ASICS GEL-EXCITE 11 vs GEL-CUMULUS 28

Which Running Shoe Is Better?

Products

ASICS GEL-EXCITE 11
ASICS GEL-CUMULUS 28

Tested using Methodology v0.15

Updated Sep 03, 2026 03:33 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon

Tested using Methodology v0.13

Updated Sep 02, 2026 05:28 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon
ASICS GEL-EXCITE 11 Picture

Track

ASICS GEL-CUMULUS 28 Picture

Track

Our Verdict

ASICS GEL-EXCITE 11

ASICS GEL-CUMULUS 28

The ASICS GEL-CUMULUS 28 is a slightly better daily trainer than the ASICS GEL-EXCITE 11, but the cost-to-performance gains aren't worth it. Both offer adequate shock absorption and amazing security underfoot, while the CUMULUS 28 is a bit smoother through stride. It's also less bulky, though it's still not a nimble shoe by a stretch. However, it costs significantly more and isn't as protective over long runs, so if you don't mind the extra heft of the GEL-EXCITE 11, we advise getting that shoe instead.

0 

Variants

  • GEL-EXCITE 11 (Aurora Green/Black - (Men - US 9))
  • GEL-EXCITE 11 (Black/Carrier Grey - (Men - US 9))
  • GEL-CUMULUS 28 (Arctic Blue/Aegean Blue - (Men - US 9))
  • GEL-CUMULUS 28 (Black/Aegean Blue - (Women - US 7))
Read more

Main Differences for
Half/Full Marathon Racing

Threshold 

0.10

Half/Full Marathon Racing 
 

6.2
6.4

Weight  

4.8
6.2

Forefoot Compression Energy Return 
 

2.9
1.3

Full Comparison

Design

Weight  

4.8
6.2

Right Shoe Weight Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
ASICS GEL-EXCITE 11 Right Shoe Weight Photo
Compare High-Res
ASICS GEL-CUMULUS 28 Right Shoe Weight Photo

Left Shoe Weight Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
ASICS GEL-EXCITE 11 Left Shoe Weight Photo
Compare High-Res
ASICS GEL-CUMULUS 28 Left Shoe Weight Photo

Weight 
 

290.1 g (10.23 oz)
255.7 g (9.02 oz)

Stack Heights 
 

Stack Height Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
ASICS GEL-EXCITE 11 Stack Height Photo
Compare High-Res
ASICS GEL-CUMULUS 28 Stack Height Photo

Heel Stack Height 
 

40.2 mm
41.4 mm

Forefoot Stack Height 
 

32.3 mm
29.7 mm

Heel-To-Toe Drop 
 

7.9 mm
11.7 mm

Advertised Heel-To-Toe Drop 
 

8.0 mm
8.0 mm

External Shape 
 

3D Model Full Shoe  

Preview 3D
ASICS GEL-EXCITE 11 3D Model Full Shoe
Preview 3D
ASICS GEL-CUMULUS 28 3D Model Full Shoe

Outsole Heel Width 
 

100 mm (3.9")
96 mm (3.8")

Outsole Arch Width 
 

83 mm (3.3")
79 mm (3.1")

Outsole Forefoot Width 
 

117 mm (4.6")
116 mm (4.6")

Heel Width-To-Stack Ratio 
 

2.54
2.32

Forefoot Width-To-Stack Ratio 
 

3.62
3.90

Internal Shape 
 

3D Model Internal  

Preview 3D
ASICS GEL-EXCITE 11 3D Model Internal
Preview 3D
ASICS GEL-CUMULUS 28 3D Model Internal

Internal Length 
 

276 mm (10.9")
285 mm (11.2")

Internal Heel Width 
 

62 mm (2.4")
67 mm (2.6")

Internal Forefoot Width 
 

94 mm (3.7")
94 mm (3.7")

Wide Sizing Available 
 

Yes
Yes

Forefoot Fit: Width 
 

9.5
9.4

Forefoot Width Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
ASICS GEL-EXCITE 11 Forefoot Width Photo
Compare High-Res
ASICS GEL-CUMULUS 28 Forefoot Width Photo

Ball-Of-Foot TTS Deviation 
 

2.5 mm (0.100")
1.6 mm (0.062")

Toe TTS Deviation 
 

-0.7 mm (-0.028")
-2.2 mm (-0.086")

Forefoot Fit: Height 
 

6.4
9.0

Forefoot Height Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
ASICS GEL-EXCITE 11 Forefoot Height Photo
Compare High-Res
ASICS GEL-CUMULUS 28 Forefoot Height Photo

