ASICS Gel Cumulus 23 Review
Soft and Springy Daily Trainer
Likes
- Durable
- Immediately comfortable
- Secure fit
Dislikes
- Firm forefoot
- Runs warm
- Loses softness
What's New
Fans of the previous Cumulus will be glad to see only minor updates in the new ASICS Gel Cumulus 23. The engineered mesh upper and ASICS GEL in the heel were the biggest updates and have made the new Cumulus even softer. ASICS utilised a 3D SPACE CONSTRUCTION in the midsole to allow for more compression in specific high-impact areas, with a tailored design that accounts for each gender's unique biomechanics. ASICS also reshaped the Carbon Rubber outsole to enhance the durability of the Cumulus. Overall, the updates to the Cumulus 23 are simple yet effective and help continue to improve these comfortable daily trainers.
The Bottom Line
You might call the Cumulus 23 a Goldilocks shoe — not too plush, not too firm, but just right. It offers a smooth ride and puts a little spring into every stride. The Cumulus would be a good shoe for beginner runners and anyone looking for a comfy everyday training shoe that performs well at a variety of paces. Heel strikers will be pleased with the classic ASICS GEL in the heel, which is plush and helps roll the foot smoothly through each stride, and there's no question that these shoes will last for many kilometres, as the Cumulus gets some brownie points for durability thanks to its full-length Carbon Rubber outsole. That said, midfoot or forefoot strikers may desire more cushioning for longer runs. Overall, the ASICS Gel Cumulus 23 is designed to be a no-fuss daily trainer that is comfortable for a variety of running needs, and it certainly delivers on that. Sometimes simple and reliable is exactly what a run demands.
Shoe Performance
Softness i
Ride/Energy Return i
Underfoot Protection i
Flexibility i
Upper Support i
Specifications & Fit
How It Fits
| Toe Box | Width: Medium | Height: Medium | |
| Midfoot Volume | Medium | |
| Heel Width | Medium | |
| Arch Height | Medium |
Shoe Specs
| Weight | Men's: 9.5 oz (size 9) | Women's: 8.2 oz (size 8) | |
| Stack Height | 34mm (Heel), 24mm (Forefoot) - includes removeable sock liner | |
| Terrain | Road | |
| Stability | Neutral | |
| Sizing | True to size |
Our In-Depth Look
Shoe Softness i
Kaleb: "There is a soft and cushioned feel immediately when you step into the Cumulus 23. With a medium stack height, I thought the Cumulus provided protective cushioning that was sufficient for my daily training needs. Although, I found that the Cumulus was best for distances up to 10k. "
Caroline: "The Cumulus 23 provides a medium amount of cushioning and comfort. It has a middle-of-the-road feel; neither too firm nor too soft."
Ben: "I notice that my feet literally sink into the insole while standing. The Cumulus 23 is extremely comfortable and soft to run in as well as wear around all day."
Ride/Energy Return i
Kaleb: "The Cumulus 23 is not the most propulsive shoe but delivers a balanced ride that I enjoyed at a variety of paces. Given the softness and energy return, I think the Cumulus 23 is well designed to handle any training run."
Caroline: "Overall, the energy return was solid, and I felt a spring in my step. The FLYTEFOAM midsole felt lighter in weight and offered a good balance of cushioning and responsiveness."
Ben: "The responsive cushioning provides a solid energy return, so I was able to run very smoothly in them. Even at faster paces for a tempo run, I had no trouble running at ease."
Underfoot Protection i
Ben: "The gel cushioning system absorbs much of the impact when running on pavement, allowing the runner to go through kilometres easily. I ran eleven kilometres in these when my legs were beat up, and I barely noticed the pavement."
Kaleb: "I did begin to notice the road after a few runs, especially as I picked up the pace and was landing more on the midfoot/forefoot. That said, I thought the gel cushioning in the heel was always consistent at absorbing the impact of the road and, overall, I thought Cumulus had ample protection for most of my running needs."
Caroline: "The Cumulus 23 provides a moderate amount of cushioning and protection. It leans slightly more on the firm side in the forefoot, and I did get some of that ground feel, which as a midfoot striker, was not enough protection on my longer runs."
