Running is one of the top sports and pastimes with millions participating in it. It is something that the majority of people can do, and doesn’t require any special skills. People run for fun, for fitness, in competition both amateur and professional. The shoes they run in are the most important bit of equipment to help ensure a safe, comfortable and quick run. There is much development and innovation of these shoes with new styles of shoe coming out each year.
Asics is thought of as one of the premier brands of running shoe and their Nimbus shoe is very popular. This brand has been around for a number of years and has now had 13 iterations or upgrades over the years. But have these improvements been worthwhile and does this latest release of show live up to expectations. Let’s find out…
Key Features
- Price Range: $71.36 – $161.82
- Made For: Men
- Product Dimension: 18.03 x 17.04 x 15.11 inches
- Weight: 2 pounds
- Material: Synthetic/ Rubber Sole
- Size Range: 6 US-15 US (D-E Width)
The Pros
Comfort: This is the most important part of any shoe. Most customers find this shoe very comfortable and many have found that it is one of the most comfortable shoes they’ve worn – either for casual use or running. When you have your foot measurement right it fits well and you will probably have pain free running and have no trouble at all.
Breathable Material: The upper part of the shoes is made from breathable material. This is needed for a number of reasons. This makes sure moisture is released from the shoe, so that any sweat can evaporate and ensure your feet don’t get wet and slippery in the shoe. In this way your foot won’t slide around the shoe and help to reduce the likelihood of friction sores that might develop from running frequently.
Also, the use of this material helps to stop the build up of a climate that bacteria like to breed in. This type of environment of moisture due to lack of air flow is one of the main contributions to athletes foot. The design of this shoe will help to stop this build up and hopefully you will remain free of this condition.
Made From Durable Materials: Running shoes usually have to take a fair bit of wear and tear, as they are put to a lot of work when being used either for running or other exercise. This is why they need to be made out of materials that they can stand up to the punishment. These shoes are made out of tough synthetic materials and our research indicates that they can stand up to a lot of exercising and will last for a good length of time. Even those runners who run very long distances are likely to wear them out within 6 months.
Memory Foam Used In The Heel: An interesting fact is that memory foam was developed by NASA for use on their space missions. It is now common to find it in products like mattress toppers. But you don’t find it that often in running shoes. This shoe is one of the few that makes use of it. It helps to make the shoe fit snugly to your heal and improves the experience because of the added comfort that comes from a shoe that fits your heel.
Insole Quality: You usually find that insoles used in shoes are of low quality. The ones used in this shoe are better than most and do add some benefits. The materials used help to keep the shoe dry working in conjunction with the breathable materials used on the upper. And it also keeps the shoes from getting smelly which can be a problem when you do a lot of running.
Weight: This shoe is rated by many customers as being one of the lightest shoes available. In fact some customers note that it is almost like there is nothing on your feet at all (while protecting them at the same time). This all helps to ensure it does not adversely affect your running performance.
Stable Design: This shoe offers plenty of side to side support making this one of the most stable running shoes from Asics. This all helps to reduce the risk of injury and make for a more comfortable running experience.
Appearance: This is a good looking shoe and would be more than acceptable for casual use as well as for physical activity. It is a very stylish shoe.
The Cons
Cost: The price is expensive for a shoe if you are planning on only using it for casual use or just getting started running and don’t plan to being too much. However, if you are a serious runner you will not find the price too expensive to get a good shoe that will help your running be more comfortable and help to prevent injury.
Changes From Previous Shoe Versions: Some customers have found that this latest version of the shoe puts more strain on their ankle then they are used to from wearing the previous versions. So if you have been running in a previous version it is something to be aware of, if you are thinking of making the change.
Style Of Running: It appears this shoe des not suit all styles of running and you need to ensure it does meet the requirements of your style of running. It seems to be best for heel-strikers and does not do as well as other shoes for other styles of running.
Should You Buy The Asics GEL-Nimbus 13?
The GEL-Nimbus 13 is rightly regarded as a top quality shoe and will make a good buy. But, you do need to make sure it will suit your running style and will feel comfortable when you are using it. So, it is worth trying them out first if you canto ensure you can put them to good use.
