ASICS GEL-Cumulus 27 Review: Your Running BFF

All shoes are reviewed by the Fleet Feet tester team, which represents a wide variety of goals, foot shapes, running locations and terrains. Reviewers pound the pavement, climb the hills, tackle the trails, then come together to compare notes. Debates ensue over the feel of the cushioning, the purpose of the shoe, and how it compares to last year’s model. While each reviewer has their own individual preferences, we hope that capturing our debates will help you make an informed decision.
We all have that one friend we can go months without speaking to and pick right back up where we left off. For some of our reviewers, that friend is the ASICS GEL-Cumulus. It’s the type of shoe that’s approachable to beginners and experienced runners alike, and offers the same familiarity as reconnecting with an old buddy.
“Going for a run in the Cumulus 27 is like calling your best friend just to catch up: comfortable, easy, and reliable,” says Heather, a long-time Cumulus fan.
The good news for Cumulus fans like Heather is that ASICS hasn’t changed their bestselling model too much, save for some tweaks in the upper. The GEL-Cumulus 27 is available on March 1. Read on to hear what the rest of our review team thought.
ASICS GEL-Cumulus 27
Weight | 8.1 oz (W), 9.3 oz (M) |
---|---|
Stack height (heel/forefoot) | 37.5 mm/29.5 mm (W), 38.5 mm/30.5 mm (M) |
Heel-to-toe drop | 8 mm |
Category | Daily trainer |
Surface | Road |
Price | $140 |
Comparable to… | Saucony Ride 18, New Balance Fresh Foam x 880 v15 |
Ride
Cushioning
Energy
FF BLAST™ PLUS foam delivers smooth, balanced ride

ASICS uses their signature FF BLAST PLUS™ midsole foam to create a balanced ride in the Cumulus 27. Reviewers were delighted by the seemingly perfect balance between soft and firm.
“The Cumulus 27’s cushioning is on the slightly softer side with just the right amount of bounce for my liking,” says Tom. “I think it's one of the most balanced daily trainers I’ve tried in the neutral, medium-cushion category. I feel light and peppy on my feet and can do a little bit of everything in them. They have just enough cushion for long runs and are light and responsive enough for me to pick up the pace or get a final kick in.”
“It’s the kind of shoe you forget about while running, which speaks to its exceptional design,” says Heather. I had a similar experience, as I kept forgetting that I was supposed to be shoe testing during my run. The shoes just felt so natural on my feet, allowing me to completely get into “the zone.”
In addition to the FF BLAST PLUS™ midsole, the Cumulus 27 uses the same PureGEL™ technology as the Cumulus 26. This material sits in the heel to cushion your landings and absorb the impact of your stride. I noticed a definitive “bounce” in the heel while comparing these shoes to the 26, although that could be because my pair of Cumulus 26 have a lot more wear and tear on them.
Updated upper offers familiar comfort

Although ASICS slightly tweaked the Cumulus’ upper material from the previous version, it still feels as comforting and reassuring as a hug from an old friend.
“There is something familiar and oh-so-comfortable about putting on the Cumulus 27,” Mandy says. “Similar to the fluffy clouds the shoe is named after, the newest version of the Cumulus is nothing but pleasant. The upper encapsulates my foot in comfort and the extra bit of padding around the heel provides a perfect fit. The heel tab makes this my go-to sneaker to throw on for a walk, a run or picking up my kid from school. It’s super easy to slide on, even with a coffee in one hand.”
The tongue is slightly thicker and less stretchy than the previous version, which reviewers say help keep it in place. The pull-tab in the heel that Mandy mentioned is a new feature that wasn’t present in the 26.
The Cumulus 27 fits true to size for all of our reviewers, despite us all having differently shaped feet. If you aren’t sure about the shape, width or volume of your feet, your best bet will be to head into your local Fleet Feet. Fleet Feet outfitters use 3D fit id® foot scanning technology to gather information about your feet and the support they need by taking precise measurements of your foot length, width and arch height, so you can learn a lot about your feet while you’re there.
ASICS GEL-Cumulus 27 versus GEL-Cumulus 26
Tech Specs | ASICS GEL-Cumulus 27 | ASICS GEL-Cumulus 26 |
Weight | 8.1 oz (W), 9.3 oz (M) | 7.8 oz (W), 9 oz (M) |
Stack height (heel/forefoot) | 37.5 mm/29.5 mm (W), 38.5 mm/30.5 mm (M) | 37.5 mm/29.5 mm (W), 38.5 mm/30.5 mm (M) |
Heel-to-toe drop | 8 mm | 8 mm |
Price | $140 | $140 |
The Cumulus 27 feels and fits remarkably similar to the Cumulus 26. The 27 has a slightly higher weight, potentially due to the thicker outsole material (meant to add more durability and traction) and additional padding in the upper. If you liked the Cumulus 26, you’ll likely enjoy the 27 as well.
“ASICS did a phenomenal job of not messing a good thing up,” Heather says. “The Cumulus 27 feels familiar with just a bit more pep.”
“The Cumulus 26 is currently my favorite daily trainer to run in, so I was happy to see that the 27 was largely unchanged with the exception of some small improvements to the upper,” says Tom. “The ride underfoot feels the same as the 26 which, to me, is a good thing. If it ain't broke, don’t fix it!”

How does the ASICS GEL-Cumulus 27 compare?
We took a look at some comparable shoes to see how the Cumulus 27 stacks up. Here’s what we found.
Tech Specs | ASICS GEL-Cumulus 27 | Saucony Ride 18 | New Balance 880 v15 |
Weight | 8.1 oz (W), 9.3 oz (M) | 8 oz (W), 9.1 oz (M) | 8.4 oz (W), 10.7 oz (M) |
Stack height | 37.5 mm/29.5 mm (W), 38.5 mm/30.5 mm (M) | 35 mm/27 mm | 40.5 mm/34.5 mm |
Heel-to-toe drop | 8 mm | 8 mm | 6 mm |
Category | Daily trainer | Daily trainer | Daily trainer |
Price | $140 | $140 | $140 |
The ASICS GEL-Cumulus 27, Saucony Ride 18 and New Balance 880 v15 all fall into the moderately cushioned daily trainer category. They have enough cushioning underfoot to support your feet and absorb impact, but they won’t put you too high off the ground like some shoes in the max-cushioned category.
While all three shoes are similar in weight, stack height (the height difference from your feet to the ground) and heel-to-toe drop (the height difference from your heel to your forefoot), the differences lie in the fit of the upper and feel of the midsole foams.
Who is the ASICS GEL-Cumulus 27 best for?

Heather referred to the Cumulus 27 as “the swiss-army knife of shoes,” and it’s easy to see why. They have enough cushioning to remain comfortable over all distances, but enough ground contact to remain responsive. The cushioning is neither too soft nor too firm, making this shoe appeal to a wide variety of preferences.
If you’re looking for a super plush shoe, you may have better luck with the Nimbus 27. For an extra responsive ride, try the Novablast 5. And if you’re seeking a carbon-plated speed shoe, you should check out the Metaspeed series. But for runners who like a simple but comfortable shoe, with no extra frills, the Cumulus 27 may be your jam.
“Every run I did in the Cumulus felt smooth and consistent,” says Mandy. “This may not be the sexiest shoe or provide a ton of propulsion, but you know exactly what you’re getting with it. It will let you run long, it will let you run fast and it will let you spend all day in them.”