After 20 Years and 15,000 Miles, These Asics Sneakers Are The Only Ones I’ll Ever Wear

Two marathons, over 20 half marathons, and countless morning runs. If I’m running, I’m running in Asics Gel-Cumulus shoes.  

My love for Asics Gel-Cumulus shoes started at the very beginning of my running career, over 20 years ago. I vividly remember showing up to my first high school cross-country practice in a pair of Nike Shox, much to the dismay of my coach. Unfortunately, those trendy kicks led to shin splints within a week. Per my coach’s recommendation, I swapped the Nikes for Asics and never looked back.

Known as the go-to everyday trainer among the Asics options, the Gel-Cumulus running shoes provide adequate cushion and support, without weighing you down. The lightness truly does feel like you’re running on big, cushiony clouds, but isn’t overly soft where you feel like you’re sinking. The shoes have great traction no matter what surface I’m running on and my feet are adequately supported on short 20-minute tempo runs or longer, slower distance sessions.

Buy Now: Asics Gel-Cumulus 23, $70 on Amazon

While I highly recommend having a professional assess your gait to ensure your running shoe selection meets your individual needs, I can’t say enough good things about Asics Gel-Cumulus. These are awesome shoes. In my (vast) experience they:

• Provide adequate cushioning and shock absorption
• Are neutral, which is a great option for a variety of runners
• Fit fairly true to size, with a large toe box 
• Feel comfortable on various terrains (road, trail, grass, treadmill, sidewalk)
• Come in fun, vibrant colors
• Are available in a range of prices, depending on the version
• Are made for male and female runners

I’ve tried a variety of Asics models, including the GT-2000 (lightweight, but not enough stability), Nimbus (too cushioned), and Kayano (similar to Nimbus, but heavier than Cumulus). The Gel-Cumulus are my Goldilocks pair—and continue to be, after all of these years.

New versions of the Gel-Cumulus shoes come out every so often (the 21, 22, 23, and 24 are on sale now), and the technology changes slightly with each iteration. Right now I have the 20 and 23 in my closet. It’s not huge, but I do notice a slight difference in the fit and function of each shoe. I ran my marathon PR in the 12s, so they will always have a special place in my heart.

It’s a lowball estimate, but 15 miles per week, 50 weeks per year (when I factor in some much-needed rest days), 20 years running: I can confidently say that I’ve run approximately 15,000 miles in these shoes. Some weeks I run more, and some weeks I don’t run at all. The gist is, I swear by Asics Gel-Cumulus running shoes.

A word to the wise: if you find a pair of shoes that you really love, double down! Buy two pairs of the same shoe and rotate them each time you run.