ASICS Continues Its Circularity Journey with the New Nimbus Mirai™ 2 Shoe: Run. Return. Repeat.

ASICS today unveils the NIMBUS MIRAI™ 2 shoe, the next evolution of its pioneering circularity-focused running franchise. Building on the foundation established by the original NIMBUS MIRAI™ shoe, the new model continues ASICS’ commitment to sustainability through circular product design, with materials and construction carefully considered to support material recovery and recycle at the end of a shoe’s usable life.

Introduced in 2024, the original NIMBUS MIRAI™ shoe represented a significant milestone in ASICS’ sustainability journey. Designed with circularity in mind, the shoe features an upper made primarily from a single material, helping simplify material recovery at the end of its life. It also incorporates an original ASICS-developed adhesive that securely bonds the upper and sole during use, while allowing them to be more easily separated for recycling when heat is applied. Together, these innovations help support more efficient material sorting and recycling, while maintaining the comfort and performance runners expect from the GEL-NIMBUS™ family. In doing so, the NIMBUS MIRAI™ franchise encourages runners to embrace a simple circular journey: Run. Return. Repeat.

Central to the concept is the role runners play in the circular journey. Through the ASICS return program, consumers are encouraged to return their NIMBUS MIRAI™ 2 shoes once they reach the end of their usable life, enabling materials to enter the recycling process and supporting the development of future circular products. Each pair features a QR code on the tongue, providing access to information about the return program and how to return the shoes. The program is currently available in the US, UK, the Netherlands, France, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and China.

The NIMBUS MIRAI™ 2 shoe continues this journey through further advancements in circular product design. Compared to its predecessor, the shoe is approximately 37 grams lighter while maintaining the comfort and performance runners expect from the GEL-NIMBUS™ family. The return program has also expanded to additional markets, enabling more runners to participate in the circular journey and helping ASICS continue to explore new approaches to circular footwear design.

At the same time, the new shoe remains rooted in the comfort-focused performance that defines the GEL-NIMBUS™ franchise. Advanced cushioning technologies deliver the soft, protective ride runners expect, demonstrating that circularity and performance can go hand in hand.

The NIMBUS MIRAI™ 2 shoe also represents progress in reducing product carbon emissions. Using ASICS’ carbon footprint methodology version 1.4, the shoe has a carbon footprint of 4.9 kg CO₂e per pair - an approximately 20% reduction compared to the original NIMBUS MIRAI™ shoe*. As ASICS continues to explore circular product design, the NIMBUS MIRAI™ franchise demonstrates how sustainability and performance can evolve together.

Yoshiyasu Ando, Manager of Plush Design Team, Performance Running Footwear at ASICS, said: “With the NIMBUS MIRAI™ 2 shoe, we continued exploring what happens when circularity becomes a design principle rather than an afterthought. Traditionally, footwear has been designed with its first life in mind, but with the NIMBUS MIRAI™ franchise we challenged ourselves to think beyond that. Every decision, from materials to construction, was guided by the question of how we can help keep valuable resources in use for longer, while still delivering the premium comfort and performance runners expect from ASICS. Ultimately, our ambition is to help create a future where circularity becomes a more natural part of the running journey – where runners can simply run, return and repeat.”

The NIMBUS MIRAI™ 2 shoe will be available globally from October 1 2026 for $180.

To find out more about the NIMBUS MIRAI™ 2 shoe and the ASICS circularity programme, please visit www.asics.com.

* NIMBUS MIRAI™ shoe = 6.1 kg CO₂e per pair

About ASICS

At ASICS, our five letters have meaning. ASICS is an acronym for the Latin Anima Sana In Corpore Sano or a Sound Mind in a Sound Body. And since our founding in 1949, our purpose has been to help people achieve a sound mind in a sound body.

Right from the very start, our founder, Kihachiro Onitsuka, saw that sport and movement had the power to lift spirits, project positivity, and propel people and whole communities forward. We still believe this.

And we believe our purpose is more relevant today than ever before. Stress and anxiety are at record levels, yet we know sport and movement can have a positive impact. Which is why we remain focused on supporting more people to move for positive mental wellness.