Reviews of the Numbus 20 Assis Running Shoe
Article by Sam Winebaum, Jeff Beck, Peter Stuart, Sally Reiley, and Derek Li
ASICS GEL-Nimbus Calorie-free 2 ($150) Introduction Sam: The 2nd edition of the Nimbus Calorie-free is really the 1st edition of a lighter, modernized, more than nimble Nimbus daily trainer with the aforementioned stack height as the regular Nimbus. The Lite ane was for many of u.s.a. a flexible, fast and fun shoe which in the end, due to its fit and very flexible forefoot, was limited in its versatility to those faster shorter runs for many of our testers The Calorie-free ii has a completely new broader midsole geometry but with the same bouncier flavour of FlyteFoam every bit Lite 1 equally well equally a more integral outsole design. Despite its broader platform, it loses almost 0.25 oz / 5g in weight. It's new upper, generous in volume at true to size, is notable in being made from more 80% recycled textile while the midsole has 15-xx% cellulose nanofiber from repurposed sugar cane manufacturing. As with all 2021 packaging is 100% recycled materials. Derek: I missed testing the Nimbus Lite ane, and just reading the input from the other testers, I would tell this was very different from the usual Nimbus. Sam as already done a detailed introduction of the materials involved. I'll just add together that this iteration of Flytefoam is the same as what's used in the MetaRacer, then really, there'southward no reason non to give this a endeavor. Pros and Cons Pros: Sam/Sally/Jeff/Derek: Consistent and somewhat bouncy under foot feel forepart to back, well matched outsole and midsole Lots of cushion and softer than usual for ASICS trainers Very stable (neutral) landing rear to midfoot from wide platform Now clearly a daily trainer class shoe.Nimbus Low-cal 1 was not equally supportive up forepart and could get tiring True to size somewhat generous fit Peter/Sally: Great looking upper, soft and comfortable. Stable and fun ride Emerge/Sam : Immediately comfortable, very accommodating fit for higher volume pes Fantabulous marks for sustainability with fourscore% of the upper and xv-xx% of the midsole recycled or repurposed materials , (hopefully) a trend-setting eco-friendly design arroyo using recycled materials Cons: Sam/Sally: A flake broad and strong feeling at midfoot despite smooth transition, took a few runs to breakin Forefoot could utilize a bit more pop Large fans of Nimbus Low-cal's very flexible somewhat loosy goosy, thin faster feeling forefoot may miss it Premium priced and probable durable but not a super exciting ride, despite great looks. Peter/Sally/Sam/Jeff/Derek: Ride could exist bouncier/more than exciting STATS Weight: men'south nine.52oz / 270 grand (US9), women's 8.five oz / 243 one thousand (US8) Samples: men's US 9: 9.52oz / 270 k, US 10.5 : 10.4oz / 295 k, nine.95oz / 282g US9.five women'south United states of america eight: 8.5 oz / 243 k Nimbus 22 weighs about 11 oz men's US9 Stack Height: men's 25mm heel / 15mm forefoot, 10mm drop women's 27mm heel / 14mm forefoot, 13mm drop Derek: I measured men'south US9.5 including sockliner and outsole at 24mm forefoot, 34mm heel using Globe Athletics reference points Available November.27, 2020 $150 Offset Impressions and Fit Sam: Conspicuously the design is modern and streamlined with a simple engineered mesh upper, sleek midsole with no GEL showing although GEL units are however there embedded at heel and forefoot. My sample was a half size upward from my normal viii.5 and clearly generous in volume particularly at mid foot. My narrower correct human foot is not as secure as my broader left telling me that at true to size, as for certain I should exist, that the fit will favor higher book feet over lower volume ones. The seamless toe box is very comfortable and while the mesh is thicker than in Light 1 the concord is improved upward front. Peter: Out of the box the Nimbus Gel Lite 2 is clearly a more modern and lighter daily trainer from Asics. The expect is sleek and updated and the weight--or lack thereof--is noticeable. The materials, at least partially recycled, are soft and supple and the shoe fits and laces upward neat. An immediate thumbs up at start try on. Emerge: Okay, ASICS, you have me at the look. Not the classic ASICS of tradition, but a modernized version with very today colors and innovative geometry. This lightweight beauty fits like a dream, perhaps a fleck likewise spacious of a dream? They continue easily, the laces efficiently assist in ensuring a proficient secure fit, the padding around the ankle and the tongue cushion your foot luxuriously. All systems Get! Jeff: ASICS isn't letting up. A year ago they dropped the Nimbus Lite out of nowhere, which was a solid shoe with some minor bug, and then they followed it upwards with this ? Very impressive ASICS. Fitwise they run truthful-to-size for length, but