ASICS Gel-Nimbus 28 vs Hoka Clifton

The Nimbus 28 is a true daily trainer in the broadest sense: it handles easy miles, long runs, and moderate tempo work without falling apart. The Clifton is optimized hard for one thing — cushioned, low-effort miles — and it does that thing brilliantly. But ask it to do anything faster and the soft, pillowy stack works against you. If you only ever run easy, the Clifton wins. If your training has any variety at all, the Nimbus is the smarter buy.

Both shoes are well-cushioned, but they deliver that cushion differently. The Nimbus uses ASICS' Gel technology to absorb impact while maintaining enough ground feel to stay connected to your stride. The Clifton goes further — it's a max-cushion shoe, and you feel that. Wirecutter specifically called out that Hoka avoids the 'dead hollow feel' some competitors have, and that's fair, but compared to the Nimbus, the Clifton still feels more like running on a mattress than a performance trainer.

The Clifton's wide, rocker-style platform is a feature for some runners and a dealbreaker for others. It promotes a smooth heel-to-toe transition, which is great for easy paces, but runners with narrower feet or those used to a more traditional shoe shape frequently report feeling like they're running on a raft. The Nimbus has a more conventional footprint that works for a wider range of foot shapes without the adjustment period.

The Clifton is $20-$40 cheaper, which sounds meaningful until you factor in durability. The Nimbus 28 is consistently praised for holding up through high mileage — runners report getting 400-500 miles out of a pair. The Clifton's softer foam compresses faster under heavy use. If you're running 30+ miles a week, the Nimbus likely lasts longer per dollar spent, making the sticker price difference less significant than it appears.