10 Best Asics Running Shoes for Every Kind of Athlete

Anima sana in corpore sano is a Latin phrase that means “a sound mind in a sound body.” It’s also the founding ethos (and acronym) behind Asics, one of the most popular running shoe brands in the world. The Kobe-based sportswear company’s first shoe (way back in 1950) was for basketball, and the brand’s no stranger to the sneaker scene, but it’s running where Asics has really found its footing. Most runners will be familiar the brand’s visible Gel technology, but deciphering a vast collection where some shoe names read like serial numbers can make it tricky to find the best Asics running shoes for your specific needs.

In the main pack of Asics running shoes, there are a few famous pacers like the Gel-Kayano and Gel-Nimbus, but recently, the decades-old corporation has been adding notable new members to its team with findings from its Institute of Sport Science. If you used to view Asics running shoes as old-school and stability-focused, it’s time for a check-in. These days, the company makes some of the best running shoes you can get, whether you’re out for a daily jaunt around the neighborhood or lining up at one of the World Marathon Majors.

I’ve worn Asics shoes to do both—and I’ve tested the rest of what’s been coming out of Kobe recently, too. After hundreds of miles of smashing Gel pods against the pavement, here’s all my intel on which Asics running shoes you should buy depending on what kind of running you’re doing.

Best Asics Running Shoes, At a Glance:

Best Overall: Superblast 2

When it first came out, the Superblast was confusing: It looked a lot like the so-called “super shoes” made for marathon racing but with no carbon fiber plate, and so much midsole it was technically race-illegal. But once runners realized that it was the perfect partner for long runs, short runs, speed runs, and even recovery runs, it gained a cult following and went down as one of the best pairs of the year. The Superblast 2 builds on that track record with a slightly different upper and midsole but handily avoided a sophomore slump—the new version is as versatile and adept as its predecessor. The key is that foam platform, which is thick but also rigid and stable, poppy and comfortable but not squishy. You can hammer on it and it responds, but if you take it easy it doesn’t feel like too much shoe for the job. I’ve found myself lacing up in this shoe again and again, logging over 500 miles on my first pair (that durability makes the high price tag go down easier) and I fully expect to get as many out of version two.

Best Daily Trainer: Novablast 5

If Superblast 2’s $200 seems like too much to spend on your running footwear, the Novablast 5 comes in a photo-finish second place—for a lot less. The shoe has a stocky midsole made of ASICS’ new FF Blast Max foam, which is proving to provide the ideal mix of cushion and bounce-back. One of the first things I noticed running in the Novablast was how comfy it is straight out of the box, but it managed to stay nimble out on the road, and was plenty stable with not a wobble to speak of. The upper is sleek, comfy, and secure, with a lacing system that seems pressure point-proof. Past versions of this shoe were ideal for everyday miles and speed; this one’s still well-rounded but its extra softness makes it a little less snappy. Still, we like it for pretty much any kind of run. If you’re training for a race, this shoe will get you to the start line.

Another Awesome Daily Trainer: Gel-Nimbus 26

A (very) honorable mention: Not only is the Gel-Nimbus the brand’s best-selling running shoe, it was also the third most-worn shoe by runners on Strava in 2024. The shoe has been around for a while, but recent overhauls have made it one of the most comfortable running shoes you can get, period. A shoe that feels this squishy out of the box runs the risk of sapping energy out of every stride, but the FF Blast Plus Eco foam provides enough bounce-back to prevent that from happening. Combined with a stretchy yet supportive upper, the shoe is the perfect partner not just for daily running, but also for walking around in. It’s good for the long haul too: I put 250 miles on version 25 and am rounding triple digits on this edition.

Best for Speed Training: Magic Speed 4

Most running shoe brands these days have a shoe a step below their premier race shoe (the Metaspeed Sky and Edge in Asics’s case) that has some of the propulsive speed tech but is slightly more approachable (and affordable). The Superblast sort of does this and the Novablast sort of does this, but they’re more versatile and neither really sits firmly in the speed day niche. The Magic Speed 4 does. It has a mix of FF Blast Plus and FF Turbo foams—the slab is thick at 43.5mm under the heel—and a full-length carbon plate. These make the shoe feel rigid like a race day shoe, but when you put it under the high-impact forces of 400-meter repeats, it kicks into gear. Unlike purebred racers, the Magic Speed 4 is more stable with its wider base. I tested the shoe at a range of distances and paces and found that speed work is where the shoe wears best; its foam doesn’t have the softness of the Novablast’s, so it’s not the best pick for take-it-easy days. But when you’re ready to rip, your wish is the Magic Speed’s command.

