The Brooks Ghost Max and Asics Gel-Nimbus 25 are both max-cushioned shoes designed to deliver comfortable rides for easy and long runs. We gave both shoes positive reviews on the channel, but which would we get if picking between the pair? In this video Tom, Mike, Kieran and Nick give their verdict.
Check out our reviews of both shoes:
Asics Gel-Nimbus 25 Review:
Brooks Ghost Max Review:
JUMP STRAIGHT IN:
00:00 – Intro
00:14 – Design & Key Stats
02:24 – How’s The Fit?
04:26 – The Run Test
16:11 – Verdict
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Hello and welcome to run testers my name Is Nick in this video we're going to be Comparing the Brooks ghost Max and the Aex gel libus 25 so the ghost Max and the gel numus 25 Are both Mac stacked cushioned running Shoes designed mainly to Beed for kind Of easy runs daily training that kind of Thing they are both fairly new styles of Shoes for their Brands like the ghost Max is Brooks's first properly maxed Cushion shoe and obviously Builds on the Name of the ghost which is a daily Trainer with more typical level of Cushioning and then whereas the Gus 25 Is a big change from the Gus 24 in terms Of the increased stack height you have Here so the ghost Max is a cheaper shoe Comes in at £40 or $150 the G nimus is £175 or $160 ghost Max weighing at 304 G or 10.7 O in my UK size 9 whereas the Gel Nimbus Is slightly heavier in the same size It's 3155 G or 11.1 o Ghost Max has a 6 mm drop and it's 8 mm In the gel numers 25 which has the Highest a heite it is 41.5 MM at the Heel 33.5 at the 4ot whereas the ghost Max is 39 at the heel and 33 at the 4 Foot with the ghost Max you've got a Large stack of DNA Loft V2 cushioning uh You got the Glide roll rocker there to Create a smooth transition from Heel To Toe you got a broad base sidewalls of
Foam and a really substantial heel Counter to make sure the shoe is stable Despite the high stack of foam there got An engineered mesh upper with a lot of Padding around the tongue and collar for A really nice step in feel which is very Comfortable and then you've got decent Out soole coverage almost the entire Outs soole is covered there the key Impact areas with a Groove running down The middle which again is meant to help Keep your foot in a neutral position When running in the shoe with a GEL Nimbus you've got a FF blast plus midso With a little bit of pure gel under the Heel which is a a new form of gel from Aex that's meant to be a bit more soft And comfortable in general whole shoe is Designed to be softer and more Comfortable than previous versions of The GEL Nimbus got soft and stretchy Knit upper again with plenty of padding Especially at the back of the shoe there The tongue is not quite as padded as you Get on the Brooks though again little Side WS of foam heel counter broad base All things that make sure that the shoe Is still pretty stable despite the Really high stack of foam you have here You've got an A rubber out soole with Lot of exposed foam in the middle there But the key impact areas are covered at The front and back of the shoe and I've Not seen any undue signs of wear and
Tear yet with It on fit I tested both shoes in my Regular running shoe size and both fit True to size for me the Nimbus wraps the Foot a bit more closely overall it's a Little bit more compact in the toe box In length and in volume and overall I Prefer the ghost maxed fit but I would Recommend going true to sizing both These shoes so in terms of fit I've had Both of these shoes in a UK size eight And would say in general the fit has Been very good on both of these I would Say the Brooks ghost Max is a little bit More narrow in comparison to the ja Numis 25 I think particularly that Applies to when you get a bit further Back into the g 25 and it kind of opens Up a little bit more at the midfoot I Would say but ultimately you know in Terms of space up front of the toes very Similar you know nothing too cramped in Terms of my experience you get a good Amount of padding in both of these shoes That kind of heal collor as well too There's difference in the tongue so You're getting a more traditional I Would say padded tongue on the ghost Max Compared to this kind of thinner Stretchier one on the axis gel nimbers 25 but yeah for me in my UK size eight I Found the fit generally good on both These shoes the main thing for me I Would say is that this shoe the Brooks
Ghost Max is definitely the more narrow Of the two shoes so if you're like Looking for something a little bit more Accommodating a little bit more roomy Particularly at the midford I would say Go for the gel numers 25 so it for me in These two shoes I size eight in the UK These are both size eights and I would Definitely stick to my size in these Shoes both of them are very comfortable To wear both have plenty of space in the Forefoot and wiggle room I've never had Any issues in terms of fit uh in both of These shoes uh I would say that the Brooks ghost Mass probably has slightly Less space in between the toe and the End of the shoe for me but it's not been An issue I've not noticed at all I've Done about 50k in the shoes so far it's Been absolutely fine both are very plus Shoes very comfortable um yeah stick to My size in in both of these so I've got No concerns with the fit of either of These two shoes I've got a uk9 in both Of them which is my normal UK size with Brooks and aex that go translates to a US 10 uh which again is pretty much my Usual size in the US and I've got a nice Amount of room at the front of the shoe Good hold around the heel and midfoot Yeah no concerns at all with the fit for Me okay so the run test in both of these Shoes so this is this is an interesting One to do because both of these shoes
