Asics Superblast 3 Review: Softer, Bouncier, and More Versatile

Introduction

The Asics Superblast has always occupied an unusual space: a max-cushion trainer with enough poise to handle serious training. The Superblast 3 keeps that identity but changes the ride character noticeably, thanks to a new foam pairing and a handful of design refinements. After plenty of miles in it, including a full marathon, we can say this is a genuinely different shoe from the Superblast 2 rather than a simple refresh.

Key Specs at a Glance

The Superblast 3 costs £200 or $210. It weighs 232 g (8.2 oz) for men in a size 8, and the drop is 8 mm. Despite carrying a slightly higher stack height of around 1.5 mm more than the Superblast 2, it is actually the lighter shoe of the two, which is a good indicator of where Asics has focused its engineering.

Design and Materials

The headline change sits in the midsole. FF Blast Plus cushioning is now combined with FF Leap foam, the material used in the Asics Metaspeed racing models. Asics says FF Leap is engineered to be 33% lighter and 13% more responsive than FF Blast technology while still holding up for daily training. A redesigned trampoline-inspired outsole geometry in the forefoot aims to boost energy return at toe-off, and the engineered woven upper uses breathable materials to help manage moisture. A gusseted tongue wing system improves midfoot fit and keeps the tongue from wandering.

Fit and Sizing

The fit is comfortably true to size. In a UK size 8, the forefoot offers plenty of room, and the shoe is more forgiving than something like the Megablast, with a comfortable forefoot and good toe space. The midfoot is fairly average in width, with a little slack that needs cinching down, which should suit runners with slightly wider feet. Padding around the collar and tongue makes lockdown easy to dial in. The practical advice: stay true to your size.

Ride and Performance

This is where the Superblast 3 departs from its predecessor. The new foam makes it a lot softer and bouncier, and the ride is more energetic as a result. The FF Blast-style foam used here also appears in the Metaspeed Sky Tokyo, where it behaves as a genuine race foam, but without a plate in the shoe it delivers differently: very lightweight, very bouncy, and generous with energy return, yet not sharp or instantly responsive.

The sweet spot is consistent-pace running. Over a marathon at a steady 3:30 pace, the shoe felt comfortable, natural, and quietly helpful, bouncing the runner along without ever feeling aggressive or race-like. It also performed well at top-end 5K-type pace in a 3K track race, holding a smooth rhythm once up to speed. Where it falls short is short-interval work: the foam compresses a lot and returns energy, but not instantly, so there is not enough pop for 800 m or 500 m repetitions.

Compared with the Superblast 2, which was a very rigid, firm, stable shoe that excelled at tempo and long steady runs but was mediocre at easy efforts, the Superblast 3 branches out. It is now genuinely good at easy runs while still going well up to tempo and marathon-level paces, so it covers a wider band of training. Think of it as a souped-up Novablast for runners who want more performance without committing to a race shoe.

Durability and Grip

The outsole has held up well, with a good thick layer of rubber and no meaningful wear on the midsole so far. Grip has been faultless in the dry; wet-weather performance has not yet been tested extensively, so that remains an open question for now.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The softness is the defining trade-off. Some runners will find it a touch too soft, and because the midsole compresses more, the shoe is slightly less stable than the firm, solid-based Superblast 2, even though the wide base kept things comfortable through a full marathon even on tired legs. If you have real stability needs or prefer a firmer platform, the Superblast 2 may still be the better match. It is also an expensive shoe if you only intend to use it for easy runs.

Buying Advice

Choosing between the Superblast 3 and the Megablast comes down to what you train for. The Megablast, with its FF Turbo Squared foam, is the better pick for speed-oriented runners who want responsiveness for faster sessions and racing, though it is not great at easy runs either. The Superblast 3 skews toward longer, easier runs and steady consistent paces, and both shoes have now proven themselves over full marathons at the same pace. If most of your mileage is easy to tempo, the Superblast 3 is the one.

Conclusion

The Superblast 3 is an impressive evolution. FF Leap brings real bounce and energy to a shoe that now reaches further down the pace range than its predecessor, and it is likely to be a very popular option for runners who want comfort with a performance edge. Just go in knowing the character has shifted: softer, bouncier, and slightly less stable than before.