Best Asics Running Shoes

Asics Superblast 2

The Asics Superblast 2 is an all around improvement from last year’s cult classic. It’s versatile enough to handle anything a runner needs to do including easy runs, tempo runs, speed work, and race days. It’s wide foot friendly with an accommodating engineered woven mesh upper that molds to your feet. The traction, stability, durability, and breathability are all top notch. And the great upper sits on top of a soft yet bouncy FF Turbo+/FF Blast Plus Eco midsole that delivers a fantastic ride. The Superblast 2 doesn’t have any glaring negatives (a rare occurrence in the shoe reviewing business). It’s one of the best shoes on the market. See the full review.

Fit: True to Size, Drop: 8mm, Price: $200

Asics Novablast 5

The Asics Novablast 5 has (to many) been the epitome of a daily trainer for a few years running now. While we at WearTesters enjoyed the added support and durability that the Novablast 4 brought, we felt it lacked the pop of the Novablast 3. We were thrilled to find that the Novablast 5 seems to marry the best parts of each to create a highly successful, do-it-all daily trainer that’s sure to be a hit with fans of the Novablast line – and it does so with a new midsole compound, FF BLAST MAX.

We first saw this new foam in the top layer of the Asics GlideRide Max, and it’s a squishier, softer foam than the FF BLAST PLUS ECO of last year’s Novablast 4. Luckily, its implementation here in the Novablast 5 gave us all the sink-in comfort we could want without blunting the hoped-for response when we took it through faster paces. While it may not be quite as speedy as the Novablast 3, it unequivocally feels faster and more versatile than the Novablast 4. It also offers great comfort, stability, and durability (thanks to the deeper pattern of the AHAR LO outsole rubber). The comfy tongue is even gusseted now, which should put an end to the slippery tongue issues of previous Novablasts. Asics has swapped the engineered woven upper for an engineered jacquard mesh that poofs a bit at the forefoot, which is perhaps our only cause for disappointment. But, seeing as that sacrifices aesthetics more than performance – and seeing as the upper swap may be in part responsible for keeping the price at an extremely competitive $140 – we can’t argue with the result. Its accommodating, true-to-size fit (plus availability of a wide version), excellent price, protective comfort, and incredible versatility make the Novablast 5 an easy shoe to point to for those looking for “one affordable shoe to rule them all.” Full review.

Fit: True to Size, Drop: 8mm, Price: $140

Asics Gel Kayano 31

The Asics Gel Kayano 31, Asics’ primary stability option, gets a big facelift for its 31st iteration and continues the trend of getting the stability out of the way unless you really need it.

Think of it as a slimmed down Gel Nimbus with extra support for those that need it. The underfoot cushion is good, and the upper is comfy and well-fitting. It’s a shoe that can soak up a lot of miles in all sorts of conditions. It’s the best Asics stability shoe and one of the best on the market in general.

Fit: True to Size, Drop: 10mm, Price: $165

Asics Metaspeed Sky/Edge Paris

The Asics Metaspeed Sky Paris and Asics Metaspeed Edge Paris are Asics’ best road racing shoes to date offering a fantastic combination of great fit, comfort, breathability, stability, improved midsole foam, and an impressively low weight.

Which one of the two shoes you’ll prefer isn’t clear, but if you can figure that out, you’ll end up with a high performing shoe that’s trustworthy for road races of any distance. Read the review.

Fits: True to Size, Drop: 5mm, Price: $250

Asics Magic Speed 4

The Asics Magic Speed 4 takes the solid performance of the Magic Speed 3 and levels it up with more foam, a roomier upper, a better fit, and more bounce. The Magic Speed 4’s outsole is a slightly adjusted version of that found in the Metaspeed series and delivers well as a training complement to those high-end race shoes. The upper could be dialed in even a bit more, the tongue’s a bit slippy, and, if you’re often landing on your heel, the drop can feel like it’s in the negative range. It’s not perfect, but it performs well as a speedier, training workhorse to avoid putting miles on that Metaspeed you’re saving for race day.

Fits: True to Size, Drop: 8mm, Price $170

Asics Gel Nimbus 27

The Asics Gel-Nimbus 27 is a luxurious option for recovery and daily runs that will easily absorb hundreds of road and treadmill miles. Asics has kept the well-loved knit tongue from previous versions, and the upper sees an improvement in ventilation with the switch from knit to jacquard mesh. The HYBRID ASICSGRIP outsole still performs well and has an updated pattern that seems to offer increased durability over that of the Nimbus 26. And an additional 2mm of FF BLAST PLUS ECO makes longer days feel even more comfortable in the Nimbus 27.

It’s not a shoe that’s capable of picking up the pace, but the ride is stable and characterized by all-around plushness. It will be available in a large array of widths in both men’s and women’s sizing, so there should be a good fit available for just about everybody. While we see the Nimbus 27 as a step forward for the Nimbus line and believe it justifies its $165 price point, we still think the best option for most consumers will be to scoop up the Nimbus 26 on sale and transition to the Nimbus 27 after its predecessor is no longer. See the full review.

Fit: True to Size, Drop: 8mm, Price: $165

Asics Gel Cumulus 26

A big Asics Gel Cumulus 26 update follows closely on the heels of a Cumulus 25 that was also a big update. This new update better differentiates the Cumulus line from the Nimbus line.

At $140, it delivers value but is hard to choose over the Asics Novablast 4, which offers a better all around package for the same price and the Asics Gel Nimbus 26, which delivers more comfort and stability for $20 more.

That said, the Cumulus 26 is comfortable (especially that tongue), a soft ride, and has a new Fluidride outsole that’s an EVA and rubber blend meant to increase softness. Durability may be an issue but it’s worth trying on if you’re looking for a soft, comfortable shoe in the Cumulus mold.

Fits: True to Size, Drop: 8mm, Price $140

Asics Gel-Lyte V

The Asics Gel-Lyte V is a 1990s classic that fits well with today’s retro craze. It’s got a unique spot as a non-bulky 90s shoe capable of providing all-day comfort both around and below the feet. It also comes in a bunch of different materials and colorways making it easy to match with anyone’s personal style. Read the full review.

Fits: True to size, Price: $120-140

Asics EX89

The Asics EX89 is the reissue of one of Asics’ basketball shoes from 1989 called the Gel Extreme. The EX89 is not meant for basketball, but it does bring comfort and retro style to your feet. Asics even added FF Blast to liven up the underfoot cushion and feel. The traction also has no issues, even in wet and slippery conditions. It’s similarly priced to the Nike Dunk Lows, but the Asics EX89 features better materials, fit, and performance for walking and casual wear. Read the full review.

Fits: True to size, Price: $110

Asics Gel-Lyte III OG

The Asics Gel-Lyte III OG, originally released in 1990, features the iconic split tongue configuration that’s still easily recognizable today (though the split tongue actually originated on the Gel-LD Racer). The OG version stays true to the original shape and tooling, including the Gel unit encapsulated in the midsole. It’s a truly classic shoe that’s now available in a ton of different colorways and collab versions. The Gel Lyte III OG can even stand out in today’s crowded retro sneaker scene.

Fits: True to size, Price: $110-120, $140-150 for collab versions