Are new completely new versions of an Existing shoe uh so the Brooks ghost Mass is obvious obviously the um max Version of the ghost range uh and the A6 Gel nimus 25 is the new version of the A6 GEL Nimbus range uh the A6 gel nimus 25 is almost feels like a completely Different shoe to the original um well Gel numers 24 it just feels a little bit Softer to me it feels like there's a lot More to it it's got a lovely cruising Feel to it it's very comfortable really Like the shoe it it is's a reason why so Many people are wearing this shoe at the Moment it was surprising because I've Never really been a big fan of the GEL Nimbus range um and now this is one of My favorite cushion shoes at the moment Um the Brooks ghost Max is obviously the Max version of the The Ghost and it Doesn't really do a lot in comparison to The ghost I think the mid adding more Midol foam into this shoe has really not Had a massive impact on the ride of the Shoe and how it feels it definitely Doesn't feel significantly softer Definitely doesn't feel like it does a Lot in fact I feel that if it's it's Probably about as hard as the uh the Ghost 15 mid cell phone but it feels a Bit more rigid to me uh and it does have A rocker sort of a rocker in it which Makes it a little bit better for Cruising but it definitely doesn't feel
Like what you'd expect from a Max Cushion shoe so if you're looking for a Max cushion shoe um you I imagine most People are looking for the same sort of Feel that you're getting from the gel Num 25 which is a nice a softer feeling A more comfortable feeling that really Sort of moves you along feels very nice When you're Landing into it um that's What I look for when I'm looking for a Cushion shoe Brooks ghost Max you don't Get that it just feels a lot harder There's there's not a lot to it it's a Very um I'd say dull midell foam it's The same midell foam that you get in the Ghost 15 which I've never enjoyed it Just doesn't feel like it does a lot Um and with the ghost Max it's pretty Much the same thing I don't really get a Lot from this shoe I do like the ghost Max more than the ghost 15 I just feel Like there's a bit more to this shoe it Just feels like that rock a action is a Bit smoother you can sort of Move Along At PACE a little bit more comfortably But ultimately it's not massive Difference from the ghost design which Is probably fine if you if you're a big Fan of the ghost range and you want Something with a tiny bit more Cushioning it but for me um I definitely Say that the the gel nimus 25 is is much More enjoyable ride much softer and just Just a great shoe all around still no
Slouch as well you can still pick up the Pace a little bit in this shoe I would Say that ghost Max because it feels a Bit more rigid and a bit firmer and it Has a bit of that rocker in it it's Probably a tiny bit more versatile I did Flex in this yesterday about 45 second Um reps at my 5K pace which is about 3 Minute 50 km and it felt all right at Those I didn't really mind it it didn't Feel too bad I mean it's only 45 seconds Not like a major um speed test but it Did feel feel like it had a little bit More in the shoe uh than I would have Expected from a Max cushion shoe so it's Probably got that going for it so in my Run tests I've done north of 50 mi in The GEL Nimbus I've done around 20 miles In the ghost Max both those at a mix of Paces some good duration runs in both And a combination of Road and light Off-road River paths also I've also done A side bys side Mile and here is what I Found so I'm doing my side by side mile I've got a nimus on the left foot I've Got the ghost Max on the right foot and The first thing to say here is how Similar these shoes are lot similarities There's pretty much a match on overall Stepping Comfort on heel hold there's Similar volume of foam Under Foot they Feel similarly weighted but what you Really notice when you're doing it side By side like this is just that the ghost
