Asics Gel-Cumulus vs New Balance 880
Comparing the current Gel-Cumulus 28 and 880 v15. Specs are men's US 9.
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THE SHORT ANSWER
Drop is the real difference: 6 mm on the 880 v15 against 8 mm on the Gel-Cumulus 28. Coming off the Gel-Cumulus 28, the 880 v15 loads your calves and Achilles harder for the first couple of weeks. Both sit in the same role (daily trainer). The 880 v15 lists $5 lower.
- Asics Gel-Cumulus 28Men's at AmazonWomen's
- New Balance 880 v15Men's at AmazonWomen's
Availability last checked Sep 1, 2026. Prices and stock change without notice.
Every spec, side by side
| Spec | Gel-Cumulus 28 | 880 v15 |
|---|---|---|
| FIT AND WEIGHT | ||
| Weight | 9.7 oz | 10.1 oz |
| Widths | D, 2E, 4E | D, 2E |
| Upper | Engineered mesh with large ventilation holes and reflective detailing | Single-layer engineered mesh with a gusseted padded tongue |
| CUSHIONING GEOMETRY | ||
| Heel stack | 38 mm | 40.5 mm |
| Forefoot stack | 30 mm | 34.5 mm |
| Drop | 8 mm | 6 mm |
| MATERIALS | ||
| Midsole | FF Blast Max with a PureGEL heel insert | Full-length Fresh Foam X on a rockered max-stack platform |
| VALUE | ||
| List price at launch | $145 | $140 |
Which line changes its ride more often?
Both lines rework the ride about as often: the Gel-Cumulus has done it 2 times in 8 versions, most recently with the Gel-Cumulus 26 in 2024, and the 880 has done it 2 times in 6 versions, most recently with the 880 v15 in 2025. Neither is the safer long-term rebuy on this record.
Buy the Gel-Cumulus 28
Stocked at AmazonAvailability last checked Sep 1, 2026.
Buy the 880 v15
Stocked at AmazonAvailability last checked Aug 7, 2026.
Chasing a specific older version rather than choosing between the current two? The Asics Gel-Cumulus lineage and the New Balance 880 lineage track every version and what changed in each update.
Questions runners ask
- Is the Asics Gel-Cumulus or the New Balance 880 lighter?
- The Gel-Cumulus 28, by 0.4 oz in a men's US 9 (9.7 oz against 10.1 oz).
- Can I switch from the Asics Gel-Cumulus to the New Balance 880?
- Yes, but ease into it. The drop moves 2 mm (8 mm on the Gel-Cumulus 28, 6 mm on the 880 v15), which changes where your foot loads at landing. Give it two weeks of easy running before a hard session.
- Which is more cushioned, the Asics Gel-Cumulus or the New Balance 880?
- The 880 v15, on stack height: 40.5 mm under the heel against 38 mm. Stack is not the whole story, though; the foams differ too.
- Which comes in more widths?
- The Gel-Cumulus 28. The Gel-Cumulus 28 runs in D, 2E, 4E for men's sizes; the 880 v15 runs in D, 2E.
- Which costs more, the Asics Gel-Cumulus or the New Balance 880?
- The Gel-Cumulus 28, by $5 at list ($145 against $140). That gap narrows once either one gets a successor.
Updated September 1, 2026.