Asics Gel-Nimbus 27 vs Asics Gel-Nimbus 28:
Which to Choose

These are close cousins, and it's worth saying plainly: the DNA is the same. Both score maximum (6/6) cushioning, above-average (4/6) responsiveness, a wide, planted 5/6 platform, and a 3/6 pace rating, with FF Blast+ foam, a gel heel, and no plate — both live in the same 5:30–6:30 min/km easy-to-steady zone and both go a bit flat if you try to push tempo. The differences are refinements rather than a reinvention. The biggest is weight: the 28 comes in at 278g (men's US 9) and is nearly 20g lighter than the 27, a roughly 7% trim achieved by streamlining the midsole and outsole. Drop drops too — the 27 runs a moderate 8mm offset, while the 28 measures a lower 6mm (below Asics' claimed 8mm), giving the newer shoe a slightly more natural, less heel-biased stride. Stack heights are close, with the 27 sitting on a roughly 41.5mm heel and the 28 on a 40mm heel / 34mm forefoot, so both remain unmistakably max-cushion. Underfoot, the character shifts subtly: the 27 is the softer, plusher, arguably more fun ride, while the 28 integrates its PureGEL directly into the heel foam for a smoother, more controlled compression, pairs it with a firmer, more sculpted forefoot and a more pronounced rocker, and reads as "stable-neutral" rather than simply neutral. The net effect is that the 28 transitions a touch more crisply and feels more planted, trading a little of the 27's pillowy softness for control. One catalog nuance: the 27 is rated out to marathon distance run at comfortable efforts, while the 28's sweet spot is pitched at 10K and the half — despite being lighter, it's positioned as a comfort-first trainer rather than a long-race cruiser.