The NIMBUS MIRAI 2 is an ASICS cushioned shoe for runners who want a soft shoe for daily jogs but care about weight. The deciding factor is its 248 g weight, 33 g lighter than the GEL-NIMBUS 28. 8 mm drop, max stack about 41 mm, JPY 24,200, released October 15, 2026.
The Shoe Nerd's top pick
Buy the NIMBUS MIRAI 2 as a NIMBUS that gives up one notch of softness for lighter weight. Its stack is about 41 mm, 2.5 mm less than the GEL-NIMBUS 28, and its official cushioning rating is High, one below Maximum. In return it weighs 248 g, 33 g less than the 28. Running 500 km a month, my legs get heavy in the second half of a run. So for days that don't need maximum stack, I cut the weight on my feet first.
Key points
- ASICS says it is about 37 g lighter than the original with more cushioning. By subtraction, the original works out to about 285 g
- The foam is FF BLAST MIRAI. ASICS describes it as “comfort like walking on clouds”; the upper is a soft engineered knit
- Weight and stack are close to the NOVABLAST 6 (5 g lighter, 0.5 mm thinner). Price is JPY 6,600 higher
What kind of shoe is the NIMBUS MIRAI 2? 33 g lighter than the NIMBUS
Soft shoes are heavy. Hear “NIMBUS” and you picture a thick, soft and therefore heavy shoe. The current GEL-NIMBUS 28 is 281 g, not far off 300 g.
The NIMBUS MIRAI 2 carries the same NIMBUS name at 248 g, with about 41 mm of stack. It is a cushioned shoe for running daily jogs light. Released October 15, 2026, at JPY 24,200.
If you expect the same softness as the 28, it won't match. This is a shoe about lightness.
Its place in the whole ASICS lineup is in my ASICS picks article.
NIMBUS MIRAI 2 weight and release date: the official numbers
| Item | NIMBUS MIRAI 2 |
|---|---|
| Release date | Oct 15, 2026 (on sale at the online store and brand stores) |
| Official price | JPY 24,200 (incl. tax) |
| Weight | 248g |
| Max stack height | About 41 mm |
| Drop | 8mm |
| Foam | FF BLAST MIRAI |
| Cushioning rating | High (as shown on the official product page) |
| Width | Standard only |
| Sizes | 22.5–29.0 cm (0.5 cm steps), 30.0 cm |
| Material sources | Over 75% sugarcane-based material in the foam. 1% of the yarn in the upper's lines is recycled from returned originals |
Drop is the stack difference between heel and forefoot. Taking max stack as the heel figure and subtracting, the forefoot is about 33 mm (41 − 8).
Whether you land on your heel or push off the front, that means over 30 mm of foam under your foot. Plenty thick.
The insole is removable. It is made of synthetic resin (EVA), and the separately sold insole (1173A029) fits. It is sold only on the ASICS online store and at brand stores.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
ASICS NIMBUS MIRAI (original and 2 are both listed; check the number in the product name)
Lowest price on Rakuten is JPY 24,200 (as of 10/15). Prices change daily. Shoes are best tried on in the evening, when your feet swell, with your usual socks. Fit varies by brand, so check the return and exchange terms on the shop page before you buy.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaWhat's underfoot: FF BLAST MIRAI and a knit upper
Two things set the ride: the foam and the upper.
- Foam: FF BLAST MIRAI. It uses over 75% sugarcane-based material, and ASICS describes it as “comfort like walking on clouds.” The English announcement also describes a soft, protective ride typical of the NIMBUS line.
- Upper: a soft engineered knit. ASICS says it wraps the foot gently while balancing breathability and comfort.
What's worth knowing here is how the build differs from the GEL-NIMBUS 28. The GEL-NIMBUS 28 combined FF BLAST PLUS foam with a PureGEL gel in the heel. The official build of the NIMBUS MIRAI 2 is FF BLAST MIRAI foam.
So what happens? The stack is 2.5 mm thinner and the weight 33 g lighter. The official cushioning rating is High, versus Maximum on the 28.
The pronation field (how the foot rolls inward on landing) says “neutral and under.” It is not a shoe with added support to limit rolling in. That is a deliberate trade-off.
Versus the original NIMBUS MIRAI: what changed
The original NIMBUS MIRAI came out on Apr 12, 2024. The release for generation 2 lists 2 differences in the ride.
| Item | Original | 2 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Release date | Apr 12, 2024 | Oct 15, 2026 | About 2.5 years |
| Weight | About 285 g (calculated) | 248g | About 37 g less |
| Upper material | Single material (over 75% recycled polyester) | Engineered knit | Now a knit upper |
| Official price | JPY 22,000 | JPY 24,200 | +JPY 2,200 |
Weight: 37 g is about 13% of the original (37 ÷ 285). Few cushioned shoes lose this much in one generation. The GEL-NIMBUS 27 to 28 change was about 20 g.
Price: the extra JPY 2,200 divided by 37 g is about JPY 59 per gram (2,200 ÷ 37). The NIMBUS 27 to 28 change was JPY 55 per gram, so the price of lightness is about the same.
Upper: the original's upper was made almost entirely of one material, to make it easier to recycle after use. The 2's product page describes a soft engineered knit. Only with the 2 did the description of how it feels on the foot come first.
Versus its siblings: GEL-NIMBUS 28 and NOVABLAST 6
The two shoes you might weigh it against are the 28, with the same NIMBUS name, and the NOVABLAST 6, which is close in weight and stack.
| NIMBUS MIRAI 2 | GEL-NIMBUS 28 | NOVABLAST 6 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | 248g | 281g | 253g |
| Max stack height | About 41 mm | About 43.5 mm | About 41.5 mm |
| Drop | 8mm | 8mm | 8mm |
| Official price | JPY 24,200 | JPY 22,000 | JPY 17,600 |
Versus the 28: 33 g lighter (281 − 248), 2.5 mm thinner (43.5 − 41), and JPY 2,200 more.
