ASICS Superblast 3 Review

Soft, springy do-it-all cushioning at a premium price

The ASICS Superblast 3 is the third version of the shoe that helped popularize the “super trainer” idea: a training shoe with the tall, high-quality foam of a race shoe but no carbon plate (a stiff sheet inside the sole that adds snap for racing). Without the plate, you can wear it every day instead of saving it for race morning. It sits near the top of ASICS’ running range, above everyday trainers like the Novablast and below the plated Metaspeed racers.

This third version is the biggest change yet, with a much softer, springier ride than the first two.

It is built for neutral runners, meaning people whose feet do not roll inward much when they land, and it works best for anyone running several times a week who wants lots of protection underfoot. If you run a couple of easy miles on weekends, it is more shoe (and more money) than you need.

Specs

Here are the specifications for the ASICS Superblast 3:

Pros

• Much softer and more forgiving than earlier Superblasts, so easy days feel easy on your legs
• Deep cushioning that protects your legs late in a long run
• Light for its size, so all that foam never feels like a brick on your foot
• Still gives a lively push when you pick up the pace, so one pair covers most of a training week
• Rubber under the front of the foot that scored top marks in a lab grip test

Cons

• Priced like a race shoe, which is a lot to spend on a pair you will wear out in training
• No wide version for people with broad feet
• So much foam that you feel almost nothing of the ground under you
• No built-in support, so it is not the answer if your feet roll inward a lot
• Cheaper cushioned trainers now come close for easy running

What is new versus the ASICS Superblast 2

The foam is the headline. The Superblast 2 used a firmer top foam called FF Turbo+, which gave it a snappy, bouncy but fairly hard feel. The Superblast 3 tops its midsole (the thick foam layer between your foot and the outsole) with FF LEAP, the softer, springier foam from ASICS’ Metaspeed race shoes, over a supportive base layer of FF BLAST PLUS. Your foot now sinks in a little and then springs back, where the old shoe pushed back right away.

It is also lighter. Independent lab measurements from RunRepeat put it at 8.3 ounces against 8.9 ounces for the older shoe. The upper is a new woven mesh.

What has not changed is the basic idea: a tall, plate-free shoe you can train in every day. If you loved the firm, fast feel of the Superblast 2, this version will feel quite different. If you found the old one too hard, this is the Superblast to try.

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Who should buy the ASICS Superblast 3

Buy the Superblast 3 if you want one shoe that does almost everything. It is soft enough for a slow recovery jog, protective enough for a two-hour long run and lively enough for a tempo session (a comfortably hard, sustained effort), which is a range few shoes cover well. If you would rather own one great pair than three specialist ones, this is a strong way to spend your money.

It is also a smart pick if you liked the idea of the earlier Superblasts but found them too firm. The softer foam changes the whole character of the shoe, and it is the version most likely to suit people who want comfort first.

Higher-mileage runners get the most out of it. The deep cushioning pays off late in long runs, when tired legs appreciate every bit of protection, and the light weight keeps it from feeling clumsy. Marathon and half-marathon trainees in particular will find it an easy shoe to live with through a long training block.

Who should probably skip it

Skip the Superblast 3 if you run a few easy miles a week. You would be paying a premium for a shoe built for heavy training, and a simpler cushioned trainer will feel just as good at a relaxed pace. It is also the wrong choice if your feet roll inward a lot, since it has no built-in support, or if you mainly want a shoe for walking and standing, where its tall, springy build is not the best use of the money. Here are three shoes that suit those readers better:

• Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25: a comfortable everyday trainer with gentle built-in support for feet that roll inward (check price | read review).
• Hoka Bondi 9: deep, plush cushioning and a rolling sole that suit long walks and days on your feet (check price | read review).
• ASICS Gel-Cumulus 28: a simpler, cheaper ASICS daily trainer for relaxed weekend miles (check price | read review).

How does the ASICS Superblast 3 fit?

The Superblast 3 feels secure and easy to wear, more like a comfortable daily trainer than a snug race shoe. Here is what to expect on sizing and how the upper feels.

Fit and sizing

Order your usual size. Most buyers find it true to size, though a few feel it runs very slightly long. RunRepeat’s lab measured the toe box (the front part of the shoe around your toes) as slightly narrow and fairly low, although other sources describe it as normal to roomy. If you have broad toes, try it on first.

ASICS sells it in a standard width only, so if you usually need a wide or extra-wide fitting, look elsewhere.

Upper and step-in comfort

The woven upper is light and wraps the foot comfortably, with no notable pressure points. The tongue has small holes punched through it to let some air in. Breathability is middle of the road, so it is comfortable in most weather without being a standout in real summer heat.

Step-in comfort is where the new foam shows up first: the softer landing is obvious from the first step, with little or no break-in needed.

How does the ASICS Superblast 3 perform?

This is a smooth, protective shoe that still has some pep, and that balance is what makes it special. It is at its best on steady and long runs, and it holds up better than you might expect when you speed up. Here is how it behaves.

