Asics Gel-Cumulus 25 vs Gel-Cumulus 26
Updated September 1, 2026. Specs are men's US 9.
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THE SHORT ANSWER
Whichever your size still exists in. The Gel-Cumulus 25 is discontinued at retail, so remaining pairs sell against a thinning size run, while the Gel-Cumulus 26 has a full one.
- Asics Gel-Cumulus 25Sizes running outMen's at AmazonWomen's
- Asics Gel-Cumulus 26Sizes running outMen's at AmazonWomen's
Availability last checked Sep 1, 2026. Prices and stock change without notice.
Every spec, side by side
| Spec | Gel-Cumulus 25 | Gel-Cumulus 26 |
|---|---|---|
| FIT AND WEIGHT | ||
| Weight | 9.5 oz | 9 oz |
| The lightest Cumulus of the modern era, and the strongest thing on the 26 spec sheet. | ||
| Widths | D, 2E, 4E | D, 2E, 4E |
| Upper | Engineered mesh with improved ventilation and a thinner tongue | Engineered mesh with a semi-gusseted knit tongue |
| The tongue was the fix for the 25 complaint. The toe box taper was the new problem. | ||
| CUSHIONING GEOMETRY | ||
| Heel stack | 37.5 mm | 38.5 mm |
| A millimeter at each end on Asics figures, with the 8 mm drop held. Both are on the post-2023 basis, so unlike the 24-to-25 row this one is a like-for-like comparison. | ||
| Forefoot stack | 29.5 mm | 30.5 mm |
| Drop | 8 mm | 8 mm |
| MATERIALS | ||
| Midsole | FF Blast Plus with a re-engineered PureGEL heel insert | FF Blast Plus with a PureGEL rearfoot insert |
| VALUE | ||
| List price at launch | $140 | $140 |
| OTHER CHANGES | ||
| Toe spring | Moderate forefoot rocker | Pronounced toe spring with a tapered toe box |
| The defining complaint of this generation. Doctors of Running named the toe spring the thing that ruined the shoe, explaining that holding the toes in extension keeps the plantar fascia and toe flexors on constant stretch, and that the taper made the shoe run short enough that a tester had to lace down to stop hitting the end. | ||
| Outsole | Standard rubber coverage | Rubberised EVA with a revised Fluidride layout and reduced heel flare |
Weighing whether to switch at all, rather than which of these two to buy? What replaced the Asics Gel-Cumulus 25 covers the verdict on the update, what loyalists made of it, and the closest alternatives from other brands.
Buy the Gel-Cumulus 25
Sizes running outDiscontinued at retail. Amazon carries what remains, so treat an in-stock size as a closing window, and expect prices to swing.
Availability last checked Sep 1, 2026.
Buy the Gel-Cumulus 26
Sizes running outDiscontinued at retail. Amazon carries what remains, so treat an in-stock size as a closing window, and expect prices to swing.
Availability last checked Sep 1, 2026.
Questions runners ask
- Which is lighter, the Asics Gel-Cumulus 25 or the Gel-Cumulus 26?
- The Gel-Cumulus 26, by 0.5 oz in a men's US 9 (9 oz vs 9.5 oz).
- Do the Asics Gel-Cumulus 25 and Gel-Cumulus 26 come in the same widths?
- Yes. Both run in D, 2E, 4E for men's sizes, so a width that fit in the Gel-Cumulus 25 carries over to the Gel-Cumulus 26.
- How do the stack heights compare?
- 37.5 mm heel and 29.5 mm forefoot on the Asics Gel-Cumulus 25, against 38.5 mm and 30.5 mm on the Gel-Cumulus 26. That is 1 mm more under the heel and 1 mm more under the forefoot. See the stack height note in the table above: the published figures changed convention mid-lineage.
- Is the Gel-Cumulus 26 still the newest Gel-Cumulus?
- No. The Gel-Cumulus 27 replaced it in 2025, so the Gel-Cumulus 26 now sells as an older model and usually below its $140 list price.