Three Daily Running Shoes Worth a Second Look: 1080 V15, Kipstorm Tempo and Superblast 3

Introduction

Picking a favorite daily running shoe is rarely about one clear winner. Most runners need something that works for easy days, handles the bulk of weekly mileage and can still step up the pace when training demands it. These three picks each lean toward a different part of that spectrum: one is a genuinely fun all-rounder, one is a pace-focused bargain, and one is a premium easy-day specialist that has quietly changed character. Here is how they compare and who each one suits.

New Balance 1080 V15: The Fun Daily Trainer

The 1080 line has historically been an accessible, balanced daily shoe that many runners could use comfortably, but it was never the most exciting ride. The 1080 V15 changes that. Its new Infiniam foam makes the shoe noticeably softer and bouncier, adding real energy without tipping into extremes. It is simply a more enjoyable shoe to run in than previous versions.

That midsole energy also brings useful versatility. It works brilliantly for easy days and daily sessions, and you can even pick up the pace quite nicely in it. If you are training for a marathon and want one shoe that can carry you from easy miles into tempo work as your training builds, it fits that role well. It is quite expensive, but you get a lot in return: a comfortable, fun shoe that you look forward to putting on for a 10K or 15K. It is not an easy-day-only shoe, and it is not the right choice for track sessions or hard interval work, but as a general daily trainer it ticks nearly every box.

Kiprun Kipstorm Tempo: Pace-Focused Value

The obvious talking point with the Kipstorm Tempo is price. It sits under 100 pounds in the UK, and for a shoe this capable it would be reasonable to expect it to cost 60 to 80 pounds more. But price is not the real reason it earns a place here. Even ignoring the price entirely, this would still be a very good shoe.

It is called the Tempo for a reason. It skews toward faster, consistent-pace running and rewards you once you pick up the pace. The midsole is a little too firm for genuinely easy runs, so it is not the shoe for slow recovery days. But for steady tempo work it is exceptionally smooth, responsive rather than bouncy, and it kicks into gear exactly when you want it to. Think of runs from 10K up to 30K within a marathon training block, and this shoe is spot on: you can hit the pace you want and it feels great doing it. For anyone doing regular faster sessions who does not want to break the bank, it punches far above its weight.

Asics Superblast 3: The Premium Easy-Day Option

The Superblast has historically been a tempo-style shoe that excelled at maintaining pace over long distances. The Superblast 3 is a different shoe. Thanks to the updated FF Blast midsole foam, it is now noticeably softer, which shifts it away from being a performance shoe and toward being a premium daily and easy-run shoe.

For easy runs, it performs like a dedicated easy-day shoe: soft, bouncy, plush and comfortable, and genuinely enjoyable for ticking off miles. It handled a full marathon well, including Seville. Daily sessions at a slightly more consistent pace also work nicely; the FF Blast foam, used in the brand’s race shoes, gives it enough energy to pick up the pace. Where it struggles is beyond that. A faster short race showed it can maintain quick paces, but the soft midsole sponges against the ground when you really push, so it is not a shoe for intervals or very fast efforts. For long runs and consistent-pace marathon training it does a good job, though the Kipstorm Tempo is arguably smoother in that role. It is pricey for what is now essentially an easy-to-daily shoe, but it is very good at that job.

Which One Should You Buy?

If you want one comfortable, enjoyable shoe for the bulk of your running and occasional quicker miles, the New Balance 1080 V15 is the strongest all-rounder here. If your week is built around tempo sessions and consistent-pace marathon training, the Kipstorm Tempo is hard to beat, especially at its UK price. And if easy runs make up most of your mileage and budget is less of a concern, the Superblast 3 is a plush, bouncy companion for ticking off the miles. The right choice comes down to which kind of running fills your week.

Conclusion

These three shoes cover the daily-trainer spectrum well: the 1080 V15 for versatile, fun daily running, the Kipstorm Tempo for pace-focused value, and the Superblast 3 for premium easy miles. Match the shoe to the running you actually do, and each one makes a lot of sense.