Gel Nimbus 27 vs Gel Nimbus 28

The Gel Nimbus 27 is ASICS at its most plush: a max-cushion neutral running shoe built for soft, protected miles rather than speed. This is the shoe you reach for on easy days, recovery runs and long efforts when your legs want padding underfoot and a forgiving ride. At 305g it is not light, and with an 8mm drop it sits in familiar territory for a daily trainer, but the appeal here is comfort, not pace. We rate it as one of the safest picks in the cushioned daily category, especially if you log steady mileage and value a shoe that feels the same in mile twenty as it did in mile one. It is a premium buy at £175 RRP, so it asks a lot up front. If you want the same soft, dependable feel in something a touch lighter and quicker, the Gel Cumulus 27 is the leaner sibling worth a look.

The Gel Nimbus 28 is ASICS at its plushest: a max-cushion neutral daily training shoe built to soak up the miles and protect your legs, not to chase pace. This is the shoe you reach for on easy days, recovery jogs and long steady runs when comfort matters more than speed. At 278g it is on the heavier side, and with a tall 39.5mm heel and a moderate 5.2mm drop the ride is soft, planted and forgiving rather than quick. If you loved the Gel Nimbus 27, the 28 keeps the same brief and refines the feel. We rate it as one of the most dependable premium daily trainers for higher-mileage runners who want a cushioned running shoe that simply gets out of the way. It is not a do-everything shoe and it is not cheap, but for what it sets out to do it is very good.