Toe TTS Deviation 
 

-4.3 mm (-0.169")
-1.5 mm (-0.061")

Arch Fit: Width 
 

8.9
9.6

Arch Fit Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
ASICS GEL-EXCITE 11 Arch Fit Photo
Compare High-Res
ASICS GEL-CUMULUS 28 Arch Fit Photo

Arch Width TTS Deviation 
 

-2.1 mm (-0.081")
-0.9 mm (-0.037")

Length Fit 
 

10
10

Toe Clearance Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
ASICS GEL-EXCITE 11 Toe Clearance Photo
Compare High-Res
ASICS GEL-CUMULUS 28 Toe Clearance Photo

Heel Rocker Geometry 
 

6.6
8.1

Heel Rocker Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
ASICS GEL-EXCITE 11 Heel Rocker Photo
Compare High-Res
ASICS GEL-CUMULUS 28 Heel Rocker Photo

Heel Spring 
 

20 mm (0.8")
27 mm (1.1")

Heel Apex Position 
 

26.6%
22.0%

Heel Rocker Angle 
 

14.6°
22.6°

Forefoot Rocker Geometry 
 

7.3
7.8

Forefoot Rocker Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
ASICS GEL-EXCITE 11 Forefoot Rocker Photo
Compare High-Res
ASICS GEL-CUMULUS 28 Forefoot Rocker Photo

Toe Spring 
 

50 mm (2.0")
55 mm (2.2")

Toe Apex Position 
 

58.6%
62.7%

Forefoot Rocker Angle 
 

22.6°
26.6°

Foam 
 

Primary Foam Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
ASICS GEL-EXCITE 11 Primary Foam Picture
Compare High-Res
ASICS GEL-CUMULUS 28 Primary Foam Picture

Secondary Foam Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
ASICS GEL-EXCITE 11 Secondary Foam Picture
Compare High-Res
ASICS GEL-CUMULUS 28 Secondary Foam Picture

Primary Foam Name 
 

AMPLIFOAM™ PLUS

Primary Foam Name 
 

FF BLAST MAX

Primary Foam Type 
 

EVA
POE

Secondary Foam Name 
 

N/A

Secondary Foam Name 
 

No Secondary Foam

Secondary Foam Type 
 

No Secondary Foam
No Secondary Foam

Laces 
 

Laces Picture  

ASICS GEL-EXCITE 11 Laces Picture

Lace Type 
 

Round

Width 
 

5.0 mm (0.2")

Thickness 
 

2.5 mm (0.1")

Stretch 
 

10.0%

Other Features  

Other Features Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
ASICS GEL-EXCITE 11 Other Features Photo
Compare High-Res
ASICS GEL-CUMULUS 28 Other Features Photo

Tongue Gusset Type 
 

Non-gusseted
Fully-gusseted

Plate 
 

None
None
Performance

Heel Compression Energy Return 
 

2.0
1.6

Heel Compression Video  

Heel Energy Return  

 Preview Graph
ASICS GEL-EXCITE 11 Heel Energy Return
 Preview Graph
ASICS GEL-CUMULUS 28 Heel Energy Return

Heel Energy Return 
 

67.8%
66.9%

Forefoot Compression Energy Return 
 

2.9
1.3

Forefoot Compression Video  

Forefoot Energy Return  

 Preview Graph
ASICS GEL-EXCITE 11 Forefoot Energy Return
 Preview Graph
ASICS GEL-CUMULUS 28 Forefoot Energy Return

Forefoot Energy Return 
 

69.4%
66.0%

Heel Cushioning 
 

7.2
7.1

Heel Cushioning Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
ASICS GEL-EXCITE 11 Heel Cushioning Picture
Compare High-Res
ASICS GEL-CUMULUS 28 Heel Cushioning Picture

Heel Cushioning  

 Preview Graph
ASICS GEL-EXCITE 11 Heel Cushioning
 Preview Graph
ASICS GEL-CUMULUS 28 Heel Cushioning

Energy Absorbed At 550N 
 

2.76 J
3.23 J

Energy Absorbed At 1100N 
 

9.24 J
8.79 J

Energy Absorbed At 1900N 
 

16.35 J
15.24 J

Forefoot Cushioning 
 

6.7
6.7

Forefoot Cushioning Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
ASICS GEL-EXCITE 11 Forefoot Cushioning Picture
Compare High-Res
ASICS GEL-CUMULUS 28 Forefoot Cushioning Picture

