It’s time to replace my Nimbus 12s. The metatarsals on my right foot are starting to feel sore after runs - no more cushioning left.
I run with a pretty solid mid-foot strike. I trust Asics. I need a shoe with a fair amount of cushion in the midfoot. The Nimbus has done a pretty good job but the Cumulus are consistently cheaper. If I’m midfoot striking, does it matter if I get one over the other? Both have the same cushion in the midfoot (I think).
Anyone have any input? Do I need a ‘stability’ shoe if I midfoot strike?
Thanks for the help - gait stuff always confuses me.
The Cumulus is the cheaper version of the Nimbus. Kind of like the 21xx is the cheaper version of the Kayano.
Good shoe but not as well built as the Nimbus, I’m in a pair right now, kind of big and clunky but then so is the Nimbus. When I run these out I’ll go back to the Mizuno Rider.
It’s time to replace my Nimbus 12s. The metatarsals on my right foot are starting to feel sore after runs - no more cushioning left.
I run with a pretty solid mid-foot strike. I trust Asics. I need a shoe with a fair amount of cushion in the midfoot. The Nimbus has done a pretty good job but the Cumulus are consistently cheaper. If I’m midfoot striking, does it matter if I get one over the other? Both have the same cushion in the midfoot (I think). The Cumulus is 95% of a Nimbus. A touch more flexible in the back end of the shoe, so if you’re a larger frame the Cumulus might not hold up to you. It’s got a little less Gel in the forefoot as compared to the Nimbus, but the midsole is the same durometer (softness) in both shoes.
Anyone have any input? Do I need a ‘stability’ shoe if I midfoot strike?
Do you need a stability shoe if you midfoot strike? Depends on your pronation rate. Given your success with the Nimbus, I would wager that you’re pretty well neutral, at which point…no, no need for a stability shoe.
Thanks for the help - gait stuff always confuses me. No problem.
The other shoes that I might recommend within the category: the New Balance 1080v2 and the Saucony Triumph 9. Although they are in the same price range as the Nimbus, they both do change the heel-toe offset slightly (from 12 mm to 8 mm). This can help reduce a little bit of the pressure off the metatarsals as well, because more of the foot is able to contact the ground at once, versus a specific pressure point due to the curvature through the forefoot.
If you want to stick a little lower on the pricing spectrum, also check out the New Balance 890v2.
Thanks! I thought they were different types (stability vs cushioning).
RunningWarehouse had a pretty decent sale on Kinvaras so I picked up a pair of Cumulus and Kinvaras. Also, Asics Speed Sky. I’m interested to see how they feel.
I quit Saucony years ago because of bad upper construction, but maybe it is time for me to give them a try again. That Triumph model looks like a shoe I’ve been looking for. Thanks! Could be a nice bridge shoe until the Flyknit shows up…
I find that the Saucony upper is of better materials than what they had from 3-4 years ago. My own experience. The Triumph 5 was particularly tear-able. (See what I did there? Terrible/ tear-able…OK…)
That all said, I like how they’ve made a few of their shoes lower offset without going to super-low offsets. It’ll spread across the entire line eventually. I think New Balance is going with a more balanced approach (there, did it again…) to offset across their products.
The Cumulus is the cheaper version of the Nimbus. Kind of like the 21xx is the cheaper version of the Kayano.
They actually serve two different purposes rather than one being cheaper than the other. The Nimbus has a small stability component to it; the Cumulus is a ‘true’ cushioned/neutral shoe without that correction.
Which I wish the running store would have told me because I need a zero stability shoe, and the Nimbus was giving me hip & knee pain about 50 miles into the pair.
rrheisler. Any comment on the new Asics GEL-Noosa Tri 7 compared to the Nimbus? I have worn the Nimbus for quite a few years now and am considering the Noosa for my race shoe. Picked up a pair of Brooks Glycerin 9s too and like them as well.
I’ve been running in Cumulus for 12+ years loved them. Developed a pretty good mid-foot strike. Have now switched to Kinvara 2 and will never go back! Much lighter and far more comfortable landing mid/fore foot. In comparison the Cumulus feels like running in wellingtons (slight exaggeration, but you get the idea).
