Asics Gel-Cumulus 27 Performance Review

The Asics Gel-Cumulus 27 is the under the radar, comfort-focused daily trainer in Asics’ lineup. Much of the Asics marketing power gets put behind the Novablast 5 and Gel-Nimbus 27, and rightfully so, as they’re targeted at runners putting in a lot more miles. 

The Cumulus 27 (and its previous iterations) is targeted towards a crowd of runners that includes beginners or those that run two to three times a week and are less focused on going fast. Arguably, that’s a much bigger audience, though one that isn’t prone to spending tons of money on running shoes.

Because that audience is large, we like to review this shoe and explain how it stacks up against the competition. Let’s get into it.

What is the Asics Gel-Cumulus 27?

According to Asics, the Cumulus 27 is “[a] soft, neutral trainer that’s versatile for various running workouts and distances”. Running Warehouse gets more flowery, saying the Cumulus 27 is “designed to soften every step and provide a smooth rhythm through every mile” and a “classic daily trainer for varied everyday runs and workouts.”

And both of those descriptions are pretty spot-on. That’s very similar to how I’d describe the Cumulus 27 and its previous iterations.

Cushion

The Asics Gel-Cumulus 27 features an FF BLAST PLUS midsole that has plenty of foam and is medium-soft. There’s also a small bit of PureGEL in the heel. It’s a shoe that feels soft, but not too soft underfoot. It’s built for those that like to feel the ground underfoot without feeling the harshness of the pavement. 

I found it perfectly suited to handle my easy and recovery runs. And while it can pick up the pace, I much prefer the also $140 Novablast 5 for that use case. That shoe picks up the pace in a much smoother way that feels like you aren’t working as hard as you are in the Cumulus 27.

The Cumulus 27 is also a great walking-around shoe and could benefit those on their feet all day. It’s not marshmallowy but still has plenty of cushion to keep feet feeling good after long hours.

Support

Because the Asics Gel-Cumulus 27’s midsole is not too soft, it stays well balanced even if you venture onto some gravel, dirt, or uneven surfaces. The upper fits nicely as well, and the lacing locked me into the heel. I didn’t have movement within the shoe and stayed on the footbed even when taking corners with reckless abandon [Editor’s Note: What does that even mean? Not looking where you’re turning? Plowing into unsuspecting bystanders?]

Traction

The FLUIDRIDE outsole on the Asics Gel-Cumulus 27 is the same one used on the Cumulus 26. It’s an EVA and rubber blend meant to increase softness, and it does that, adding to the midsole’s squish. It grips well for a mostly foam midsole (this can be a problem) and even handled a particularly rainy, muddy day in impressive fashion. BUT…

Durability is a huge issue. My test period shaved away way too much of the midsole for my liking. It’s hard to see this midsole lasting 300+ miles (the general running shoe standard). If you’re light on your feet, you may get a lot more use out of it. But if you’re like me, often landing thunderously [Editor’s Note: Are you a dinosaur? Now I’m just picturing a T-Rex chaotically bombing around corners, leveling anyone and anything in its wake, and causing water in cups everywhere to ominously ripple…], you’ll want to go with a shoe like the aforementioned Asics Novablast 5 which has plenty of rubber for the same price.

Upper

There’s nothing wrong with the engineered mesh upper of the Asics Gel-Cumulus 27. It delivers the comfort for which the Cumulus series is known. The thin but well-padded, neoprene-esque tongue is fully gusseted and wraps the midfoot in a warm embrace. The easy-to-use, knit pull tab at the heel is an example of what all heel tabs should aspire to (shockingly many pull tabs don’t actually do a good job at their only job). And the upper itself breathes nicely, so it’ll be useful in all seasons. This well-built, comfortable upper will be what gets a lot of people to buy this shoe.

Is the Asics Gel-Cumulus 27 wide foot friendly?

The regular version of the Asics Gel-Cumulus 27 has a fairly normal fit, and I wouldn’t recommend it for wide-footers. That said, in addition to standard sizing, the Cumulus 27 is also available in 2E Wide and 4E Extra-Wide for Men and D Wide for Women. Wide-footers are well-covered by the various wide options.

Is the Asics Gel-Cumulus 27 worth $140?

Yes, the Asics Gel-Cumulus 27 merits the $140 price point. Now, if you’re an Asics fan, you’ve got a tough choice between the Cumulus 27 and Novablast 5 as they’re both priced the same. The Novablast 5 does deliver more value and versatility at that price point than the Cumulus 27, and I’d urge most people to go that route (the Novablast 5 is one of our top Asics running shoes and one of our top running shoes overall). But if you fit the use case of the Cumulus 27, you’ll be happy with what you get (well, apart from the outsole durability, I guess).

How to use the Asics Gel-Cumulus 27

The Asics Gel-Cumulus 27 is a well-cushioned, versatile daily running shoe perfect for those who run two to three times per week. It also works well as a walking/standing shoe for those who are often on their feet.

Asics Gel-Cumulus 27 Summary

The Asics Gel-Cumulus 27 is a solid daily running shoe option for people who need a running/walking shoe that’s dependable, comfortable, and soft underfoot. It delivers solid value and versatility. It’s not perfect, but many runners will find it provides exactly what they need.

How does the Author Run?

Drew Whitcomb (age 43, 6’6″ 200lbs): Runs daily with a once a week rest day. Runs a lot of miles due to testing needs and a growing affinity for long-distance races. Regularly competes in marathons, half-marathons, 10k, and 5k races.

Disclosure

While Asics did provide a pair of the Gel-Cumulus 27 to facilitate this review, the company had no involvement in this review, didn’t receive an advance look at it, and has not attempted to influence it.