What replaced the Asics Gel-Nimbus 26?
Updated July 28, 2026. Specs are men's US 9.
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THE SHORT ANSWER
The Nimbus 27 replaced the Nimbus 26 in February 2025. It added 2 mm of stack, swapped the knit upper for jacquard mesh, gave the line its first proper heel bevel, and moved the price to $165.
At a glance
- Weight is unchanged
- 2 mm more heel stack
- Drop is unchanged at 8 mm
- New midsole foam
- List price up $5
Every spec side by side, with the reason behind each change: Gel-Nimbus 26 vs 27.
Stay on your shoe, or switch?
Refined, same shoeThe 27 kept the max-cushion formula and made it run better: more foam, a real heel bevel, slightly firmer and more balanced. The most versatile Nimbus of the redesign era.
Stick with the Gel-Nimbus 26 if
- You prefer the 26's softer feel and knit comfort
- Discounted 26es are widely available
Move to the Gel-Nimbus 27 if
- You want the smoothest, most versatile modern Nimbus
- The knit uppers never fit your foot well
Where the Asics Gel-Nimbus is now
Two updates on, the Gel-Nimbus 28 (2026) is what sits on shelves today. Against the shoe you own rather than the one that directly replaced it:
- The Gel-Nimbus 28 is 0.8 oz lighter
- 2 mm more heel stack
- Drop is unchanged at 8 mm
- New midsole foam
- List price up $5
What loyalists said about the update
Received as a faithful, slightly firmer update. By this point the redesign argument was history and the conversation was about small trade-offs.
Still want the original?
Buy remaining Gel-Nimbus 26 stock
Stocked at AmazonAvailability last checked Jul 28, 2026.
Ready to move on?
Beyond the Gel-Nimbus 27, these come closest to what the Gel-Nimbus 26 did.
- 9.2 oz
- 8 mm drop
- 42 mm heel
- $155 list
The Clifton is the obvious cross-shop for the modern Nimbus: both are tall, soft, rockered cruisers. The Clifton runs about an ounce lighter; the Nimbus is plusher and more padded up top.
Against your Asics Gel-Nimbus 26: 1.5 oz lighter, the same drop, $5 less at list.
- 10.2 oz
- 10 mm drop
- 36 mm heel
- $150 list
The Ghost is the step-down option: firmer, lower, cheaper, and more traditional. Runners who find the modern Nimbus too tall and soft often land here.
Against your Asics Gel-Nimbus 26: 0.5 oz lighter, 5.5 mm less heel stack, 2 mm more drop, $10 less at list.
- 9 oz
- 6 mm drop
- 40 mm heel
- $170 list
The 1080 is the other plush flagship cruiser, softer and bouncier since its v15 foam swap, and it comes in real widths from narrow to 4E, which the Nimbus does not.
Against your Asics Gel-Nimbus 26: 1.7 oz lighter, 1.5 mm less heel stack, 2 mm less drop, $10 more at list.
Questions runners ask
- Is the Asics Gel-Nimbus 26 still available?
- Yes. The Asics Gel-Nimbus 26 is still widely stocked on Amazon in both men's and women's sizes, often below its original list price now that a newer version exists.
- Is the Gel-Nimbus 27 a downgrade from the Asics Gel-Nimbus 26?
- No. Most runners rate the Gel-Nimbus 27 as the same shoe done slightly better. The changes are real but none of them alter what the shoe is.
- Is the Asics Gel-Nimbus still made?
- Yes. The current version is the Asics Gel-Nimbus 28, released in 2026, 2 versions on from the Asics Gel-Nimbus 26.
- What is the closest current alternative to the Asics Gel-Nimbus 26?
- The Hoka Clifton 11. The Clifton is the obvious cross-shop for the modern Nimbus: both are tall, soft, rockered cruisers. The Clifton runs about an ounce lighter; the Nimbus is plusher and more padded up top.