ASICS Men's Gel-Cumulus 23 Trainers

Product Information

Sam: As said above the Ghost misses the forefoot with an overly roomy toe box, an overly soft midsole foam, too much flexibility and an overly firm outsole. Runs awkward and really is not that much more cushioned than the Cumulus. Clear win for Cumulus in this match up. Derek: Much like the New Balance 880v11, this shoe owns the middle ground between the softer trainers such as the Hoka Clifton and the more responsive ones like the Adidas Boston. It leans a little more to the firmer side of things as the Nike Pegasus 37 does, but again is by no means harsh. The easy fit and stable, effective, and cushioned ride will be a welcome alternative to people who like a little more ground feel but find shoes like the Nike Pegasus or Adidas Boston too harsh for longer runs, and it comes with excellent outsole grip and durability to boot. The Gel Cumulus 23 is a shoe that doesn’t make you think about which shoe to wear for what run. This shoe is designed on a budget for the runner that just wants something they can comfortably jog in day-in and day-out no matter what type of workout they are aiming for. The Cumulus 23 now has 3D Space Construction which are these small hexagonal shapes that look like honeycomb which are etched onto the top layer of the midsole.

Saucony Ride 14- The best in class 2020 trainer only gets better in its 2021 edition, with an improved fit and ride When ASICS kindly sent me a pair of the new Gel-Cumulus™ 23 it was an easy ask to write a review. These are my sixth pair of Gel-Cumulus™ and they really do just keep getting better and better.Response is present but not sharp propulsive as say the firmer Saucony Ride 13-14 gets when you step on the gas. Cumulus 23 has smooth easy transitions from its long flex pattern at all paces but starts to feel soft and a bit wobbly upfront at uptempo for me where that consistency of feel of midsole through outsole gets a bit overwhelmed by the strike forces. You don’t have to worry about durability or fit issues with the Cumulus 23, or about getting injured from too much softness or not enough. The Cumulus 23 has the right amount of everything. The men’s version only has the Space Construction on the heel whereas the women’s version has it on the heel and the forefoot. The ASICS LITE rubber in the outsole is soft and designed to improve durability in high impact areas. In addition to the cushioning properties of the insoles and outsoles that contribute to the comfort of the shoe, there is also good ventilation thanks to the mesh upper. The polyester upper allows perspiration and heat to escape for comfortable exercise and foot hygiene. In addition, the textile lining and seamless upper eliminate the risk of unpleasant rubbing that can lead to chafing. The midsole lining also provides a pleasantly soft feel. Another major advantage of the Gel-Cumulus 23 is its low weight, which makes running more comfortable and smooth. Fashion Meets Function

Also, at 24.3N on our lace slip test, the lace outperformed other recently tested shoes like the Saucony Endorphin Speed 2 which measured in at only 13.8. Traditional midsole performs poorly in the cold ASICS kept the Gel Cumulus under 10 ounces (9.8 ounces/277g) which is great. It’s not overly heavy and as a daily trainer, it’s actually decent in the weight category. I did notice that I could feel the edges of the outsole lugs through the forefoot and it felt slightly lumpy. This is because of a big difference in density between the midsole foam and the outsole rubber. I know I’ve mentioned forefoot flexibility a few times already, but I want to point out that it is not overly flexible to the point of being a little tedious to run in. I had that experience a little recently with the Brooks Ghost 13 where there was too much forefoot flex resulting in forefoot fatigue towards the end of my 6-8milers. There is none of that here. Some combination of the smooth and firm midsole keeps things turning over easily. I’ve had a really good run of testing daily trainers of the more traditional variety lately and this is one of my favourites.

Walking around in the Cumulus 23, I could feel that the layer directly underfoot was less spongy than the Nimbus 23 with less of a sink-in sensation. Fit: A- (Secure, slightly snug fit. Toebox is slightly tapered but does stretch. Upper comfortable against bare skin) These hexagonal shapes in the midsole act like pillars to allow the midsole to compress more in those zones which increases softness. Derek is in his 30’s and trains 70-80 miles per week at 7 to 8 minute pace in mostly tropical conditions in Singapore. He has a 2:41 marathon PR.

Sam: Agree with Derek above on all points. As with the Ride 13 I do think the Cumulus has a slightly softer and more cushioned ride. As an all arounder I lean ever so slightly towards the more responsive, slightly firmer 880.Wonderful all around daily training ride with just the right balance of fun softer cushion, rebound/bounce, and response Derek/Sam: Your foot bounces off the pavement with a springy, cushioned response when you run in the GEL-CUMULUS™. The GEL-CUMULUS™ range maxes out on cushioning and the GEL™ cushioning technology is designed to give you the light bouncy feeling of running on clouds.

The small updates that ASICS has made to the Cumulus 23 have improved it but have made it heavier too, although on foot, it doesn’t feel like a heavy shoe. Engineered mesh upper adds strategic support in targeted areas while leaving some of the fibres open to improve breathability. The Gel-Cumulus™ 23 continues the Cumulus™ tradition of being a light, versatile, neutral running shoe with its focus being to provide an even smoother and softer ride. At 230g the women's shoes are slightly lighter than the previous model with the 10mm drop remaining the same. So here's the technical information. When I first saw pictures of the Cumulus 23 online, my initial thought was that it looks very similar to the Nimbus 23.The shoe may not wow you with its performance, or be the envy of onlooking eyes, but it’s consistent in its ride and doesn’t try to be something it’s not. This is a daily trainer without bells and whistles, that works just fine. Who should buy the Gel Cumulus 23 Although the ASICS Gel Cumulus can do many things, it doesn’t stand out among shoes with newer tech and materials. Puma Velocity Nitro- Brand new trainer out of Puma. A versatile, protective ride that will work for many