they definitely experience like they are designed for a medium-to-wide foot. Lacing took a little fiddling with to become ironed out, but one time I did, zero hold problems. Toebox isn't massive, but is very acceptable both in width, besides as vertical stretch. Derek: ASICS are doing a neat job with their new colorways. I really like the way the midsole and upper colors piece of work with each other, even more so hither than in e.grand. Kayano Lite. The stride in feel was excellent for this shoe. Very luxurious padding around the ankle opening and the tongue. There is a little flake of bounce when yous start walk around in the shoe, but the wide platform makes the shoe feel very stable. The fit is definitely true to size for me, with a decently wide toe box, but snug padded midfoot feel. Don't get mistaken by the advertised stack heights. Those do not include the stack of the insole, which for ASICS is often a thicker SpEVA ane. My manually measured stack heights (per World Athletics reference points) came in at 24mm forefoot and 34mm heel including sockliner and outsole. That's plenty of stack of a trainer. Upper Sam: The upper is fabricated from an engineered mesh with 80% recycled content which is admirable and follows the 2020-2021 ASICS push button towards sustainability in production and packaging. The upper is entirely seamless with across the Tiger stripes no overlays. To provide midfoot support we have a tongue gusset which starts quite far forward. A more extended gusset might improve mid foot concord for lower book feet. The heel counter and achilles hold is not as massively clutching as most ASICS including the Nimbus 22, and even the Nimbus Calorie-free 1. While the heel counter is rigid it appears lower and does not have a rear exo-skelton (as Nimbus 22 has and even Nimbus Lite ane had with beyond a fairly thin laminated rear panel. Peter: The upper is soft and works well. The Nimbus lite two doesn't take long to lock in. It'southward a simple and easy shoe. The seamless upper provides zero friction points for me and I have found it to be an easy choice for daily running. Information technology may exist a fiddling warm for summertime running, only it's not summer, so who knows! The tongue and the ankle collar are both well (but non overly) padded and the upper locks the pes in well. Sally: This is definitely a elementary upper without whatever gimmicks. The mesh is soft and somewhat breathable. I similarly felt no hot spots while running, at least not until I hitting about 8 miles. I accept a narrow "low volume" woman's foot, and I found this upper to be a bit "overly accommodating" and the fit just besides loose and not secure plenty at midfoot for my narrow human foot. My pes had likewise much room, enabling it to motility laterally, especially when taking corners, and forward, such equally when running downhill. Maybe I need more than time to tweak the lacing? Jeff: I'g decidedly in a dissimilar position than Sally (with a slightly broad men's human foot) but constitute a like fit upshot. I was able to resolve it by playing with lacing in order to get the shoe nailed down, but it wasn't perfect out of the box. Strangely, I had a similar effect with the original Nimbus Light that felt merely loose from the midfoot forward, just I can get a much better fit with the two. My main upper gripe with the NL2 is the lace ribbon on the tongue that goes over the laces - it doesn't seem to practise much except brand it difficult to attach my Stryd pod. Non a dealbreaker by any means, and I realize very much a niche problem - merely a trouble nonetheless. The toebox has shrunk just slightly since the NL1, but last year'south shoe had a really large toebox, this shoe is fine, if not great, in that regard. Last bit to add together - the film around the heel is incredibly reflective, and makes you very easy to see during early on morning/mid-afternoon runs. Okay, evening runs, but I'one thousand even so salty most losing that Daylight Saving hour a few weeks. Derek: This upper, similar well-nigh other ASICS uppers, works very well for a trainer, in that it is very easy to punch in the fit. I like that the fit leans more towards a performance fit with a snug wrap than a more than generous fit often seen amidst premium daily trainers. I think the overall volume would work well for about feet, except people who are wider across the mid-foot. It'south not so much that the platform is narrow, but the midsole does curve up a little big at the sides to requite a bit more than stability, and that inherently limits how comfortably a wide human foot will sit in the cradle. It is not as roomy as e.g. ASICS Novablast or GlideRide, merely part of this could exist due to the use of a thicker insole in this model. I call back people needing a little chip more volume particularly in the midfoot may simply switch out the