Max is more immediate it returns quicker It's firmer Under Foot the Nimbus sinks A lot more and takes a lot more time to Return makes the Nimbus much softer so If you're looking for that really soft Sinky cushion protective ride for long Slow easy recovery miles I guess that's Where you will have the benefit from the Nimbus but if you want somebody who's Going to be able to pick up the pace a Little more go a little bit faster at Times and you want a quicker return bit More responsiveness right now the way I'm feeling is the ghost Marx is giving Much more back I feel it's relying a lot More on the rocker ring and that Slightly firmer slightly more responsive Foam to do the job otherwise these shoes Feel markedly similar in terms of the Overall feel on the foot basically What's happen de as Brooks have made a Nimbus but they've made it better in my Opinion I'm someone who prefers a bit of A firmer shoe so I'm probably going to Say that because of that slight extra Firmness or slight stiffness in the foam That returns a bit quicker you're going To be able to move at faster Paces in This there's much more fast upper Pace Versatility you're not going to want to Use it for your allout fast runs it's Not really designed for that but it can Do a job at faster efforts so I think Anywhere up to the marathon pace is fine
If you're going to go faster than that You'll probably want a different shoe But that's also the case with the Nimbus 25 but the Nimbus 25 I don't think copes So much even at that kind of marathon Pace or just below it it's just a little Bit squishy a bit soft it takes a little Bit time to bite back you just don't get That return as quickly I find you're Waiting for it to bite and give you Something back so just to add to that Sidebyside test I wasn't the Nimbus Biggest fan when I first tested it Personally found it a bit soggy and it Confirmed my feelings that I don't tend To enjoy the really big Max cushion Softer rides now the ghost Max has made Me reassess that somewhat it's maybe not The max stack that I don't get on with Or the weight overall on the shoe but if You can add a touch more response that Shoe can fit my running style needs much Better and that's where I think the Ghost Max makes a big difference so I've Done a lot of running in both of these Shoes and I have to say I've ended up Really liking both of them I almost came Into them with different expectations Like the gel nimbers came out with a Massive amount of hype like the most Comfortable shoe ever and actually I was A little bit disappointed by it at first Cuz it just felt like a pretty standard Cushion shoe but actually really started
To like it after a while uh just cuz It's it's got a really nice balance of Softness and cushioning but it's still Stable still has enough resilience Underfoot to bounce back and not get too Squishy or kind of Muddy if you're Running in it for long periods it's held Up well to lots of running it's probably One of my favorite Long Easy Run shoes That has come out this year and I've Used it for you know several Sunday long Runs uh and just really enjoyed it for That kind of thing it ticks over really Nicely it is a big shoe but it's got a Fairly smooth ride it's a little bit of A rocker going on the foam is soft but Not squishy just and everything it's Just a really nicely balanced SHO and Given the big height of it it actually Feels a little bit lighter and quite Natural on the foot I found so I really Did enjoy using it despite that slightly Unsure start because of the barriage of Hype that had been around it with the Ghost Max it was kind of the opposite I Looked in I thought uh well theyve just Put a load more DNA Loft V2 foam there Which I didn't find particularly good on The Brooks ghost 15 and so I came in Kind of low expectations but actually it Immediately exceeded them because it's Got a really well-designed rocker the Ghost Max I say that the foam is not the Most exciting in the world but the
Rocker works really well and no matter If I'm running at easy Pace or slightly Steadier Paces I found it very easy to Get into a nice rhythm with the shoe and Again it feels a lot lighter on the foot Than the weight and the size of it would Suggest because of that really Well-designed rocker and again really Liked using it for long runs cruising Along at a good Pace but never pushing Too hard did do a couple of um slightly Faster runs in it and it's it's not Great for that but you can do it Actually with both of these shoes They're not very versatile I'd say but If you are someone with a running shoe Rotation you're definitely have faster Shoes in it but if you're using them as An allrounder or as a cushion daily Trainer they can up the pace a little Bit because because they do have a nice Smooth ride and actually when I wore Both at the same time for a little pole Around my local neighborhood I was Surprised actually by how similar they Did feel like I do think you get a Better foam in the atics it does feel Slightly softer under the foot it's got A slightly smoother transition for me You get a little bit more sink in and a Little bit more back from it but it is Quite marginal like the ghost does feel Really good when you are moving at those Slow Paces I think if you looking at