Noosa is a completely different beast than a Nimbus. The Nimbus is a pretty well structured, but still neutral (meaning no physical dual density midsole / medial post) shoe. The Noosa Tri, meanwhile, is in fact a stability shoe, with one of those devices. Given your success with the other two shoes, I’d stay far, far away from the Noosa.
That said, if you find the platform pretty comfortable, you could always try the DS Sky Speed as a race shoe. Same platform, no posting, different (read: non “tri-specific”) upper. Also in the racing category for you would be the HyperSpeed, especially for shorter course events.
I’ve been using a combination of Cumulus and Nimbus to train in since 2004 - gone through ~20 pairs of cumulus, ~10 pairs of nimbus. I’ve noticed that the nimbus generally feels more plush than the cumulus and that the nimbus will last about 120 miles longer than the cumulus before getting worn out. But, I have not had a better experience with either shoe and it actually works out such that the cost per mile for each shoe is the same.
So, in my experience, run with the shoe which feels better to you!
It’s time to replace my Nimbus 12s. The metatarsals on my right foot are starting to feel sore after runs - no more cushioning left.
I run with a pretty solid mid-foot strike. I trust Asics. I need a shoe with a fair amount of cushion in the midfoot. The Nimbus has done a pretty good job but the Cumulus are consistently cheaper. If I’m midfoot striking, does it matter if I get one over the other? Both have the same cushion in the midfoot (I think).
Anyone have any input? Do I need a ‘stability’ shoe if I midfoot strike?
Thanks for the help - gait stuff always confuses me.
The Nimbus is considerably “stronger” in the midfoot section. Hold the shoe on its ends, then try to bend it up… the Cumulus is a flexy piece of foam compared to the Nimbus. Not sure if it’s related, but anything longer than 10-13mi and my feet really start to hurt when I use the Cumulus. I use the Nimbus for anything longer and/or marathons. Both are awesome shoes and that’s all I use… but in my opinion, the Nimbus offers considerable more support.
Whenever the new model Nimbus comes out, I buy the previous model on clearance from where ever… good way to save money since they can be pricey.
I made the big mistake of switching from the Nimbus to the Noosa 7. I read they were for neutral runners and the salesman even said so too… Well after about 30 miles which were never as comfortable as the Nimbus(or the Cumulus I’ve had) I started getting plantar fasciitis. I called the store and complained and they took them back and gave me the Nimbus. Now the plantar fasciitis is going away and the ride is much nicer again. Too bad they couldn’t offer the Nimbus in the cool Noosa color scheme.
I had several pair of the Nimbus 11’s - wore them all out unfortunately. Tried the 12’s and did not like them so I changed to the cumulus. Not a big fan of cumulus. Just got a pair of the Nimbus 13’s. They are on sale at Sports Authority for $99 (regular $139).
I’m also bummed about the lack of a proper bling running shoe for those of us who can’t tolerate stability. I would so love to be able to wear Noosas without killing my hips.
I just bought another pair of the Nimbus 12s for the gym bag. When I bought my first pair, last summer, the store had said they were a lighter shoe and they felt much lighter than either of my Kayanos. I bought them for the treadmill but couldn’t decide which shoes I’d run NYCM in. Kept having minor issues on LTRs with my Cumulus and Kayanos.
Did 14 road in them as a test and ended up running NYCM in them. No problems. I still run shorter races in my Kayanos. My feet seem to be a little happier when I rotate shoes a little.
They were also the first pair I’d bought at JackRabbit and had my gait analyzed on their TM/video setup. Which prolly helped. I think all my Cumulus are history now. I didn’t realize until this thread they were a crappier version of the Nimbus.
In a unrelated side observation, I’d been having minor foot pain walking in old running shoes. Would carry over into my runs. I could get away with that below 100 mpm. Trashed some shoes and use a new pair of Kayano 17s for walking around in. Problem solved. My sense is, above 100 mpm. my feet are spoiled now.