insole for a thinner one to solve the result. I call up the others have done a great job describing the upper. I volition focus more than on the breathability of the upper, since I run mostly in the 85-90F temperature range. It breathes adequately well. The ample padding around the ankle and the denser colors in the mesh may give the impression that this shoe may end upwards on the warmer end of the spectrum, but I accept not experienced any problems with hotspots or heat build-up in this shoe. Midsole Sam: The midsole has a completely new geometry with the same midsole stack every bit the Nimbus Lite one and regular Nimbus and with gender specific midsole and outsole designs. To a higher place: Men's on left, Women's on right Note how the women's mid foot leaves out the central rubber pod and with the midsole there more carved out. The goal is to create a more stable experience for men and a lighter experience for women. Additionally, based on ASICS inquiry that has shown gender differences in achilles and calf strain and thus injury potential, the stack heights between men's and women's ( as with many ASICS) are different. The men's has a 25mm heel / 15mm forefoot, 10mm drop while the women's is 27mm heel / 14mm forefoot, 13mm drop. These stack heights are the same every bit in the regular Nimbus 22 and 23. And yes there are still heel and forefoot GEL units merely here unseen and embedded. The forefoot unit is a minor disc at the first met head intended to provide response and absorber at this key indicate in the gait cycle as we head to toe off. The midsole foam is a season of Flytefoam with 15-20% cellulose nanofibers repurposed from sugarcane manufacturing. The cellulose nanofibers likewise assist create an internal structure to increase the durability of the foam. This item cream is shared with the summit finish Metaracer and Kayano Lite stability shoe. By feel its firmness is near the same as the Kayano Lite and a bit firmer than Metaracer, understanding Metaracer also has a carbon plate up forepart which firms up the forefoot ride at that place. The geometry is broader than Nimbus Lite 1 with a protruding heel and flatter more stable midfoot area with more vertical side walls on the medial side than the lateral. The foam has a bear upon of bounciness and is notable, in combination with the new thinner moving ridge outsole design, for a very consistent feel through the stack and for its stability which approaches the stability of the similar only broader on the basis with more mid pes prophylactic Kayano Low-cal. As with Derek below I found the platform took a few runs to interruption in and get some flex equally early runs were apartment feeling and overly stable at mid foot lagging a bit in smooth transition upfront until it flexed more there. That all changed for the good later on about 20 miles! Peter: Not much to add to what Sam has said well-nigh the midsole, except to say that information technology does, in fact, feel very stable. The midsole feels soft and stable, just is firm plenty to provide good efficiency. Sally: Every bit Sam said! And since I was testing the women's shoe, I tin can ostend that this midsole is not only light, but very stable. Jeff: At first glance I idea the midsole geometry was virtually similar to the New Rest Fuel Cell Rebel, with its lateral flange. Unfortunately, that flange is scalloped out at the bottom, so information technology doesn't have quite the aforementioned outer support as the Rebel (a squeamish bonus for supinators like myself) but the NL2 doesn't feel bad for the scooped out midsole. The consequence is a nicely cushioned, if but a chip firm, trainer that feels as modern as annihilation ASICS has ever put out. Derek: I just want to add that this shoe has a bit of a break-in flow. The get-go 2 runs, the shoe felt a bit stiff and awkward, like there was a flex point where it shouldn't be, and in this case it felt like the shoe was flexing in the expanse of exposed midsole at mid-human foot merely earlier the segmented areas of forefoot rubber. The good news is all this completely disappeared by the finish of the second run and subsequent runs had the shoe running very smoothly and transitioning really well. The shoe as well becomes noticeably bouncier afterward the start eight-10 miles as well, especially in the forefoot. All this is just to say, do non exist turned off by that initial run impression. This shoe does need a few miles to wake the midsole upwardly. The cease result is a smooth, slightly bouncy, and very cushioned ride that really takes the border off the road. Outsole Sam: ASICS calls out that part of the weight loss comes from less outsole rubber. Non to worry in that location is plenty. The two far rear thick firmer rubber pods are AHAR+ (ASICS Loftier Chafe Condom +) while the residual of the outsole is softer AHAR Lite. To engagement