Let's put 33 g into marathon steps. At a 1 m stride, each foot leaves the ground about 21,098 times, so 33 × 21,098 = about 696 kg. That is the weight each foot no longer has to lift.
Versus the NOVABLAST 6: just 5 g and 0.5 mm apart, with the same 8 mm drop. The difference is the foam's character: the NOVABLAST 6 has FF TURBO SQUARED, a responsive material, in the forefoot, making it the bouncier shoe. The NOVABLAST 6 is JPY 6,600 cheaper (24,200 − 17,600).
- Soft landings are your top priority, and you land on your heel → GEL-NIMBUS 28
- You want NIMBUS softness but the 28's weight bothers you → NIMBUS MIRAI 2
- You want lightness, a lower price and a bouncy forward feel → NOVABLAST 6. No need for the NIMBUS MIRAI 2
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 28
Lowest price on Rakuten is JPY 15,015 (as of 10/13), ranging up to JPY 25,300 depending on the shop. Prices change daily. Shoes are best tried on in the evening, when your feet swell, with your usual socks. Fit varies by brand, so check the return and exchange terms on the shop page before you buy.
RecommendedSee it on Super Sports XEBIOSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on Yahoo! Shopping JapanWhat I like
248 g, with over 40 mm of stack. Weight divided by stack is about 6.0 g per mm (248 ÷ 41). The GEL-NIMBUS 28 is about 6.5 g (281 ÷ 43.5). A 0.5 g difference.
It builds the same height with less weight. The longer your jogs get, the more this difference matters.
About 37 g lighter in one generation, and ASICS claims more cushioning too. Making a shoe lighter usually means less foam and less cushioning. This shoe goes the other way.
The upper's description is now about how it feels. A soft knit wraps the foot while staying breathable.
The 8 mm drop matches ASICS's cushioned shoes. The GEL-NIMBUS 28 and NOVABLAST 6 are both 8 mm. If you usually wear ASICS cushioned shoes, you can switch without changing the slope.
Things to watch
- It leaves maximum softness to the 28. Its stack is 2.5 mm thinner, the 28 adds PureGEL in the heel, and its official rating is High. If cushioning impact is your top priority, the 28 wins on paper.
- For lightness alone, the NOVABLAST 6 is cheaper. The weight gap is 5 g and the stack gap 0.5 mm, yet the prices differ by JPY 6,600. Choosing on numbers alone, the reasons for this shoe shrink.
- Standard width only, one color. There is no wide version. The 28 comes in extra wide.
- Sold only direct. The ASICS online store and brand stores. Without a brand store nearby, you can't try them on before deciding.
Who is it for?
- Good fit: runners who want NIMBUS-like softness for daily jogs but are bothered by weights over 280 g. Runners used to ASICS's 8 mm drop. Runners who put a lot of weight on a soft upper.
If cushioning heel impact is your top priority, the 28 is the better fit. For wide feet or a tempo shoe, there are other choices among the 1 shoes. On weight and stack numbers alone, the NOVABLAST 6 is JPY 6,600 cheaper.
Price and where to buy
| Model | Official price | Rakuten price range |
|---|---|---|
| NIMBUS MIRAI 2 | JPY 24,200 (on sale Oct 15) | JPY 24,200 |
| NIMBUS MIRAI (original) | JPY 22,000 (at release) | |
| GEL-NIMBUS 28 | JPY 22,000 | JPY 15,015–25,300 |
Per gram, the NIMBUS MIRAI 2 is about JPY 98 (24,200 ÷ 248) and the 28 about JPY 78 (22,000 ÷ 281). You are paying for lightness. It is not cheap.
On Rakuten, the original and the 2 are mixed together. To tell them apart, check for “2” in the product name, the product code (the 2 is 1013A197, the original 1013A138), and the color. All white is the original; cream with navy is the 2.
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
ASICS NIMBUS MIRAI (original and 2 are both listed; check the number in the product name)
Lowest price on Rakuten is JPY 24,200 (as of 10/15). Prices change daily. Shoes are best tried on in the evening, when your feet swell, with your usual socks. Fit varies by brand, so check the return and exchange terms on the shop page before you buy.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaFAQ
How does the NIMBUS MIRAI 2 fit?
Sizes are 22.5–29.0 cm (in 0.5 cm steps) and 30.0 cm, standard width only, under one unisex product code. The upper is soft knit. If you choose wide in ASICS, the 28, which comes in extra wide, is a better fit. With 25.0 cm feet, I would start from my usual 25.0 cm. Try them on in the evening with your usual socks.
How is the NIMBUS MIRAI 2 different from the GEL-NIMBUS 28?
By the official numbers, the NIMBUS MIRAI 2 is 33 g lighter, has 2.5 mm less stack, and costs JPY 2,200 more. Its foam is FF BLAST MIRAI, while the 28 adds PureGEL in the heel. On the cushioning scale it is High, versus Maximum for the 28. For the softest shoe, go with the 28; for less weight, the NIMBUS MIRAI 2.
When is the NIMBUS MIRAI 2 released?
It was released on Oct 15, 2026. It is sold only on the ASICS online store and at brand stores.
What kind of running is the NIMBUS MIRAI 2 for?
It suits slow, long jogs and daily training. Officially it is classed as a neutral cushioned shoe. Shoes for faster days, and racers by goal time, are laid out in my article on shoes by pace.
