I Tried the New Asics Gel-Slowcush—Are These Max-Cushioned Sneakers Comfortable for Long Walks?

As someone who lives in the city and racks up plenty of steps on the daily, I’m always on the lookout for a pair of well-cushioned walking shoes. And of all the sneaker brands I’ve tested for so far (and I’ve tested a lot!), I’ve found that Asics makes some of the best. My latest go-to has been the Gel-Nimbus 28, a maximum-cushioned shoe built for easy paces—which was why when I heard that the brand recently dropped an even more cushioned sneaker, the Asics Gel-Slowcush, I immediately knew I had to try it out myself.

The new Gel-Slowcush is Asics’ most cushioned—and tallest—walking shoe yet. According to the brand, the neutral sneaker is “designed to help promote a smooth and mellow cushioning experience for everyday mileage, especially during recovery days,” with the help of an all-new foam and an upgraded version of the brand’s GEL cushioning. Translation? This is a maximum-cushioned shoe made for easy runs and recovery miles, focused on providing comfort with a super plush, cloud-like feel.

As someone who loves a well-cushioned shoe, I was curious whether these sneakers could truly keep my feet comfortable and pain-free throughout long days of walking in the city. After weeks of testing, here’s my honest review of the all-new Asics Gel-Slowcush sneakers—and whether they’re worth the buy.

Pros

• Soft and plush maximum cushioning
• Great impact absorption
• Soft, breathable engineered mesh upper
• Wide, stable base despite high stack
• Durable, grippy outsole

Cons

• Little energy return; not designed for fast paces
• Can feel heavy and bulky
• Currently not available in wide/narrow sizes, or many color options

How I tested

I spent about three weeks testing the Asics Gel-Slowcush. I mostly wore the sneakers on daily walks around New York City, including on strolls around my neighborhood and in the park, commutes on the subways, around the office, on errand runs, and other outings. While wearing them, I made sure to evaluate their fit, cushioning, stability, and overall performance and comfort.

Hannah Jeon

Fit and design

The Asics Gel-Slowcush comes in a wide range of sizes, accommodating size 5 all the way up to size 16.5 in women’s (3.5-15 in men’s sizes). I opted for this shoe in my regular size, size 7, and found it pretty true to size, with an all-around comfortable, secure fit and enough room for my toes to splay comfortably. The engineered mesh upper felt super soft and breathable—I especially appreciated the thin, stretchy knit gusseted tongue, which felt like it wrapped softly across the top of my foot without feeling too bulky or restrictive.

This shoe also has an OrthoLite sockliner that features cushioning and moisture management to help keep your feet cool and dry, along with a rear pull tab at the back—something I really appreciate in Asics sneakers, as it makes it super easy to slip the shoes on without having to re-tie the laces.

I also really liked the style and color of these sneakers. Right now, they’re only available at the Asics website in a clean, earthy beige color called “Soft Oat/Simply Taupe,” though an “Orange Glow/Cherry Tomato” colorway is also available at other retailers. Asics also tells us that they’ll have a third color, a “Pewter Fog,” coming soon in November.

Hannah Jeon

Hannah Jeon

Cushioning and feel

When Asics says the Gel-Slowcush has maximum cushioning, they mean maximum—this shoe boasts a towering stack height of 48mm in the heel and 40mm in the forefoot with an all-new foam cushioning named FF Luxe Plus. It’s designed to provide a plush landing experience that resembles a “soft, cloud-like sensation,” and superior shock absorption, while weighing 20% less than the prior version.

Needless to say, the sneakers felt super plush and soft underfoot, like I was walking with soft (yet somehow still supportive) pillows strapped to my feet. Despite their pillowy soft feel, they never felt overly squishy or like I was sinking into the shoe.

However, the thick, heavy amount of foam definitely took some getting used to. I’ve tried max-cushioned shoes before, but this one truly felt like a monster amount of cushioning with its towering stack height—even more so than Hoka shoes, which are famously known for their maximalist cushioning. While wearing these shoes, I’m almost two inches taller (which is actually a welcome positive for me, as someone who is on the shorter side!)—but it also made them feel less grounded and a little clunky at times. In fact, the first few times I wore these shoes, the thick heel would sometimes catch on the ground and drag as I walked.

That being said, the Gel-Slowcush is definitely extremely comfortable to walk in, once you get used to its tall height and cushioning. The thick, cushioned foam made for a very soft and plush feel, always keeping my feet protected and pain-free—even after several hours of walking on hard, unforgiving concrete.

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Hannah Jeon

Hannah Jeon

Performance and stability

Despite the massive cushioning and stack height of these shoes, I found the Asics Gel-Slowcush to feel surprisingly stable—it never felt like my feet were wobbling or rolling inward while walking. I credit the shoe’s wide base, along with raised sidewalls that help securely cradle your feet inside the shoe. Additionally, I found these shoes to have great traction across concrete, sidewalks, and uneven pavement with their durable, grippy outsole.

The Gel-Slowcush sneakers are also designed with slight rocker geometry, which helped move me forward and create smooth heel-to-toe transitions when I walked at an easy, relaxed pace. However, they were definitely not ideal for faster paces—a limitation I expected from such a tall, max-cushioned shoe. I tend to walk pretty quickly, especially when commuting (I’m a New Yorker, after all!), and at my usual pace, the shoes did not feel like they had enough energy return and lacked the springy and snappy feel that I enjoy to propel me forward in my stride.

Hannah Jeon

Hannah Jeon

The bottom line

Overall, I give the Asics Gel-Slowcush high marks for its super plush, cloud-like cushioning. These sneakers seriously feel like thick, cushioned pillows for my feet, providing great impact absorption to keep my feet and joints protected and comfortable on long walks. That being said, the towering 48mm heel stack made these shoes feel clunky on my feet at times—and all that heavy, thick cushioning doesn’t make them feel light or snappy enough for faster paces.

I’d recommend the Gel-Slowcush for those looking for a super comfortable, max-cushioned sneaker for slow and easy paces, recovery days, or long days spent on your feet. It’s a great fit—and well worth the price—if comfort, cushioning, and impact protection are your priorities. However, if you want a lightweight, responsive shoe for faster walks or runs—or if you prefer a more nimble, grounded feel in your sneakers—this probably isn’t the shoe for you. The Gel-Slowcush isn’t built to help you push the pace or run faster; on the contrary, it’s designed to help you slow things down, and feel comfortable doing it.

Personally, this pair won’t be my go-to for daily commutes, as I tend to walk pretty quickly and prefer a lighter, more springy shoe that can keep up with the fast pace of the city. But, I’ll definitely be lacing them up whenever I want to take a slow, relaxed stroll through the park, or on days when I know I’ll be on my feet for hours. For those slower days, I know the Asics Gel-Slowcush will keep my feet feeling comfortable, protected, and pain-free for hours.

Shop the Asics Gel-Slowcush Now

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