Asics Metaspeed Blast vs Hoka Mach X 3: Two Super Trainers Head to Head

Introduction

The Asics Metaspeed Blast and Hoka Mach X 3 are two of the strongest super trainers released this year, and both earn their place as favorites because of how versatile they are. Each has plenty of speed for faster runs and enough comfort and stability for easy days. The Mach X 3 is a plated shoe while the Metaspeed Blast is not, but both are pushed as speed-focused trainers that double as very good all-rounders.

The main practical difference outside of ride feel is price. The Metaspeed Blast is the more expensive shoe at £210 or $225, while the Mach X 3 sits at £170 or $190. Performance between them is close, so that gap matters when it is time to choose.

Specs at a Glance

The Metaspeed Blast is the lighter shoe at 241 g (8.5 oz) in a UK 9 / US 10, compared with 274 g (9.7 oz) for the Mach X 3 in a UK 9 / US 9.5, which is actually a slightly smaller size. Drop is 8 mm on the Asics and 5 mm on the Hoka, with both stacks heading into the mid-40s in millimeters at the heel.

Both shoes trim weight through partial outsole coverage, and both lean on big, energetic midsoles to deliver their speed. How they get there, though, is where the comparison gets interesting.

Asics Metaspeed Blast

The Metaspeed Blast uses an engineered woven upper with a little padding around the heel and not much on the tongue. It is a balanced upper: focused on being lightweight while keeping enough comfort for long stints. Underfoot you get a full slab of FF Turbo Squared, Asics’ most responsive foam, delivering plenty of bounce despite the absence of a plate. The Asics Grip rubber outsole covers the key forefoot and heel areas, and exposed foam in the midfoot has shown no meaningful wear in testing.

Fit is close to spot on in your regular Asics size. There is slightly more clearance at the end of the toes than some other Asics shoes, with reasonable wiggle room and no cramping across the toe knuckles. Midfoot lockdown is excellent and the heel collar padding is comfortable. Go true to size.

On the run, the FF Turbo Squared foam balances bounce, stability, and comfort beautifully. Transitions are quick, bounce off the toes is generous, and the wide platform adds stability. It is not overly squishy, and it shines most in long tempo runs and even a hard parkrun, where it felt fast and controlled despite its size. The trade-offs: it is expensive, it can feel a touch soft or sluggish at slower paces, and it has slightly less inherent stability than the Mach X 3.

Hoka Mach X 3

The Mach X 3 pairs a warp knit upper with noticeably more padding than its predecessor, making it a much more comfortable upper all round while staying fairly light. The dual-density midsole stacks a PEBA foam top layer, a PEBAX plate with small forefoot winglets for stability, and an EVA layer underneath. Hoka’s signature rocker profile rounds out the ride, and the outsole offers decent rubber coverage on the forefoot and heel with a couple of cutouts to save weight.

The fit is snug and racy, especially at the tapered toe box, which is why going half a size up is the safer bet. Even then it feels dialed in and held rather than roomy. Laces lock down the midfoot well, and the medium-padded tongue and heel collar are a real comfort upgrade over the Mach X 2 for long hauls.

Despite carrying roughly 40 g more than the Metaspeed Blast, the Mach X 3 performs really well at fast paces, particularly marathon-pace workouts with long reps and progression runs. It protects the body well and the rocker rolls through smoothly off the heel. It is firmer and snappier than the Asics, more stable across the pace range, and the lower drop is offset by that substantial rocker. Its main weakness is the snug fit, and it may not suit everyone beyond around 90 minutes or a half marathon, though a three-hour long run in testing showed it can do the job.

Fit and Sizing

A side-by-side comparison makes the differences clear: the Metaspeed Blast is a bigger, wider, longer shoe with more volume on the foot, while the Mach X 3 feels more compact and precise. In the UK, note that Hoka converts sizing differently to Asics, so the same UK size label corresponds to a US 9.5 for Hoka and a US 10 for Asics.

For most runners, sticking with your normal running shoe size in each brand works well. If shoes from either brand have fit you well before, stay with that size: true to size for the Metaspeed Blast, and consider half a size up in the Mach X 3.

Ride and Performance

The Metaspeed Blast delivers a bouncier, livelier ride built on softness and energy return, particularly around marathon pace. Runners who land further back in the shoe will appreciate the extra softness in the heel. The Mach X 3 counters with a firmer, snappier platform and a more rockered, rolling transition that feels quicker to respond.

Neither shoe is at its best at express pace on the track over short reps; both are a little big for that. But both balance speed, stability, and protection exceptionally well for marathon training, whether that is long progression runs, 4 x 4K sessions, or the daily grind.

Which Should You Buy?

If you want soft, bouncy, protective cushioning with a fun, lively energy, the Metaspeed Blast is the shoe to go for, and it may suit longer runs better for a lot of runners. If you want more immediacy, a firmer and snappier response, and a more agile feel on the foot, the Mach X 3 is the pick, and it works especially well as a workout shoe up to around half marathon distance.

On gut feel, the Metaspeed Blast is the shoe many runners would keep in the rotation, thanks to that softer, bouncier ride and the appeal of training outside a plated shoe. But given how close the performance is, the Mach X 3 is arguably the better buy: it is a fair bit cheaper, still very versatile, and offers loads of comfort. The Metaspeed Blast remains one of the year’s best releases, just priced a bit high against competition like this.

Conclusion

These are two fantastically versatile super trainers with very little separating them in performance. The Metaspeed Blast wins on weight, bounce, and plush protection for long runs; the Mach X 3 wins on price, stability, and snappy responsiveness. Pick based on whether you prefer a soft, rolling bounce or a firmer, more immediate ride, and either will serve you well from easy days to marathon race day.