ASICS Superblast 3 Marathon Review: A Full 26.2 Miles in the Super Trainer

Introduction

The Superblast range has built a loyal following as the accessible super trainer: race-shoe level foam, no carbon plate, and a ride you can use for everything from easy days to fast sessions. The Superblast 3 continues that idea, but with a noticeably softer and bouncier foam underfoot.

To put it through a proper test, it was taken straight into a full marathon: the Seville Marathon, run at a comfortable, consistent pace of just under 5-minute kilometers, finishing in around 3 hours 30. That is not the usual way to test a new, non-plated shoe, but the aim was comfort and leg protection over a full marathon distance rather than an all-out race time.

The Marathon Test in Seville

Seville turned out to be an ideal setting. The course is famously flat and fast, with wide roads that make it easy to hold a steady pace without getting boxed in. The start is relaxed, waves clear quickly, and there is space on the road for nearly the whole distance. It is a smaller field than the biggest city marathons, which keeps things stress-free, though it is growing in popularity, so it is worth entering sooner rather than later.

The weather behaved, staying sunny without getting too hot until late in the race, and the shoe handled the full distance without issue. The plan going in was simple: a shoe that feels comfortable, protects the legs, and still gives back a bit of energy by the finish line. On that front, it delivered.

Ride Feel: Soft, Bouncy and Natural

The headline change here is the foam. The Superblast 3 is a lot softer than the Superblast 2, which was a firmer shoe with a more pronounced forward roll. The FF Blast foam squishes and compresses on landing, then returns a surprising amount of energy for something that feels this plush. The wide base helps too: land, sponge in, and bounce off in a smooth, trampoline-like motion.

The closest comparison for the foam feel is a plateless take on a premium plated racer. The compression and bounce back feel similar, but without the plate you lose some of that sharp responsiveness. What you get instead is a natural, unforced ride. Unlike aggressive plated race shoes that actively push you to run faster, this one simply bounces along with you.

At the tested pace, roughly 3:30 marathon effort, it was the sweet spot: comfortable, smooth, and packed with bounce. It also works surprisingly well when the pace drops. On easy shakeout runs, it softly bounces you along and genuinely makes easy running more enjoyable.

The Trade-off: Less Stability

The softness comes at a cost. If you liked the Superblast 2 for its relative stability and slight rigidity compared with other super trainers, you will notice the difference here. The new shoe is a little wobbly. It sits wider across the platform than a plated race shoe, so it is not as unstable as those, but the sure-footed feel of the previous versions is dialled back.

For a runner who does not specifically need stability, it was a non-issue across the full marathon. But it is worth factoring in before buying, especially if stability was one of the main reasons you chose the Superblast 2 in the first place.

Who Should Consider the Superblast 3

This is a versatile shoe with a wide range. It held up at 5K race pace on the track during the launch weekend, which was faster than expected for a plush trainer, and it cruised comfortably through a full marathon. It also doubles as a genuinely enjoyable easy-day shoe.

It fits the super trainer mould: performance foam gains similar to what you get in race shoes, delivered with a more natural, plateless feel. For a marathon run at a comfortable pace, it is arguably a better choice than an aggressive carbon-plated racer, because tired legs late in the race land on something sturdy, soft and still energetic. The main caveat is for runners who valued the firmer, more stable ride of the Superblast 2; the character of this shoe has changed.

Buying Advice

If you want a soft, bouncy, comfortable and natural super trainer that can handle easy days, faster sessions and a full marathon at a steady pace, the Superblast 3 is a strong pick. The foam delivers real bounce without demanding that you run faster than you intend to.

If you specifically prefer a firmer, more stable shoe, or you are deciding between this and a plated alternative in the same family, it is worth waiting on a full head-to-head comparison, since the softer ride changes what this shoe is best used for. Everyone who tried it at the launch event reported a similar experience, which is a good sign the character of this shoe is consistent rather than a one-off impression.

Conclusion

The Superblast 3 is a fantastic, accessible super trainer with a much bouncier, softer ride than its predecessor. Over a full marathon at 3:30 pace it felt comfortable, protective and natural from start to finish, with plenty of versatility beyond that. The trade-off is a small loss of stability compared with the Superblast 2, which some longtime fans may miss. For most runners looking for one shoe that can do a bit of everything comfortably, this is an easy recommendation.