Asics SuperBlast 3 Review: For more long runs

Japanese sportswear maker Asics has introduced a new variant to its Blast series: the SuperBlast 3. I’ve been wearing it for a week now during my jogging and running sessions and it’s quickly become one of my favourite trainers.

The SuperBlast line is renowned for its max-cushion trainers offering just enough energy return to keep things interesting. With the third iteration Asics has simply refined this formula to a genuinely exciting territory.

What’s new

With this shoe, Asics has changed the tech under your foot. It has swapped out the FF Turbo Plus foam for FF Leap, which is layered on top of a base of FF Blast Plus for durability and ground stability. You can feel the upgrade almost immediately in your first run.

The stack height has grown slightly to 46.5mm, up 1.5mm from the previous version. Despite that, the shoe comes is impressively light for this much cushion. The upper gets a thoughtful refresh too, with an engineered woven construction, a gusseted tongue, and a new lacing system that gives the toe box noticeably better stretch and room. On the road, these changes are hard to miss.

Out on the run

This shoe will make you notice how how quiet the effort feels. The FF Leap foam has a lively, springy quality that rewards every push-off in a way that the shoe seems to absorb the toll that long kilometres typically take on your legs. Fatigue arrives later than expected.

The lockdown is excellent. Despite the roomy toe box, the heel and mid-foot feel dialled in without any pressure points or hot spots. After 30-40 minutes on the road, you’re not thinking about your shoes at all.

The FF Leap foam provides an expressive energy return, making the ride bouncy and fun. This translates into a meditative rhythm for long steady-effort runs, encouraging you to maintain it kilometre after kilometre. It’s the kind of shoe that motivates your cardio-vascular system to work harder while barely feeling heavy in your knees.

Versatility is another strong suit. Whether you’re a heel striker, a mid-foot runner, or somewhere in between, the SuperBlast 3 accommodates your gait without fuss. It doesn’t demand a particular style. Runners of all levels will find something to love here.

A few trade-offs worth noting

No shoe is without compromise, and the SuperBlast 3 is honest about its own. The softer foam and increased stack do reduce stability slightly, particularly through sharper corners or lateral movements. If your routes involve tight turns or technical terrain, you’ll notice it wants to stay on straight lines.

There’s also a subtle change in ride character that fans of the SuperBlast 2 should be aware of. The new version is a touch squishier and slightly louder underfoot — a byproduct of the softer foam and taller stack. It’s not a dealbreaker by any means, but if you loved the firmer, more planted feel of the previous model, this one does feel like a different shoe in that respect.

Who is this for?

The SuperBlast 3 was built for one thing above all else: making long runs better. And it delivers on that in a way few shoes in this category currently can. If you regularly run distances where comfort and energy return matter more than precision and race-day sharpness, this belongs in your rotation.

It’s also worth noting how well it performs relative to its competition. At this stack height and weight, there aren’t many shoes that feel this agile. Asics has found a balance that’s genuinely difficult to pull off.

For runners who lived in the SuperBlast 2 and prized its firmer, more stable ride, it may be worth picking up a pair of the older model while stock lasts. But for everyone else — especially those looking to extend their long runs without paying for it the next morning — the SuperBlast 3 is the answer.

Verdict

The Asics SuperBlast 3 is one of the most enjoyable long-run shoes available right now that will make you hit the road and put in the miles. Sometimes a shoe just makes you want to run more. This one does exactly that.