The World's Best Shoe - Runner's World Crowns Asics Gel-Nimbus 9

http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-240-400--12278-0,00.html
THE WORLD'S BEST SHOE

Runner's World Crowns Asics Gel-Nimbus 9 "The World's Best Shoe!"

PUBLISHED 11/02/2007

New York, NY (November 2, 2007): The global editors of Runner's World magazine, the worldwide authority on running information, awarded their third annual International Editor's Choice Award for the 2007 "Shoe of the Year" to Asics Gel-Nimbus 9 during a special awards celebration Friday night at Remi in New York City.

The award was presented following the conclusion of the Runner's World International Shoe Summit, the annual three-day conference featuring the editors of all 10 editions of Runner's World and eleven of the world's leading running shoe manufacturers, who presented their upcoming 2008 product lines.

"Runner's World International Shoe Summit and Editor's Choice Award are a one-of-a-kind opportunity for shoe manufacturers to reach the global running community via a trusted source," said David Willey, editor-in-chief of Runner's World. "Runner's World congratulates Asics Gel-Nimbus 9 for a great update on an already quality shoe."

This year's International Editor's Choice recipient jumped out at editors from the start of the nomination process. The more segmented midsole coupled with added gel in the heel gives this shoe a super-cushioned, yet still stable ride. A Runner's World online survey among the 10 editions
proved that readers agreed; the shoe was the top vote-winner.

The Runner's World International Editor's Choice Award for "Shoe of the Year" is presented annually in collaboration with the International Shoe Summit, part of Runner's World's global initiative to find, test and designate the best shoes in the world for its readers in the eleven countries where it currently publishes: Australia/ New Zealand, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands/ Belgium, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In 2005, the Asics 2120 won the inaugural Runner's World International "Shoe of the Year" and in 2006 the Nike Air Pegasus 2006 won.


Also winning awards were New Balance, which was the choice among the international editors panel for International Best Update of 2007, as well as Saucony, which captured International Best Innovation award for their development and use of new shoe technologies.

Introduced for this first time, the International Best Update of 2007 is awarded to the shoe which has had standout improvement and revision. Tests for this year's winner, New Balance 1223, showed that the shoe is lighter and more flexible than its predecessor, but still offers plenty of support, even for bigger runners.

Saucony was honored with International Best Innovation award, recognizing its noteworthy Flexion plate. Instead of being a stability device, the Flexion plate is a propulsion device that smoothes out heel-to-toe transitions allowing people to run more efficiently.

All running shoes reviewed by Runner's World, both domestically and globally, are put through rigorous tests by editors and hundreds of independent wear-testers. Additionally, shoes are assessed by mechanical testing at the unique Runner's World Shoe Lab at Michigan State University in conjunction with the MSU Department of Sports Medicine. Runner's World is the only publication in the world that independently tests running shoes this way.

In conjunction with the international shoe testing initiative, Runner's World's widely-recognized and respected "Editor's Choice Award Seal of Approval Program" reflects global collaboration. It allows runners around the world to recognize Runner's World universal International Editor's Choice seal as a way to help select the most appropriate shoes for their level and needs.

Representatives from manufacturers Adidas, Brooks, Fila, Mizuno, New Balance, Nike, Puma, Reebok and Saucony were among those presenting before editors from the nine international Runner's World editions at this year's Shoe Summit.

http://www.runtex.com/web/1-869.asp

ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 9 New and Improved Running Shoe
Men's & Women's New Asics Gel-Nimbus 9
by Asics Staff, 4/24/2007

GEL-Nimbus® 9 $120 (US)

What’s New?

Since its inception, each new version of the GEL-Nimbus® series has remained consistent with the original concept of providing superior platform cushioning and comfort. Then along came the GEL-Nimbus® VI, and with this update a concentration on perfecting upper fit. The result converted so many runners that the series has subsequently become the industry standard in the cushioning category. For the GEL-Nimbus® 9, upper comfort will remain an important factor in the overall design. However, this shoe will represent a re-focus on platform comfort and overall ride.

Probably the most noteworthy addition to the platform of the GEL-Nimbus® 9 is the newly engineered heel unit, which features an interpretation of the discreet heel tooling of the GEL-Kinsei®. This set-up allows each section of the rear-foot to move in a relatively independent manner, creating a greater level of shear deformation and thus, enhanced shock attenuation. The silicon gel units themselves echo the GEL-Kinsei® as well, with a higher (harder) durometer on the lateral crash pad, which will provide enhanced stability for underpronators.* Also noteworthy is the support added to the waist of the midsole, with a Space TrussticTM unit that is more rigid than in past models, creating improved midfoot support and aiding the transition from foot-flat to propulsion.

The changes to the upper are subtle but will noticeably enhance fit and comfort. For instance, the collar length has been shortened slightly, and a new Personal Heel Fit® (PHF) set-up places two layers of memory foam on the medial collar where past versions had only one. The result is an improved geometry that secures the shoe snugly and comfortably around the heel. In addition, a new one-piece tongue/vamp construction eliminates the need for excessive overlays at the bottom of the eye-stay. Working in concert with the Biomorphic Fit System, this new upper set-up ensures a roomy forefoot that nevertheless secures the foot comfortably on top of the midsole.

*Worth noting is the fact that the density of the silicon gel unit can be manufactured exactly to the durometer specified, unlike standard EVA and other midsole materials, that have a ‘factor of +/- 4 degrees of hardness that is typically deemed acceptable for production.

In A Nutshell

The GEL-Nimbus® 9 is ASICS’ top of the line cushioning shoe, featuring a new ‘discreet’ rear-foot design, enhanced midfoot support, and improved upper construction that provides exceptional fit. The broad, supportive platform is suitable for a range of runners from under-pronators to moderate over-pronators.

New Features

1. Discreet Heel image w/ shear deformation set-up
2. Expanded Rearfoot GEL® cushioning w/ dual density gel unit
3. Two-channel Forefoot Twist GEL® Cushioning System
4. Three piece midsole construction
5. Improved trusstic geometry w/ Gender specific
6. New heel collar geometry
7. 2 layer PHF® construction
8. One-piece tongue/vamp construction

Carry-Over Features

1. Rearfoot GEL® Cushioning System including ‘Twist’ GEL (centered directly under fat pad.)
2. Forefoot GEL® Cushioning System including ‘Twist’ GEL (centered directly under 1st Met Head)
3. Biomorphic Fit System
4. Solyte® Midsole material
5. Solyte® 45 lasting