immovability has been excellent. The wave pattern helps provide not merely a smooth silent transition and seamless when combined with midsole ride simply plenty of grip.They even passed my very slippery when wet wooden boardwalk test where many shoes neglect Peter: The outsole is a combination of some exposed foam with v diagonal (ish) lines of rubber beyond the forefoot with another strip of rubber on the lateral side, ane smaller patch dead heart and two more on the heel. At the very back of the heel are two patches of what seems to be firmer AHARr+ rubber for those who tend to land more towards the heel. The effect is a shoe that has enough of rubber without getting heavy. Grip is proficient and the shoe feels efficient on the road. The back of the outsole flares out just enough to make a bully petty shelf that makes it extremely easy to take the shoe off with your human foot. It's the little things that brand me happy. Sally: Geez, Peter, I simply wish I could all the same take my shoes off that way! Someday, my hamstring will recover and I will match your talents at shoe removal, merely for now… The outsole works just fine: good grip on wet surfaces, no gravel magnet grooves, adequately serenity. That's all I ask for. Jeff: My colleagues broke the outsole down very well, and I have zero complaints almost the outsole. They segmented it well, so it helps go on the shoe very flexible. It does give but a little chip of a squishing noise, but that's more audible during slower speeds - so if annihilation it gives me an incentive to pick up the pace a fleck. Derek: As the others have mentioned, outsole durability and grip are excellent in this shoe. In fact, I would go and then far to say that the outsole grip is ameliorate than my other contempo favorite not-plated daily trainer, the Nike Pegasus 37. One thing which struck me as odd near the outsole design, apart from the egg in the middle, was the choice to go with rubber coverage on the medial side of the mid-pes while leaving the lateral side bare. It's well-nigh always the other way around. I tin't off the acme of my caput recall whatsoever other shoe that goes with medial coverage alone. The but logical reason I can excogitate for this is to somehow comprise a bit of medial stability in some style, because the Flytefoam here is softer than most of their other trainers. As a neutral runner, I'one thousand non particularly certain if the midfoot safe does a whole lot, though I conceive that it may potentially add a bit of long-axis stiffness to the packet and aid the transitioning from mid-human foot to forefoot in some way. It would be interesting to hear what others retrieve of this. Ride Peter: The Nimbus Lite 2 rides actually nicely. It'south not the most exciting shoe and it doesn't experience similar it's from the latest "amazing new materials" club, but it'southward a great modernization of the older tech. The ride is ultra smooth, very stable and kind of fun. It's non laugh out loud fun, only it's fun. If information technology were but a little bouncier it would be a total abode run, but it'south a solid double, maybe fifty-fifty a triple. I've run them way more than I've run an Asics shoe in years. Sam: I concur with Peter. A totally modern steady and reliable daily training ride and quite dissimilar from the wild fun, then tedious after not that many miles Nimbus Lite 1, or the more cushioned bouncier and less stable Novablast or the irksome in comparing far heavier classic Nimbus. At that place is plenty of cushion for any type of run and adequate pop for some faster miles but this is a ride based on consistency, neutral flavored stability, and overall condolement. What's wrong with that! Sally: This beauty of a shoe provides a polish, stable, consequent ride. Information technology is the "safe appointment" that your female parent would approve of. Not racy or outrageous or outspoken, but well-dressed and polite and steady, from a skilful family unit. Information technology has some jump to its step, but not the bounciness of the diverse tempo shoes making the rounds. It rolls nicely with a smooth transition to toe-off, and is truly admirable for these qualities. Jeff: Agreed, the ride is adept, but not groundbreaking. Which is a little fleck of a disappointment coming from the groundbreaking aesthetics of the shoe. If it leaned a little motion toward the Novablast for ride fun only had the same level of stability, it'd exist in the running for shoe of the year. Derek: One of the reported negatives almost the Nimbus Low-cal one (and they were far and few between) was that the forefoot lacked snap, and the whole ride was a lilliputian ponderous at slower paces. I dove into this review with that in mind, and was pleasantly surprised that the shoe actually transitions pretty well for me. As far equally non-plated trainers become, this is one of