Asics Midsole Foam Guide: FF Blast, FF Blast Max, FF Leap and More Explained

Last Updated on September 9, 2026

If all those names sound confusing, you are not alone. Asics has several types of cushioning, and names such as FF Blast Max, FF Turbo Squared and FF Leap do not tell the average shopper much about how a shoe will actually feel. The good news is that you do not need to understand foam chemistry.

The midsole is simply the thick cushioning layer between your foot and the bottom of the shoe. Changing the material in that layer can make a shoe feel softer, firmer, lighter or more springy.

For most runners and walkers, the important question is not “Which foam is the most advanced?” It is “Which one will feel best for the way I use my shoes?”

Asics currently lists FF Blast, FF Blast Plus, FF Blast Max, FF Turbo Plus, FF Turbo Squared and FF Leap as its main FlyteFoam types.

This guide explains what each one feels like, which shoes use it and which technologies most walkers can safely ignore.

Which Asics Foam Is Best?

Most people do not need to compare every foam Asics makes. If you walk for exercise, spend hours on your feet or mix walking with some easy running, three types cover most needs.

The biggest difference is feel. FF Blast is the more straightforward option. FF Blast Plus is used in softer comfort shoes. FF Blast Max adds more spring and is common in shoes designed to feel more energetic.

If you mainly walk, start there before worrying about the faster FF Turbo or FF Leap foams.

Best Current Asics Shoes for Walkers and Casual Runners

If you would rather choose a shoe than study foam names, this is the easier way to shop.

These are all current models in the 2026 Asics U.S. lineup.

Current Asics Foams Explained

The easiest way to understand Asics cushioning is to think of it as a range.

At one end are everyday foams made for comfort and normal training. At the other end are lighter and bouncier materials designed for runners who care about speed.

That does not mean the expensive foam is automatically better.

A racing foam can be less useful for walking than a simpler material because it was designed for a completely different job.

The shoe around the foam also matters. The amount of cushioning, width of the base, shape of the sole and support system can all change how a shoe feels.

That is why two shoes using FF Blast Max can feel very different.

FF Blast: Balanced and More Grounded

FF Blast sits near the everyday end of the Asics lineup.

It gives you cushioning and some bounce without making the shoe especially soft or springy. This can be a good thing if you dislike shoes that feel too squishy.

The current Asics GT-1000 15 uses FF Blast along with the 3D Guidance System, which adds support for people who benefit from a stability shoe.

The men’s GT-1000 15 weighs 9.8 ounces and has an 8 mm heel-to-toe drop.

For walking, FF Blast is a good starting point if you want cushioning but still like to feel planted on the ground.

It can also work well for gym use, errands and shorter fitness walks.

Choose FF Blast when you want comfort without a very soft ride.

Check latest price for the Asics GT-1000 15

FF Blast Plus: Soft and Comfortable

FF Blast Plus moves more toward comfort.

It is lighter and bouncier than standard FF Blast, but the main reason many walkers will notice it is the softer feel.

The current Asics Gel-Nimbus 28 is the best example.

It uses FF Blast Plus for its main cushioning and adds PureGel under the heel. Asics lists the men’s shoe at 9.9 ounces with an 8 mm drop. It is about 20 grams lighter than the Gel-Nimbus 27.

For someone who walks on pavement, concrete or hard floors for hours, this type of cushioning may feel more comfortable than a firmer shoe.

The Gel-Kayano 33 also uses FF Blast Plus, but combines it with FF Blast Max and a stability system.

Choose FF Blast Plus when soft cushioning and everyday comfort are your main priorities.

Check latest price for the Asics Gel-Nimbus 28

FF Blast Max: Cushioned With More Bounce

FF Blast Max is also comfortable, but Asics designed it to feel more springy.

Do not let the word “Max” confuse you. It does not simply mean “the most cushioning.” It is the name of a particular foam.

The Asics Gel-Cumulus 28 uses FF Blast Max as its main cushioning. The men’s version weighs 9.1 ounces and has an 8 mm drop.

The Asics Novablast 6 also uses FF Blast Max, but adds a piece of FF Turbo Squared foam under the front of the foot to make the shoe feel even bouncier. It weighs 8.9 ounces and also has an 8 mm drop.

The GT-2000 15 puts FF Blast Max into a stability shoe. Asics also made the foam softer and added 2 mm more cushioning than the previous version.

That is a good example of why the foam name alone does not tell you exactly how a shoe will feel.

Choose FF Blast Max when you want plenty of cushioning but prefer a shoe that feels a little more lively.

Check latest price for the Gel-Cumulus 28 | Check latest price for the Novablast 6

FF Turbo Plus: Made for Racing

FF Turbo Plus moves well beyond normal walking needs.

It is a lightweight foam designed for racing and faster running.

The current Asics Metaspeed Sky Tokyo and Metaspeed Edge Tokyo use FF Turbo Plus together with FF Leap and a carbon plate.

The Sky Tokyo places FF Leap underneath FF Turbo Plus and is designed for runners who tend to increase speed by taking longer strides. The Edge Tokyo reverses the foam arrangement and is aimed at runners who increase their step rate. Both have a 5 mm drop and weigh about 6 ounces.

That sounds impressive, but most walkers will gain little from paying for it.

You are paying for low weight, racing materials and a design built around running fast.

FF Turbo Plus is worth knowing about if you race. Otherwise, it can safely stay off your walking-shoe shopping list.

FF Turbo Squared: Extra Bounce for Faster Running

FF Turbo Squared is another foam aimed much more at runners than walkers.

The simplest way to describe it is bounce.

The Asics Megablast uses FF Turbo Squared through its midsole. Asics lists it at 8.1 ounces with an 8 mm drop and describes it as one of its bounciest trainers.