Forefoot Cushioning  

 Preview Graph
ASICS GEL-EXCITE 11 Forefoot Cushioning
 Preview Graph
ASICS GEL-CUMULUS 28 Forefoot Cushioning

Energy Absorbed At 800N 
 

3.84 J
3.95 J

Energy Absorbed At 1300N 
 

7.10 J
7.11 J

Energy Absorbed At 2050N 
 

10.91 J
10.95 J

Heel Firmness 
 

9.0
8.7

Heel Firmness Graph  

 Preview Graph
ASICS GEL-EXCITE 11 Heel Firmness Graph
 Preview Graph
ASICS GEL-CUMULUS 28 Heel Firmness Graph

Firmness At 550N 
 

59.2 N/mm
51.1 N/mm

Firmness At 1100N 
 

63.2 N/mm
61.8 N/mm

Firmness At 1900N 
 

85.1 N/mm
85.4 N/mm

Forefoot Firmness 
 

9.4
9.4

Forefoot Firmness Graph  

 Preview Graph
ASICS GEL-EXCITE 11 Forefoot Firmness Graph
 Preview Graph
ASICS GEL-CUMULUS 28 Forefoot Firmness Graph

Firmness At 800N 
 

77.9 N/mm
76.6 N/mm

Firmness At 1300N 
 

96.6 N/mm
96.0 N/mm

Firmness At 2050N 
 

130 N/mm
129 N/mm

Forefoot Long Run Cushioning 
 

6.2
6.0

Forefoot Long Run Cushioning  

 Preview Graph
ASICS GEL-EXCITE 11 Forefoot Long Run Cushioning
 Preview Graph
ASICS GEL-CUMULUS 28 Forefoot Long Run Cushioning

Energy Absorbed At 10km 
 

6.81 J
6.57 J

Energy Absorbed At 20km 
 

6.66 J
6.38 J

Energy Absorbed At 30km 
 

6.56 J
6.28 J

Energy Absorbed At 40km 
 

6.50 J
6.21 J

Rocker Stiffness 
 

5.7
7.6

Forefoot Rocker Stiffness Video  

Forefoot Rocker Stiffness Graph  

 Preview Graph
ASICS GEL-EXCITE 11 Forefoot Rocker Stiffness Graph
 Preview Graph
ASICS GEL-CUMULUS 28 Forefoot Rocker Stiffness Graph

Force To Flatten The Rocker 
 

55 N
104 N

Forefoot Bending Energy Return 
 

3.4
4.3

Forefoot Bending Video  

Forefoot Bending Energy Return  

 Preview Graph
ASICS GEL-EXCITE 11 Forefoot Bending Energy Return
 Preview Graph
ASICS GEL-CUMULUS 28 Forefoot Bending Energy Return

Forefoot Bending Energy Return 
 

51.3%
54.4%

Forefoot Bending Stiffness 
 

7.8
6.4

Forefoot Bending Resistance Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
ASICS GEL-EXCITE 11 Forefoot Bending Resistance Picture
Compare High-Res
ASICS GEL-CUMULUS 28 Forefoot Bending Resistance Picture

Forefoot Bending Resistance  

 Preview Graph
ASICS GEL-EXCITE 11 Forefoot Bending Resistance
 Preview Graph
ASICS GEL-CUMULUS 28 Forefoot Bending Resistance

Forefoot Bending Stiffness 
 

14.1 N/mm
8.1 N/mm

Forefoot Bending Force 
 

378 N
268 N

Heel Compression Depth 
 

4.9

Heel Compression Graph  

 Preview Graph
ASICS GEL-EXCITE 11 Heel Compression Graph

Heel Compression At 550N 
 

9.3 mm

Heel Compression At 1100N 
 

17.4 mm

Heel Compression At 1900N 
 

22.3 mm

Forefoot Compression Depth 
 

4.6

Forefoot Compression Graph  

 Preview Graph
ASICS GEL-EXCITE 11 Forefoot Compression Graph

Forefoot Compression At 800N 
 

10.3 mm

Forefoot Compression At 1300N 
 

13.5 mm

Forefoot Compression At 2050N 
 

15.8 mm

ASICS GEL-EXCITE 11

ASICS GEL-CUMULUS 28

Comments

  1. Comparison

ASICS GEL-EXCITE 11 vs ASICS GEL-CUMULUS 28: Main Discussion

What do you think of these products? Let us know below.


Looking for a personalized buying advice from the RTINGS.com experts? Members have direct access to buying advice on our member forum.

PreviewBack to editorFormat guide
No comments yet, refresh to see new ones