Best for Racing: Metaspeed Sky Paris and Metaspeed Edge Paris

In the “super shoe” drag race that Nike kicked off with the Vaporfly, there are many contestants. Asics has found itself right up alongside the Swoosh at the head of the pack with the Metaspeed, which comes in two versions, Sky and Edge. Stemming from research at the company’s Institute of Sport Science that showed runners either increase the length of their stride or increase their stride length and stride frequency as they speed up, the two versions address both. The difference is both technical—the carbon fiber plates in the midsoles are shaped and positioned differently—and subjective, as the shoes feel different, despite near-identical looks. I tested both and I liked both, but ultimately found that the Metaspeed Sky Paris had a better overall feel for me (I ended up running the 2024 London Marathon in the shoe too). Differences aside, both are what you expect from a super shoe made for marathon PRs: an ultralight upper, carbon fiber plate, and poppy feel that’s made for fast paces.

Best for Long Runs: Glideride Max

Asics has a lot of max-cushion shoes in its lineup, but not all of them have that max-cushion feel. The Glideride Max does, though—running in it, you can feel that you have a little more between you and the road and not in a heavy or clunky way. This is the same feeling I get running in many Hoka running shoes, and the Glideride Max feels more similar to the Clifton than the Superblast or Novablast. Supplementing the FF Blast Max foam is Asics’s Guidesole tech, which adds a little rocker to the shoe’s profile to help roll you through each footfall. It’s great for everyday runs, but it’s ideal for long ones where things might get a little more clumsy in those later miles. It’s versatile enough for short distances too, but there might be better choices in the Asics lineup if you never plan on getting into those double digits.

Best for Stability: Gel-Kayano 31

When Toshikazu Kayano began work on the Gel-Kayano back in ’93, combining comfort and structure was his guiding principle. The shoe became a flagship in the Asics line and while it looks quite different in version 31, that foundation remains unchanged. I don’t run in stability shoes that often anymore (after lots of work on my gait) but they used to be my go-to. Some can feel overkill—too rigid, too heavy, like they’re forcing you to run a certain way rather than supporting you. Not the Kayano 31, which uses Asics 4D Guidance System to adjust your gait away from over-pronation through a holistic set of interventions. The Kayano has the FF Blast Plus foam in its midsole but it’s not as squishy soft as say, the Gel-Nimbus. Still, it’s quite comfortable and has a roomy toe box. The ideal running shoe for anyone who needs extra support for daily miles, few or many.

Best Running Shoe for Most Trails: Gel-Trabuco 12

You don’t see Asics’s trademark swooping lines on trails very often—the company has put far more energy behind its road shoe line—but that doesn’t mean it’s not making great footwear for rugged terrain. You don’t have to wander farther into the weeds than the Gel-Trabuco to find a good example, either. The shoe is an example of the classic, versatility-minded model that most companies keep in the lineup (and that meets the needs of most trail runners). It has an eight-millimeter drop, a flexible rock plate, not-too-deep lugs, and some light overlays around the toe for extra protection. That’s just on paper, but out on the trails it proved to be stable, responsive, and comfortable too, with good hold in the upper and room up front for toes to splay.

Best Max Cushion Trail Running Shoe: Trabuco Max 3

“Groundfeel” is a term only trail runners have in their vocabulary. It means what it seems, and some prefer more of it while some like less. The Trabuco Max 3 is for those who want more midsole, less groundfeel. That doesn’t mean it’s spongy and unresponsive though; on the contrary, in testing, I found the shoe to be plenty supportive underneath, even firm at first but softening after I put some miles on it, and nimble enough to handle technical moments on the multi-use trails near me. It also packs Asics’s Guidesole tech, which contributes to a nice roll-y feel. Max-cushion trail runners can get tippy but the Trabuco’s platform is wide enough to nullify the issue, and its lugs are plenty grippy and designed for a range of surfaces.

Features of ASICS Running Shoes