Select BITR Apparel On Sale. Shop Now
Trail Running Shoes • January 16, 2023

Best Asics Running Shoes of 2023

We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission.

What You Need To Know

Winners

We break down our top 10 best Asics running shoes for 2023

Variety

From racing to tempo to slow days to trails, we got you covered

Comment

Any questions? Drop it in the comments. Otherwise, let’s get you educated

NOTE: This is an ongoing list and is constantly updated to reflect our current opinion.

American running companies seem to dominate the landscape nowadays, but it’s tough to top the long and storied history of Asics. Launched initially as Onitsuka Tiger, the Japanese shoe company has over 70 years of experience packed into its laces. That’s good news for you, as there’s an extensive list of shoes to fall in love with.

Especially since Asics has really turned the corner over the last couple years. For awhile, Asics was a ho-hum brand with seemingly the same shoes every year; however, they’ve now morphed into one of the best across-the-board brands in running. With fresh looks and designs and the performance to back it up, Asics is leading the way in giving runners what they want. We’ve run a ton of miles in all of these shoes, and can tell you that these are the best they have.

And while our recommendations are packed with plenty of new hotness, we can’t forget a few of the workhorses that got Asics to where it is today.

Here are our picks for the best Asics running shoes to get you pounding out the miles.

Asics 101: What To Look For

Asics has had more than enough time to create some impressive running tech, which means a long list of cutting-edge terms. It’s pretty easy to get lost in all of the jargon, so here’s a bit of a primer to get you started:

  • FlyteFoam: Asics’ primary (and most basic) midsole foam, designed to provide a lightweight shoe without sacrificing cushion and protection. FlyteFoam is tuned in different ways across ASICS products to optimize performance. 
  • FlyteFoam Blast: A cushioning foam material with excellent bounce. It absorbs high shock levels for long-distance runs and may provide some protection against ankle, shin and knee injuries.
  • FlyteFoam Blast Plus: A lighter and bouncier version of FlyteFoam Blast, found in the more premium shoes like the Novablast 3 and Gel-Nimbus 25
  • Flytefoam Turbo: Asics’ most high-rebound and energy efficient foam, used in its top-tier race day shoes like the Metaspeed Edge+ and Metaspeed Sky+
  • GEL cushioning: Asics’ best-known midsole technology, GEL, is found in most running shoes and helps to absorb some of the impact of your stride. It’s never deployed as a standalone GEL midsole.
  • GuideSole: Rocker-like midsole design for reduced ankle movement and more efficient strides, helping runners expend less energy and go further. Found on the GlideRide and EvoRide.
  • Guidance line: Outsole groove that runs from heel to toe, boosts stability.
  • AHAR rubber: More like AHARD, high-abrasion rubber that’s designed to be twice as tough as standard outsoles. Think of it as the shoe version of a car tire, but not on the same tier as AHAR Plus.
  • AHAR Plus rubber: The most durable and sticky of Asics rubbers, AHAR Plus is what you’re looking for if you want the premium quality of outsole in an Asics shoe.
  • Trusstic System: Outsole support that mirrors the structure of your foot to provide support. Depending on its application, Trusstic systems can also help increase responsiveness during your run.

Best Asics Running Shoes Right Now

asics superblast - feature photo

Asics Superblast

$200

Watch The Review
Best For

Every run, from daily training to race day

Weight

8.8 oz. (251 g) for a US M10,

7.4 oz. (210 g) for a US W7.5

Stack Height/Drop

45.5 mm in heel, 37.5 in forefoot (8 mm drop)

Sometimes you get a shoe and you’re like, “Yeah, this is nice, but whatever.” And then you wear it more and more and find yourself reaching for it each time you head out the door. That’s the Asics Superblast, which has slowly come to be our favorite shoe in the Asics lineup. Not for any specific reason, but for a variety of them. Essentially, this is the ultimate do-it-all shoe.