Underfoot Flexibility i
Caroline: "The shoe offers a bit of flexibility for a smooth ride. It didn’t feel too stiff or restrictive and allowed for freedom of movement."
Ben: "It never feels too stiff or too elastic. I personally prefer less flexible shoes, and I found these to be perfectly comfortable."
Kaleb: "The Cumulus 23 had a noticeable flex that contributed to a smooth running experience. I thought it helped me efficiently roll through my gait cycle and allowed for some fun running at slow to medium paces."
Upper Feel i
Ben: "The upper is extremely comfortable. It provides a supportive, structured hold without being too restrictive."
Kaleb: "The highlight of the Cumulus for me is the upper, which is snug in all the right places. My one negative is the breathability in hot running conditions, but I tend to run warm so this might be more of a 'me' issue than the shoes."
Caroline: "The seamless mesh design has a good amount of breathability, and I liked the secure, snug fit the upper provided. The shoe hugged my feet perfectly, and I felt locked and loaded and ready to go!"
Men's ASICS Gel Cumulus Running Shoes
Women's ASICS Gel Cumulus Running Shoes
Individual Thoughts
I have run in numerous pairs of ASICS in my 22 years of running, and the Cumulus 23 is one of my favourite pairs. The Cumulus 23 provides a responsive and cushioned midsole for the runner seeking a smooth and cushioned ride. The upper also provides a secure, comfortable fit without being too narrow. This is a great choice for a daily road shoe.
Softness
FirmSoftRide/Energy Return
Less SpringyMore SpringyUnderfoot Protection
LowHighFlexibility
RigidElasticUpper Support
StructuredAdaptable
The ASICS Cumulus 23 is a reliable, neutral daily trainer that is going to offer you a balanced and supportive ride. I really enjoyed the snug fit it provided me. As soon as I laced up, I immediately felt secure, comfortable, and ready to hit the road. In regard to its performance, it varied depending on the duration of my run. During my initial workouts, I was able to pick up my pace and run faster, thanks to its responsive midsole. ASICS FLYTEFOAM felt energising and gave me the motivation to keep going and rack up my kilometres. The energy return was good and there was definitely a spring in my step (my ponytail was flying on high!). However, by the end of the week, with the accumulation of my long-distance runs, the ride wasn’t as comfortable once I surpassed the 55 kilometres mark. As a neutral runner with a midfoot strike, the forefoot started to feel too firm and decreased my overall comfort level and enjoyment. For heel strikers, this may not be an issue because of the ASICS Gel that provides cushioning under the heel. But for midfoot strikers, it lacks sufficient protection for longer runs, and the firmness can start to feel uncomfortable. Overall, I liked that the shoe didn’t feel too heavy or bulky and the fit was spot on with a perfect wraparound feel. The outsole is pretty durable as well, and you will be able to get more life out of this shoe. If you’re looking for a solid, reliable trainer for daily, shorter runs, then the Cumulus 23 would be the one to add to your rotation.
Softness
FirmSoftRide/Energy Return
Less SpringyMore SpringyUnderfoot Protection
LowHighFlexibility
RigidElasticUpper Support
StructuredAdaptable
Overall, I thought the ASICS Cumulus 23 was a versatile daily trainer that delivered a smooth ride and was well-designed for racking up everyday kilometres. The FLYTEFOAM midsole was well-balanced, delivering soft comfort with a simple yet bouncy ride. Unfortunately, similar to Caroline, I thought the midsole, especially in the forefoot, lost some of its softness and comfort after 80+ kilometres. Because of this, I will probably limit the Cumulus 23 to runs under 8-10 kilometres. I thought the upper was very comfortable and I never had any issues with lockdown or slippage when out on my runs. Although, I thought the Cumulus was a little warm when compared to some of the other engineered mesh uppers I have run in recently. I also want to quickly note that durability should be no issue for the Cumulus. Moving forward, I will probably use the Cumulus 23 when I want to mix things up for shorter daily training runs.