Versatility and though I say neither is Especially versatile if you did want one Of these to use for lots of different Kinds of runs I think the FF blast plus Foam does give you a bit more back when You start running a bit faster you can Put a bit more into that foam it gives You a little bit more back in terms of Bounce back but ghost Max is kind of Similarly good for those kind of runs And I would personally keep both of them Just for easy runs of which they do a Really good job so yeah no big Differences on the ride I do prefer the R of the G numbers I think it is a Little bit better but the ghost Max ride I think is quite close and one area I Think the ghost Max is a little bit Ahead is the outsole for sure like I use The shoe on ainal Pavements here in the UK lots of wet Pavements Pavements Covered in leaves that always look a bit Kind of dicey as you're running up to Them and it's gripped really really well The Jo actually had a little bit of Problem with grip in the first couple of Runs in it it's been okay since this Rubber out so seems to have roughed up a Bit and now has a bit more traction but I do think the Brooks has slightly Better grip but the aex I think has a Slightly more interesting and enjoyable Ride when it comes to stability Obviously a big factor of these shoes
Both of them have taken big measures to Be you quite stable despite being Neutral shoes I think probably the brook Slightly edges it in terms of stability But I had no concerns about it at all With the G Nimbus it's a big shoe but It's a broad base the foam isn't too Squishy so you do have quite a reli and Stable feeling Landing in it I found Even when running on things like Cambered Pavements or slightly uneven Ground so yeah I obviously if you need a Stability shoe neither of them are it But I do think they both are pretty Stable just for their size in particular So in terms of that run test I have Spent more time in the assets gel nimas 25 simply because I've had it longer I Have spent more time in it post us Reviewing it on the channel um and it's A shoe that I really like with the Brooks ghost Max and these two shoes and What they you know where they kind of Excel I think they work for the same Types of runs and that's what I felt in My time with him I would say that maybe You got a little bit more scope to go a Little bit quicker in the Brooks ghost Max now what I put that down to you know The A5 is built for comfort and whether That's the upper this really plush upper The really soft feeling foam you're Getting in the midsole here it's really About sinking into that and really
Giving that comfort from all directions Now it's a very stable shoe it's a very Comfortable and it's you know the Transitions are are pretty smooth in it I just don't think you get a massively Enjoyable live rocker riding it whereas I do think you're getting more of a it's Not massively exciting but it is Definitely a more notable rocker that You're getting in the Brooks ghost Max In comparison to the jail numers 25 now The midso foam here the DNA LOF V2 is Definitely not as soft as or as plush as What you're getting in the Jael nus 25 But there's enough there I think it's a Good mix of firer and being slightly Soft to give you something that it's Definitely comfortable definitely going To give you protection over longer runs As well and as I said I think if you Wanted to slightly pick the pace up in The Brooks ghost Max you could Definitely do a better job of it here Than you would do in the aex GEL Nimbus 25 when you kind of dig into things like The outsole and the outsoles are very Good on these shoes I definitely say You're getting more rubber on the Brooks Ghost Max and from that point of view I Think you're getting something that's Better buil for running you know Regularly you know big long you know Runs in this shoe and it's going to hold Up pretty well and that's kind of what I
Found so far in my running I think You're not getting so much of the f um Rubber here on the a Nas 25s so it is Kind of concentrating on those key areas You would like to see but it's Definitely a little bit more going on in Terms of that rubber and the amount of You know protection you'll getting on The outsole on the Brooks ghost Max so Something you care about and I think From a grip point of view I think you're Getting something a little bit better You know built on the Brooks ghost Max As well too and it's definitely just got A lot more going on in terms of that art So so yeah for me I would say the Brooks Ghost Max is it's the Tad more versatile Option of the two shoes whereas the asex Nus 25 it's definitely built for comfort And those slow Long Easy runs where you Don't necessarily want to pick the pace Up but I don't think you're getting as a As memorable ride or as you know as Energetic a ride as you're getting on The Brooks ghost Max so verdict it's quite a tough one Here because I do think these shoes have A lot in common I do think they do a Similarly good job of the kind of runs I Would use them for which is those easy Runs those long runs overall I do prefer The feeling of the Gel Nimbus I think it Has a nicer ride the foam underneath is Just a little bit better and in terms of