the smoothest and most enjoyable ones I've tried. Information technology's not the bounciest true cat out there, but it'due south cushioned, stable and predictable, and retains simply plenty liveliness in the foam to keep things interesting. Vibration dampening is surprisingly good here, and better than some of other notable daily trainers like the Saucony Ride xiii, Nike Pegasus 37 and Brooks Ghost xiii for me. I've used information technology for some longer training runs and the subjective cushioning is almost at the level of the New Balance FuelCell TC, if stopping short of Tempo Adjacent%-level cushioning. I retrieve it does really well for like shooting fish in a barrel and medium footstep runs, and the merely thing really property it dorsum from speed work is its weight. I would like to run into the shoe shave off another i.5oz and go it into the 8.5-9oz range in my US9.5, and really give the lighter trainers a run for their coin. Equally is, I think it is express by the weight of the midsole materials generally, but using a more minimal upper could shave off mayhap 0.5oz. The residual would likely accept to come from a reduced stack and possibly fifty-fifty thinner outsole safety coverage. Sort of like what the Dynablast does for the Novablast. Another thing is the lack of whatsoever noticeable forefoot rocker. ASICS are getting pretty good with their forefoot rockers, as seen in the Metaracer, EvoRide and Glideride (as well as a few upcoming 2021 models which we cannot yet talk about), so I would like to see them apply some of that tech to the Nimbus Lite 2 to give it a faster feeling toe-off. Conclusions and Recommendations Peter: The Nimbus Light ii fits correct in next to another swell shoes in the past year. I'd put it next to the NB 1080 X, the NB Beacon 3, the fantabulous Saucony Ride xiii and the Hoka Mach 4. In fact I will put it side by side with all of those in the comparisons. I think this shoe will work for a ton of folks and should be on everyone'due south list to give a endeavour. It's a comfortable, adept looking shoe that runs smoothly and would piece of work for lighter faster runners on easy days also every bit anyone else on easy or tempo days. Sam: Well over an ounce lighter than the Nimbus 22 and more than in "character" equally a versatile daily trainer than the Lite ane, the Lite 2 is solid, comfortable and calorie-free for substance and absorber at 9.5 oz. As Peter says, it will work for many runners in slightly different ways for different purposes. It lacks some pop and excitement for me but most of our miles should be steady, stable, and consistent in feel and for the bread and butter of daily running Nimbus Lite two delivers, and well. At $150 in a crowded field of daily trainers at nearly its weight and substance,, it suffers a bit in value and excitement. It is priced the same as the Nimbus 22, and soon to come 23 which are loaded with "extras" such equally the external rear clutch and mid foot Trustic plate. These options are quite frankly not required by most neutral runners except those seeking additional support and stability in a neutral shoe who, if they demand that, could also be well served by the lighter Kayano Lite. All of this said Nimbus Lite two is a very successful and mod have on ASICS, or any other make'southward, neutral daily trainer. It is consistent in ride experience, versatile, well cushioned, stable and comfortable and can movement along. Sam's Score: 9.17 / 10 Ride: 9.three (50%) Fit: nine.3 (30%) Value: viii.v (15%) Manner: 9 (5%) Sally: This should be a very popular shoe for a whole range of runners, every bit it provides a smooth stable ride with a lite weight modernized classic look. This could easily be ane's breadstuff and butter wear-it-for-everything shoe, for information technology is very versatile. The fit wasn't perfect for me with my narrow depression volume foot, but those with higher volume feet should love information technology. Emerge's score: 9.0/10 Ride 9.4 Fit 9.2 Value 8.5 Style: 8.v Jeff: ASICS followed upwardly last year'southward squeamish surprise with an even better, and more versatile shoe. I definitely see lighter runners taking information technology for long dull days, while slower and heavier runners tin use it for easy daily miles or even some uptempo runs. It's a piddling spendy at $150, but has a groovy feeling upper, a completely competent outsole, and i of the smoother, if a lilliputian unremarkable, midsoles around. Jeff'south Score: 9.2/ten Ride: 9 (l%) Fit: 10 (30%) Value: eight (15%) Style: ten (5%) Derek: Every bit Sam states, the $150 price point is a very competitive one, and you need to bring something special to the table. I recall the Nimbus Lite 2 does as well every bit it could already, given its level of engineering science. Curt of adding a plate to make it plated trainer or doing something to