It’s easy to confuse these two flagship shoes from the Asics series with their cloud names. It’s quite simple: the Nimbus is more cushioned than the Cumulus.
But it’s not quite that simple. Previously, the difference in stack height was glaringly obvious, but in 2023, Asics decided to considerably increase the cushioning of both shoes to turn them into max cushion trainers.
As a result, the Nimbus 27 has a 41.5 mm heel stack height, compared with 37.5 mm for the Cumulus. These road running shoes have a soft underfoot feel, with slightly more firmness on the Cumulus 27.
The Japanese brand has modernized the configuration of these shoes by switching to an 8-mm heel-to-toe drop (versus 10-13 mm on previous versions).
Traditionally heavy, the Nimbus and Cumulus (men’s versions) now weigh in at a more reasonable level for daily training shoes, with 10.8 oz/305 g and 9.3 oz/265 g respectively.
Secondly, the Nimbus 27 uses FlyteFoam Blast Eco, while the C27 relies on FlyteFoam Blast+. In both cases, the modern foam is more responsive and lighter, with a slight advantage for the Cumulus.
Nimbus or Cumulus: Which One Should You Choose?
As you can see, the difference between these two shoes is becoming increasingly slim. In the end, it’s all a question of cushioning. Runners who prefer more high-stack cushioning will opt for the Nimbus, while those who prefer lightness will choose the Cumulus.
If you’re starting, we recommend the Cumulus, which is lighter and more streamlined. Based on this experience, you can decide whether you need more or less cushioning.
Side-By-Side Comparison
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| Overview | ||
| Description | The Asics Gel-Nimbus 27 is a running shoe for daily training with maximum cushioning and great versatility for everything. | The Asics Gel Cumulus 26 is a versatile daily trainer focusing on comfort. |
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| Facts | ||
| Terrain | Road | Road |
| Support | Neutral | Neutral |
| Heel stack height | 41.5 mm | 38.5 mm |
| Forefoot stack height | 35.5 mm | 30.5 mm |
| Heel-to-toe drop | 8 mm | 8 mm |
| Weight (men) | 305 g | 251 g |
| Weight (women) | 265 g | 222 g |
| Features | Vegan, Recycled materials, Rocker | Vegan, Wide feet, Recycled materials, Rocker |
| Athletes | ||
| Release year | 2025 | 2024 |
| Technologies | ||
| Outsole | HYBRID ASICSGRIP | FLUIDRIDE |
| Midsole | FF Blast Plus Eco, PureGel, OrthoLite X-55 | FLYTEFOAM BLAST PLUS, PURE GEL |
| Upper | Jacquard mesh | Jacquard mesh, OrthoLite X-30 |
| Cushioning | ||
| Cushioning | Balanced | Firm |
| Responsiveness | Medium | Medium |
| Use | ||
| Distance | Short, 5K, Mid, 10K, Half marathon, Long, Marathon | Mid, 10K, Half marathon, Long, Marathon |
| Speed | Slow, Moderate | Slow, Moderate |
| Workouts | Daily running, Recovery | Daily running, Recovery |
