Best ASICS Running Shoes of 2023: The Full Lineup, Reviewed

Introduction

Few running brands cover as many bases as ASICS does right now. The current lineup runs from max-cushion recovery shoes to aggressive carbon-plated racers and even two genuinely capable trail options, and several of these models rank among the best shoes of the year in their categories. Some of these shoes may receive updates before the end of 2023, but as it stands, this is how the lineup shakes out.

The One That Does It All: ASICS Super Blast

The Super Blast is the shoe that can do it all: daily training, recovery runs, tempo work, even a full marathon. It uses the same nylon-based FF Turbo foam as the flagship racer, layered over a softer Blast Plus foam at the bottom, creating a ride that is firm yet responsive rather than plush. Despite the name suggesting softness, the high stack lands at a stated 45.5 mm in the heel with an 8 mm drop, and the cushioning grew on us quickly after initial skepticism. It became one of the most-miled shoes of the year, and it was even raced at a marathon in Tokyo. A Super Blast v2 may arrive before the end of the year, but the current version remains a favorite.

Max Cushion Comfort: ASICS Nimbus 25

The Nimbus 25 received a full revamp, and it shows. This is the max-cushion, high-stack, soft-foam shoe in the lineup: 41 mm in the heel, 33 mm in the forefoot, with plenty of very soft FF Blast Plus cushioning underfoot. Every piece of it is built around comfort, including what may be the best tongue in any running shoe right now: stretchy, light, and exceptionally comfortable. Pure Gel is now embedded inside the midsole rather than visible as a slab, giving a softer, lighter feel while still handling shock absorption. This is strictly an easy-day shoe; it is not the pick for faster sessions. It also doubles as an excellent casual wear option. At $160, it is a favorite for recovery days when your legs are tired and you just want to slog through easy miles feeling fresh.

Best Value Racer: ASICS Magic Speed 3

The Magic Speed 3 is one of the strongest updates of the year, and a big improvement over versions one and two. It pairs a full-length FF Blast Plus midsole with a full-length carbon plate, producing a soft bounce that works especially well for shorter races and fast workouts. The upper matches the race day Meta Speed shoes, but with a lower profile stack of 36 mm in the heel, 29 mm in the forefoot, and a 7 mm drop. While it is not the pick for longer distances, it delivers a genuine fast-day feel at $160, nearly $100 less than a top-tier race day shoe. It surprised us, in the best way.

Best Race Day Shoes: ASICS Meta Speed Sky Plus and Edge Plus

ASICS offers two top-tier race day shoes, and the two testers came down on different sides. Both use firm FF Turbo foam paired with a carbon plate, giving a decidedly firm underfoot feel, and both share the same lightweight Motion Wrap upper, which does the job even if it is not the finest upper in the lineup. They cost $250 each.

The Sky Plus has a bit more stack in the forefoot at 39 mm heel, 34 mm forefoot, with a 5 mm drop. The Edge Plus sits at 39 mm heel, 31 mm forefoot, with an 8 mm drop, and features a more aggressive spoon-shaped plate geometry with a lower, closer-to-the-ground forefoot and a sharper toe feel for a snappy toe-off. One tester preferred the Sky Plus for its aggressive feel at half marathon distance and under, while the Edge Plus stood out for its pronounced forefoot snap. Both are excellent; the choice comes down to how much forefoot stack and plate aggression you want.

The Budget All-Rounder: ASICS Nova Blast 3

The Nova Blast 3 is the baby brother to the Super Blast and one of the best straightforward daily trainers around. It uses an FF Blast Plus midsole that is bouncy and comfortable, with a 41 mm heel, 33 mm forefoot, and 8 mm drop, plus a little extra magic that makes it gobble miles. At $140, it is hard to go wrong, and it is the kind of shoe you can throw in the back of the car and always have a good run with, no matter your experience level. The main complaint is the outsole rubber: it lacks the AHAR Plus rubber found elsewhere in the lineup, though one tester wore it down to the foam without grip issues. An updated version is expected before the end of the year, possibly with better rubber.

The One to Skip: ASICS Cumulus 25

The Cumulus 25 is a legend by name, but in the current lineup it occupies awkward middle ground. It is the sister shoe to the Nimbus with a wide, stable base, yet it lacks the soft, squishy feel of the Nimbus and does not match the value of the Nova Blast, despite costing the same $140. It uses FF Blast Plus foam but with a standard puffy tongue rather than the Nimbus’s standout stretchy one. At $20 cheaper than the Nimbus but noticeably less comfortable, this is the one shoe in the lineup we would skip.

Best Stability Pick: ASICS Kayano

The Kayano has been around for roughly 30 years, and the latest version takes a modern approach to stability. Instead of a traditional block of hard posting foam, it uses a firmer piece of foam for light posting, a really wide base for a secure landing, and a heel geometry designed to discourage inward pronation, all under what ASICS calls its 4D Guidance System. It pairs FF Blast Plus midsole foam with embedded Pure Gel, in a 40 mm heel, 30 mm forefoot, 10 mm drop package, a notably high stack for a stability shoe. While our testers are not stability runners and found it a fairly standard trainer, every stability-focused reviewer loved it, and several ASICS pro athletes reportedly use it as a daily trainer. At $160, it is the stability pick from ASICS.

Best Trail Options: ASICS Trabuco Max 2 and Fuji Light

The Trabuco Max 2 is a monster truck of a trail shoe, in the same big, beefy realm as the Brooks Caldera. It uses an FF Blast Plus midsole for genuine comfort over a wide, stable platform, with a high 43 mm heel and 38 mm forefoot stack and a gaiter hook-up at the front. The ASICS grip rubber delivered surprisingly strong traction, rolling over everything on descents, and one runner logged 20 hilly miles in a single outing without ever rolling an ankle. The only knock is a bit of extra room in the upper that could use more structure for some feet.

If you want something faster on the trails, the Fuji Light is a sleeper hit: a lighter, race-oriented trail shoe that flies somewhat under the radar but has earned a loyal following. Between the two, ASICS covers both ends of the trail spectrum.

Overall Buying Advice

If you can only buy one shoe from this lineup, the Super Blast remains the most versatile choice, though the Nova Blast 3 covers similar ground at a friendlier price. Recovery-focused runners should look straight at the Nimbus 25, stability seekers at the Kayano, and budget-conscious racers at the Magic Speed 3. Keep an eye out for updated Super Blast and Nova Blast versions arriving later in the year, and note that ASICS also has new apparel collaborations on the way. Across daily trainers, racers, stability, and trail, this lineup genuinely covers all the bases.

Conclusion

ASICS has quietly assembled one of the most complete running shoe lineups available right now. The daily trainers are dialed in, the Nimbus 25 overhaul is a genuine game changer from a traditionally conservative brand, and the race day and trail options fill out a range that suits nearly every kind of runner. Pick based on the days you run most, and you will not go far wrong here.