Featuring a top layer of Flytefoam Turbo and a stack height of 45 mm in the heel and 37 mm in the forefoot, there is plenty of cushion to go around. But it’s not an unstable shoe, because it has a wide platform and your foot sits between the sidewalls. It’s also a pretty peppy shoe at only 8.4 ounces, able to pick up the pace and even be used as a race day option if you really need it to. Throw on some Ahar Plus rubber on the outsole and you have all the best things in one shoe.

So yes, while the price point is high, it covers all the bases you need in your running. Truly, one shoe to do it all.

Read The Review

Shop The Shoe

ASICS Superblast-unisex shop
Shop Asics Superblast Men
ASICS Superblast-unisex shop
Shop Asics Superblast Women
asics novablast 3 - feature

Asics Novablast 3

$140

Watch The Review
Best For

Daily training

Weight

8.9 oz. (253 g) for a US M10,

7.5 oz. (212 g.) for a US W7.5

Stack Height/Drop

41.5 mm in heel, 33.5 in forefoot (8 mm drop)

After the redemption arc on the Novablast 2, the third version is headed straight for the stars. Not least because it looks like a rocket ship for your feet. The only drawback we’ve been able to find so far is that the Novablast 3 won’t hit store shelves until September. Other than that, the latest speedster actually gets a few of the upgrades that we saw in the GlideRide 3.

For starters, Asics swapped the FlyteFoam Blast midsole for a FF Blast+ compound, which is even softer and bouncier. It’s lighter, too — the Novablast 3 trimmed about an ounce of weight off its predecessor. We’ll bring you our full review once we’ve all had the chance to put our miles in, but this baby is still a 350-400 mile workhorse for sure.

To top it all off (literally), the Novablast 3 features a slightly more accommodating upper with a funky glitch camo pattern that looks really sweet in person. We’ve always loved how Asics designs uppers, and this one is no exception.

Read The Review

Shop The Shoe

ASICS NovaBlast 3- mens shop
Shop Asics Novablast 3 Men
ASICS Novablast 3-women shop
Shop Asics Novablast 3 Women
asics gel-nimbus 25 - feature1

Asics Gel-Nimbus 25

$160

Watch The Review
Best For

Daily training, easy runs

Weight

10.2 oz. (289 g) for a US M9,

8 oz. (227 g) for a US W7.5

Stack Height/Drop

41.5 mm in heel, 33.5 in forefoot (8 mm drop)

We’re only one month into the year as we write this, but mark our words– this will be Asics’ flagship shoe of 2023. Somehow, Asics took the boring old Nimbus (which, nevertheless, has always been a pretty solid shoe), and transformed it into a true head-turner.

Gone for good is the visible Gel (though a small section of PureGel remains embedded in the heel), the obtrusive overlays, and the lackluster looks. Instead, we have a sleek design featuring a Flytefoam Blast+ Eco midsole, a supremely comfortable knit upper with an incredible tongue, and some Ahar Plus rubber in the heel section of the outsole. This is now the definition of a max cushion shoe with loads of comfort designed to keep your legs feeling fresh for miles on end.

Did we mention that it looks really, really good?

Read The Review

Shop The Shoe

asics gel-nimbus 25 - men shop
Shop Asics Gel-Nimbus 25 Men
asics gel-nimbus 25 - women shop
Shop Asics Gel-Nimbus 25 Women
asics glideride 3 side-2

Asics Glideride 3

$150

Watch The Review
Best For

Daily training, easy runs

Weight

9.9 oz. (280 g) for a US M9,

8.5 oz. (240 g) for a US W7

Stack Height/Drop

31 mm in heel, 25 in forefoot (6 mm drop)

Do you know how good a running shoe has to be for it to get the Jarrett seal of approval before the 2E version even arrives? Well, the GlideRide 3 fits the bill. He’s been drooling over it for months — since last year’s Falmouth Road Race — and the hype actually met his expectations.

