What replaced the Asics Gel-Cumulus 21?
Updated September 10, 2026. Specs are men's US 9.
Amazon links on this page pay us a commission. It never changes your price. Details
THE SHORT ANSWER
The Gel-Cumulus 22 replaced the 21 in 2020 at the same $120 list price and the same 10 mm drop. The platform and the FlyteFoam-plus-GEL recipe carried over; the visible change is the upper, and Asics also restated its stack heights on a lower basis that year, so the 22 published numbers look 6 mm shorter without the shoe losing foam.
- Asics Gel-Cumulus 21Sizes running outMen's at Amazon
- Asics Gel-Cumulus 22Sizes running outWomen's
Availability last checked Sep 10, 2026. Prices and stock change without notice.
At a glance
- Weight is unchanged
- 6 mm less heel stack
- Drop is unchanged at 10 mm
Every spec side by side, with the reason behind each change: Gel-Cumulus 21 vs 22.
Stay on your shoe, or switch?
Faithful successorAn upper year. The 22 keeps the FlyteFoam and GEL midsole, the 10 mm drop and the $120 price, and spends its changes on the heel and the overlays. That kept the Cumulus doing what its buyers wanted, which at this point in the line was a firm, predictable, unexciting daily trainer that lasted. The published stack drop is a reporting change rather than a real one. If you liked the 21, nothing here asks you to relearn the shoe.
Stick with the Gel-Cumulus 21 if
- You already run the 21 and the fit works, because the midsole is the same shoe
- You find 21s discounted, since the only real difference is the upper
Move to the Gel-Cumulus 22 if
- Your heel slipped in the 21; the reinforced counter is the fix
- You want the newer upper at the same $120 the 21 launched at
Where the Asics Gel-Cumulus is now
Four generations separate the Asics Gel-Cumulus 21 from the Gel-Cumulus 28 (2026), so the gap is wider than any single update suggests:
- The Gel-Cumulus 28 is 0.4 oz lighter
- 9 mm more heel stack
- Drop moved from 10 mm to 8 mm
- New midsole foam
- List price up $25
What loyalists said about the update
Quietly received, which was the pattern for this era of the line. Reviewers described the 22 as dependable and a little dull, praised the heel hold, and noted that the ride was firmer than most rivals at the price. There was no revolt and no enthusiasm; the complaints that do recur are about a warm upper and a firm forefoot rather than about anything the 22 changed.
Still want the original?
Buy remaining Gel-Cumulus 21 stock
Sizes running outDiscontinued at retail. Amazon carries what remains, so treat an in-stock size as a closing window, and expect prices to swing.
Women's stock is gone.
Availability last checked Sep 10, 2026.
Ready to move on?
Beyond the Gel-Cumulus 22, these come closest to what the Gel-Cumulus 21 did.
- 10.2 oz
- 10 mm drop
- 36 mm heel
- $150 list
The head-to-head rival, and the closest match on this list. Both are neutral daily trainers built for comfort rather than speed. The Ghost 18 is half an ounce heavier on a 10 mm drop against the Cumulus 28 8 mm, and lists $5 more.
Against your Asics Gel-Cumulus 21: the same weight, 7 mm more heel stack, the same drop, $30 more at list.
- 10.1 oz
- 10 mm drop
- 37 mm heel
- $145 list
The other default daily trainer, and the firmer, snappier one. The Pegasus 42 runs a 10 mm drop and an Air Zoom unit against the Cumulus 28 softer FF Blast Max, and the two list within $5 of each other.
Against your Asics Gel-Cumulus 21: the same weight, 8 mm more heel stack, the same drop, $25 more at list.
- 8.9 oz
- 8 mm drop
- 38 mm heel
- $145 list
Same job, same 8 mm drop, and 0.8 oz lighter in the Ride 19. The Ride is the more responsive of the two; the Cumulus carries more foam under the heel and costs the same at list.
Against your Asics Gel-Cumulus 21: 1.2 oz lighter, 9 mm more heel stack, 2 mm less drop, $25 more at list.
Questions runners ask
- Is the Asics Gel-Cumulus 21 still available?
- Partially. Men's sizes still turn up on Amazon, but women's stock is gone. If your size shows up, decide quickly; discontinued stock only shrinks.
- Is the Gel-Cumulus 22 a downgrade from the Asics Gel-Cumulus 21?
- No. The Gel-Cumulus 22 keeps the same ride and fixes small things. If you liked the Asics Gel-Cumulus 21, the update carries over without an adjustment period.
- Is the Asics Gel-Cumulus still made?
- Yes. The current version is the Asics Gel-Cumulus 28, released in 2026, 7 versions on from the Asics Gel-Cumulus 21.
- What is the closest current alternative to the Asics Gel-Cumulus 21?
- The Brooks Ghost 18. The head-to-head rival, and the closest match on this list. Both are neutral daily trainers built for comfort rather than speed. The Ghost 18 is half an ounce heavier on a 10 mm drop against the Cumulus 28 8 mm, and lists $5 more.