The ASICS Superblast has occupied an interesting position in the running market since its debut — a plated super-trainer without a carbon plate, priced at the upper end of the daily trainer category, and pitched at runners who want race-day responsiveness in a shoe they can actually accumulate mileage in without fear of rapid degradation. The first two iterations earned loyal followers but also carried a pair of persistent criticisms: a tight toe box that caused discomfort over longer runs, and a foam compound — FF BLAST TURBO — that, while lively, left some testers wanting a touch more softness underfoot. With the Superblast 3, released in late March 2026 at £190 / $210, ASICS has responded to both complaints in a single, decisive update.
The headline change is the introduction of FF Leap, a new A-TPU foam compound that replaces the firmer FF BLAST TURBO material used in previous versions. Paul Lang, ASICS's global senior product manager, has described the switch as delivering a 15 per cent increase in energy return compared to the Superblast 2, while simultaneously reducing the shoe's weight by approximately 10 grams — a notable achievement given that the stack height has actually increased from 45mm to 46.5mm at the heel and 38.5mm at the forefoot, maintaining the same 8mm drop. The result is a shoe that feels noticeably softer and more protective on impact, particularly on harder road surfaces, without sacrificing the springy, propulsive quality that defined its predecessors. On tempo efforts and long runs up to marathon pace, the foam returns energy in a way that is immediately perceptible rather than merely theoretical.
The upper has also been reworked with an engineered mesh that corrects the previous generation's most talked-about flaw. Where the Superblast 2 required runners with wider forefeet or higher-volume feet to size up — an inelegant solution — the Superblast 3 offers a toe box that accommodates a broader spread of foot shapes in a standard fit. The heel counter retains its secure lockdown, and the midfoot wrap continues to provide the kind of containment that prevents lateral slippage during direction changes or cambered road sections. The overall fit profile has moved from specialist to inclusive, which should meaningfully broaden the shoe's appeal without compromising the performance it offers to those for whom it was originally designed.
In practical testing across easy recovery miles, marathon-paced long runs, and threshold sessions, the Superblast 3 handles each context convincingly. At easy paces, the increased softness of FF Leap is the dominant sensation — there is a comfort underfoot that the previous version lacked. As pace increases toward tempo, the foam's energy return characteristics become more apparent, and the shoe encourages a natural forward lean without the somewhat abrupt transition geometry that occasionally characterised the Superblast 2. Durability, historically a strength of this model, appears equally solid in early testing, with the outsole rubber showing minimal signs of wear after 60 miles across a mix of road surfaces. At its price point, the Superblast 3 positions itself as a premium but defensible investment for runners seeking a high-mileage trainer with genuine performance credentials.
The broader super-trainer category has become increasingly competitive in 2026, with rivals from Nike, New Balance, Adidas and Hoka each offering compelling alternatives. The ASICS Superblast 3 distinguishes itself through the quality of its foam update and the meaningful correction of the fit issues that frustrated some buyers of earlier models. It remains a neutral shoe without a plate, which will suit the large majority of recreational and competitive runners who do not require or want the added stiffness of a carbon or nylon element. For those running 50 to 80 miles per week who want a single shoe capable of handling everything from recovery jogs to marathon race day, the Superblast 3 has a persuasive claim to be that shoe. It is, quite simply, the best version of this model ASICS has produced — and comfortably one of the strongest all-round running shoes currently available.