shave weight, this shoe has pretty much maxed out the potential for Flytefoam in a daily trainer for me. I'll dive into it more under the comparisons, simply in my mind, there is no question that the Nimbus Calorie-free ii is more fun than the Nike Peg 37 or NB Buoy iii, by no ways an easy feat. Information technology's not quite at the level of the Skechers MaxRoad 4 or ASICS Novablast for bounciness, but information technology more than makes up for this with a more comfortable and stable heel-toe drib that makes it easy to transition on tired legs. That said, if y'all already take many pairs of shoes and are looking for one more than Unicorn to ride, then I would probably laissez passer on the Nimbus Lite 2. It is a darned fine shoe, but it's non going to blow your mind. Derek's Score: 9.02/ten Ride: 9 (50%) Fit: ix.five (30%) Value: viii (15%) Style: 9.4 (5%) Picket Sam's Initial Review Comparisons Index to all RTR reviews: HERE GEL-Nimbus Calorie-free ane ( RTR Review ) Sam: While the aforementioned stack height the Lite 1 is essentially a completely different riding and purpose shoe for almost. Lite 2 is more stable overall especially at the forefoot, and is less flexible and lighter. Low-cal one for most/many a fast fun shoe for shorter runs, Lite 2 is a more than versatile daily trainer. Jeff: Terminal year'south shoe felt similar a Nimbus on a weight loss program, this twelvemonth'southward shoe feels more dialed in - like they had a clearer prototype of what they were going for. The NL2 feels more performance oriented, and has an improved upper and midsole. Sally: Lite ii definitely more than of a crowd pleasing daily trainer for me. So much more of a modern aesthetic! Seems like it should be more than one model number different. I would pick the newer version whatever day. GEL-Kayano LIte ( RTR Review ) Sam: Accept the Nimbus Calorie-free 2 add together a wider platform, somewhat more than vertical medial side walls and especially more extensive mid foot rubber and broader forefoot rubber pads and you go the Kayano Low-cal, the stability back up flavour of ASICS Lite variants. The Kayano Lite upper is a niggling plusher and softer overall and has additional medial back up overlays. The midsole foam is the same. Add 0.5 oz and $10 and you get the Kayano Low-cal. While the Kayano Lite is mighty fine I'll accept the Nimbus Low-cal 2 as for me the additional back up oriented features are not required and the Nimbus Calorie-free every bit a upshot moves along livelier. Sally: I prefer a neutral shoe that allows my human foot to movement and flex naturally, so the Nimbus Calorie-free ii is my option over the Kayano Lite right off the bat. Both are dandy shoes, however, and like in more ways than they are unlike. GEL-Nimbus ( RTR Nimbus 22 Review, Nimbus 23 Review soon ) Jeff: Reviewing the N23 and NL2 at the same fourth dimension has been interesting - very easy to see how much Dna the shoes share. For 1.3 ounces more in my size 10.5, the N23 has a softer ride, more plush upper, and as always the inclusion of their plastic TRUSTIC plate (more subtle than previous years, simply it's withal there). 2 tend to gravitate toward the full-bodied Nimbus over its lighter counterpart, but just slightly. I could come across many runners grabbing both as a 1-2 punch, either the NL2 as the daily mileage and N23 for long slow days, or N23 for daily mileage and NL2 for uptempo days. Both really solid shoes, way to get ASICS. Sally: I am also testing both the Nimbus Lite 2 and the Gel Nimbus 23 at the same time. Both very comfortable, both smashing shoes, both manifestly from the aforementioned parents! I do note that my paces are naturally slower in matching runs when I wear the Nimbus 23, a slightly heavier and more plush shoe that excels at mellow runs (though runs/feels lighter than its actual weight). Low-cal 2 is non a race shoe by any ways, simply more of a tempo shoe than the 23. ASICS Glideride (RTR Review) The Glideride differs in having a rocker based geometry from ASICS Guide Sole which includes a hardened EVA plate up front. The Guide Sole prevents toes from pointing upward and ankle flexing up to increment efficiency. the The Nimbus Lite is more traditional having a forward flex bespeak for toe off. The Glideride is somewhat more cushioned with a greater stack simply also somewhat firmer peculiarly upfront whereas the Nimbus Calorie-free is softer and bouncier but non as dynamic. The Glideride fit is somewhat snugger especially at mid pes and more performance oriented with a denser upper material. GEL-ASICS Cumulus 22 ( RTR Review ) Sam: The Cumulus 22 represents the more traditional accept on an ASICS daily trainer leaning towards uptempo. Slightly lighter than the more and softer cushioned Lite ii it has copious business firm rubber upfront which gives it a more than responsive firmer ride, especially so