ASICS Gel Cumulus 25 review

Who should buy the ASICS Gel Cumulus 25

We believe that the ASICS Gel Cumulus 25 is a solid pick for:

• Runners who are looking for versatile daily trainers that shine on both their long and easy runs.
• Those who have normal to high arches who would appreciate a bit of guidance and stability in their running shoes.
• Newbie runners who want a dependable daily trainer that makes their runs stress-free and their feet fatigue-free.

Who shouldn’t buy it

The ASICS Superblast is a better cure for runners who are fans of a responsive ride. Also, we found that the lower weight of the ASICS Novablast 3 also makes it a daily trainer that handles tempo runs better than the ASICS Gel Cumulus 25.

The ASICS Gel Cumulus 25 keeps the foot stress-free

Taking the shoe out in 80-degree weather, we found the mesh upper to be super breathable, keeping our feet happy all throughout the run.

It's amazing how efficient the ventilation holes are in this shoe.

Putting our subjective experience to the test, we found it to be true! The Cumulus 25 got a well-deserved score of 4 out of 5 on our breathability scale. This ASICS shoe truly allows for excellent air circulation.

We also took a really close look at the fabric under our super fancy microscope, and boy, did it deliver!

We found these massive ventilation holes and a relatively-thin engineered mesh. The perfect combination for optimal breathability.

Long-lasting shoe

The upper is world-class, which is exactly what we expect from ASICS.

After carefully examining the Cumulus under the microscope, we had little doubt that it would fail our Dremel test. However, to our surprise, the resilient engineered mesh employed by ASICS proved strong enough to win the battle.

In the comparison image above, you can see how the ASICS shoe outperforms Nike in durability, despite their similar breathability level.

And how about the heel? One of the areas prone to wear in the Cumulus is always the heel counter. It needs to provide substantial padding without being too rough. Fortunately, in our Dremel test, it appears that it strikes a balance between comfort and durability.

We rated the shoe's heel counter durability as 4 out of 5 which is nearly the maximum 5.

FF Blast+ is soft and bouncy but underperforms in winter

From the initial step-in, the Cumulus 25 feels like a cloud. We attribute this cozy experience to the shoe's well-padded heel collar, thick semi-gusseted tongue, and updated midsole technologies.

The combination of ASICS’ FF BLAST PLUS foam and re-engineered PureGEL technology makes this daily trainer feel pleasantly soft, much like the ASICS Gel Nimbus 25.

The durometer test backed us up on this one. With a reading of 17.6 HA, the Cumulus is nearly identical in softness to the Nimbus 25 (18.6 HA).

Next, we decided to put the Cumulus 25 to the test in chilly temperatures to see how it would perform.

The FF Blast+ is a mix of EVA and Olefin, so it's no surprise that it doesn't exactly excel in the cold, considering EVA is the main ingredient. After we put the Cumulus 25 into our freezer for a quick 20-minute chill session, it became a whopping 39.2% firmer and a teeth-grinding 67.5% stiffer, underperforming against the average shoe.

From GEL to PureGEL

Just take a look at the picture above—you'll notice a good chunk of PureGEL in the heel. The goal here is to make this shoe a dream come true for heel strikers.

This is the newest twist on the ASICS proprietary GEL technology, which has been praised in the Nimbus and Cumulus models for years on end, but it was mostly outdated with the rise of the latest foams.

Flexible as always

The Cumulus has always been recognized for its flexibility, but that doesn't seem to change in the v25. Even though this new model has significantly more foam than ever, the brand managed to prevent the shoe from getting stiffer.

With that said, the shoe scored 2 out of 5 for longitudinal flexibility and 3 out of 5 for torsional flexibility in our manual test.

Also, in our 90º bend test, it took only 23.6N of force to flex the shoe. This is 28% less than it takes on average and 52% less than it took the Nimbus 25.

Disclaimer: we take an average of 4 measurements and remove any outliers. This video shows just one of our measurements.

Less weight and more stack in a wide enough platform

The Cumulus 25 comes in at 9.5 oz (270g) in a Men’s US 9 which makes the shoe almost 5 grams lighter than its immediate predecessor. Given that it's the average weight for a road running shoe, the Cumulus 25 feels right at home on the run.

We absolutely LOVE it when brands are able to provide extra cushioning while reducing weight. In addition to the 5 grams already mentioned, the v25 offers an impressive 15% more foam in the rearfoot area. This means even more support and comfort for the run!

The 25th version of the Cumulus running shoe has a stack height of 29.5/37.5 mm, with an 8-mm drop, according to the official numbers provided by ASICS. However, our detailed measurements show that it actually has a stack height of 27.2/38.4 mm, resulting in an 11.2-mm drop from the heel to the toe. That's steep!

All this thick and soft foam comes with a trade-off in terms of stability despite the wide platform. The 25th edition of the Cumulus model may not be the best choice for pronators. Check out the GT 2000 11 instead.

On the flip side, if you've got your heart set on snagging the latest update, you should know that it features the widest platform in Cumulus history. For example, it's a whole 6% wider than the v23 and a jaw-dropping 8% wider than the average running shoe.

ASICS Gel Cumulus 25 vs ASICS Gel Nimbus 25

It is hard to say which shoe is objectively better as it all comes down to personal preference. But here are some of the key differences that can help you decide for yourself:

If you prefer a natural ride and more ground feel, then you should go with the Cumulus.

An all-arounder that shines on the long and slow days

We believe that the ASICS Gel Cumulus 25 is one of the best do-all shoes. Take it to easy runs, speed work, and even walking the dog, and the shoe will shine!

But one area where the Cumulus 25 excels is the longer and easier-paced run.

In an effort to take comfort to the next level, especially in your easy days, ASICS included a thicker-than-average 5.3 mm OrthoLite X-30 insole.

Keeps feet stable and secure

We really appreciated the side heel counter tech that’s integrated into the Cumulus 25. And we can confidently say that the Cumulus 25 is a total champ when it comes to heel support!

With our rating of 3/5 for heel stiffness and the ample cushioning in that area, there's absolutely no chance of heel slippage, and you'll be able to use your standard running knot.

We loved the way our heels felt locked in and secure all throughout their test run. What's more, the shoe's semi-gusseted tongue definitely stays in place and does not cause rubbing issues.

A small caveat: Even though the tongue of the shoe is more padded than the average shoe, it doesn't feel as comfy as the earlier models. Measuring just 6.1 mm thick, it's a lean 23% thinner than version 24 and 34% compared to v23.

Contributing to the surefootedness, the shoe's outsole really grips onto the pavement. Even the fact that there is so much exposed foam at the bottom did not detract from the shoe's traction.

The Cumulus has always nailed it when it comes to grip, even if it means sacrificing a bit of longevity. So, once again, we're dealing with the same trade-off.

With a hardness of 76.0 HC and a thickness of 3.3 mm—both lower scores than the average shoe—the AHAR rubber on this shoe really clings to dry surfaces.

Small things, big impact!

The Cumulus 25 features flat laces that are long enough and of good-enough quality given the shoe's MSRP. Additionally, it includes a finger-loop pull tab, which should be a mandatory feature in almost every shoe, as it facilitates stepping in with ease.

Finally, while it may not be the most reflective shoe out there, it does come with two large vertical heel straps, which are a well-received bonus by night runners!