Best Supermax Trainers: New Balance SC Trainer, Asics Superblast, and Adidas Adizero Prime X Strung Compared

Introduction

Supermax trainers have become a category of their own: shoes with enormous stacks, big cushioning, and enough technology to blur the line between daily trainer and race day weapon. Three of the most interesting options right now are the New Balance SC Trainer, the Adidas Adizero Prime X Strung, and the Asics Superblast.

All three deliver a huge amount of cushion underfoot, but they feel noticeably different on the run and slot into different places in a rotation. Here is how they stack up.

New Balance SC Trainer: The Cushy Cruiser

The SC Trainer is New Balance’s max cushion daily trainer, built on a towering 47mm heel stack with 39mm in the forefoot and a plate inside the midsole. That combination makes it one of the more responsive and bouncy options in this space: the FuelCell foam gives real energy return, and the plate adds a springy snap when you land and toe off.

It is also the heaviest of the three, coming in around 11.4 ounces for a men’s size 10.5. That weight, plus the sheer amount of shoe, makes it better suited to cruising days than hard efforts. You can pick the pace up in it, but it shines as a training partner, especially if you plan to race in something like the SC Elite 3 and want your legs fresh from big-mile training days.

At $180, it is also the most affordable of the three, which makes the case for it even stronger if easy miles and comfort are the priority.

Adidas Adizero Prime X Strung: The Explosive One

The Prime X Strung is arguably the most eye-catching of the bunch, thanks to its Strung upper, plenty of Lightstrike Pro foam, and a set of carbon fiber rods underfoot instead of a traditional plate. The stack is even taller than the SC Trainer, at roughly 49.5mm in the heel and 41mm in the forefoot.

Of the three, this one feels the most explosive off the foot. The bounce and pop at toe-off is immediate, and unlike the SC Trainer, it is genuinely viable for racing. One runner used it for a 12-mile race and came away happy, though it does start to feel a little heavy over time and is not the lightest option even with the Strung upper.

The trade-offs: at $300 it is a serious investment, and it is the least stable of the three supermax shoes here. If you want the fast, fun, max-cushion experience and have the budget for it, this is the pick.

Asics Superblast: The All-Rounder

The Superblast is Asics’ entry into the supermax category, and it takes a clever approach: FF Blast Turbo foam, the same foam used in the Metaspeed Sky and Edge racers, sits on top, while the well-loved FlyteFoam Blast Plus from the Novablast forms the bottom layer. The upper is simple and no-nonsense.

There is no plate and no rods, so it does not deliver that squish-and-spring sensation of the other two. Instead, it stays firm and resilient through the whole footstrike without pillowing down. The stack measures 45.5mm in the heel and 37.5mm in the forefoot, though Asics measures it differently by excluding the outsole rubber. That AHAR Plus rubber is very tacky, which addresses a common complaint about the Novablast’s grip.

It is also the lightest of the three at 8.8 ounces for a size 10, nearly an ounce lighter than the others, and the most stable thanks to its wider platform. At $220, it sits in the middle on price, and it is the most versatile shoe of the group: easy runs, tempo runs, even a potential race day option for a marathon.

Which One Should You Buy?

The honest answer is that these three shoes do different jobs. If you want a daily trainer that keeps your legs feeling fresh after long runs, the SC Trainer is the natural fit, and it is also the cheapest of the three. If you want one shoe that can genuinely do almost everything, the Superblast is the most versatile and the lightest. And if you just want something fun, fast, and bouncy, and you have an extra $300 available, the Prime X Strung delivers the most excitement in the max-cushion category.

Weight is worth considering too: the Superblast is close to an ounce lighter than either of the other two, which matters if you are sensitive to what is on your feet.

Conclusion

The supermax category is tricky precisely because these shoes overlap without being interchangeable. The SC Trainer is the comfortable cruiser for big training weeks, the Superblast is the do-everything all-rounder, and the Prime X Strung is the playful, explosive option for runners who want maximum bounce and a taste of racing capability. Match the shoe to the job and you will be happy with any of them.