ASICS Gel-Nimbus 17 Running Shoe Review

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Asics Gel-Nimbus 17

When it comes to running shoes, I’m extremely picky. I train hard whether it’s for a race or to meet personal fitness goals. That means my running shoes have to be comfortable and reliable. They also must not hinder my training goals like speed or distance. The ASICS Gel-Nimbus 17 I recently tested did not disappoint in these categories.

Whether you’re a serious or casual runner, the ASICS Gel-Nimbus 17 women’s running shoes are an ideal everyday running shoe.

ASICS Gel-Nimbus 17 Women’s Running Shoes have a comfortable, smooth fit and colorful design.

ASICS Gel-Nimbus 17 Summary

The ASICS Gel-Nimbus 17 has all of the classic favorite features of an ASICS running shoe. They have gel cushioning, good traction, and soft, breathable material. They also look like traditional ASICS running shoes but with more colorful material than usual.

Classic ASICS design with more colorful material

The ASICS Gel-Nimbus 17 also feature some really cool, new technology. The midsole is made of FluidRide material, which is designed to provide balanced cushioning. The shoes have ComforDry X-40 Sockliner and ComforDry cushioning. The ComforDry technologies are meant to reduce moisture and increase breathability. In addition, these antimicrobial properties, in my opinion, are ideal for running shoes.

ASICS Gel-Nimbus 17 are great for running on pavement or trails.

I tested the ASICS Gel-Nimbus 17 shoes while running on pavement and on softer outdoor trails. I found them to work perfectly on both surfaces.

They also functioned perfectly regardless of distance. I mainly tested them running in the range of 3 miles to 6 miles at a time. I would have liked to run a longer distance in the shoes, but I recently moved from living at sea level to the mountains. I’m still getting used to the 3,600+ foot altitude. But, I am confident these shoes would work perfectly for distances much greater than 6 miles.

ASICS Gel-Nimbus 17 Function

The ASICS Gel-Nimbus 17 running shoes feature several advanced technologies.

They incorporate FluidRide, which is a light-weight and durable material designed to provide balance between bounce back and cushioning. I could definitely feel the FluidRide feature while running. It almost felt like I was running on little pillows. Think luxury car for running shoes. Each time my foot hit the ground, the landing felt soft on my feet. This is a great feature for distance running.

ASICS Gel-Nimbus 17 running shoes offer excellent cushioning for long distance running and are light weight.

Rearfoot and Forefoot GEL Cushioning Systems absorb shock during impact and toe-off. This feature also was evident while running. While I felt that the impact of my foot hitting the ground was softened by the cushioning system, it did feel like it caused me to lose some toe-off power. As a result, I was slightly slower in these shoes than normal. Since the ASICS Gel-Nimbus 17 seem to be built for long distance running rather than sprinting, I don’t think this is a big deal.  With all these features it is meant for support and comfort, and not to be viewed as a racing flat.

Gel Cushioning softens impact as your feet hit the ground.

ASICS Gel-Nimbus 17 running shoes feature multi-directional stretch mesh to adapt to the user’s foot. This technology is designed to make for a fully customized shoe. From a fit perspective, my ASICS Gel-Nimbus fit like a glove. Whether it’s actually the technology is hard to say. In any case, these shoes have an easy, comfortable feel while providing a supportive ride.

These shoes fit like a glove and are smooth on the feet.

I also noticed that, when I wear my ASICS Gel-Nimbus 17, the shoes feel soft and smooth on my foot. This is dissimilar from other athletic shoes I’ve owned, which tend to poke and prod in some places where the stitching or tongue hit the foot. I attribute this smooth feel to the seamless construction material.

The shoes also feature discrete eyelets to disperse lace tension. Since I didn’t notice any lace tension while wearing the shoes, I took that as an indication that the dispersion technology was working.

The ComforDry technology kept my feet dry, and I felt that the shoes had plenty of breathability.

Lace eyelets are designed to disperse lace tension when shoes are tied.

The shoes has a guidance system to improve gait efficiency and gender-specific midsole cushioning. Admittedly, I didn’t really notice these features. However, they seem like they would be difficult to pinpoint. I attribute my inability to notice this to my own lack of perception.

The Nimbus 17 have a heel height of 25 mm and a forefoot height of 12mm with 3mm of additional height over men’s shoes. This feature is designed to reduce Achilles tension. I didn’t have any tension in my Achilles while running.

ASICS Gel-Nimbus 17 Design

The Gel-Nimbus 17 look like traditional running shoes.

They are more colorful than ASICS running shoes I’ve owned in the past, including the Gel-Nimbus series.

ASICS Gel-Nimbus 17 straight out of the box

While I like the fact that ASICS has moved away from predominantly white-colored shoes, I wasn’t a huge fan of the color combo I received. With mostly fuchsia and purple and a hint of mint green, they are extremely girly looking shoes.

If I were to change one thing about these shoes, it’d be the available color combinations. Some more sophisticated color combinations and less feminine would be nice.

Who ASICS Gel-Nimbus 17 is For

The ASICS Gel-Nimbus shoes are for any distance runner. Whether you’re a casual runner or a marathoner, these shoes are ideal. They’re comfortable, sturdy, and reliable. They also have excellent cushioning and breathability. If I were thinking about training for another marathon or half marathon, I would train in these shoes.

ASICS Gel-Nimbus 17 are great for serious long distance runners or novice-level runners.

Since the Gel-Nimbus 17 have a neutral impact on pronation, they might not be ideal for under or over pronators. Despite this, I felt like I had good stability while running. So, I think this may be more of a consideration for people with severe over/under pronation.

Sizing

ASICS Gel-Nimbus 17 shoes are available in women’s sizes 5-13. They weigh 8.8 oz. The heel height is 25mm. The forefoot height is 12mm.

I wear a size 6.5, which is what I received. They fit perfectly, so I think the ASICS Gel-Nimbus run true to size.

Colors

The Gel-Nimbus 17 are available in six color combinations. I received deep blue (looks like purple), white, and hot pink.

They are also available in white/hot coral/apple; flash yellow/white/flash pink (a favorite color combo of mine); powder blue/silver/nectarine (the least girly combo); lightening/white/hot pink; and onyx/purple/mint (the most sophisticated color option).

Final Thoughts

The ASICS Gel-Nimbus 17 are high-quality, light-weight, and well-cushioned running shoes that are equipped with lots of high-tech features for serious distance runners. They are also perfectly appropriate for more casual runners. I highly recommend these extremely comfortable shoes for seasoned or novice-level runners. For more information Gel-Nimbus and other ASICS products visit: www.asics.com or www.amazon.com/asics.