Color: Titanium/Black-red
Intended
use: All runs except trail and in bad weather.
Surfaces
tested on: Road, 21° C/70° F
Upper: Air
Mesh, TPU welds, synthetic leather.
Midsole:
Dual density foam, heel and forefoot Asics Gel pads.
Outsole: Carbon
rubber (heel), Blown rubber (forefoot)
Weight:
353 gms/12.45 Oz for a half pair of US 11/UK 10/EUR 45
Widths
available: D-standard (reviewed), 2E-wide, 4E-extra wide.
US
Retail: $ 150
The shoe looks beautiful
from an aesthetic standpoint, with use of premium looking materials and
exemplary cosmetic detailing. All that is good when you’re not going anywhere,
but put some miles on it, and the overall experience can be best termed as
unremarkable. It will serve you well if you’re looking for a shoe with
reasonably padded feel, but to coax anything more out of the Nimbus would be a
daunting task.
The Nimbus 15 was
no issue, its heel Gel pads balanced in softness by cushioned foam on the
opposing side. Not so on the Nimbus 16. There are a couple of changes which
tilts the till-now familiar ride behavior in a different direction, literally
speaking.
The Gel Nimbus 16’s midsole foam on the inner side is much firmer
than the outer Gel pads, and if this reminds you of something, then your hunch
is spot-on. Every rear foot strike produces a result which feels eerily similar
to the Kayano 19. The
softer Gel inserts compress more than the foam(medial) side when you land on
the heel, tilting the Nimbus 16 slightly outwards. And that’s not the only
thing which causes that. The Gel and medial foam are stacked at an angle along
the centerline, bringing images of pronation-control shoes forth to mind.
Forefoot in the N-16 is
very stiff, and is firmer too. It doesn’t bend very well, and that translates
into a feeling that your foot is working harder during runs. Within the Asics
world, its stiffness is equaled by the Kayano 20, while models like the Nimbus
15, Kayano 19 and Cumulus 16 fare better. And about the firmness, it appears
that reduction of Gel volume is the reason. Can’t say for sure unless we
dissect the shoe, but the massive weight reduction holds a strong clue. The
Nimbus 15 was 380 grams, and this year’s model see a straight drop of 30 grams,
going down to 353 grams for the near-same size. Now all things being equal –
the upper and midsole foam doesn’t swing the needle much, which leaves only one
variable: the Silicon based Gel pads. The forefoot windows are also smaller
than the 15, a possible indication of corresponding (and reduced) usage inside.
Nimbus 16 runs cushioned,
but in a firmer fashion relative to the Nimbus 15. The footbed is a carry over,
with a generously air-blown cellular structure (see picture above), and scores
well on delivering just-under-the-foot cushioning. Since the midsole densities
are firmer with possible trimming down of Gel units, the shoe has been
un-softened overall compared to previous year plushness. Rest of the
ingredients are part of the tried and tested Nimbus formula, like the blown
rubber forefoot and carbon rubber rear-foot, groove separated heel crash pad
and the plastic shank. Grip is ok, and so is durability. Transition feels no
different than many other Asics models, as the ‘guidance line’ makes its
appearance here too. Which happens to be this grooved depression running
midfoot to toe, designed to keep weight loaded along the center.
Upper features all the
standard Nimbus fitments, utilizing a palette of welds, synthetic overlays and
spacer meshes. The synthetic leather used looks more detailed than the Nimbus
15, featuring a faux fibreglass kind of texture – with no difference in
function. However, if you’re transitioning from the Nimbus 15, you’ll immediately
sense that the level of plush has taken a knock. While it feels premium, the
collar and tongue meshes aren’t as smooth as the type used last year. This
change is evident the moment you slip your foot inside the new Nimbus.
Collar
is securely snug, but misses the soft cocooning sensation of the 15. Ditto for
the tongue. And what’s with the new laces on the 16? The one used here feel
hard and raspy, in a stark contrast to the materials surrounding it. Same laces
are used on the $100 GT1000, but hey, that shoe’s $50 cheaper for a
reason.
Nimbus 16 has a snug fit
all the way from the collar to forefoot, while running true to size in length.
The new mesh is flatter and less spongy than the one in the 15, so it adds to
the reduced feeling of overall plushness. If anything good comes out of the
change, it’s the ventilation. Open spacer mesh sits closer to the foot surface,
which allows better air circulation. We took a few inside shots which show that
while there are lot of overlays, there’s plenty of open-ness weaved into the
mesh structure.
It isn’t
the lightest, because at 353 grams, it is heavier than most running shoes. It
isn’t the most comfortable nor plush in materials and fit; there are shoes
which will top Nimbus in that regard. And as far as running footwear innovation
is concerned, Asics is pretty much dead in the water, relying on 2006 footwear
construction techniques to make a 2014 model.
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