tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10529476.post8998510126913173744..comments2024-03-28T12:59:38.363-06:00Comments on Road Trail Run: ASICS GEL-Cumulus 21 Multi Tester ReviewSam Winebaumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17969086391170473784noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10529476.post-27862132552821082152019-08-21T20:02:58.961-06:002019-08-21T20:02:58.961-06:00To me, the once great Asics-Tiger empire is long g...To me, the once great Asics-Tiger empire is long gone. Their last excellent shoe was the Cumulus 9 and I haven't been able to run in any of their shoes since. Their Epirus, GT-II, Gel 101, Gel Lyte, Excaliber GT, and early Cumulus models were all treasures in their day, but the last dozen iterations of the Cumulus have been flops. The midsole feels dead, as you have all alluded to, but the reason seems to be that the arch is curved the wrong way: it is designed like an anti-rocker! This curve is clearly apparent in real life, when you are holding the shoe and looking at it, but it is also clear in the first and third photos of your review. The arch is higher than the ball and heel, making it impossible to "transition" smoothly. It is like running with bricks strapped on your feet. When I learned that the terribly rigid arch "support" had not been included in the newest Cumulus, I rejoiced. Actually, I wept, gave praise, and then rejoiced. So excited was I that I followed that up with a sacrificial offering of a pair of Cumulus 15's (I took my Dremel to them and cut them in half). But when I tried the 21's on, it was the same old story: no flex, no give, no cushion. There should not be two sounds when one runs in good running shoes--the heel touching the ground and then the ball of the foot slapping down--but this is exactly what the Cumulus STILL delivers, version after version, year after year. I'm not bitter, but I am disappointed. I was a long-time Tiger fan. I miss good Tigers. I miss being a part of the whole Japanese distance runner culture. I miss watching Juma Ikangaa, Toshihiko Seko, and the Soh brothers on old race videos and thinking that we ran in the same shoes, so we were sort of on the same "team." No more. Well, lucky for me that the NB 1023, Saucony Triumph ISO 2, and the Brooks Glycerin (10 and up) came along when they did. There is no real need to go back to Asics-Tiger now, which is a shame. "A sound mind in a sound body" needs a sound midsole, and the Cumulus' problems lie squarely in that midsole. :o(<br />Fredericknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10529476.post-24321156572757971912019-06-17T21:43:55.668-06:002019-06-17T21:43:55.668-06:00Xak - Found the dynaflyt 2 softer than 3's. Cu...Xak - Found the dynaflyt 2 softer than 3's. Cumulus 19 didn't really hit their stride until 70-80 kmAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10529476.post-64872823335111341562019-05-27T08:00:59.418-06:002019-05-27T08:00:59.418-06:00Saw a review once where the reviewer cut open an A...Saw a review once where the reviewer cut open an Asics Nimbus shoe and the gel pads inside were about the size of a dime. So it appears that when Asics touts the gel cushioning system it’s really just advertising. All fluff and no substance.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10529476.post-11285345821153921392019-05-26T16:48:55.045-06:002019-05-26T16:48:55.045-06:00Asics is awful now. The Cumulus, Nimbus have a har...Asics is awful now. The Cumulus, Nimbus have a hard, terrible ride. Used to be soft, but that is gone now.Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04275932643171276866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10529476.post-53120683220540577302019-05-26T11:24:16.491-06:002019-05-26T11:24:16.491-06:00With flytfoam asics is dead!!!!With flytfoam asics is dead!!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10529476.post-37420971013202291222019-05-26T11:18:47.653-06:002019-05-26T11:18:47.653-06:00Great review as usual. It's weird seeing all t...Great review as usual. It's weird seeing all these brands like Skechers, Reebok, Adidas, Brooks, and Nike innovating but Asics stays true to it's predecessor.Kuznoreply@blogger.com