5 mm on the Bondi 9), which changes where your foot loads at landing. Give it two weeks of easy running before a hard session.
- Which is more cushioned, the Asics Gel-Nimbus or the Hoka Bondi?
- They are close: 43.5 mm of heel stack on the Gel-Nimbus 28 against 43 mm on the Bondi 9. Foam matters more than the millimeters here (FF Blast+ foam with a PureGEL heel against Supercritical EVA with an Active Foot Frame heel cradle).
- Which costs more, the Asics Gel-Nimbus or the Hoka Bondi?
- The Bondi 9, by $5 at list ($165 against $170). That gap narrows once either one gets a successor.
Updated July 31, 2026.