By Kieran Alger
The ASICS Gel Kayano is a long-time stability stalwart that offers big comfort and ample support thanks to some dynamic stability elements. Meanwhile, the lighter, lower-stack ASICS Gel Cumulus still offers cushioned protection but shoots for a more traditional neutral ride with a bit more liveliness.
Both daily mileage shoes prioritise cruising comfort over all out speed. So which shoe might suit you best? I’ve logged the test miles in these two ASICS favourites and I’m here to help you compare, contrast and ultimately decide which – if any – is the one for you. Get the verdict in the ASICS Gel Kayano 32 vs ASICS Gel Cumulus 27 review.
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Stack Height, Drop, Weight and Price
First up the key details and the ASICS Gel Kayano 32 stack height has the same 40mm in the heel as the previous generation shoe but there’s now an extra 2mm under the forefoot. That reduces the drop from 10mm to 8mm, the same as the Cumulus 27.
The ASICS Gel Cumulus 27 has a lower stack that’s still well-cushioned, with 38.5mm in the heel and 30.5mm in the forefoot.
When it comes to weight, in our US test size 9.5, the Kayano 32 tips the scales at 10.8oz or 304g. The Cumulus 27 comes in considerably lighter at a more midweight, nimble 9.5oz or 270g.
On price, the ASICS Gel Kayano 32 sticks at the same $165 as the Kayano 31. So no bump in price. While the ASICS Gel Cumulus is cheaper at $140.
Stats
ASICS | Kayano 32 | Cumulus 27 |
|---|---|---|
Best for | Easy miles / daily training | Easy miles / daily training |
Support | Stability | Neutral |
Cushion | Max cushioning | Moderate cushioning |
Stack Height | 40mm heel | 38.5mm heel |
Drop | 8mm | 8mm |
Weight | 10.8oz / 304g | 9.5oz / 270g |
Suggested Retail Price | $165 | $140 |
Fit | True to size | True to size |
Rating | 8.3/ 10 | 8.4/ 10 |
Design
The ASICS Gel Kayano 32 is a high volume, plush, premium, easy-mile daily shoe that’s built for comfort, cushion, protection and reliability underfoot. The ASICS Gel Cumulus 27 is a slightly less-cushioned daily trainer also designed for comfort but with a bit more versatility.
Both shoes feature midsoles made from Flytefoam Blast+ foam. The Kayano 32 now has a 1.5mm higher stack across the shoe than the Cumulus 27.
Beyond the stack, the biggest difference in the design comes in the Kayano 32’s ASICS’ 4D Guidance System which deploys a suite of elements designed to adapt to, and support the foot each time it hits the ground for better stability. This includes a smaller heel bevel, a sculpted midsole, and additional medial foam that guides your foot on landing.
Both shoes have the familiar ASICS PUREGel heel cushion to soften things if you land further back.
Up top, the Kayano 32 has new single-layer engineered mesh uppers while the Cumulus 27 has engineered jacquard mesh uppers. Both uppers feel premium. They’re quite thick but soft and flexible. The Kayano 32 uppers have a perforated design to boost the airiness.
Both shoes have heel ample, plush padded heel collars that boost comfort and locked in security. The Cumulus 27 heels are a little narrower.
There are gusseted tongues that follow the ASICS Novablast 5 design, with a thinner, flat, wrapping design that saves on weight. The Kayano 32 tongues have some extra internal wrapping on the medial side to boost the support.
When it comes to the outsole, the Kayano 32 outsole sticks with the same Hybrid ASCICSGrip that we saw on the Kayano 31 with a liberal covering. So if you got on well with the levels of stiffness/flex, grip and durability of the Kayano 31, there’s no change here.
The Cumulus 27 has a different approach with what ASICS calls a Fluidride outsole. This thick layer of rubberized EVA covers almost the entire sole of the shoe with lots of grooves to improve flexibility.
Kayano 32
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Cumulus 27
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Fit
I ran in my regular US 9.5 ASICS shoe size in both shoes, The Cumulus 27 offers a comfortable, disappearing fit with good lock down across the mid foot. I enjoyed the wrapping tongues that have a couple of pads on them to kind of soften that kind of lace pinch.
There’s good room lengthwise in the toe box and enough wiggle room from the structure of the uppers that means they don’t drop onto the top of the toes. Those narrowed padded heel collars hold well with good cushioning.
The ASICS Gel-Kayano 32 also fits spot on. There's just enough room in the toe box, the breathable mesh uppers offer a flexible but secure hold, it’s easy to get the midfoot locked down and the well-padded heel collar provides excellent, no-slip lockdown. Comfort-wise, it’s a “disappears-on-foot” kind of shoe.
For both shoes, I’d recommend going true to size.
Performance
In testing, I’ve logged 30 miles plus in the Kayano 32 and north of 25 in the ASICS Gel Cumulus 27. The majority of my test miles were at the easier, low and slow end. But I logged some faster segments, to see how these ASICS shoes felt when you picked up the pace. I also did 90 minute runs in both to test the long-haul capabilities.
As usual, my test miles were mainly on road with some light off-road park and river paths – a good extra test for that stability. I also did a side-by-side mile, with one shoe on each foot, to tease out the finer differences.
Overall you’ve got two shoes that deliver excellent, plush, cocooned comfort with a premium edge to it. The big difference is the softness and the energy coming up from the midsole.
Unsurprisingly the Kayano 32’s firmer, slightly blockier edge brings some flatness and control – a good solid reliability. The Cumulus 27 offers up a softer, sprightlier, more energetic ride. That’s not to say the Cumulus 27 isn’t stable, it is. But you notice the extra guidance offered up by the Kayano 32, particularly in the heel where there’s less compression.
The weight difference is notable, too. The Cumulus 27 runs lighter. That gives it a more versatile edge over the Kayano 32. You might not pick it for your fastest training but the Cumulus is definitely better suited to moving at faster paces.
The uppers on the Cumulus 27 are somewhat lighter and I found them more breathable, despite the perforated design of the Kayano 32’s mesh.
When it comes to durability, these both show very little sign of wear after the test miles and I’d mark them out as big-mileage eaters. They feel robust.
My Verdict
These two shoes sit among ASICS’ big-stack, cushioned, comfort cruisers catering for quite similar runs: better easy mileage credentials than anything fast and furious. They both do that job rather well. Everything’s plush and premium and well built.
The Cumulus 27 offers a good unfussy, smooth ride that’s not overly energetic and still has a happy control to it. The lighter weight and added cushion will cater better for non-stability runners for longer time on feet.
The Kayano 32 is excellent at what it does – offering some more subtle stability and security with a big wedge of road protection thrown in. It’s just not very lively and probably has an upper limit for long runs.
Choosing between these two shoes will come down to whether you need the extra stability elements. If so, the Kayano 32 is the shoe for you. If not, and you want a shoe that can do a little more across the pace range, the Cumulus 27 is the way to go.
If you’re looking beyond these, the ASICS Novablast 5 offers a similar setup to the Cumulus, just in a lighter, faster package. If you’re out for stability, the Saucony Guide 18 is an excellent alternative for some lighter, subtle protection.
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