The GlideRide 3 features a similar upper to the previous model, so it can get a little warm in the summer. However, the real goodness lies underfoot with this upgrade. It still packs a familiar plastic plate sandwich, but now you’re riding on FlyteFoam Blast+ instead of the classic FlyteFoam formula. This is a great max cushion option that keeps a little spice in the step. It all comes together with the beloved rocker design, so you can just keep rolling through your miles. As if you needed another reason to celebrate, the GlideRide 3 got lighter, too.

With both the glide and the ride in full effect, the shoe truly lives up to its name. Sizes are starting to become scarce, so keep an eye out for the next version of the shoe coming later this year.

https://believeintherun.com/shoe-reviews/asics-glideride-3-review/

Shop The Shoe

ASICS GlideRide 3- mens shop
Shop Asics Glideride 3 Men
ASICS GlideRide 3- womens shop
Shop Asics Glideride 3 Women
asics gel-kayano 30 - feature

Asics Gel-Kayano 30

$160

Best For

Daily training, stability

Weight

10.7 oz. (303 g) for a US M9,

9.3 oz. (263 g) for a US W7.5

Stack Height/Drop

40 mm in heel, 30 mm in forefoot (10 mm drop)

We’ve finally moved on from the clunky stability shoes of old, moving into a new era of light stability that still provides some structure, but keeps a low-profile when it comes to the overall design. Perhaps nothing exemplifies that ethos as well as the all-new Gel-Kayano 30.

Our stability crew absolutely loves this update to the iconic stability shoe, and for good reason. We have a ton of updates, including a Flytefoam Blast Plus Eco midsole, the removal of visible Gel (there’s still a section of PureGel in the heel area inside the midsole), and a well-structured heel counter. Altogether, it’s more of a neutral daily trainer, with just the right amount of stability elements. And the value is there– with a generous outsole, this shoe will last you hundreds of miles.

Read The Review

Shop The Shoe

asics gel-kayano 30 - shop men
Shop Asics Gel-Kayano 30 Men
asics gel-kayano 30 - shop women
Shop Asics Gel-Kayano 30 Women
white asics shoe with red and white midsole on pavement with trees in background

Asics Magic Speed 3

$160

Watch The Review
Best For

Tempo/speedwork, budget race day

Weight

7.7 oz. (218 g) for a US M9,

6.5oz. (184 g) for a US W8

Stack Height/Drop

36 mm in heel, 29 in forefoot (7 mm drop), 35/28 for women

The first two versions of this shoe were lackluster, to say the least. But in version 3, Asics nailed it. Maybe it’s the bouncy top and bottom layers of Flytefoam Blast+ in the midsole, maybe it’s the full-length carbon fiber plate sandwiched between them. Maybe it’s the upper that feels remarkably similar to the race ready shoes that cost nearly $100 more.

Whatever it is, we’re into it. This is a lightweight, versatile trainer for those speedier days and can easily double as a budget race-day shoe that both looks and feels great.

Read The Review

Shop The Shoe

asics magic speed 3 - shop photo
Shop Asics Magic Speed 3 Men
asics magic speed 3 - shop photo
Shop Asics Magic Speed 3 Women
asics trabuco max 2 - feature1

Asics Trabuco Max 2

$150

Watch The Review
Best For

Ultra distances up to 100 miles, thru hiking

Weight

10.8 oz (306 g.) for a US M9,

9.4 oz. (266 g.) for a US W7

Stack Height/Drop

43 mm in heel, 38 in forefoot (5 mm drop, men’s)

Our trail team enjoyed the first version of the Trabuco Max, but the newest version takes it to a whole different level. Literally. With a 43 mm heel stack of Flytefoam Blast+ foam (the same foam found in the Novablast 3), this thing is the most max cushion trail shoe we’ve tested to date. It’s also one of the best iterations of Asics Flytefoam Blast and we wouldn’t hate to see this in an actual road shoe.

