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ASICS NOVABLAST 5 vs GEL-NIMBUS 28

Which Running Shoe Is Better?

    Top
    Main Differences
    Design
      WeightStack HeightsExternal ShapeInternal ShapeOther Features
    Performance
      Heel Energy ReturnForefoot Energy ReturnHeel CushioningForefoot CushioningHeel FirmnessForefoot FirmnessForefoot Long Run Cushioning
    Comments

Products

ASICS NOVABLAST 5
ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 28 
early access

Tested using Methodology v0.9

Updated Dec 04, 2025 09:47 PM

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Tested using Methodology v0.9

Updated Jan 19, 2026 05:35 PM

This review is in Early access

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ASICS NOVABLAST 5 Picture
ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 28 Picture
Weight
248.2 g (8.76 oz)
Heel-To-Toe Drop
8.2 mm
Plate
None
Weight
Lock g (Lock oz)
Heel-To-Toe Drop
Lock mm
Plate
Locked
  1. Recommended in 1 article:
  2. Long Distance

Our Verdict

ASICS NOVABLAST 5

ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 28

Full comparison details regarding individual product score sets can be found in the section below
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Variants

  • NOVABLAST 5 (Black/Carrier Grey - (Men - US 9))
  • NOVABLAST 5 (Black/Carrier Grey - (Women - US 7))
  • GEL-NIMBUS 28 (Black/Graphite Grey - (Men - US 9))
  • GEL-NIMBUS 28 (Black/Graphite Grey - (Women - US 7))

Review

See ASICS NOVABLAST 5 Review
See ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 28 Review
0 
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Main Differences for
Marathon Racing

Threshold 

0.10

Marathon Racing 
 

7.3
0.0
No major differences between these running shoes for marathon racing. See full list of tests below.

Full Comparison

Design

Weight  

6.5
N/A

Right Shoe Weight Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
ASICS NOVABLAST 5 Right Shoe Weight Photo
ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 28 Right Shoe Weight Photo Sample

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Left Shoe Weight Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
ASICS NOVABLAST 5 Left Shoe Weight Photo
ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 28 Left Shoe Weight Photo Sample

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Weight 
 

248.2 g (8.76 oz)
Lock g (Lock oz)
Show Text 

Stack Heights 
 

Stack Height Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
ASICS NOVABLAST 5 Stack Height Photo
ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 28 Stack Height Photo Sample

SAMPLE

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Heel Stack Height 
 

41.8 mm
Lock mm

Forefoot Stack Height 
 

33.4 mm
Lock mm

Heel-To-Toe Drop 
 

8.2 mm
Lock mm

Advertised Heel-To-Toe Drop 
 

8.0 mm
Lock mm

External Shape 
 

3D Model Full Shoe  

Preview 3D
ASICS NOVABLAST 5 3D Model Full Shoe
ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 28 3D Model Full Shoe Sample

SAMPLE

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Outsole Heel Width 
 

89 mm (3.5")
Lock mm (Lock")

Outsole Arch Width 
 

75 mm (2.9")
Lock mm (Lock")

Outsole Forefoot Width 
 

115 mm (4.5")
Lock mm (Lock")

Heel Width-To-Stack Ratio 
 

2.13
Lock

Forefoot Width-To-Stack Ratio 
 

3.44
Lock

Internal Shape 
 

3D Model Internal  

Preview 3D
ASICS NOVABLAST 5 3D Model Internal
ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 28 3D Model Internal Sample

SAMPLE

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Internal Length 
 

284 mm (11.2")
Lock mm (Lock")

Internal Heel Width 
 

62 mm (2.4")
Lock mm (Lock")

Internal Forefoot Width 
 

94 mm (3.7")
Lock mm (Lock")

Wide Sizing Available 
 

Yes
Locked
Show Text 

Other Features  

Other Features Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
ASICS NOVABLAST 5 Other Features Photo
ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 28 Other Features Photo Sample

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Tongue Gusset Type 
 

Fully-gusseted
Locked

Plate 
 

None
Locked
Performance

Heel Energy Return 
 

6.3
N/A

Heel Compression Video  

ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 28 Heel Compression Video Sample

SAMPLE

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Heel Energy Return  

 Preview Graph
ASICS NOVABLAST 5 Heel Energy Return
ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 28 Heel Energy Return Sample

SAMPLE

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Heel Energy Return 
 

74.0%
Lock%
Show Text 

Forefoot Energy Return 
 

7.3
N/A

Forefoot Compression Video  

ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 28 Forefoot Compression Video Sample

SAMPLE

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Forefoot Energy Return  

 Preview Graph
ASICS NOVABLAST 5 Forefoot Energy Return
ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 28 Forefoot Energy Return Sample

SAMPLE

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Forefoot Energy Return 
 

77.3%
Lock%
Show Text 

Heel Cushioning 
 

8.2
N/A

Heel Cushioning Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
ASICS NOVABLAST 5 Heel Cushioning Picture
ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 28 Heel Cushioning Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Heel Cushioning  

 Preview Graph
ASICS NOVABLAST 5 Heel Cushioning
ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 28 Heel Cushioning Sample

SAMPLE

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Energy Absorbed At 550N 
 

3.83 J
Lock J

Energy Absorbed At 1100N 
 

9.97 J
Lock J

Energy Absorbed At 1900N 
 

16.86 J
Lock J
Show Text 

Forefoot Cushioning 
 

7.9
N/A

Forefoot Cushioning Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
ASICS NOVABLAST 5 Forefoot Cushioning Picture
ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 28 Forefoot Cushioning Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Forefoot Cushioning  

 Preview Graph
ASICS NOVABLAST 5 Forefoot Cushioning
ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 28 Forefoot Cushioning Sample

SAMPLE

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Energy Absorbed At 800N 
 

5.15 J
Lock J

Energy Absorbed At 1300N 
 

8.58 J
Lock J

Energy Absorbed At 2050N 
 

12.28 J
Lock J
Show Text 

Heel Firmness 
 

5.1
N/A

Heel Firmness  

 Preview Graph
ASICS NOVABLAST 5 Heel Firmness
ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 28 Heel Firmness Sample

SAMPLE

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Firmness At 550N 
 

47.1 N/mm
Lock N/mm

Firmness At 1100N 
 

109.3 N/mm
Lock N/mm

Firmness At 1900N 
 

229.7 N/mm
Lock N/mm
Show Text 

Forefoot Firmness 
 

8.1
N/A

Forefoot Firmness  

 Preview Graph
ASICS NOVABLAST 5 Forefoot Firmness
ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 28 Forefoot Firmness Sample

SAMPLE

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Firmness At 800N 
 

105.0 N/mm
Lock N/mm

Firmness At 1300N 
 

220.1 N/mm
Lock N/mm

Firmness At 2050N 
 

436.1 N/mm
Lock N/mm
Show Text 

Forefoot Long Run Cushioning 
 

7.3
N/A

Forefoot Long Run Cushioning  

 Preview Graph
ASICS NOVABLAST 5 Forefoot Long Run Cushioning
ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 28 Forefoot Long Run Cushioning Sample

SAMPLE

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Energy Absorbed At 10km 
 

8.00 J
Lock J

Energy Absorbed At 20km 
 

7.77 J
Lock J

Energy Absorbed At 30km 
 

7.61 J
Lock J

Energy Absorbed At 40km 
 

7.50 J
Lock J
Show Text 

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ASICS NOVABLAST 5

ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 28

Comments

  1. Comparison
 • Posted 47 minutes ago

ASICS NOVABLAST 5 vs ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 28: Main Discussion

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