Can I go straight from the Asics Gel-Nimbus 26 to the Gel-Nimbus 28 and skip the Gel-Nimbus 27?

Yes. Going Gel-Nimbus 26 to Gel-Nimbus 28 skips the Gel-Nimbus 27, and neither update changed the ride, so you land on the same shoe two refinements later. The midsole is the one real difference: FF Blast+ Eco foam (24 percent bio-based) with a PureGEL heel insert to FF Blast+ foam with a PureGEL heel.

How much did the weight change across these two updates?

0.8 oz off in total, 10.7 oz to 9.9 oz in a men's US 9. Almost all of it came in the second update; the Gel-Nimbus 27 weighed 10.7 oz.

Is the Gel-Nimbus 27 the better buy than either of these?

On paper it splits them: 10.7 oz against 10.7 oz for the Gel-Nimbus 26 and 9.9 oz for the Gel-Nimbus 28, on a 43.5 mm heel and a $165 list price. Whether that is worth chasing depends on what the Gel-Nimbus 27 update actually did, which the section above works through.

Did the Gel-Nimbus get taller between the Gel-Nimbus 26 and the Gel-Nimbus 28?

Heel stack went 41.5 mm to 43.5 mm, by way of 43.5 mm on the Gel-Nimbus 27. Drop held at 8 mm throughout, so the extra foam sits under both ends.

Where does the Gel-Nimbus 28 sit in the Gel-Nimbus lineup now?

It is the current model, two versions on from the Gel-Nimbus 26 and the newest one you can buy at full retail.

Asics Gel-Nimbus 26 vs Gel-Nimbus 28

Two versions apart. Updated September 10, 2026. Specs are men's US 9.

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THE SHORT ANSWER

Two updates and 2 years separate the Asics Gel-Nimbus 26 from the Gel-Nimbus 28. Net change: 0.8 oz lighter, 2 mm more heel stack, a new midsole, $5 more at list. Neither update in between changed what the Gel-Nimbus is, so this is the same shoe refined twice rather than a new one.

Asics Gel-Nimbus 26Sizes running outMen's at Amazon Women's
Asics Gel-Nimbus 28Men's at Amazon Women's

Availability last checked Sep 10, 2026. Prices and stock change without notice.

Gel-Nimbus 26 · 2024

Gel-Nimbus 28 · 2026

The two updates in between

Each step has its own page with the full change list and the verdict on that update.

Step 1Gel-Nimbus 26 to Gel-Nimbus 272025Refined, same shoe
Gel-Nimbus 26 vs 27 What replaced the Asics Gel-Nimbus 26?
Step 2Gel-Nimbus 27 to Gel-Nimbus 282026Refined, same shoe
Gel-Nimbus 27 vs 28 What replaced the Asics Gel-Nimbus 27?

Gel-Nimbus 26 vs Gel-Nimbus 28: every spec, side by side

The net of both updates. Per-update change notes stay on the step pages above, because they explain changes measured from a different starting point than this table uses.

Spec	Gel-Nimbus 26	Gel-Nimbus 28
FIT AND WEIGHT
Weight	10.7 oz	9.9 oz
Widths	D, 2E, 4E	D, 2E, 4E
Upper	Reworked engineered knit with a roomier toebox	Lighter engineered knit with a redesigned heel and tongue loop
CUSHIONING GEOMETRY
Heel stack	41.5 mm	43.5 mm
Forefoot stack	33.5 mm	35.5 mm
Drop	8 mm	8 mm
MATERIALS
Midsole	FF Blast+ Eco foam (24 percent bio-based) with a PureGEL heel insert	FF Blast+ foam with a PureGEL heel
VALUE
List price at launch	$160	$165

Or buy the Gel-Nimbus 27 instead?

The Gel-Nimbus 27 is the value play if you find it discounted. It carries most of what the Gel-Nimbus 28 added while selling as an older model, and moving one version at a time is the smaller adjustment.

Buy the Gel-Nimbus 27

Stocked at Amazon

Men's: Check price at Amazon Women's: Check price at Amazon

Availability last checked Jul 28, 2026.

Questions runners ask

Can I go straight from the Asics Gel-Nimbus 26 to the Gel-Nimbus 28 and skip the Gel-Nimbus 27?: Yes. Going Gel-Nimbus 26 to Gel-Nimbus 28 skips the Gel-Nimbus 27, and neither update changed the ride, so you land on the same shoe two refinements later. The midsole is the one real difference: FF Blast+ Eco foam (24 percent bio-based) with a PureGEL heel insert to FF Blast+ foam with a PureGEL heel.
How much did the weight change across these two updates?: 0.8 oz off in total, 10.7 oz to 9.9 oz in a men's US 9. Almost all of it came in the second update; the Gel-Nimbus 27 weighed 10.7 oz.
Is the Gel-Nimbus 27 the better buy than either of these?: On paper it splits them: 10.7 oz against 10.7 oz for the Gel-Nimbus 26 and 9.9 oz for the Gel-Nimbus 28, on a 43.5 mm heel and a $165 list price. Whether that is worth chasing depends on what the Gel-Nimbus 27 update actually did, which the section above works through.
Did the Gel-Nimbus get taller between the Gel-Nimbus 26 and the Gel-Nimbus 28?: Heel stack went 41.5 mm to 43.5 mm, by way of 43.5 mm on the Gel-Nimbus 27. Drop held at 8 mm throughout, so the extra foam sits under both ends.
Where does the Gel-Nimbus 28 sit in the Gel-Nimbus lineup now?: It is the current model, two versions on from the Gel-Nimbus 26 and the newest one you can buy at full retail.