I always thought you needed a proper racing shoe to run fast, like the Gel-Noosa FF2 of the Gel-451. The new Gel-Nimbus 21 proved me wrong quickly. Running mostly on the trails, I usually keep my road workouts short and fast (think 5-10km's at about 3:30-3:45min/km pace, or some intervals), so with a first glance at the new Nimbus 21's I thought “wow that looks heavy/slow”. But when I put them on…surprise!
Being classified as a long-distance shoe or perfect marathon trainer, I thought it would be perfect for some slower long-distance runs. On the first run with them I did an easy pace 10km. Afterwards decided to pick up the tempo: the 1st km-3:22, the 2nd km-3:25, the shoes felt good, they felt really good. I ended up running my 5km PB in them (17:15), and that's when I knew this isn't just a shoe, this is a new generation piece of technology.
After a few kilometers in them I realized that with the 10 mm heel drop and the new FlyteFoam Propel cushioning technology these shoes were designed for comfort as well, which makes sense as they are designed for longer distances and to protect you as runner, and to make your marathon or long training run as comfortable as possible. Compared to the previous model, I felt that they provide a larger toe-box and the mesh upper is a lot more breathable. At first, I thought that the sole on the forefoot felt a bit harder than the previous model, but I felt that this gave much better response after I made contact with the ground, resulting in faster acceleration as well keeping the running form good for a longer distance.
Having only done 80km in them, I can't comment on its durability. From experience of the previous Nimbus range I know that this shoe is made and designed to be super durable. If this one lives up the durability expectation of its predecessors, it is really the ultimate trainer!
To conclude, this is a trainer designed for marathon distance running and training and is thus not the lightest shoe, but don't let the weight fool you. With the new technology the shoe is super responsive and can even be used for tempo runs, not just long-distance training. So, if you're looking to buy your new go-to trainer, the new Nimbus 21 will give you a super responsive and comfortable ride. Enjoy it!