at the forefoot. It's upper is less seamless and generous in fit and slightly more than locked downwards while at the same time is overly plush at the rear. ASICS Novablast ( RTR Review ) Jeff: I didn't review the Novablast, but in that location were then many raves about information technology, I had to selection up a pair to see what all the hype was about. While the shoe is a niggling unstable, it has an incredible bounciness to information technology that makes information technology a very fun shoe to run in. The Novablast toebox is even roomier than the NL2, but the biggest difference in these shoes is under the pes. Ii different philosophies - super boisterous, but unstable, or super stable, simply a more pedestrian ride. Ultimately I'd favor the Novablast, but just barely. Sam: Agree with Jeff hither. Y'all might arrive trouble with the Novablast if you tin't command your form while you won't accept such issues in the more stable Lite two. I would give a clear nod to the Lite 2's more refined less dense upper and its more human foot widths conforming fit. Derek: I wear US9.5 in both shoes. The Novablast has the overall more fun and lively ride, simply the fit of the shoe lets it downwards a bit, because it has a very relaxed upper, and something with such an untamed ride really needs a performance lockdown to continue things honest. The NL2 is quite the reverse, in that it has an almost performance feel to the upper's fit, and has a more traditional less bouncy ride. I retrieve if I could have simply i do-it-all shoe, I would probably go with the NL2 over the Novablast equally information technology covers most bases better. Saucony Ride 13 ( RTR Review ) Sam: One of my favorite daily trainers of 2020 and similar in purpose and weight , the Ride thirteen is more flexible and at the aforementioned time has thicker rubber at the forefoot and thus has more popular. More than traditional in blueprint information technology is a highly refined have on the daily preparation with some zing genre. About 0.5 oz heavier, a bit firmer and more responsive, the Ride thirteen is also $twenty less and does not quite have the smooth plumbing equipment upper of the Calorie-free and has a lower toe box with more lockdown. It is a improve option if your focus is faster preparation paces with the Lite more comfortable top to bottom and more versatile at the slower end of paces. Jeff: Some other shoe that is so much amend than information technology should be (the whole is far greater than the sum of its parts), I strongly favor the Ride here. While the upper isn't quite equally soft in a few places, I don't notice the toebox being whatsoever smaller, I appreciate the Ride quite a flake more, it's every flake as stable, and $20 less to boot. Ride 13 is ane of those shoes that I've continued to run in well afterward the review, and every time I put it on immediately I wonder why I'm not running in it at to the lowest degree once a week - information technology's that good, and well balanced, of a shoe. Saucony Triumph 17 and 18 ( RTR Review ) Jeff: Triumph 17 was my shoe of the year last yr, and although you lot could fence the xviii is amend, in every way, so many other shoes have caught upwards, making it doubtful to echo. Upward against the NL2, the ASICS comes through much lighter and yous can feel the difference on your human foot. And while the 17 upper is definitely overbuilt, underfoot Saucony's PWRRUN+ blows abroad ASICS very adept midsole. Sam: The heavier Triumph 18 is much heavier as it weighs ane.5 oz more is also a "stable" neutral shoe with a wide mid human foot geometry as we see in the Low-cal ii. While I agree with Jeff that PWRUN+ in the T18 is bouncier and livelier and the T18 is more cushioned there is a lot of it, to much for me, making it more a recovery very easy days shoe than the more versatile Low-cal 2 Sally: I liked the Triumph 17 and eighteen as ultra cushioned recovery solar day shoes, enjoyable simply not heady to run in. The Nimbus Lite is similar in that respect, just the lighter weight makes it a more versatile choice. Derek: I vesture US9.v in the T17 and the NL2. I never tried the T18. While the Triumph 17 was hugely popular, information technology never really worked very well for me, as the upper was a little too warm and I struggled with hotspots beyond ten miles. With that in mind, the NL2 is just a better shoe for me. Beyond the upper, the NL2 besides transitions better for me, with the T17 geometry tending to feel a little flat to me (i.due east. feeling like a really depression heel-toe drop shoe even though information technology actually wasn't). Both take decently bouncy midsoles, but I call up my running style brings out the bounce a flake more in the NL2. Nike Zoom Pegasus 37 ( RTR Review ) Sam: A report in ride and upper contrasts here although weight is well-nigh the