In this product guide:
If Solereview had to pick just one waterproof shoe from Asics’s entire running assortment, it would be the Cumulus 26 GTX. This versatile neutral trainer can do everything from daily runs to half-marathons.
The Flytefoam midsole delivers lightweight comfort without being mushy. There’s no rubber outsole, just a firmer foam layer under the soft Flytefoam core.
The 38.5 mm (heel) and 30.5 mm (forefoot) tall midsole helps with smooth and consistent transitions.
The GTX version shares the midsole and outsole with the non-waterproof version, so there’s no difference in the ride quality.
We would have preferred a better outsole on the GTX model though. In its current form, the foam outsole doesn’t do a great job gripping wet roads.
The 8-mm heel-to-toe offset makes the Cumulus suitable for runners of all experience levels – be it novice, intermediate, or expert.
From the outside, it’s hard to tell that the knit mesh shell is backed with a waterproof Gore-Tex membrane. But it is – and that makes the Cumulus 26 GTX excellent for rainy days and walking on damp roads.
The comfortable upper features a plush, foam-filled heel and elastic tongue for a secure fit.
If you’re not familiar with the GT-1000 13, allow us to offer a summary.
The Asics GT-1000 13 is a lower-spec version of the GT-2000 13, similar to how the Kayano 31 is a higher-end version of the GT-2000. All three are classified as ‘stability’ shoes that claim to control the gait.
So if neither of the three stability shoes have a medial post, how does they manage overpronation? Our Kayano 31 review describes the process; by combining a sloped transition groove (under the heel) with a more supportive inner midsole, the loading is directed toward the outer side.
The GT-1000 13 does the same, but at a much smaller scale. It stands to reason that the motion-control aspect is nearly non-existent.
The Flytefoam midsole works well for everyday use. While there’s a Gel unit under the heel, it doesn’t contribute much to the overall cushioning.
The rest of the shoe is functionally basic. A breathable mesh upper offers a snug fit that’s seamless and secure. Just know that the Gore-Tex membrane does not affect the upper fit versus the standard GT-1000 13.
Within Asics’s condensed assortment of trail running shoes, the Trabuco 13 tries hard to be a do-everything trail shoe.
Asics has re-designed the midsole on this model, so the Trabuco gets a softer ride. This also makes the Trabuco 13 a decent road-trail hybrid as well.
The Flytefoam Blast midsole is comfortable enough for long trail runs, while the Asicsgrip rubber offers trail-worthy traction. A flexible rock plate protects the foot from pointy rocks and roots.
The closed mesh and fused overlays make the Trabuco 13’s upper secure and protective on the trails. The Trabuco 13 is offered in both regular and waterproof (Gore-Tex) variants. Both versions share the same midsole and outsole, and have a price difference of $20.
Priced at $110, the Sonoma 8 GTX offers great value for money within Asics’s trail-running category. The waterproof Sonoma has all the functional bits that a basic trail running shoe needs.
A single-density Amplifoam EVA midsole (not Flytefoam) makes the Sonoma cushioned yet stable on the trail; a full rubber outsole with wide lug spacing provides reliable off-road traction.
The Gore-Tex upper blends the old with the new. We say that because the toe-bumper and heel are designed traditionally; they are stitched on instead of being fused. That being said, both construction methods achieve the same result. The layered upper protects and secures the foot on the trail.
How we selected
If there’s one thing that Asics is very good at, it’s consistency. The Kayano has been around for three decades, and both the Cumulus and Nimbus are over two decades old.
The same consistency also applies to Gore-Tex running shoes in their catalog. For example, a GTX version of the GT-1000 and Cumulus is always offered for sale, along with several others like the Gel-Sonoma and Trabuco.
Over the years, we’ve noticed that there’s a lag between the release dates of the regular (non-waterproof) models and their Gore-Tex versions. For example, the GTX version of the Cumulus 26 arrived nearly six months post-launch, and the waterproof version of the GT-2000 13 hasn’t even shown up yet.