Details
Brand
Asics
Heel To Toe Drop
10mm
Breathability
7.5/10
Latest Version
Gel Cumulus 18 GTX
Terrain
Road
Type
Neutral
Key Features
• 17 GTX• FluidRide midsole that provides excellent bounce back, cushioning, and durability• Gore-Tex upper that is waterproof and breathable• Guidance line in the midsole that helps control your foot and running motion when striking the ground• Asics High Abrasion Rubber on the outsole that is used in high wear areas that adds to the durability• Gel cushioning in the forefoot and heel that absorbs the shock impact and helps in the gait cycle
Upper
Asics uses a seamless upper that is designed to reduce the chances of blisters or irritation. With this design, these shoes can be worn without socks. The personal heel fit utilizes a dual-layer memory foam in the heel that conforms to the back of your foot so it fits snugly in the shoe. Like the rest of the shoe, Asics put a lot of thought and technology into their upper design. The Gore-Tex technology is a waterproof agent that keeps the rain and snow away. Along with that is the anti-bacterial and anti-odor agents that keep your foot protected from anything you might pick up on the road or trail. There are plenty of overlays on the upper, which speaks to the shoe design, but also adds a little extra weight.
Midsole
As with any Asics shoe, the gel cushioning in the midsole is top notch. It’s prevalent right off the bat, especially in the heel of the shoe. The gel system provides outstanding cushioning and responsiveness. It helps disperse the impact and stress of running to keep your foot comfortable and safe with every strike. Along with the gel system is Asics standard FluidRide foam. The FluidRide foam adds to the cushioning and responsiveness of the midsole. It is a lightweight material, which is good, but it is about the only lightweight material that Asics uses. On top of all that is the Solyte foam. Once again, this helps with the cushioning and responsiveness of the shoe. Asics also designed gender-specific cushioning in the shoe, which is a smart move and gives each shoe a bit of a personal touch.
Outsole
Asics uses their Asics High Abrasion Rubber in high wear areas, specifically the heel and toe. This area allows the heel and toe areas to last longer as those are the two areas that wear down the most while running. The AHAR and the carbon rubber placed throughout the rest of the shoe make for a long-lasting outsole that holds up under the toughest conditions. The Guidance Line in the middle of the outsole not only helps with your running form but also adds some flexibility to the shoe. There are three flex points in the forefoot of the shoe, which also goes a long way in adding to the flexibility. The Guidance Line and flex points are huge because the shoe would have almost no flexibility without either due to the weight, which I’ll discuss later. Finally, the crash pad in the middle of the outsole adds to the cushioning.
Breathability
You’re going to find breath inlets all throughout the upper of the shoe. The upper on the Gel 17 GTX is well designed with plenty of breathable areas. From the heel to the forefoot, your foot will stay cool throughout your entire run. The Gore-Tex technology that keeps the upper waterproof adds to the breathability as it keeps your foot dry even in wet conditions. The anti-bacterial and anti-odor agents ensure that your feet don’t get too heated and catch anything. There is also plenty of the room in the toe box, which gives your foot a little extra room to breath and move.
Comfort
Asics always puts together a comfortable shoe. This starts at the midsole. The gel and FluidRide technology ensure that your foot rests comfortably on top of the midsole. The midsole provides great cushion and bounces back when you’re running. The gel cushioning, in particular, absorbs the shock during toe-off and striking. The personal heel fit, as opposed to a typical heel counter, in the back conforms nicely to the back of your foot and keeps your foot comfortable inside the shoe. There is plenty of room in the toe box for your foot to move around. The upper isn’t restrictive and fairly responsive. The gender-specific crash pad also goes a long way in adding to the comfort as it absorbs shock and stress.
Style
The style of Asics will never blow you away, but it’s sleek and simple. The upper is one solid color and the overlays blend in seamlessly. The gel in the midsole immediately stands out and looks as cool as it is comfortable. The lacing system is your standard lacing system, which gets the job done even if it’s not fancy. Asics doesn’t try to wow customers with fancy looking footwear. They let their design and craftsmanship speak for itself.
Durability
Thanks to the Asics High Abrasion Rubber in high wear areas and carbon rubber used in the outsole, the Gel Culumus 17 GTX has strong durability. The shoe is meant for long runs and even every day use. The upper is built to last, although the overlays may become a bit troublesome over time as they start to peel off. The thick midsole further contributes to the durability.
Protection
You’ll be hard pressed to find a more protective shoe on the market. The weight keeps your foot nice and protected under any stresses or durations. The outsole and midsole ensure that you’re not going to feel the ground when you’re running and that the bottom of your foot will be protected. The comfortable midsole and cushioning keep your foot from rolling during runs. The waterproof agent keeps your foot dry in wet conditions. That said, some runners were disappointed with the effectiveness of the waterproof agent.
Responsiveness
The midsole is extremely responsive thanks to the FluidRide and gel technology. You can feel the shoe squish underneath you. The upper doesn’t restrict your movement and is about the most flexible part of the shoe. And that’s where the biggest issue with the Gel Cum[infographic]ulus 17 GTX comes in. The shoe lacks flexibility in just about every area. The flex points on the outsole don’t help with the flexibility and the thick midsole doesn’t give much flex support. The shoe’s weight causes it to be less flexible than your ideal shoe. This shoe is not meant for speed runs, it’s meant for long runs at a good pace.
Support
The shoe helps with under and neutral pronation. If you’re a runner where your foot rolls outwards, you’ll love these shoes. The guidance line on the outsole helps keep your foot on the straight and narrow with running. Some runners have commented that they love the shoe because it helps with plantar fasciitis and other foot pains. The midsole goes a long way in supporting your foot.
Terrain
Asics recommends that you use these shoes on the road. The outsole definitely lends itself to be very effective on the road, but it also works well on gravel and well-designed trails. Thanks to the Asics High Abrasion Rubber, the outsole is durable enough to deal with tough terrain conditions. The rubber on the outsole has plenty of grip points that help with the toe off and ensure that you won’t slip and slide on the road.
Price
The shoe has been discontinued by Asics, but you can still find it online at places like Amazon. The price at Amazon starts at $64 but can get all the way up to $147 depending on which size you order. If you can find the shoes at $64 then that is a good bet, but anything over $75 is pushing it just because they’re newer and better shoes on the market.
Drop
With a 10 mm drop, the 17 GTX has your standard running shoe drop that is sure to please any runner.
Stability
The shoe is great for neutral and under pronation runners. Typically, the stability of a shoe refers to those with overpronation. These shoes are on the neutral side of running as opposed to the stable side. That side, they are not going to wobble on you when running.
Flexibility
Due to the amount of weight in the shoe, the flexibility is severely lacking. While there are flex points and the guidance line does help a bit, these shoes are not going to provide you with extreme flexibility that you may want if you’re looking for something with a little bit of speed to them.
Traction
The shoe grips well on the road. The outsole has plenty of cuts and divides that go a long way in gripping the surface and keeping your foot from slipping and sliding. The guidance line and trusstic system ensure that your foot stays on the straight and narrow.
Bottom Line
The Asics Gel Cumulus 17 GTX don’t exactly stand out from the crowd. There’s nothing wrong with them, but they feel like every other pair of Asics shoes. The gender-specific crash pad and Gore-Tex upper add a little bit of uniqueness, but every other piece of technology found in the Gel 17 GTX can be found in just about every Asics shoe over the last year or so. That said, it’s tough to go wrong with a pair of Asics, and you can’t exactly go wrong with the Gel 17 GTX, especially if you can get them at an affordable price.