same. The men'southward Peg is kind of a savage beast with a snug dense upper, a pronounced air pod that requires forcefulness/weight to activate with a forward strike vs heel strike and an overall firmer ride. The Low-cal has a smoother more consequent ride and a softer ane. The men's Peg fit is a bit pointy and snug in comparison (barely true to size) while Lite is truthful to size and easier on the toes. Move over to the women'southward Peg with its lower PSI air pod and softer React foam and the competition is tighter. Unlike the men's upper,, the women's upper is lighter and softer and at 1.5 size upwardly from men's in D width, a perfect true to size fit for me. Somewhat less cushioned in experience, the Peg 37 women'southward is smoother and just flows along ameliorate for me especially at faster paces and fifty-fifty for light trails even if it a bear upon firmer due to its all-encompassing well lugged outsole. The Lite leans more than towards slower paces and with more and softer absorber. Jeff: Sam calls it true, though this is one of the few times existence heavier has worked in my favor - the men'due south Peg37 worked well for me, and I think I prefer information technology'southward toe-off over the NL2. Only the ASICS has a much smoother and more stable ride, with a more comfortable upper. As much as I similar the Peg 37, I'd lean toward the NL2 for virtually runners here. Derek: I clothing US9.5 in both shoes. I really like the Peg37, and it is i of the very few non-plated daily trainers I regularly reach for as part of my preparation rotation (and aim to not be overly reliant on carbon plates!) And so it beguiles me to say it but the Nimbus Calorie-free 2 is ameliorate ! Transition-wise, both are very smooth, simply the NL2 is bouncier and more forgiving underfoot. Furthermore, as good as the Peg37's grip is on pretty much every terrain, the NL2's grip is fifty-fifty better on wet surfaces. I retrieve it is important to bear in heed the price differential here, and the and then it'southward not really a fair fight, but right at present, if I had to pick a pair, easily down information technology would be the Nimbus Low-cal 2. New Residual Fresh Foam 1080v10 ( RTR Review ) Jeff: New Residuum'southward large daily trainer has been getting ameliorate with each iteration and the v10 is a monster. The little flake extra stack height is much appreciated one time a run goes longer than an hour or so, while the upper is a little more form fitting with more stretch to it. The NL2 is a bully shoe, but the 1080v10 outclasses it, and unless you lot are looking for a shoe for uptempo running, stick with the NB. New Balance Fresh Cream 880v10 ( RTR Review ) Sam: Head to head competitors here. The 880 is somewhat firmer and more responsive than the Light and less softly cushioned. While fine, its upper is non up to the level of the smooth fitting Lite's. A more traditional riding trainer the 880'southward outsole and midsole are in sharper contrast to each other through the whole stack while the Lite has a consistent feel all the way through and every bit such besides a softer cushion feel but a touch less pop. Both true to size with Lite's softer forepart mesh more accommodating, Mizuno Moving ridge Passenger 24 and Moving ridge Passenger Neo ( RTR Wave Rider 24 Review ) Jeff: Mizuno's bread-and-butter trainer and their upgraded version from across the pond, both line up well against the Nimbus Lite ii. The WR 24 has a like upper manner of "adept plenty" with a decently sized toebox, and shockingly it has a softer ride (considering Mizuno for years has been producing the firmest shoes around). The Neo takes information technology even further, using their new midsole material Enerzy throughout, instead of only in the heel for the 24. The result is a fun ride that gives more of a pop than the NL2 tin provide. With exchange rates you can detect the Neo for just a few dollars more than the NL2, and I'd actually lean that management of the 3. GEL-Nimbus Lite 2 will exist available November 27, 2020 Read reviewers' full run bioshither. The production reviewed was provided at no charge for testing . The opinions herein are the authors'. Comments and Questions Welcome Below! Please let us know mileage, paces, race distances, and current preferred shoes RoadTrailRun receives a commission on purchases at the stores beneath. Your purchases help support RoadTrailRun. Cheers! RUNNING WAREHOUSE Lite two Coming soon! Nimbus Low-cal 1 on Clearance Gratis ii Twenty-four hours Shipping Easy No Sweat Returns ROADRUNNER SPORTS Bring together VIP Family, Go Free Shipping and xv% in VIPBenefits on every society, Details here HOLABIRD SPORTS Complimentary Aircraft on most orders over $40 Sentinel OURYOUTUBE REVIEWS ON THE ROADTRAILRUN Channel Please Like and Follow RoadTrailRun
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