Cushioning and ride

Underfoot it feels deep, soft and springy. The top foam compresses easily when you land and then bounces back, while the firmer foam underneath keeps the shoe from feeling mushy. Lab testing rates it as one of the better shoes around at soaking up the shock of each step, which is exactly what you want late in a long run.

The trade-off is ground feel. With this much foam, you are well cushioned from the road but you do not sense much of what is under you. Runners who like a close-to-the-ground, nimble shoe will find it a bit numb.

Ride and running performance

Because there is no plate, the shoe does not push you into a set rhythm, which is why it works across so many paces. On easy days the soft foam does the work. When you pick it up, the springy top layer and light weight keep it feeling quick rather than sluggish. The sole curves up at the front (a rocker shape), which helps your foot roll through each step, though the curve starts later than on many similar shoes.

It is not a race-day replacement for a plated marathon shoe, and serious racers will still want one of those. But as a single shoe for most of a training week, it is about as complete as this type of shoe gets.

Stability and support

This is a neutral shoe, but it feels steadier than you would expect from something this tall and soft. The firmer lower foam and the broad sole keep your foot from wobbling, and lab testing shows it resists twisting more than most shoes, even without a plate. That may suit runners whose feet roll inward only slightly.

It has no dedicated support features, though, and no shoe corrects the way you move. If your feet roll inward a lot, a stability shoe is the better fit, and it is worth seeing a professional if you have ongoing foot or knee pain.

Outsole, grip and durability

ASICS uses two rubbers in key zones: its grippy ASICSGRIP compound and a hard-wearing AHAR LO rubber. RunRepeat’s lab gave its forefoot traction the top score among the shoes it had tested at the time, which points to reliable grip on pavement. Some of the foam is left uncovered to save weight.

Durability should be solid for a shoe of this type. The usual 300-to-500-mile guideline is only a rough guide, and with soft foams like this one, the ride usually starts to feel flat before the rubber wears through. When the bounce fades, it is time for a new pair.

Is the ASICS Superblast 3 good for walking?

It is comfortable to walk in, but it is an expensive way to get a walking shoe. The deep, soft cushioning is kind to your feet on concrete, the removable insole makes room for an orthotic and the grippy rubber helps on sidewalks.

The downsides are the price and the design goal. This shoe is tuned for running, and its springy foam is wasted at walking pace. The late-starting rocker and tall stack also take some getting used to at a slow walking pace. If you already own a pair for running, wearing them for errands and travel is perfectly fine. If walking or standing all day is your main use, a plush walking-friendly shoe will serve you better for less.

ASICS Superblast 3 vs. Superblast 2

Here is how the two versions compare on the points that changed:

Buy the new model when you want a softer, more forgiving ride, or when easy days and long runs make up most of your training. Buy the previous model when you preferred the firmer, faster feel of the Superblast 2 and can still find it, since it remains a very good shoe and the difference is more about taste than quality. Our ASICS Superblast 2 review covers the older shoe.

ASICS Superblast 3 Alternatives

The ASICS Superblast 2 makes sense if you want the same plate-free idea for less money, since older versions tend to get marked down once a new one arrives. It is a little heavier and firmer, so check that the snappier feel suits you (check price | read review).

Runners who want a similar plate-free trainer at a lower price should compare the Saucony Endorphin Azura. It costs less, sits a little lower to the ground and has a firmer foam, which some people prefer for a more connected feel (check price | read review).

For a cheaper ASICS with a similar fun, bouncy character, the ASICS Novablast 6 is a strong choice. It has less foam underfoot, so long runs are where the Superblast earns its higher price (check price | read review).

And if you want maximum cushioning with a rolling feel that suits slower running, the Hoka Skyward X 2 fits that runner better. It is heavier and less springy, trading pace for an even more sheltered ride (check price | read review).

Price and value

The Superblast 3 launched in March 2026 and lists at $210 on ASICS’ US site, which puts it at the top end for a training shoe. For that you get race-shoe foam, deep cushioning, a light build and a shoe that genuinely covers most of your running. If it will be the pair you run in most days, that versatility makes the price easier to justify, since it can replace two or three specialist shoes. If it would be a second or third pair for occasional use, a cheaper cushioned trainer is the better value.

Final verdict

Best for: neutral runners who want one soft, protective and lively shoe for easy runs, long runs and some faster sessions.

Avoid if: you need a wide fitting, you need built-in support, you like to feel the ground or you only run a few easy miles a week.

Fit: true to size, sometimes very slightly long and standard width only.

Verdict: The ASICS Superblast 3 is the most comfortable and versatile Superblast yet. The softer foam makes it far friendlier on easy days without taking away its spring, and it stays steady despite all that cushioning. The price is the main thing to think about, but as an everyday workhorse it earns its place.

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Frequently Asked Questions for ASICS Superblast 3