Asics Gel Nimbus Lite 3 vs 2 Comparison Running Shoe Review
The main difference between the Asics Gel Nimbus Lite 3 running shoes and the Asics Gel Nimbus Lite 2 running shoes is that the Asics Gel Nimbus Lite 3 has an updated, lighter upper with thin knitted tongue and softer foam while the Asics Gel Nimbus Lite 2 still has a supportive and comfortable fit, it’s just been tweaked in the right places.
The max cushioned Asics Gel Nimbus Lite 3 is an ideal partnership for high mileage and high cadence runners, catering to midfoot strikers with neutral foot types. When fatigue strikes and your running form deteriorates, there is an element of protection at the back of the running shoe with AHAR rubber to reinforce it against occasional heel striking.
For frequent heel strikers and lower cadence runners requiring extra protection and support, the Asics Gel Nimbus 24 running shoes are likely to be a better fit for you (coming soon!).
The Asics Gel Nimbus Lite 3 offers gender-specific engineering to cater to the nuances between how men and women strike the ground and features the FlyteFoam technology of the previous generation for consistent cushioning and plush protection to create an effortless-feeling run.
Check out the review with full transcript below.
Hey guys, Josh here from Sportitude Running. It's shoe review time and today we're going to be talking all things Asics Gel Nimbus Lite 3. The Asics Gel Nimbus Lite 3 is a max cushioned, neutral running shoe from the Asics family.
What they have offered underneath the foot is exactly the same as the Asics Gel Nimbus Lite 2. We have FlyteFoam technology underneath the foot and a generous stack height so it's going to feel extremely plush and very soft throughout the whole gait transition.
On top of the running shoe we have a secure fit and a new construction with the tongue. It is a knitted design with a great gusseted system on the medial and the lateral side.
The Asics Gel Nimbus Lite 3 is designed for your mileage runners - those higher cadence runners that enter the ground on more of a midfoot base. If you happen to be a heel striker, I'd be nudging you towards the Asics Gel Nimbus 24, but the newest model has not changed my perception on the Asics Gel Nimbus Lite franchise. The Asics Gel Nimbus 2 performed really well and the Asics Gel Nimbus 3 is no different.
In today's review we're going to be diving into the minor changes from the Asics Gel Nimbus 2 to the Asics Gel Nimbus 3 and give you all the information that you need at home to potentially add this to your shoe rotation. Without further ado let's get stuck in.
Runner Profile
The Asics Gel Nimbus Lite 3 is a running shoe designed for a neutral foot type. To find out whether that's you or not, check out What Type Of Running Shoe Is Best For Me? where we identify the three different foot types. Read the ‘Neutral’ chapter and you'll get bit more information on what we're talking about regarding neutral foot types.
With reference to shoe rotation and where this running shoe fits, I firmly believe this is going to be a great shoe for that runner who's leaning towards a mileage shoe for 1-2 runs a week. If you're someone that's searching for a running shoe to do it all, I wouldn't be leaning on the Asics Gel Nimbus Lite 3 because it's just too light and too soft and it won't last quite as long.
However, it is a fantastic shoe to complement your shoe rotation if you're looking for that really light, soft package that's going to help you protect your body on those long, easy days out on the road.
In my hand I hold the Asics Gel Nimbus Lite 3 in the women’s model and the Asics Gel Nimbus Lite 3 in the men's model. They look exactly the same, however there's a subtle difference with the outsole which we'll get on in two ticks.
Upper
Touching on the upper first, I’m going to call out a really cool statistic. 50% of the materials up top are made from recycled materials. Asics are trying to reduce their carbon footprint so kudos to brands that are going down that path. Well done Asics.
As I have said previously, the shoe from the bottom down is exactly the same. The magic or the changes in this running shoe are all in the upper. The great thing about the Asics Gel Nimbus Lite 3 is the new tongue. We have a knitted construction which is very light, thin and extremely breathable. It's the exact same tongue that they have used in the Asics Gel Nimbus 24 so obviously they've found that system to be very comfortable and supportive. It’s doing all it needs to do for a tongue.
The gusset construction is really comfortable as well. Some brands don't get it right, they make it too tight and it feels a bit restrictive across your navicular. This has the perfect amount of support. On the lateral side and medial side the gusset construction runs down to the midsole.
I think if they had to change anything from the Asics Gel Nimbus Lite 2 to the Asics Gel Nimbus Lite 3 it was going to be how deep the shoe fitted. I like the fact it is a marginally deeper through that forefoot so it provides a little bit more wriggle room.
The Asics Gel Nimbus Lite 2 was still a great, comfortable fit. However, due to the fact it was a slightly thicker tongue and a more dialled in construction through that upper through the forefoot, I tend to find it was a little bit firmer across the toe box.The Asics Gel Nimbus Lite 3 happens to be a little bit more generous which is a great thing.
Coming back to the heel counter the only noticeable change you can see is the pull tab at the back. However, I can confirm that the foam on the inside is a little bit softer. It's the same internal heel counter construction, however on that first step-in that comfort around the back of your heel has been improved with the Asics Gel Nimbus Lite 3.
