ASICS Gel Cumulus 28 review

In our view, the ASICS Gel Cumulus 28 is ideal for:

• Heel strikers who want a plush daily trainer with strong comfort and a stable ride at a fair price.
• Longtime Cumulus fans looking for the softest and most refined version of the series so far.
• Runners who dislike firm midsoles and want to experience the unique feel of the foam-based FluidRide outsole.

The FF Blast Max upgrade still fails to deliver the bounce we expected from the Gel Cumulus 28. If you want stronger ebergy return for uptempo runs or a more energetic feel, we believe there are better choices like the ASICS Novablast 5 or the Adidas Adizero EVO SL.

We also think that midfoot and forefoot strikers may find the high drop excessive for daily training. In our view, the geometry works much better for heel strikers than for runners landing farther forward. For that group, we suggest the New Balance 1080 v15 or the Adidas Supernova Rise 3.

We found in the lab that despite switching from FF Blast+ to FF Blast Max, shock absorption stays almost identical to what we measured in the ASICS Gel Cumulus 27. This time, we recorded 139 SA in the heel and 110 SA in the forefoot.

Are we disappointed? Not at all. It remains a strong result for a shoe like the Cumulus, built to deliver versatility and reliable comfort for daily runs above everything else.

However, we were disappointed with the energy return. The switch to FF Blast Max has worked well in other ASICS models, but here the ride remains muted and lacks the bounce we expected. We confirmed this in the lab with results of 50.5% in the heel and 52.5% in the forefoot, both clearly below our current average.

The major increase in stack height already came with version 27, jumping from 36.8 mm to 40.9 mm. It seems ASICS is not slowing down, as this update reaches an even higher 42.8 mm.

It may be time to pause. While 40 mm has become the new standard, pushing toward 45 mm feels excessive for a Cumulus that already provides more than enough protection and shock absorption.

The forefoot stays just under the 30 mm mark at 29.5 mm, which suggests a notably high drop that we’ll examine next.

Despite the advertised 8 mm drop for the Cumulus 28, we measured a much higher 13.3 mm.

This makes it a strong option for heel strikers or runners who prefer a high differential, as it can help reduce strain on the Achilles tendon. At the same time, it feels too extreme for runners who land on the forefoot.

FF Blast Max brings a slight change in softness, lowering the score in our Asker C durometer to 31.9 AC.

This places the ASICS Gel Cumulus 28 in the plush category, especially because it uses a different setup than most competitors, with a PureGEL insert in the heel and a FluidRide outsole made from foam instead of rubber, which we’ll cover shortly.

The Cumulus 28 features an uncommon midsole setup with a firm secondary layer (FluidRide) that helps stabilize the ride while also functioning as the outsole. Because of this dual-purpose design, it is noticeably firmer than regular foam at 54.9 AC, yet still much softer than a traditional rubber outsole.

The Gel Cumulus 28 keeps a similar geometry to its predecessor, featuring a pronounced heel flare and a clear curvature that helps smooth the stride for rearfoot strikers, the main target of this shoe. The forefoot rocker remains moderate and never feels intrusive.

We keep thinking each year might be the one when ASICS drops GEL technology, but that is not the case yet. The Cumulus 28 retains the same PureGEL insert from last year, which softens landings but also limits energy return.

It also adds complexity to the manufacturing process and feels like one of those cases where marketing influences the final design. But at the same time, GEL is a core part of ASICS DNA, so it is easy to see why they hesitate to remove it.

In our first measurement, we recorded 94.5 mm, which sits around the average and should suit most standard-width feet.

It’s also worth noting that the Cumulus is available in up to three widths in select markets. That said, let’s keep measuring.

One aspect that some runners disliked in the previous Cumulus was its tapered toebox, so we were curious to see how this version performs. Luckily, it now offers more room for the toes at 74.4 mm, improving daily comfort, compared to 71.1 mm last year.

The toebox height stays nearly unchanged, remaining slightly higher than most shoes.

This year, our digital calipers measured 29.1 mm.

There are small changes in the outsole that bring a slight improvement in traction, although the overall grip remains very similar. The score increased from 0.50 to 0.54, which is a positive step, especially for this type of outsole where achieving strong grip can be challenging.

That said, it still falls clearly short of top-tier compounds like ASICSGRIP, which is important to keep in mind.

The biggest update comes from the redesigned forefoot, which now includes a white rubber section that improves grip and builds on the role this material already played in the previous version.

