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If you’re like me, you want to know as much about a running shoe before putting down money to buy it. One of the shoes on the market that has been popular with runners is the ASICS Gel Nimbus 13. Does it stack up to all the hype? Is it worth the money? We’ll find out soon.

There’s a lot of information about this shoe that can get quite confusing. In this ASICS Gel Nimbus 13 review, we will give you the lowdown: The good. The bad.. And the ugly. By the end, you will know enough to pick up the shoe yourself if it’s right for you, or forget about it if you’re not.

So What Makes This Shoe Noteworthy?

According to ASICS, their design philosophy behind every running shoe that they make is called the Impact Guidance System (IGS). IGS employs linked components to enhance the foot’s natural gait from heel strike to toe off. Its goal is to compliment, not correct, how the legs and feet move. The anatomy of a typical ASICS shoe is shown below in Figure 1.

For this ASICS Gel Nimbus 13 Review, we will look at 2 major areas in judging how good this shoe really is: Sole support and Fit.

SOLE SUPPORT

In keeping with the philosophy of IGS, the sole for the Nimbus 13 is comprised of several components: Outsole, Space Trussic, GEL Cushioning, Mid Sole and Lasting (See Figure 1). According to ASICS, everything in the sole works harmoniously together to give extreme comfort for slightly high arched to neutral feet. Each component is explained in further detail below.

Outsole: Comprised of AHAR material. AHAR stands for ASICS High Abrasion Rubber. Placed in critical areas of the outsole for exceptional durability and grip. Along the bottom of the shoe there is a vertical flex groove called the Guidance Line. Apparently, it decouples the tooling along the line of progression for enhanced gait efficiency.

Space Trussic: This midfoot stabilizer creates a pocket between the Trusstic System device and the midsole, allowing for controlled midsole deformation and more efficient foot function.

GEL Cushioning: GEL Cushioning is added to the heel and forefoot of the shoe to decrease the landing shock and loading forces experienced by the body while running. ASICS uses a unique GEL in the heel and forefoot to reduce shock. Apparently your body has to put less energy into stabilising tasks and can focus more on forward motion. This makes running less tiring and thus reduces chances of injury.

Midsole & Lasting: Comprised of Solyte Midsole Material. A lighter weight midsole compound than ASICS’ standard EVA and SpEVA. Also features enhanced cushioning and durability.

 

FIT

The Upper provides the overal fit of the Nimbus 13. It consists of the following components: Outer Shell, Heel Counter, Heel Collar, Eyelet, Tongue and Sockliner (See Figure 1). Apparently, this provides superior comfort and fit due to improvements in the Upper. (Note that in this ASICS Gel Nimbus 13 review, we will not be talking about the Heel Counter, Tongue and Eyelet, since these are standard components of all running shoes.)

Outer Shell: Consists of Biomorphic Fit. Biomorphic Fit is a stretch material strategically placed on the upper helps to reduce buckling and the potential for irritation.

Heel Collar: Made of 2 layers of memory foam called PHF (Personalized Heel Fit). It is supposed to mold to the athlete’s heel, creating a personalized fit.

Sockliner: ASICS has developed a material called ComforDry for the sockliner. Supposedly, it provides cushioning performance and anti-odor properties for a cooler, drier, healthier environment.

Weight: For the Men’s model, the weight of this shoe is 12oz.

So Is This Shoe Really Worth the Money?

In the previous section of this ASICS GEL Nimbus 13 review, we looked at all the features of the shoe that make it a candidate for a good shoe. However, the best test of how well a shoe stands up to its own hype is to take a look at customer reviews and certifications that it has received.

First off, the Nimbus 13 has garnered the American Podiatric Medical Associations Seal of Acceptance. This is quite impressive consider the fact that the criteria of acceptance is strict, ranging from documented evidence of the shoe’s benefits to adherence to standards of how ASICS manufactures the shoe.

Customer reviews for this shoe is generally high as well. Below are the customer reviews from both Zappos and Amazon, two of the top online shoe distributors on the internet.

Zappos Rating: (38 Customers)

Amazon Rating: (45 Customers)

Here are some customer comments:

“Asics Nimbus series are the only running shoe I purchase. They’re perfect for a neutral runner. Lighter with more stability than the Nimbus 12′s. Praise Asics for a running shoe that fits my foot perfectly.” - Jimmy B, Amazon.com

“Loyal Nimbus user for 8 years and it just keeps getting better! Zappos is 2nd to none with customer service; I’ll never buy shoes anywhere else” - Josh R, Zappos.com

“This is the best shoe I have owned. I am a nimbus fan for life. I am on my 3rd pair of 13′s.” - Bullman20, Runnersworld.com

If You’re Considering the Nimbus 13, You Should Read This Before Buying..

Finding a safe reliable place to buy the Nimbus 13 is quite a confusing task. Firstly, there are a number of websites that sell the shoe but they’re far from being all the same. They sell at different prices. They take different amounts of time to get to your door.

If you’re interested in getting the Nimbus 13, the best place to get them is from Zappos. Zappos is well known for their customer service. They offer free shipping on purchases. If you’re not 100% satisfied, they also give you a 365 day period where you can send the shoes back for a full refund, with free shipping. This is an offer that no other online store can match. So we recommend that you go to the site and take advantage of this offer.