Outsole
Dialling into the outsole part of the shoe that protects the asset, the midsole, from all of the elements you'll be running on like bitumen and pavement surfaces. The first thing I want to talk about is the flexibility through the forefoot.
We have five flex screws on offer which is a generous amount of flexibility. It helps with that element of rocker through that forefoot for your foot to then engage and get out of your gait cycle. I wouldn't say it's an aggressive rocker by any stretch, however it does have a really smooth exit which is great.
The other thing that's of note is that the shoe is full-ground contact. It's been the same from the Asics Gel Nimbus Lite 1, 2 and 3. There’s not any change whatsoever with the outsole configuration.
There’s AHAR rubber on offer at the back of the shoe for those people that drop back to the heel striking phase of the gait cycle. As I have touched on, this is really more for that midfoot runner. However, runners will sometimes progress back to that heel and it's important to have an element of protection at the back of the outsole.
The other thing I'd like to point out is that there is a big difference between the men's and the women's model regarding the outsole configuration. The men's model has a vertical pod which almost sits exactly between the heel and the forefoot at that midsection of the shoe. That has been placed there to provide a little bit more protection for that midsole.
Generally speaking and I use that term loosely, men hit the ground a little bit harder underneath their body so we need to offer a little more construction and support for that midsole which is essentially why that pod is on play.
Midsole
Touching on the midsole of this running shoe, nothing has changed. Let’s talk about the statistics first. We have a 25mm heel and a 15mm forefoot. That's 10mm variance in the men's model.
In the women’s model we have a 27mm heel and a 14mm forefoot for that 13mm heel-to-toe drop. Asics have been known to have slightly different engineering especially around the midsole construction for the men's and women's model.
They're a research-based company so they have identified that women need a little bit more of a high heel-to-toe drop to cater for their natural plane of movement.
The other thing I'd like to talk about is it is a max cushioned shoe and the FlyteFoam technology is on offer, exactly the same as the Asics Gel Nimbus Lite 2. Therefore, for that runner that's searching for that really nice entry, easy effortless release but a consistent ride from the heel right through to the forefoot, the Asics Gel Nimbus Lite 3 provides all of that.
Nothing has changed from the Asics Gel Nimbus Lite 2. I really liked how that shoe performed and I really like how the Asics Gel Nimbus Lite 3 performs as well.
In summary, the Asics Gel Nimbus Lite 3 is going to be a great performer yet again. We had a lot of success fitting the Asics Gel Nimbus Lite 2 and the Asics Gel Nimbus Lite 3 is going to be no different.
Weights
For some important key takeaway messages, the running shoe is lighter than last season. The men's Asics Gel Nimbus Lite 3 is 250 grams and that was a reduction from 275 grams. It's a big change. We measured the women’s model to be around 210 grams from 220 grams.
It’s a considerable weight reduction and it's all in the upper because the midsole and the outsole is exactly the same as the previous version. By making the upper lighter, thinner and stripping down a bit of the materials up top, they've been able to execute a lighter shoe which is fantastic.
Similar Shoes
On that discussion of high mileage, really cushioned and light shoes, the only other similar shoes I would put against this are the New Balance Fresh Foam 1080v11 and Hoka One One Clifton 8.
If you happen to be a New Balance Fresh Foam 1080v11 wearer or a Hoka One One Clifton 8 wearer and you're looking for something with a little bit more of a high heel-to-toe offset, you can probably transition yourself into the Asics Gel Nimbus Lite 3 with great success.
Widths
I want to touch on the fact that it is just a standard width. The men's model comes in a D width and the women’s model comes in a B width. It’s a pretty niche running shoe so not a lot of stores will carry this shoe and it is dialled in specifically for that high mileage runner, higher cadence and more of your midfoot entry point.
If you happen to be a heel striker and I've touched on this a couple of times, I will be pushing you towards the Asics Gel Nimbus 24 to get a little bit more support and protection underneath your body for that entry on your gait cycle.
The Wrap Up
There you have it, that is my take on the Asics Gel Nimbus Lite 3. I really like what Asics are doing in this space. I loved when they launched the Asics Gel Nimbus Lite version 1 a couple of years ago and I have progressively enjoyed the Asics Gel Nimbus Lite franchise every single model.
If you have any questions about this shoe or if you've used the Asics Gel Nimbus Lite previously, please contact our Sportitude shoe experts. Please subscribe to the Sportitude YouTube channel if you haven’t already done so to stay notified and we'll keep pumping out shoe reviews for you the running community out there.
Until next time, stay safe, be kind to one another, happy running and we will see you on the road. Take care.
FEATURES
Asics Gel Nimbus Lite 3
- Support: Neutral
- Upper: Mesh
- Midsole: Asics FlyteFoam
Men
- Heel Height: 25mm
- Forefoot Height: 15mm
- Offset / Drop: 10mm
- Weight: 250g / 8.8oz
- Width: D (standard)
Women
- Heel Height: 27mm
- Forefoot Height: 14mm
- Offset / Drop: 13mm
- Weight: 210g / 7.4oz
- Width: B (standard)
Asics Gel Nimbus Lite 2
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