Can I go straight from the Asics Gel-Cumulus 26 to the Gel-Cumulus 28 and skip the Gel-Cumulus 27?

Yes. Going Gel-Cumulus 26 to Gel-Cumulus 28 skips the Gel-Cumulus 27, and neither update changed the ride, so you land on the same shoe two refinements later. The midsole is the one real difference: FF Blast Plus with a PureGEL rearfoot insert to FF Blast Max with a PureGEL heel insert.

How much did the weight change across these two updates?

0.7 oz on in total, 9 oz to 9.7 oz in a men's US 9. The Gel-Cumulus 27 took it to 9.3 oz first.

Is the Gel-Cumulus 27 the better buy than either of these?

On paper it splits them: 9.3 oz against 9 oz for the Gel-Cumulus 26 and 9.7 oz for the Gel-Cumulus 28, on a 38.5 mm heel and a $140 list price. Whether that is worth chasing depends on what the Gel-Cumulus 27 update actually did, which the section above works through.

Where does the Gel-Cumulus 28 sit in the Gel-Cumulus lineup now?

It is the current model, two versions on from the Gel-Cumulus 26 and the newest one you can buy at full retail.

Asics Gel-Cumulus 26 vs Gel-Cumulus 28

Two versions apart. Updated September 1, 2026. Specs are men's US 9.

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THE SHORT ANSWER

Two updates and 2 years separate the Asics Gel-Cumulus 26 from the Gel-Cumulus 28. Net change: 0.7 oz heavier, a new midsole, $5 more at list. Neither update in between changed what the Gel-Cumulus is, so this is the same shoe refined twice rather than a new one.

Asics Gel-Cumulus 26Sizes running outMen's at Amazon Women's
Asics Gel-Cumulus 28Men's at Amazon Women's

Availability last checked Sep 1, 2026. Prices and stock change without notice.

Gel-Cumulus 26 · 2024

Gel-Cumulus 28 · 2026

The two updates in between

Each step has its own page with the full change list and the verdict on that update.

Step 1Gel-Cumulus 26 to Gel-Cumulus 272025Refined, same shoe
Gel-Cumulus 26 vs 27 What replaced the Asics Gel-Cumulus 26?
Step 2Gel-Cumulus 27 to Gel-Cumulus 282026Refined, same shoe
Gel-Cumulus 27 vs 28 What replaced the Asics Gel-Cumulus 27?

Gel-Cumulus 26 vs Gel-Cumulus 28: every spec, side by side

The net of both updates. Per-update change notes stay on the step pages above, because they explain changes measured from a different starting point than this table uses.

Spec	Gel-Cumulus 26	Gel-Cumulus 28
FIT AND WEIGHT
Weight	9 oz	9.7 oz
Widths	D, 2E, 4E	D, 2E, 4E
Upper	Engineered mesh with a semi-gusseted knit tongue	Engineered mesh with large ventilation holes and reflective detailing
CUSHIONING GEOMETRY
Heel stack	38.5 mm	38 mm
Forefoot stack	30.5 mm	30 mm
Drop	8 mm	8 mm
MATERIALS
Midsole	FF Blast Plus with a PureGEL rearfoot insert	FF Blast Max with a PureGEL heel insert
VALUE
List price at launch	$140	$145

Or buy the Gel-Cumulus 27 instead?

The Gel-Cumulus 27 is the value play if you find it discounted. It carries most of what the Gel-Cumulus 28 added while selling as an older model, and moving one version at a time is the smaller adjustment.

Buy the Gel-Cumulus 27

Stocked at Amazon

Men's: Check price at Amazon Women's: Check price at Amazon

Availability last checked Sep 1, 2026.

Questions runners ask

Can I go straight from the Asics Gel-Cumulus 26 to the Gel-Cumulus 28 and skip the Gel-Cumulus 27?: Yes. Going Gel-Cumulus 26 to Gel-Cumulus 28 skips the Gel-Cumulus 27, and neither update changed the ride, so you land on the same shoe two refinements later. The midsole is the one real difference: FF Blast Plus with a PureGEL rearfoot insert to FF Blast Max with a PureGEL heel insert.
How much did the weight change across these two updates?: 0.7 oz on in total, 9 oz to 9.7 oz in a men's US 9. The Gel-Cumulus 27 took it to 9.3 oz first.
Is the Gel-Cumulus 27 the better buy than either of these?: On paper it splits them: 9.3 oz against 9 oz for the Gel-Cumulus 26 and 9.7 oz for the Gel-Cumulus 28, on a 38.5 mm heel and a $140 list price. Whether that is worth chasing depends on what the Gel-Cumulus 27 update actually did, which the section above works through.
Where does the Gel-Cumulus 28 sit in the Gel-Cumulus lineup now?: It is the current model, two versions on from the Gel-Cumulus 26 and the newest one you can buy at full retail.