Usually, that type of stack height in a trail shoe spells disaster, since a larger stack height means increased instability. But not here. With a wide base covering a large area of ground, you just get a ton of cushion in a shoe that can go any distance. That goes for terrain as well. The Asicsgrip outsole provided surprisingly good traction on creek crossings and deep mud, allowing us to bomb downhills while others were forced to walk.

In short, this is a monster truck for trails, and you’ll want to go full Gravedigger once you get your feet in it.

Read The Review

Shop The Shoe

ASICS Trabuco Max 2-mens shop
Shop Asics Trabuco Max 2 Men
ASICS Trabuco Max 2-womens shop
Shop Asics Trabuco Max 2 Women
asics metaspeed sky+ - lateral

Asics Metaspeed Sky+ and Edge+

$250

Watch The Review
Best For

Race day

Weight

7.2 oz (205 g) for a US M9

Stack Height/Drop

Sky+: 39 mm in heel, 34 in forefoot (5 mm drop),

Edge+: 39 mm in heel, 31 in forefoot (8 mm drop),

I mean, what list of Asics shoes would be complete without the cream of the crop? This pair is probably what you’ve been waiting for, and now it’s time to dig in. Let’s get one thing straight, though — this should really be the Metaspeed Sky 2 and Edge 2, given the number of changes. It’s also technically the third attempt at a carbon-plated racer from ASICS (remember the Metaracer?).

The MetaSpeed Sky+ features even more nylon-based Flytefoam Blast Turbo foam in the midsole. It picked up 4% more foam while the Edge+ packed in 16% extra. Think of a Fast & Furious NOS-turbocharged version of the same foam used in the Novablast line. It’s light, bouncy, and smooth, and it’s as close to the Alphafly feeling as you can get. Asics has also toyed with the carbon fiber plate itself, moving it higher in the stack for even greater compression and bounce. On the Metaspeed Edge+, Asics moved the plate lower to assist in stabilization and provide more of a kick forward.

The AsicsGrip outsole is, well, super grippy and excels in wet conditions. The quality rubber outsole pairs perfectly with the wild midsole for a tame ride. The thin, one-piece mesh upper breathes incredibly well. It’s light on the foot and the environment, as it’s made of 100% recycled material. This environmentally conscious racer is here to save the world and shatter PRs.

Shop The Shoe

green asics running shoe shop photo
Shop Asics Racing Men
asics metaspeed - shop women
Shop Asics Racing Women

How We Make Our Picks

All of our recommendations come directly from our feet to your screen. We test countless running shoes here at Believe in the Run, and we let our reviews guide our decisions. However, we also consider other reviews and our BITR community, as not every runner has the same experiences. We also aim to stick with shoes that are currently available so you can give our recommendations a try.

Want to learn more about how our review process works? Check out this guide.

5
Comments

Have something to say? Leave a Comment

  1. Peter Reich says:

    If price didn’t matter, would you pick up the meta speed series for all your runs or would the Novablast or Nimbus 25 still be the choice? The super blast needs new colors before I think about those.

    1. Robbe Reddinger says:

      If price doesn’t matter, then Superblast all the way. Would save the Meta series only for speedwork or race days.

  2. Helen says:

    No Fuji Lite? My favourite shoe for summer trail running – light, flexible and nimble – somehow I always have fun in them.

  3. James from DC says:

    I was on the fence about getting the Novablast 3 until they came out with the TR. They corrected the only possible weakness of the show. I got over 90 miles on them, most on runs below 0F. They still look like they just came out of the box. Looking forward to another 500miles in them.

  4. Niki says:

    Thank you for this feedback! Definitely going to try out the superblast now.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Previous Post
Next Post
Previous Post
Read Article brooks catamount 2 cover
Trail Running Shoes • January 16, 2023

Brooks Catamount 2 Review: The Paramount Catamount

Next Post
Read Article brooks levitate 6 stealthfit cover