ASICS Superblast review

Based on our experience testing the shoe, the ASICS Superblast is an ideal choice for:

• Runners seeking a cushioned yet stable running shoe for clocking in countless miles.
• Heavier individuals in search of a maximal training shoe capable of handling all paces.
• Those wanting a single shoe covering everything from daily training to racing distances ranging from a 5K to a full marathon.

The main issue we found with the Superblast isn't a feature but rather its cost. Priced at £210, it stands as the priciest daily training shoe on the market. We understand that many runners might lean towards a more budget-friendly option.

Within the ASICS lineup, the Novablast 3 presents similar features as the Superblast but at a more affordable price point.

Moreover, this shoe isn't tailored for those who appreciate a plush-running sensation. If that describes your preference, we recommend looking into the Hoka Mach X. We discovered that it also boasts a dual-foam setup but provides a softer ride in a maximalist package.

Let's begin with the biggest design flaw we found with the Superblast. Because of its £210 price tag—which still seems crazy for a training shoe—we anticipated excellent breathability. Sadly, we didn't get that.

In our lab, we conducted our state-of-the-art smoke test on it. Unfortunately, We could only give it a run-of-the-mill 3/5 score for breathability. This is below average, and to be honest, it let us down.

During the light test, we saw the shoe's upper structure. It's reinforced on the medial side for added stability. This reinforcement hinders breathability. However, we were surprised because the light easily passed through the engineered mesh in the toebox, so we expected more airflow.

Seeking more answers, we turned to our microscope to understand the poor airflow of the Superblast. And the reason is that there simply isn't any space for air to circulate.

We hope ASICS takes our findings to heart and makes improvements in the next version—this lack of breathability is the shoe's biggest downside.

Simply put, these shoes might not be ideal for hot summer runs. But for other seasons, they're more than suitable.

The reduced airflow can actually be beneficial in colder months, given the shoe's thick padding, particularly around the heel.

After placing the shoe in the freezer for 20 minutes to mimic cold-weather conditions, we conducted the test again in our lab.

We measured a force of 34.9N, showing results that were nearly identical.

That's only a 19% increase, a truly impressive result. This further highlights the outstanding performance of PEBA foams, such as FF Turbo, especially in cold conditions.

Even though the Superblast is marketed as a daily training shoe, it leans more towards performance. This often translates to a very thin upper, similar to what we see in another supertrainer, the Adidas Adizero Boston 12.

Our Dremel test revealed the upper's weakness, leading us to give it a 1/5 score.

The heel area of the shoe is designed with a soft fabric and a generous amount of padding. Typically, in our lab tests, such a combination results in a lower score.

In this evaluation, we gave it a 2/5. Though not an impressive rating, we believe it won't cause any issues for most runners throughout the shoe's lifespan.

Before starting up our Dremel for the third test, we wanted to check the hardness of the AHARPLUS rubber that ASICS uses in the outsole.

The ASICS Superblast has a substantial area of exposed foam combined with stone-trapping holes, all designed to reduce weight.

According to ASICS, AHARPLUS is made of a rubber that boasts 3 times the abrasion resistance of standard rubber. We hope this claim holds because our measurements showed a score of 77.1 HC. This indicates that the rubber is on the softer side, likely aiming for better grip.

Impressively, it appears that the AHARPLUS rubber truly lives up to the hype.

After conducting our Dremel test on the outsole, we assessed the wear and found a mere 0.6 mm of damage.

The outstanding durability is crucial, especially since, in their quest to keep the shoe incredibly lightweight, ASICS opted for a slim 2.6 mm thickness.

Weighing in at a mere 8.6 oz (244g), in our humble opinion, ASICS nailed it. Given its impressive stack height, one would assume it would tip the scales closer to 10 oz, like the New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Trainer.

Yet, ASICS impressively managed to keep it under 9 oz, rivaling the weight of racing shoes—all in a training package.

The Superblast boasts a heel stack height of 42.7 mm. This exceeds the 40-mm race-day legal limit set by World Athletics, making it one of the tallest shoes we've ever measured in our lab.

When we mentioned its impressive lightness relative to its height, we truly meant it. Because of this, the shoe offers an exceptional level of cushioning.

In the forefoot, we measured 34.8 mm—more than many shoes offer... in their heel! This speaks volumes about the shoe's ultra-cushioned design.

ASICS consistently shines as a brand that gets the heel-to-toe drop figures spot on. In the RunRepeat Lab, we truly value this precision, especially when many other running shoe manufacturers often miss the mark, leading to confusion and injuries for runners.

The Superblast boasts an official heel-to-toe drop of 8 mm. Impressively, our measurements came in at a near-perfect 7.9 mm—a mere 0.1 mm deviation.

