The Nimbus has been ASICS's comfy-couch running shoe since 1999, and for number 29 the brand went and replaced the cushions. In an official press release, ASICS announced the GEL-NIMBUS 29, built around a new FF LUXE PLUS foam, and it releases globally on Tuesday, December 1 for $170. Preorders are already open on ASICS.com.
The midsole is the big story. FF LUXE PLUS is a lighter, plusher compound than what the Nimbus 28 ran on, and the outsole now has a wave-patterned shape that lets the foam compress more on landing. ASICS also tucked PureGEL under the heel for softer touchdowns, and House of Heat reports that this version of the gel is about 65% softer than other ASICS GEL units. Up top there's a new engineered mesh, a knit tongue, a ribbed collar and a pull tab, while the HYBRID ASICSGRIP outsole gets more rubber coverage than last year's shoe. ASICS puts the weight at about 279g for men and 238g for women, and the design theme is called "Soaring Cloud," with midsole lines inspired by drifting clouds and classical Japanese painting.
Our take: the Nimbus 28 was already a favorite for long, slow miles, so the 29 didn't need a reinvention, it needed a better mattress, and that's what it got. The wavy sculpted midsole also looks a lot more interesting than the usual chunky runner, which matters for the people who'll wear these to brunch and call it a recovery day. It's a hair heavier than the 28, but if you're buying a Nimbus you're not counting grams, you're counting how good your legs feel at mile 12.
ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 29
Price: $170
Release: December 1, 2026 (preorders open now)
Where: ASICS.com and select retailers worldwide
Shop ASICS at ONENESS.
Image via ASICS.
Sources: ASICS press release (Oct 29, 2026); House of Heat (Nov 4, 2026).
