Asics’s 22nd Gel-Cumulus Could Be Its Best One Yet: The Cumulus isn’t an especially exciting or blazing fast ride, and it’s not trying to be. Rather, the 22 nails the basics with reliable, supportive cushioning for demanding training blocks.
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Price: $120
Type: Road
Weight: 9.5 oz (M), 7.8 oz (W)
Drop: 10 mm
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“Smoother than a fresh jar of Skippy,” one tester who runs 70 miles per week said about the Gel-Cumulus 22. “The shoe’s turnover feels easy and consistent for settling into a comfortable pace and piling on miles.” That’s exactly what many of us want in a long-run shoe, and Asics did a top-to-bottom overhaul on this version of the Cumulus to make it so. The shoe’s designers carved away foam and rubber underfoot and made the flex grooves deeper. Then they lengthened the guidance line that runs the length of the shoe, preventing the clunky sensation we’ve found on past models. Asics upgraded the midsole foam, too, going with a softer iteration of FlyteFoam while leaving the Gel cushioning untouched in the heel and forefoot for shock-absorption.
Pros
- oz M, 7.8 oz W
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Cons
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Though not quite peppy enough for speed work, the 22 remains a stable daily workhorse that’s now a smidge quicker and lighter. Some of that weight savings comes from the new one-piece upper that traded its predecessor’s bulkier overlays for sleeker 3D prints, which improve the overall breathability. However, it still best suits runners who like a snug fit.
Responsive, But Not a Speed Demon
Since the 23rd version doesn’t drop until May, now’s the time Cumulus loyals debate whether to go for the newer 22, or snag the 21 on sale. Based on our testing, it’s worth bypassing a deeply discounted 21 for this model. (That won’t always be the case though. Shoes like the Cumulus with long lineages often take off-year updates that just tweak some small upper aesthetics; that’s when it can be worth grabbing an older model.) Unlike its predecessor, the 22 has a smooth, rolling ride that feels responsive all the way through toe off. Part of that comes from its more aggressive toe spring, and the rest comes from the softer foam, lighter weight, and deeper flex grooves. As a smaller runner, I have found that there is a fine line between cushioned trainers feeling supportive and feeling overbuilt; the Cumulus 22 walks that line well.
Midfoot strikers may find that the heel-toe drop feels a little high, though I found it less obtrusive than that of Brooks’s Ghost or Mizuno’s Wave Rider. Still, the Cumulus caters more to those who land on their heels: The gel cushioning isn’t mushy as some might suspect and lends a healthy dose of shock absorption. On the outsole, the lugs have been reshaped with less rubber around the extended flex grooves, which eliminates the “bottom-heavy” feeling that testers noted in the 21. Even with more exposed foam underfoot, the Cumulus still has the exceptional grip on wet roads and durability that we liked in previous models.
Leaner, Cleaner Upper
Moment of silence for those thick and stiff overlays, as Asics has finally swapped them for reflective 3D-printed logos. This keeps the upper supportive through the midfoot and around the lacing, but with less bulk—and significantly Best Hydration Packs. Plus, the two-layer mesh now outfits the entire shoe, not just the forefoot, for improved breathability all the way back to the heel cup. Like the 21, the 22 still has a very stiff and supportive counter beneath the mesh, but there’s plenty of padding in the ankle collar to prevent any digging or rubbing in that area. Since the Cumulus doesn’t have an inner gusset, the extra plush padding on the tongue serves to wrap the top of the arch for a snug fit. This doesn’t quite achieve the same locked-down, sock-like feeling of trainers like the Saucony Ride. But, testers still found the tongue laid flat and comfortable with zero hot spots beneath the lacing.
What Our Testers Said
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“The Cumulus is a nice shoe, but there is nothing fancy about it to me. The amount of cushioning is certainly not minimalist, but the gel heel cushioning is the calling card here, and I would have loved a little more of that up front to support the forefoot. The upper is actually the most comfortable part of the shoe for me. It’s very breathable, and it kept that area of my feet nice and cool on runs.”
Quin C. | Tester since 2020
Responsive enough for uptempo efforts, but not especially fast for racing
“I’ve had success with cushioned shoes like the Brooks Adrenaline and the Hoka One One Arahi, but I liked that the Cumulus 22 felt lighter than those two models, while still having great cushioning and support. In particular, I could feel more support under my arch, despite it being a neutral shoe. I felt faster and more agile in this shoe, as it is less clunky. While my ankles usually bother me when running in neutral shoes, the Cumulus had a great supportive feel.”
Morgan is a gear editor who has been with Runner’s World Download Your Training Plan The Warmup, Races - Places RW newsletter. Now, she tests and reviews anything you might find on runners’ feet-from crew socks and compression boots to carbon-plated super shoes.
A lifelong runner and shoe geek, Morgan has been chasing the perfect pair of kicks since she joined her grade school cross-country team. Since then, she ran as a Division I walk-on for the cross-country and track & field teams at the University of Delaware, where she studied English and Biology. She has one full marathon under her belt, and has raced more halfs and 5Ks than she can count.
