ASICS Superblast 3 Review

First Impressions: Out of the Box

Right out of the box, the colorway makes a statement. The blue/coral/aurora gradient with the iridescent FF Leap branding on the midsole is genuinely striking — these are shoes that turn heads at the start line. The upper is a soft engineered mesh that feels immediately comfortable, with coral lace loops adding a premium touch throughout.

The stack height is unmistakably large, but the shoe is lighter in hand than you'd expect. That contrast — big foam, low weight — is the Superblast's signature trick.

The Midsole: FF Leap Changes Everything

The headline upgrade over previous versions is the new FF Leap midsole foam — the exact same race-day compound found in ASICS' Metaspeed racing shoes. The midsole is predominantly FF Leap, with a 10mm layer of FF Blast+ closer to the ground for durability and structure.

The result underfoot is genuinely special. It's plush without being mushy — soft on landing, snappy on toe-off. ASICS claims a 15% bouncier ride over the Superblast 2, and you feel it on your very first stride.

Critically, the bounce doesn't force your stride the way carbon-plated shoes often do. It amplifies your mechanics rather than dictating them — which makes this shoe far more accessible across a range of paces.

A tempo-friendly trainer that will shine on long runs

I recently took the ASICS Superblast out for a tempo run to see how it behaves when the pace lifts. The result was impressive — it feels surprisingly lively for such a high-stack shoe.

The first thing you notice is the massive slab of FF Blast Turbo foam, the same material used in ASICS’ race shoes. That gives the Superblast a soft landing but a quick rebound when you push the pace.

On this run the shoe felt:

• stable even at tempo pace

• light for the stack height

• extremely protective underfoot

It encourages a smooth rolling stride, making it easy to hold rhythm without feeling overly aggressive like a plated racing shoe.

How it feels at tempo pace

For a tempo run, the Superblast performs better than expected for a max-cushion trainer.

The bounce from the midsole gives a noticeable energy return, but without forcing your stride the way carbon shoes often do.

This makes it ideal for sessions like:

• steady state efforts

• marathon pace runs

• progression long runs

You get enough responsiveness to move quickly, while still feeling comfortable and relaxed.

Where this shoe will really shine

While it handles tempo running well, the real strength of the Superblast will likely be long aerobic runs.

The large foam platform provides:

• excellent fatigue reduction

• soft landings late into long runs

• protection over 20–30 km efforts

For marathon training this makes it a strong option for long runs where comfort matters but you still want some pace.

Fuelling compatibility

One of the interesting aspects of using the Superblast during training is how well it works when you’re fuelling mid-run.

Because the ride is smooth and stable, it’s easy to:

• reach into a pocket

• grab a chew

• keep running without breaking stride

For long runs I typically carry chewable carbohydrates rather than gels, which are easier to eat while moving. A soft chew like FTP Energy Pastilles works particularly well here because you can eat them gradually without needing water immediately.

This combination works especially well for marathon training where fuelling consistency matters as much as pace. For longer efforts I pair chews with a carbohydrate electrolyte drink mix to maintain steady energy intake.

Pros

• Huge energy return for a non-plated shoe

• Extremely protective cushioning

• Stable platform for a high-stack shoe

• Works for both tempo and long runs

• Stunning colorway — the aurora iridescent finish is genuinely beautiful

   

Cons

• Expensive compared to most trainers

• Large stack height may feel bulky for some runners

• Not ideal for very fast intervals

Verdict

The ASICS Superblast sits in a unique category — it’s not quite a race shoe and not quite a standard trainer.

Instead it’s a high-performance long run shoe that can comfortably handle tempo efforts, making it a very strong option for marathon training blocks.

If you want a shoe that keeps your legs fresh on big mileage weeks but still feels fast enough for steady running, the Superblast is one of the most versatile trainers currently available.

The ASICS Superblast 3 is one of the most complete training shoes available right now. It keeps your legs fresh across big mileage weeks, handles tempo efforts with surprising ease, and looks exceptional while doing it. For marathon training blocks, it's hard to argue against.

Rating: 9.5/10

For race training I usually use a complete marathon fuelling bundle so I have both carbs and hydration covered.

At FTP Endurance Fuel we test nutrition products during real training runs to understand what works under race conditions. You can read more running gear reviews in the FTP Endurance Gear Lab.

Products used during this run

• ASICS Superblast

• FTP Energy Pastilles

• FTP Power Fluids