Of both the softness the bounce back the Way it feels at the end of a long run Everything about it is just a little bit Better but it is a little bit and you Know on RRP in the UK in particular There's a big difference in price here And I wouldn't be paying a lot more for The ja Nimbus compared to the ghost Max Myself I think they do do quite similar Jobs get that slightly better outs so on The Brooks as well which will be a Factor if you're heading into the UK Winter or winter anywhere where there's Loads of wet Pavements so is a factor Like so it probably would come down to Price for me quite a lot if I was Looking at one of these Big Max cushion Shoes and I don't tend to use these kind Of shoes a lot uh myself when I'm not Testing them I probably have a lower Cushion shoe even for my easy runs but If I wanted a Max cushion shoe for easy Runs or for everything I think these are Two very strong candidates and if the Brooks was coming in a lot cheaper than The jail Nimbus when you looked at the Time I would have no hesitation in going For the Brooks myself if the aex is in a Sale for the same price and right now in Black Friday I think it's down to $120 Then yeah I'd get the ja Nimbus if it's The same price or very close in price I Think it's a slightly better shoe more Enjoyable shoe for to use for the same
Kind of runs but I certainly wouldn't Say the Brooks is a substantially worst Shoe I really enjoyed using it as well For the same kind of stuff so my whether You should go for the asex J 25 or the Brooks ghost Max now the way I look at It is if you are looking for a shoe that Really prioritizes comfort and being a Shoe that you can use for your slow Long Easy runs that's where the asex gel Nimus 25 really thrives it's luxurious It's comfortable it's soft everything You want from upper to Mid so that's Kind of what you get here with the Brutes ghost Max I would say you're not Getting that plush mid soulle phone like You are on the ja 25 but I do think the Rocker that you're getting does make it A little bit more memorable in terms of Kind of really logging that mileage and Making it feel and a little bit smoother They're both very stable shoes as well I Say the Brooks ghost Max has got a nicer Outsole I just wish if there was a nicer Foam or a foam a little bit similar to What we've got on the ja numers 24 I Think I would be saying the Brooks ghost Max and also it's a cheaper shoe as well But ultimately in terms of the types of Runs I'd be grabbing the shoe for it Would be the same types of runs those Slow easy runs and ultimately just Because of what I feel about the upper On the gel numers 25 and having a
Slightly softer midsole foam as well too I would be going for this but this is a Very good shoe for similar types of runs And I said it does give you a touch more Versatility I just wish it had something A little bit more going for it in terms Of the midell Pham because I think the Brooks ghost Max there's something here I definitely think this is going to get A better shoe the Next Generation but For me if it was my pick I'd be going For the asex gel ners 25 okay my verdict On these two shoes is definitely going To be the as6 gel ners 25 it's just a Really comfortable soft Enjoyable Max cushion shoe which is what You want I think or what most people Would probably want from a Max cushion Shoe it's really plush in the upper it Just you can just Cruise really nice Easy runs long runs um recovery runs It's just great it's just really Enjoyable it's just a nice shoe to wear It's just it's just a great shoe if you Want to tick off those miles in Comfort Ghost Max is not a bad shoe um I just Don't feel like that cushioning really Does a lot um I don't think there's a Reason for it to have more cushioning in Because it doesn't really make a Difference to the previous version um But it is a solid shoe it feels a lot More stable for me than a lot of Max Cushion shoes it's definitely a little
Bit more stable than the the ja numers 25 um which isn't which isn't unstable Uh it's just this is this is a Noticeably stable shoe uh so if you're Looking for a Max cushion shoe and you Want something that's a little bit Firmer maybe for heavier Runners they Might have more benefits than it has for Me but I think I'd always go for the as Joh 25 just cuz it's just way more Comfortable and a little bit softer now For my vert I'm going to keep things Nice and simple two capable shoes that Share a lot of similarities not much to Choose on Comfort not much to choose on Fit not much to choose on stability or Durability almost identical on weight But with a quite a big price difference 35 more expensive than in basar in the UK at least 10 bucks in the US now the Major difference other than the price For me is the ride the ghost Max are More immediate they're more responsive I'd say they're the equal to the Nimbus For cushioned easy runs but they're much Better at faster Paces not you're all Outpaced but getting faster and because Of that slightly firmer snappier Response I think Brooks has made a Nimbus but made it more versatile and Marginally better essentially I think Brooks has out Nimbus the Nimbus and it Would be the ghost Max that I would Choose out of these two
Shoes that's our comparison of the asex Jers 25 and the Brooks coost Max let us Know what you think in the comments Below please do like and subscribe ring The little bell and we'll see you next Time