The Asics Sonicblast 2 combines FF Blast Max with FF Turbo Squared and adds another FF Turbo Squared section under the forefoot.

The Novablast 6 uses a smaller piece of FF Turbo Squared under the front of the foot rather than building the entire shoe around it.

For walkers, there is no strong reason to seek this foam out.

For runners who like a very springy shoe, it becomes much more interesting.

FF Leap: Very Light Foam for Serious Running

FF Leap sits at the high-performance end of the current Asics foam range.

Asics describes it as its lightest and bounciest FlyteFoam to date.

The current Asics Superblast 3 uses FF Leap cushioning. Despite being a highly cushioned shoe, it weighs only 8.4 ounces and has an 8 mm drop.

FF Leap also appears in the Metaspeed Sky Tokyo and Edge Tokyo racing shoes alongside FF Turbo Plus.

For most walkers, FF Leap is unnecessary.

Its main value is allowing Asics to build highly cushioned running shoes without making them excessively heavy.

That matters when you are running long distances or racing. It matters much less when you are walking around the neighborhood or spending a day on your feet.

What Is PureGel?

PureGel is not another midsole foam. Instead, Asics places it in a particular part of a shoe to add extra cushioning. Think of the main foam as the mattress and PureGel as an extra cushion placed where Asics wants more softness.

The Gel-Nimbus 28 is a good example. Its main midsole uses FF Blast Plus, while PureGel is placed in the heel.

The Gel-Kayano 33 also combines rearfoot PureGel with its FF Blast Plus and FF Blast Max midsole.

Asics says PureGel is about 65% softer than its older standard Gel technology.

This explains an important point about Asics shoe names.

When you see “Gel” in Gel-Nimbus or Gel-Kayano, it does not mean the entire cushioning system is made from gel.

Most of the cushioning still comes from foam.

FF Blast Plus vs. FF Blast Max

This is probably the most useful Asics foam comparison for everyday shoppers.

Both can provide plenty of cushioning. The difference is the type of ride Asics is trying to create.

FF Blast Plus appears in the Gel-Nimbus 28, where the focus is soft, comfortable cushioning. FF Blast Max appears in the Gel-Cumulus 28, where the ride is still cushioned but feels more lively.

Here is the simple comparison.

Neither foam is automatically better.

If you mostly walk and like a relaxed, cushioned feel, start with FF Blast Plus.

If you mix walking and running or simply prefer more spring underfoot, FF Blast Max may suit you better.

Older Asics Foams You May Still See

Older Asics shoes do not disappear when a new model arrives.

You will often find them online at lower prices, and some still use cushioning names that have disappeared from the newest models.

That does not make an older shoe a bad buy.

In fact, last year’s model can sometimes offer better value if the fit and cushioning still suit you.

What matters is knowing when you are looking at older technology so you can compare it fairly with a current shoe.

FF Blast Plus Eco

FF Blast Plus Eco appeared in previous-generation models such as the Gel-Nimbus 27 and Novablast 4.

The “Eco” part refers mainly to the materials used to make the foam, including bio-based content.

For shoppers, the important part is simpler: it remains a soft cushioning foam closely related to FF Blast Plus.

If you see a Gel-Nimbus 27 heavily discounted, there is no reason to reject it simply because the Nimbus 28 uses a newer foam setup.

FF Blast Turbo

FF Blast Turbo was used in older Asics racing shoes such as the Metaspeed Sky+ and Metaspeed Edge+.

Current Metaspeed Tokyo shoes have moved to FF Leap and FF Turbo Plus.

This matters mostly to serious runners comparing racing shoes.

For walkers, FF Blast Turbo is not a technology worth actively looking for.

Original FlyteFoam

FlyteFoam is the older technology that led to the current Asics foam family.

Asics first introduced FlyteFoam in 2016.

You may still see the name on older models.

Compared with current Asics shoes, those models may feel firmer or less springy, although the complete shoe design still matters.

Amplifoam+

Amplifoam+ is separate from the current FlyteFoam family.

It appears in more affordable Asics shoes such as the Gel-Contend 9.

The men’s Gel-Contend 9 weighs 9.7 ounces, has an 8 mm drop and combines Amplifoam+ with Gel cushioning.

It does not offer the same light, bouncy feel as Asics’ premium foams.

For errands, casual walking and everyday wear, that may not matter at all.

If price is more important than having the newest cushioning technology, this type of shoe can make good sense.

Which Asics Foam Should You Choose?

The easiest way to choose is to stop thinking about the technology names and think about what you want the shoe to feel like.

If soft comfort matters most, start with FF Blast Plus.

If you want cushioning with more bounce, look at FF Blast Max.

If you like a more grounded feel or want a less expensive stability shoe, FF Blast may be enough.

The faster FF Turbo and FF Leap foams only become important when running performance becomes one of your main goals.

The shoe itself still matters more than the name of the foam. A stability system, wider base, rocker shape or different amount of cushioning can completely change the ride.

Use this table as a starting point.

Current Asics Shoes by Foam Type

Here is another way to compare the current lineup.

Asics Shoe Specs Compared

Technical specifications can help, but do not let them become the main reason you choose a shoe.

Weight tells you roughly how heavy the shoe will feel.

Drop is the difference in height between the heel and front of the shoe. A larger number means your heel sits higher above your toes. See more shoe drop info.

Support tells you whether the shoe is neutral or designed to give your foot more guidance.

Notice that many of these shoes have the same 8 mm drop. They still feel very different. That is because foam is only one part of shoe design. The amount of cushioning, shape of the sole, width, support system and fit can matter just as much. For that reason, use the foam name as a clue about how a shoe may feel, not as the only reason to buy it.

Frequently Asked Questions