The rest of the outsole continues to use the familiar FluidRide formula, which works very well for runners who prefer soft landings.

Despite its noticeably high stack height, the Cumulus 28 offers solid flexibility for everyday comfort at 13.7N. Once again, this is partly made possible by the FluidRide outsole we discussed earlier.

Another area where the ASICS Gel Cumulus 28 performs well is weight. ASICS continues to trim it down with each update, and we measured a 3% reduction, bringing it to a very appealing 8.9 oz or 252g. For context, the Nike Pegasus 42 has a much lower stack height yet weighs 13% more.

Uppers that focus heavily on comfort sometimes struggle with breathability, and we had a feeling this one might not be ideal for summer.

After our evaluations, we settled on a 3/5 score, which is decent and can work in warm conditions if temperatures are not extreme and the right socks are used.

The tongue area also contributes some extra airflow, which is a welcome detail. However, given the overall design, we expected the Cumulus 28 to score slightly higher.

Looking at the upper under our digital microscope, we noticed that the main layer includes a secondary layer underneath that blocks much of the airflow.

That inner layer plays an important role in improving comfort, so ASICS likely made the right decision by keeping it in a shoe like the Cumulus.

The Gel Cumulus 28 remains a fully neutral option within the ASICS lineup, which comes as no surprise. However, we believe it can also work for runners with mild pronation thanks to its supportive heel counter and wide base geometry, which naturally help stabilize the ride.

In terms of torsional rigidity, we measured a moderate 14.7 Nm result. This is a common approach for daily trainers and a safe design choice from ASICS, delivering stability without making the ride feel overly harsh underfoot.

We previously mentioned how stable the heel area feels, and that comes from ASICS using an extremely stiff heel counter that earned our maximum 5/5 score.

It is not ideal for runners with sensitive Achilles tendons or those who prefer a more natural feel, but it works very well for support and is nicely balanced by the generous foam padding.

Another reason why the Cumulus 28 feels so supportive is its oversized midsole, which is noticeably wider than that of a regular daily trainer. However, this has become the new standard for ASICS, as the brand now uses this design approach in nearly every non-racing model.

To put that into perspective, the 120.5 mm we measured here is even wider than the platform of the Hoka Gaviota 6, a dedicated stability shoe.

The heel is also notably wide at 96.5 mm, and this is even more important than the forefoot given the clear focus on heel strikers that we identified earlier.

The toebox feels very comfortable, but durability is not a strong point, scoring 2/5. This is not surprising given the large ventilation holes in the top layer.

On the other hand, the heel padding performed very well and achieved our highest score with a perfect 5.

The FluidRide outsole moves away from a traditional rubber setup, using a mix of foam and rubber with strategic reinforcements. These reinforcements are crucial, as durability would otherwise suffer. Even so, we measured 2.4 mm of damage, more than double the average, but there is a catch.

The catch is that, because it works as both midsole and outsole, ASICS can use a thicker layer to offset the lower durability. 

In the end, the overall result is fairly similar, but we still think this is not a good option for runners who are tough on outsoles, especially those who wear down small areas quickly.

We found that ASICS opted for a slightly thicker-than-average insole at 5.2 mm.

The insole is fully removable, allowing you to replace it if needed or preferred.

One advantage of FF Blast Max is its improved performance in cold conditions. We measured only an 11% change in softness after 20 minutes in our freezer.

There are small reflective elements in the heel, but they are not particularly impressive. For reference, ASICS could look at the excellent implementation that we found in the Altra Experience Flow 3.

We discovered that this area has been fully redesigned and adds clear value to the overall package in terms of comfort and fit. The hybrid lacing system works perfectly to keep tension low while still delivering a secure lockdown, and the elastic knit material of the tongue feels excellent and is easy to adjust using the finger-loop tab.

This 2.0-mm padding comes from ASICS moving toward ultra-thin tongues even in daily trainers. Not everyone will prefer this shift away from a more traditional padded tongue, but it still delivers comfort... just in a different way!

We found that the tongue uses a semi-gusseted design, which helps keep it centered without adding unnecessary weight or putting pressure on the foot.

The heel area features a clean, clutter-free design that also omits a heel tab.

The Cumulus 28 comes with a small price increase, which is expected as most brands are doing the same with their daily trainers. In our view, it still remains fairly priced given its features and overall package, even if areas like energy return should improve soon.