Asics Gel-Cumulus 26 vs Gel-Cumulus 27
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 26 is discontinued at retail, so remaining pairs sell against a thinning size run, while the Gel-Cumulus 27 has a full one.
- Asics Gel-Cumulus 26Sizes running outMen's at AmazonWomen's
- Asics Gel-Cumulus 27Men's at AmazonWomen's
Availability last checked Sep 1, 2026. Prices and stock change without notice.
Every spec, side by side
| Spec | Gel-Cumulus 26 | Gel-Cumulus 27 |
|---|---|---|
| FIT AND WEIGHT | ||
| Weight | 9 oz | 9.3 oz |
| The extra foam cost 0.3 oz, and the 27 is still under the 25. | ||
| Widths | D, 2E, 4E | D, 2E, 4E |
| Upper | Engineered mesh with a semi-gusseted knit tongue | Jacquard mesh with reflective details |
| CUSHIONING GEOMETRY | ||
| Heel stack | 38.5 mm | 38.5 mm |
| Asics quotes the same figures for both, but the shoe underfoot is taller: RunRepeat measured heel stack rising from 36.8 mm on the 26 to 40.9 mm on the 27, and wrote that the days when the Cumulus was a moderate-stacked daily trainer are long gone. Treat the unchanged brand number as a reporting artefact rather than evidence nothing moved. | ||
| Forefoot stack | 30.5 mm | 30.5 mm |
| Drop | 8 mm | 8 mm |
| MATERIALS | ||
| Midsole | FF Blast Plus with a PureGEL rearfoot insert | FF Blast Plus Eco over a firmer EVA carrier, with a PureGEL heel insert |
| A softer top layer over a firmer base, which is what gives the 27 more cushion without losing the stability the wide midsole provides. | ||
| VALUE | ||
| List price at launch | $140 | $140 |
| OTHER CHANGES | ||
| Toe spring | Pronounced toe spring with a tapered toe box | Reduced toe spring holding the toes in a neutral position |
| Asics reversing itself, which is the clearest possible admission that the 26 forefoot was a mistake. Doctors of Running, who had called the 26 toe spring the thing that ruined it, said the reduction made the 27 far more enjoyable and biomechanically correct, and that the shoe finally fit true to size. | ||
| Heel geometry | Reduced heel flare | Added posterolateral heel bevel |
| Smooths the landing for heel strikers, and part of why the 27 reviewed better than the 26 did. | ||
Weighing whether to switch at all, rather than which of these two to buy? What replaced the Asics Gel-Cumulus 26 covers the verdict on the update, what loyalists made of it, and the closest alternatives from other brands.
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.
Buy the Gel-Cumulus 27
Stocked at AmazonAvailability last checked Sep 1, 2026.
Questions runners ask
- Which is lighter, the Asics Gel-Cumulus 26 or the Gel-Cumulus 27?
- The Asics Gel-Cumulus 26, by 0.3 oz in a men's US 9 (9 oz vs 9.3 oz).
- Do the Asics Gel-Cumulus 26 and Gel-Cumulus 27 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 26 carries over to the Gel-Cumulus 27.
- How do the stack heights compare?
- 38.5 mm heel and 30.5 mm forefoot on the Asics Gel-Cumulus 26, against 38.5 mm and 30.5 mm on the Gel-Cumulus 27. Same platform under both. See the stack height note in the table above: the published figures changed convention mid-lineage.
- Is the Gel-Cumulus 27 still the newest Gel-Cumulus?
- No. The Gel-Cumulus 28 replaced it in 2026, so the Gel-Cumulus 27 now sells as an older model and usually below its $140 list price.