The GEL-SLOWCUSH is for runners who want a soft ride on daily jogs and easy recovery runs. Max stack is about 48 mm, the thickest number in ASICS's cushioned lineup, released on Oct 8, 2026 at JPY 26,400. Standard width only.
The Shoe Nerd's top pick
Buy the GEL-SLOWCUSH as your shoe for “slow, long days.” The reason is the combination of stack and hard-wearing rubber. The stack is a thick ~48 mm, with the new PureGEL PLUS in the heel. The outsole rubber at the toe and heel is about 3 times more wear-resistant than before. At 500 km a month, my training shoes don't last two months, so I check rubber durability first, as much as stack.
Key points
- Max stack about 48 mm, 4.5 mm more than the GEL-NIMBUS 28 (about 43.5 mm)
- The PureGEL PLUS in the heel is about 20% lighter than the old PureGEL and limits side-to-side wobble on landing
- Standard width only. Sizes 22.5–29.0 cm plus 30.0 cm, 2 colors
When was the GEL-SLOWCUSH released? What's new?
Release date: Oct 8, 2026. You can buy it on the ASICS online store and at brand stores (excluding factory outlets). Price: JPY 26,400 (incl. tax, MSRP).
What's new is two midsole parts: a soft new foam, “FF LUXE PLUS,” and a new heel cushioning unit, “PureGEL PLUS.” The tagline is a “cloud-like landing.”
ASICS also has the GEL-NIMBUS 28 and the NIMBUS MIRAI 2. Below I line up how it differs from those two and from other brands' max-cushion shoes.
GEL-SLOWCUSH official numbers
| Item | GEL-SLOWCUSH |
|---|---|
| Release date | Oct 8, 2026 |
| Official price | JPY 26,400 |
| Max stack height | About 48 mm |
| Midsole foam | FF LUXE PLUS |
| Heel | PureGEL PLUS |
| Outsole rubber | HYBRID ASICSGRIP (ASICSGRIP+AHARPLUS) |
| Width | Standard only |
| Sizes | 22.5–29.0 cm (0.5 cm steps), 30.0 cm |
| Colors | 2 colors |
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
ASICS GEL-SLOWCUSH
Lowest price on Rakuten: JPY 26,400 (as of 10/13). Prices change daily. Try shoes in the evening, when your feet swell, with your usual socks. Sizing varies by brand, so check the shop's return and exchange terms before you buy.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaOne unisex model, in Soft Oat × Simply Taupe and Orange Glow × Cherry Tomato.
Why it can be called “soft as a cloud”: how it works
The PureGEL PLUS in the heel is a pattern of hexagons with gaps left between them.
Under load, the gaps collapse and fill in, and the foam stabilizes. It's a mechanism that tames the “bottoming-out” feel on landing. It sinks softly at first, then settles before it fully compresses.
This part is about 20% lighter than the old PureGEL. Weight is the worry with a thick shoe, so a lighter part under your foot clearly matters to the buyer.
The top layer, FF LUXE PLUS, is a foam with more energy return than FF LUXE. The aim is not just softness but a smooth roll all the way to toe-off.
How is it different from the NIMBUS 28, NIMBUS MIRAI 2 and NOVABLAST 6?
Scroll the table sideways →
| GEL-SLOWCUSH | GEL-NIMBUS 28 | NIMBUS MIRAI 2 | NOVABLAST 6 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max stack height | About 48 mm | About 43.5 mm | About 41 mm | About 41.5 mm |
| Official price | JPY 26,400 | JPY 22,000 | JPY 24,200 | JPY 17,600 |
| Width | Standard | Standard / wide options | Standard | Standard / wide |
| Release date | Oct 8, 2026 | Jan 2026 | Oct 15, 2026 | Jul 10, 2026 |
vs NIMBUS 28: 4.5 mm more stack (48 − 43.5) and JPY 4,400 more (26,400 − 22,000). Stack goes up about 10% (4.5 ÷ 43.5) while price goes up 20% (4,400 ÷ 22,000). Price rises faster than stack, so this is a shoe you pay for to get “the very top of softness.”
vs NIMBUS MIRAI 2: 7 mm more stack (48 − 41) and JPY 2,200 more (26,400 − 24,200). The MIRAI 2 put sugarcane-based materials and lightness up front. The GEL-SLOWCUSH leans toward stack and softness.
vs NOVABLAST 6: 6.5 mm more stack (48 − 41.5) and JPY 8,800 more (26,400 − 17,600). I'd call the NOVABLAST 6 a “bouncy” shoe and the GEL-SLOWCUSH a “cradling” one.
- You just want maximum stack and a soft ride → GEL-SLOWCUSH
- You need a wide width → GEL-NIMBUS 28 or NOVABLAST 6
- You want a cheaper everyday shoe → NOVABLAST 6
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 28
Lowest price on Rakuten is JPY 15,015 (as of 10/13), ranging up to JPY 25,300 depending on the shop. Prices change daily. Shoes are best tried on in the evening, when your feet swell, with your usual socks. Fit varies by brand, so check the return and exchange terms on the shop page before you buy.
