ASICS Superblast 3 vs Kiprun Kipsta Tempo: Two Super Trainers, One Clear Value Pick

Introduction

Very few shoe matchups this year have been this interesting. The ASICS Superblast 3 and the Kiprun Kipsta Tempo are both super trainers that handle an unusually wide range of runs, and both were genuinely enjoyable to test across easy days, long runs, tempo sessions, and even track reps. After around 60k in the Superblast 3 and 85k in the Kiprun Tempo, including a marathon in the ASICS, both shoes earned serious praise. The differences come down to ride feel, fit quirks, and, above all, price.

Specs and Prices at a Glance

On paper, the two shoes are closer than you might expect. The ASICS Superblast 3 costs £200 or $210, weighs 232g (8.2 oz) for men in a size 8, and has an 8mm drop. The Kiprun Kipsta Tempo costs £119.99 and matches those figures almost exactly: 232g for men in a size 8 with an 8mm drop.

The Superblast 3 does carry a slightly higher stack height, around 1.5mm more, despite being lighter than the Superblast 2. But the headline difference is the price. In the UK especially, the Kiprun sits at less than half the ASICS price, which shapes a lot of the verdict at the end of this comparison.

Fit and Sizing

Fit advice differs between the two, and getting it right matters. The Superblast 3 fits true to size in a normal UK 9 / US 10, with a roomy forefoot and good hold around the heel and midfoot. It is a forgiving, comfortable fit that suits average-width or slightly wider feet, with generous padding throughout. If you wear your usual ASICS size, you will be fine.

The Kiprun is a brand where going at least half a size down is often needed. Sizing down half a size (a UK 8.5) produced a really good fit here, with nice toe room and secure heel and midfoot hold. Even then, there is a bit more space before the big toe than some runners might like, and the fit is forgiving for wider feet. The sock-fit tongue design proved very comfortable, and a plastic shank at the heel never made itself noticed during runs.

Midsole and Ride Feel

This is where the two shoes genuinely diverge. The Superblast 3 is a big change from the Superblast 2: the midsole now combines FF BLAST+ with the newer FF BLAST foam used in ASICS’ Metaspeed racing models, which ASICS says is 33% lighter and 13% more responsive than the previous FF BLAST. The result is a softer, bouncier ride than the smooth, balanced Superblast 2. A redesigned trampoline-inspired outsole geometry in the forefoot promotes energy return at toe-off, the engineered woven upper manages moisture well, and a gusseted tongue wing system improves midfoot fit.

The Kiprun Kipsta Tempo takes a different route. Its dual-density midsole pairs FAST Tech Plus foam with a CMEVA outer layer that acts as a pseudo plate, adding stiffness without a carbon plate. The ride is firmer but still cushioned and comfortable; a 15-mile run out of the box felt plenty soft enough. The transition is snappier than the Superblast, with an aggressive rocker that pushes you nicely onto the forefoot.

Broadly, the Superblast 3 is the softer, more comfortable, more cruisey shoe, and it is now a genuinely good easy-day trainer as well as a long-run shoe. The Kiprun is more balanced and energetic, closer in character to the Superblast 2 than the softer Superblast 3, with a smooth transition that works especially well for faster sessions.

Speed Work and Faster Sessions

If you care about pace, the Kiprun Tempo has the edge. Its smaller, more rounded heel suits heel strikers and makes transitioning off the heel onto the midfoot feel quicker. A session of 24 x 60 seconds on, 30 seconds off showed it gets up to faster speeds more naturally than the bigger Superblast. It is the sort of shoe that quietly encourages you to pick up the pace even on runs where you did not intend to.

The Superblast 3 can still run fast; 800m reps on the track worked fine. But it is a big shoe with a noticeable heel and a lot of ground contact, and it feels a little sluggish at speed compared with the Kiprun. Where it excels is the other end: relaxed long runs and easy mileage, where the soft, supportive platform is a real pleasure.

Easy Days and Long Runs

The Superblast 3 is the superior easy and daily trainer of the two. The softer FF BLAST ride, generous padding, and spacious fit make it the shoe you reach for when comfort is the priority. It was loved for the Seville Marathon purely for comfort, though it is not the pick for a marathon PB attempt. It remains a stable shoe despite the soft foam, and the added bounce extends its versatility without turning it into a fast-day specialist.

The Kiprun handles long runs well too, with enough cushioning for 15 miles straight out of the box, and its comfort at slower paces is better than its firmer foam might suggest. But it does not skew as far toward easy running as the Superblast; it is more of an all-rounder that leans quicker.

Durability and Outsoles

Both shoes have good outsole rubber, but the Kiprun is better here. It uses a really thick layer of rubber with good grip, with only a bit of exposed midsole. The Superblast 3 has a lot of exposed midsole, which raised some concern, though the rubber has held up impressively so far. Some small wear has appeared on the side where performance shoes typically rip, so that will be worth watching over more miles.

Verdict: Which One Should You Buy?

Both are excellent super trainers, and both were shoes worth being disappointed to finish testing. As an all-round trainer to handle every run, they are fairly equal: the Kiprun is stronger at the fast end, the Superblast more comfortable at the easy end.

But the deciding factor is price. At around £100, the Kiprun Kipsta Tempo is incredible value, punching far above its price point, and in the UK it is an absolute steal. The Superblast 3 is a good shoe, but it has always been an expensive one, and it is a hard sell when a shoe at half the price does very similar things. Unless you specifically want the ultimate easy-day daily trainer, there is little reason to pay the extra for the ASICS. If value matters to you, the Kiprun is the clear pick of this comparison.

Conclusion

The ASICS Superblast 3 and the Kiprun Kipsta Tempo are two of the standout super trainers of the year, each capable across a wide range of runs. The Superblast 3 wins on easy-day comfort and bounce; the Kiprun wins on speed, outsole durability, and value. For most runners, especially in the UK, the Kiprun Kipsta Tempo’s performance at roughly half the price makes it the shoe to buy.