Gel Cumulus 28

The ride here is soft and unfussy rather than springy. There is no plate and no aggressive rocker, so what you get is honest cushioning that settles into a smooth, rolling feel once you are a few minutes in. At easy and steady paces it is exactly what a daily trainer should be: protective, quiet underfoot and happy to disappear so you can think about anything but your shoes. Push the pace and it does not come alive the way a tempo shoe would. The high drop and the weight mean it rewards a relaxed, heel-led stride more than a quick forefoot turnover. Hold it to its job, easy to moderate running, and it feels effortless. Ask it to sprint and it feels like what it is, a comfortable trainer doing you a favour.

Cushioning is the whole point of the Cumulus, and the 28 delivers a soft, well-judged stack that protects your legs over distance without tipping into the marshmallow softness of a true max-cushion shoe. The 42.8mm heel gives you plenty of material at the back, where the gel cushioning quietens heavy heel landings, while the 29.5mm forefoot keeps a bit more ground feel up front. The result is a ride that feels deep and forgiving on long easy runs yet stable enough that you never feel perched on top of it. If you want the next step up in plushness, the Gel Nimbus 28 is the softer, taller sibling. For most runners the Cumulus hits the cushioning sweet spot for daily mileage.

This is a neutral shoe, not a stability shoe, so there are no medial posts or guide rails working to correct your gait. That said, it is one of the more inherently steady neutral trainers out there. The wide, flat base and the high heel give you a planted, secure platform that does not wobble, and mild overpronators often get on fine with it even without dedicated support. If you have been told you need genuine stability, or you notice your arches collapsing on tired long runs, this is not a substitute for a proper support shoe like the Gel Kayano. But for neutral runners and gentle pronators who simply want a trainer that stays calm and predictable under fatigue, the Cumulus 28 is reassuringly stable for its class.

The upper is built for comfort first. An engineered mesh wraps the foot with a soft, broken-in feel from the very first run, so there is little to no break-in period and minimal hot-spot risk. The padded tongue and well-cushioned heel collar give a plush, secure hold without pinching, and the lacing lets you dial in lockdown without pressure across the top of the foot. Breathability is decent for year-round UK running, though the generous padding means it leans a little warm in peak summer rather than running hot or cold. It is a forgiving, friendly upper that prioritises all-day comfort over a locked-in race feel, which is exactly right for the easy and steady miles this shoe is made for.