RecommendedSee it on Super Sports XEBIOSee it on Rakuten IchibaSee it on Yahoo! Shopping Japanvs other brands' max-cushion shoes: SKY PRIME, Clifton 11, Cloudmonster 3
| Model | Thickest point | Price | Width |
|---|---|---|---|
| GEL-SLOWCUSH | About 48 mm | JPY 26,400 | Standard |
| Mizuno SKY PRIME | 47 mm (heel) | JPY 24,200 | 2E-equivalent |
| HOKA Clifton 11 | 42 mm (heel) | JPY 19,800 | Regular / wide / extra wide |
| On Cloudmonster 3 | 35 mm (heel) | JPY 24,200 | Regular / wide |
The closest rival is the Mizuno SKY PRIME, out in September. The stack gap is about 1 mm, and it's JPY 2,200 cheaper (26,400 − 24,200). The SKY PRIME gets its stability from a wider ground-contact area; the GEL-SLOWCUSH catches the sink with the PureGEL PLUS in the heel.
6 mm more than the Clifton 11 (48 − 42), a JPY 6,600 gap. The Clifton 11 comes in more widths.
What I like
On stack, it's the top of ASICS's cushioned lineup. About 48 mm is thicker than any of the three shoes compared here. A thick shoe spreads landing impact over a larger area, so it's an option for runners who want less stress on their feet.
Thick, but the weight is dealt with. The heel part was made about 20% lighter. The thicker the shoe, the more you notice weight at your feet, so cutting it here is a design that takes the runner's side.
The outsole is tough where it wears fastest. HYBRID ASICSGRIP combines two rubbers, and AHARPLUS is about 3 times more wear-resistant than the previous rubber (ASICS's own comparison). For a shoe you wear daily, this is what helps your wallet most.
The upper is gentle. The tongue is padded, so lace pressure doesn't reach the top of your foot as much. Breathable engineered mesh, and the insole is replaceable. The sold-separately insole 1173A029 fits it.
Things to watch
Standard width only. No wide version. If you usually wear ASICS wide, the GEL-NIMBUS 28 or NOVABLAST 6 will suit you better.
The most expensive of the 4 shoes compared. JPY 26,400 is 1.5 times the NOVABLAST 6 (26,400 ÷ 17,600 = 1.5). Whether you'll pay that much for softness is the deciding point.
Limited sales channels. You can buy it only on the ASICS online store and at brand stores. At release, it isn't on the shelves of sports shops nationwide.
Not a shoe for speed. It's meant for everyday running and active rest.
Who is it for?
- Good fit: Runners who want to do their daily jogs in a shoe from the softest end. Runners who want a shoe for slow long runs on days they're easing their legs, like the day after a hard session.
- Good fit: Runners who want both the stability of a thick shoe and a hard-wearing outsole in an everyday trainer.
If you need a wide width, the GEL-NIMBUS 28 or NOVABLAST 6 are other options.
Price and where to buy
| Model | Official price | Rakuten price range |
|---|---|---|
| GEL-SLOWCUSH | JPY 26,400 | JPY 26,400 |
| GEL-NIMBUS 28 | JPY 22,000 | JPY 15,015–25,300 |
Price per mm of stack: about JPY 550 for the GEL-SLOWCUSH (26,400 ÷ 48) and about JPY 506 for the GEL-NIMBUS 28 (22,000 ÷ 43.5). Per mm, the premium is only about 9% (550 ÷ 506).
Image: Rakuten Ichiba
ASICS GEL-SLOWCUSH
Lowest price on Rakuten: JPY 26,400 (as of 10/13). Prices change daily. Try shoes in the evening, when your feet swell, with your usual socks. Sizing varies by brand, so check the shop's return and exchange terms before you buy.
RecommendedSee it on Rakuten IchibaFAQ
When was the GEL-SLOWCUSH released?
Oct 8, 2026. It went on sale on the ASICS online store and at brand stores (excluding factory outlets). The price is JPY 26,400 (incl. tax).
GEL-SLOWCUSH vs GEL-NIMBUS 28: what's the difference?
Max stack is about 48 mm vs about 43.5 mm, and the price is JPY 26,400 vs JPY 22,000. The GEL-SLOWCUSH sits at the “softest end,” with a new foam and PureGEL PLUS in the heel. The NIMBUS 28 is the staple that comes in wide. If you have standard-width feet and want softness first, I'd go GEL-SLOWCUSH.
How does the GEL-SLOWCUSH fit?
Sizes are 22.5–29.0 cm in 0.5 cm steps plus 30.0 cm, standard width only. There's no wide version, so if your feet are on the wide side, check the GEL-NIMBUS 28 review or the NOVABLAST 6 review first. All of ASICS's new releases are in the ASICS 2026 new releases article.