We found that the insole measures 4.2 mm. While this is slightly below what we usually see, it performs effectively and helps reduce the shoe's overall weight.

Over the past two-to-three years, we've been lab-testing shoes that merge cloud-like foam with significant stack heights, delivering a soft ride. However, the Superblast (23.4 HA) doesn't fit that mold. Its PEBA-based FF Turbo foam offers a firmer feel, similar to what we discovered in the Metaspeed Sky+.

If you're on the hunt for a shoe with a plush ride, this might not be the one. We'd recommend giving the Nike Invincible 3 a look instead.

ASICS also knew that using just the FF Turbo midsole might be too firm for everyday runs. So they integrated a layer of FF Blast+, a plush foam, just below the firmer FF Turbo. This layer, being noticeably softer at 17.1 HA, greatly enhances comfort during easy or moderate runs.

The softer FF Blast+ (dark blue) is the initial layer to make contact with the ground, while the firmer FF Turbo (light blue) provides world-class energy return with every step in this dual-foam configuration.

The shoe's feel remained consistent in cold temperatures. After 20 minutes in the freezer, we found that it maintained a softness of 26.4 HA.

With just a 12.8% increase, this shoe impressively outshines many others on the market. It's the kind of top-notch performance we anticipate from the priciest training shoe out there.

But wait, how does it manage to excel in chilly conditions? The secret lies in its FF Turbo midsole. This PEBA-based foam is renowned for its exceptional behavior in cold temperatures.

Now, let's dive into the most captivating aspect of the Superblast. With a stack height north of 40 mm, most wouldn't predict stability. But to our surprise, we found that it's remarkably stable!

In upcoming tests, we'll shed light on how ASICS achieved this seemingly unattainable feat.

Although this shoe lacks a plate, we rated it 5/5 in our torsional rigidity test—a score typically reserved for carbon-plated shoes.

We discovered that this is largely due to the substantial and firm FF Turbo foam. It's clear that ASICS designed the shoe with this intention. It's not missing a plate; it simply doesn't require one!

We found that the heel counter has a bit more structure than most daily trainers, but it remains flexible and comfy. In our assessments, we gave it a 3/5 rating.

The standout feature that bolsters stability is the impressively broad midsole. Measuring an out-of-this-world 121.8 mm, it ranks among the widest shoes we've assessed in our lab.

And it's truly remarkable how ASICS managed to maintain a weight under 9 oz for such a substantial platform.

With a wider-than-average heel measuring 96.6 mm, we also found that it offers ample stability for heel strikers. However, this shoe truly shines for those who are midfoot or forefoot strikers.

In our lab's 90-degree bend test, it took us 29.4N of force to bend the shoe to the desired point. This is a typical result, fitting for a do-it-all shoe.

After placing the shoe in the freezer for 20 minutes to mimic cold-weather conditions, we conducted the test again in our lab.

We measured a force of 34.9N, showing results that were nearly identical.

That's only a 19% increase, a truly impressive result. This further highlights the outstanding performance of PEBA foams, such as FF Turbo, especially in cold conditions.

We measured the internal length of the Superblast at 269.5 mm. Going by Asics' sizing charts, we'd expect it to be 270 mm for a US 9. Just like with the heel-to-toe drop, we're impressed by such accuracy!

While the wide midsole might suggest a wide toebox, we found that it's quite the contrary. ASICS cleverly enhances stability by combining a moderately narrow upper with the broad platform, but the price to pay is the reduced real estate inside the shoe.

At the widest part, the upper only measures 97.5 mm.

The width in the big toe area is a standard 77.0 mm. Since the shoe isn't available in wide sizes, men with wider feet might consider sizing up. However, for women, this might not be necessary.

This is a unisex shoe, and all standard sizes are a D width, which equates to a wide size for women.

The shoe provides an outstanding lockdown, and we believe a significant reason for this is the semi-gusseted tongue.

We found that it's comfortably positioned without being intrusive, ensuring the tongue stays in place even when running at high speeds.

While a 6-mm or 7-mm tongue might have been fantastic, it's not practical when aiming for minimal weight.

In the Superblast, there's a paper-thin 1.5-mm tongue reminiscent of racing shoes. Still, we discovered that even during longer runs, there was no discomfort on our instep.

We liked the finger-loop heel tab. Not only does it look stylish, but it also makes slipping the shoe onto our feet much easier.

You can easily take out the insole, allowing you to use different orthotics or insoles from other models.

While ASICS added some reflective details on the heel tab, we feel they barely meet the mark and don't offer enough visibility for nighttime running.