The original Superblast was synonymous with supertrainer for a long time. Unplated, packed with top of the line race foam with added plush comfort on top. It was light, responsive and good for a huge amount of distance. My original version is still going with around 1000km of running in them. The second version gained a little weight and stiffness. Meanwhile, other brands caught up and even overtook the Japanese behemoth. ASICS themselves released the Megablast, which has been described as their best ever shoe. This move caused some to ask why bother with the Superblast at all.
Now we have the third iteration of the Superblast. Lighter and taller than ever, it comes with the new FFLeap foam in the midsole with a FFBlast+ base layer to bring some stability to the game. Does this catapult it back to the top of the supertrainer charts or has it lost its place in the lineup?
Upper and Fit of the ASICS Superblast 3
What works for me
The upper on the Superblast 3 is an engineered mesh which comes with a thin, gussetted tongue. I have found the fit to be true to size and very comfortable. The Superblast 3 sits in ASICS’ lineup as the long run and daily specialist.
To assist it in this role, we have a decent amount of padding around the heel collar. It is no stripped back racer. Comfort comes as standard. If the Topo Athletic shoes are the utilitarian Toyotas of the running world. Light on thrills, high on durability and usability, then the Superblast 3 are the Rolls Royce.
No stripped back asceticism here. Luxury is the keyword and this comes across in the build quality as well as the materials. The heel counter is stiff but unobtrusive on the run. The padding around the collar of the shoe is ample and ensures that the lockdown is very good. Meanwhile, the tongue is minimal, breathable and comfortable.
The lace chain is reinforced with some fancy piping. Residing within are some fairly standard laces. That said, they do the job and have never needed retying on the run. All together, this gives excellent step-in comfort which doesn’t diminish on the run.
Breathability has also been no issue on the few runs I have had when the thermometer has read double digits. With ASICS’ history of build quality, I am sure that the upper will last a lot of miles too.
What doesn’t work for me
There is genuinely nothing to report here for me. Perhaps if you have exceptionally wide or narrow feet, you may find the fit a little funky. That said, I can’t imagine this being an issue for the vast majority of runners. It is a premium feeling upper on a premium shoe. As you would expect, it does the job very well.
Midsole and Ride of the ASICS Superblast 3
What works for me
This is a very different feeling Superblast. My love affair with the original Superblast started off on rather rocky ground (not literally, I wasn’t using it as a trail shoe). At first, I found it rather stiff and firm. It took a while for me to really understand what the Superblast was for. Once we clicked, that was it. We ran and it refused to die. Due to this longevity, I never had the need to purchase the Superblast 2. Although, as Josh’s review notes, some people found that even firmer.
Firmness is not a word which comes near the Superblast 3. The addition of FFLeap to the midsole ensures that the ride is very soft indeed. Although it is not a mushy ride either. The bottom layer of FFBlast plus ensures that the ride is stabilised and propulsive. I have yet to run in a purebred FFLeap shoe, but I have thoroughly enjoyed the slab provided here.
The bounce is fantastic and, according to Stryd, the combination of foams is very efficient for me. This is excellent news for a shoe which is designed for long runs and daily efforts. So far, I have used the Superblast for anything from 5k jogs on exhausted legs to longer runs up to about 18km. It has performed admirably for all of these jaunts. Pacewise, I have been anywhere from around 6:00/km down to around marathon pace. Again, I have no complaints about its performance at any of these paces. The legs have always felt fresh after and my ego is also comforted by running higher paces at lower efforts.
The forefoot trampoline effect comes into its own as the pace picks up. In fact, it feels a lot more efficient than it did in the original version. Landing anywhere in the Superblast 3 is a very pleasant experience. It is a shoe which should suit the majority of runners.
With the first Superblast, I used them for longer runs only. However, the Superblast 3 can be popped on for the majority of runs during the week. The light weight also ensures that the legs remain fresh through any run.
What doesn’t work for me
While it is no heavyweight, the Superblast 3 is still a very large shoe. Much like a Rolls Royce, it is not subtle. While it is light, its width means it isn’t always the most agile. It gives a solid landing place but for some smaller runners, it may feel a little cumbersome. Despite the Superblast 3 being shod with ASICS’ fastest foam, it is not their fastest shoe. The Megablast is probably better placed for those workouts edging into speeds much above tempo paces.
Due to the softness of the FFLeap foam, those who have been troubled with plantar fasciitis may also want to consider the support on offer. On a couple of runs, I have had a couple of twinges under the arch of my left foot. Thankfully, it hasn’t been a major issue but if your feet are more prone to such pains, it is worth noting.
Some of our test team have also reported that the Superblast can be a little slappy on landing. This is not something I have been overly troubled with. I get a rather hollow sounding whomp noise when I land on the forefoot trampoline. It certainly isn’t the quietest shoe in my arsenal, but it is far from the noisiest. The only real downside I experienced with the midsole is the sheer size of it. I have a fairly low knee lift when running and I run on a lot of uneven pavements. On more than one occasion I have scuffed a sole and found myself having to catch a stumble. That is more on my mechanics than a fault of the shoe though.
Outsole of the ASICS Superblast 3
Grip and Traction
The outsole pattern is very similar to previous iterations with perhaps a couple of extra cutouts for weight reduction and flexibility. Grip on all surfaces has been excellent so far and even with a fair amount of exposed midsole foam, degradation has been minimal.
