If you’ve ever felt like your pinky toe was being sacrificed to the gods of marathon training, you already know the struggle. Most running shoes are built for a "standard" foot template that honestly doesn’t exist for a lot of us. That brings us to the ASICS Gel Nimbus 27 wide, a shoe that basically functions as a luxury sofa for people with high-volume feet. It's not just about a wider strip of rubber on the bottom. It’s about the internal volume, the stretch of the engineered knit, and whether or not you’re going to lose a toenail by mile ten.
I’ve seen enough "wide" shoes that are just regular shoes with a bit of extra fabric slapped on top. This isn't that.
The Nimbus line has undergone a massive identity shift over the last three years. It used to be this stiff, reliable, somewhat boring trainer. Now? It’s a maximalist powerhouse. The ASICS Gel Nimbus 27 wide takes that shift and refines it for the "D" width (for women) or "2E" and "4E" (for men) crowd who need real estate.
The Mystery of the Midsole: FF BLAST PLUS ECO
Let’s talk about what’s actually under your foot. ASICS stuck with the FF BLAST PLUS ECO foam for this iteration, which is interesting because the industry is currently obsessed with "super foams." This foam is bouncy. It’s plush. But more importantly for the wide-foot runner, it’s stable. When you have a wider foot, you often have a wider base of support, and if the foam is too mushy, you end up wobbling like a jelly bowl.
The stack height is significant. You’re looking at roughly 30mm+ of foam.
It feels different than the Nimbus 25 or 26. Those felt a bit like sinking into a memory foam mattress. The ASICS Gel Nimbus 27 wide feels more like a high-end hotel mattress—soft on top but with a firm core that keeps your spine (or in this case, your gait) aligned. The PureGEL technology is tucked away in the heel, invisible to the eye but very much felt when you’re landing heavy on a downhill stretch.
Why does the wide version matter so much here? Because when foam compresses, it expands outward. In a narrow shoe, that expansion creates pressure against the sides of your foot. In the wide version, the platform is physically broader, giving that foam—and your foot—somewhere to go.
That Upper Knit is a Double-Edged Sword
ASICS uses an engineered knit that feels like an expensive sock. It’s premium. It’s breathable. It also has a massive amount of "give."
If you have bunions or a particularly high midfoot, the ASICS Gel Nimbus 27 wide is going to feel like a revelation. The knit stretches where it needs to without creating those nasty "hot spots" that lead to blisters. However, if you are a runner who loves a "locked-down," aggressive feel for speedwork, this might feel a little too loose. It’s a cruiser, not a race car.
The tongue is still that stretchy, thin material that polarizes people. Some love how it disappears on the foot; others miss the old-school padded tongues of the 2010s. Honestly, with the extra volume in the wide version, the thin tongue is a smart move because it prevents the top of the shoe from feeling too cramped when you tighten the laces.
Real Talk on Weight and Durability
Let’s be real: wide shoes are heavier. There is more material. More rubber. More foam.
If you’re chasing a sub-20-minute 5K, you aren't looking at the ASICS Gel Nimbus 27 wide. You’re looking at a Metaspeed. But for the 50 miles of zone 2 training you have to do every week? The weight penalty is negligible compared to the comfort gain. Most testers are finding the Nimbus 27 holds up for about 400 to 500 miles before the "pop" in the foam starts to dull.
The outsole uses AHAR+ rubber. It’s sticky enough for wet pavement but don't take these on a technical trail. The lugs aren't deep enough, and the high stack height makes you a prime candidate for a rolled ankle if you’re hopping over roots and rocks. Stick to the road.
Who Should Actually Buy This?
I’ve seen a lot of people buy wide shoes who don’t actually need them, and that’s a mistake. You’ll slide around and get friction burns.
The ASICS Gel Nimbus 27 wide is specifically for:
- Runners who experience numbness in their toes during long runs.
- People with "square" feet where the toe box usually feels like a coffin.
- Walkers who spend 8+ hours on their feet (nurses, retail workers, teachers).
- Anyone using custom orthotics.
Orthotics are the big one. If you have a chunky medical insole, the standard Nimbus is a nightmare. The wide version provides the depth necessary to drop an orthotic in without your heel popping out of the back of the shoe every time you take a step.
Is It Better Than the Brooks Glycerin Wide?
This is the classic debate. The Brooks Glycerin 21 wide is the primary competitor here.
The Brooks feels a bit more "traditional." It has a lower stack feel and a more structured upper. The ASICS Gel Nimbus 27 wide feels more modern, more "cloud-like," and has a more aggressive rocker geometry. The rocker—that curved shape of the sole—helps roll your foot forward. It’s great for people with stiff big toe joints (Hallux Rigidus). If you like a flat, natural feel, you’ll hate the rocker. If you like the shoe doing some of the work for you, you’ll love it.
The Sustainability Factor
ASICS has been pushing the "ECO" part of their foam hard lately. The midsole is made with at least 24% bio-based content. Does that change how it runs? Not really. Does it make you feel better about the fact that you're buying a big hunk of plastic that will eventually end up in a landfill? Maybe. It’s a step in the right direction, though some critics argue that "bio-based" is a bit of a marketing buzzword when the total carbon footprint of shipping shoes globally is considered.
Maintenance and Care
Don't put these in the washing machine. I know it’s tempting when they get muddy, but the heat kills the glue and the foam. Hand wash the knit upper with a soft brush and let them air dry. Also, if you’re a heavy sweater, pull the insoles out after every run. The foam in the ASICS Gel Nimbus 27 wide is porous, and it will start to smell like a locker room faster than you’d think if you don't let it breathe.
What Most People Get Wrong About Wide Sizing
A common misconception is that a "wide" shoe is just longer. It isn't. If you buy a size 10 wide, it’s the same length as a size 10 regular. The difference is in the "girth" or the circumference of the shoe's internal space.
If your toes are hitting the front, you need a larger size. If the sides of your feet are bulging over the edges of the sole, you need the ASICS Gel Nimbus 27 wide.
Another thing: your feet swell. On a hot July afternoon, after six miles, your foot might be half a size larger than it was when you woke up. This is why many marathoners opt for the wide version even if they have "normal" feet—it's an insurance policy against late-race swelling.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Move
If you’re leaning toward the Nimbus 27 wide, don't just click "buy" on the first site you see. Follow these steps to ensure you don't end up with a $160 paperweight:
- The Afternoon Fit Test: Go to a running store after 4:00 PM. Your feet are at their largest. Bring the specific socks you plan to run in.
- The Thumb Rule: Ensure there is a full thumb’s width between your longest toe and the end of the shoe.
- Check the Eyelets: If the laces are pulled so tight that the eyelets are touching, the shoe is too wide. You want a bit of a gap.
- Volume Check: Pinch the fabric on top of your toes. You should be able to grab a tiny bit of material. If it’s skin-tight, even the wide might be too small for your foot volume.
- Surface Testing: Run on a treadmill if the store has one. A shoe that feels "pillowy" standing still can feel "mushy" once you’re actually putting 3x your body weight into it during a stride.
The ASICS Gel Nimbus 27 wide represents a specific pinnacle of comfort-first engineering. It isn't trying to be a fast shoe. It isn't trying to be a trail shoe. It is a specialized tool for recovery days and long, slow miles where the only goal is to finish without pain. For the wide-footed runner, that’s more than enough.