Durability
This is probably the biggest question I have about the Superblast 3. As it is my first experience of a FFLeap midsole, I am not sure how well it lasts the test of time. However, after around 100km so far, the Superblast 3 feels as good as it did out of the box. There is some creasing in the FFLeap layer but it has not impacted the performance.
While I don’t have much experience with FFLeap, my much wider experience of ASICS shoes suggests that longevity won’t be a problem for the Superblast 3.
Conclusion
Value for Money
The Superblast 3 comes in at £200. While it may not be a one-shoe rotation due to its limitations at the higher ends of speed, it can do pretty much anything else. Furthermore, the build quality and material quality also add to the overall value proposition of the shoe. These factors combined with the probable durability make it a worthwhile investment for your running rack.
Fitting it into a shoe rotation
For a large section of the running community, this may be the only shoe you need. Daily miles, long runs and tempo efforts can all be tackled in comfort. About the only place I wouldn’t take the Superblast 3 out at the moment is for 5/10k pace and above workouts. While I am sure it is capable of these paces, my personal preferences would have me reaching for something more aggressive for these sessions.
Final Verdict
Since I received the Superblast 3, it has been hard for other shoes to get time on foot. Comfort, easy running and simple good fun are available in abundance in this gargantuan package. For most runners, while it is on the costlier side, the Superblast 3 will make a great addition. It runs comfortably at a range of paces and distances while providing excellent energy return and leg protection. It is already a shoe which is in the running for me to be my shoe of the year.
We asked at the start where the Superblast sits in the ever growing stack of supertrainers. For me, it still sits in that top tier due to the comfort and versatility on offer. It is such an easy shoe to run in
Comparisons Against Similar Shoes
ASICS Superblast 3 vs. ASICS Superblast
Two very different shoes under the same name. The vast longevity of the original Superblast is amazing and it worked very well on longer runs. The Superblast 3 may have some questions about its midsole durability but the added softness makes it a friendlier shoe for daily efforts. If you are looking for flexibility and bounce, pick up the 3. If you are looking for more stability and immense longevity, dig out your old OG pair. The original also felt rather flat for me while the Superblast 3 feels more propulsive.
ASICS Superblast 3 vs. Nike Vomero Plus
Both big, soft and bouncy shoes. The Vomero Plus has a much more padded upper and is a lot cheaper. However, the ZoomX in the Vomero Plus is not the full race day version, it is a remix for comfort. This means that the FFLeap gives a more lively ride with more energy return. Most runners will have a good time with either of these choices. It comes down to personal preference and depth of pocket.
ASICS Superblast 3 vs. Brooks Glycerin Max 2
One is a dense, stable dampener of a shoe. The other is a lively, bouncy trainer which lives a little more on the wild side. Both offer good comfort and are designed for long runs. If you want stability or are a heavier runner, the Glycerin Max will probably suit you better. If you want a more versatile big boy in your rotation, the Superblast 3 takes the win.
ASICS Superblast 3 vs. Diadora Atomo Star
Diadora’s flagship supertrainer offers a great deal of comfort and quality in the build but I found it a little lacking in the super part of its description. It is comfortable and competent but lacks the zing of the Superblast 3 for me. This along with the slightly odd shape of the last giving it fit issues means that the Superblast 3 takes the win.
ASICS Superblast 3 vs. Nike Vomero Premium
Two absolutely massive shoes at different ends of the weight spectrum. The Nike Vomero Premium comes in at about 100g heavier but also packs in 10mm more foam underfoot. While it is possible to pick up the pace in the Vomero Premium and enjoy it, the weight does penalise it a little here. While the geometry and foam assistance do mitigate the 100g deficit somewhat, the Superblast 3 feels lighter and livelier. For smaller runners, the Superblast would probably be a lot more forgiving on the legs.
Other People’s Takes on the ASICS Superblast 3
Raoul’s Take on the ASICS Superblast 3
The Superblast 3 is not a subtle shoe. Not in design, neither in engineering. This shoe screams when others are whispering. I had to learn to appreciate its voice and once I had cut through the noise, the Superblast 3 emerged as possibly my favourite unplated shoe yet.
The engineered mesh and gusseted tongue are incredibly comfortable, giving a premium feeling from the first step into the shoe. Lacing works flawlessly and while I am neither here nor there on the heatmap styling, I must admit it has grown on me.
This was my first Superblast shoe and so I had no expectations on the midsole ride, which is a good thing. I have seen much comparison between versions, but this was virgin territory for me. The midsole takes a little getting used to as you truly feel both foams. I would say it performs best at medium to slow paces, and the shoe would solidly perform in runs where the aim is to feel more fresh after the run than before. The midsole compression is incredible, soaking up the road and giving a firm pop on the way back. For a shoe this light, it gives back in spades.
The only concern I have with the midsole echoes Andy’s words above. The FFLeap foam is so soft that it makes your foot work harder until you have a few runs in the shoe, which can give some niggles like the plantar Andy noticed.
The Superblast 3 felt a little slappy at first and they are quite squeaky, but this is a small price to pay for the joy it gives in return. In fact, I think it complements the tie dye rock and roll energy of this shoe. The Superblast 3 is an energy giver, capable of long and short runs with a mix of paces and even likes the ‘brown tar’ we have here. Jack of all trades, master of most.
As the industry rolls out a plethora of new unplated supertrainers, it’s easy to see why the Superblast 3 still sits high up on the list and serves as the inspiration for many of its competitors.
