Disclaimer: The Run Testers sometimes use affiliate links. This means that we may receive payment if you buy products on our website or YouTube. Our use of affiliates supports the channel and does not affect how we review shoes, tech or gear.
We’ve been testing the best running shoes for over a decade and it’s fair to say right now Asics is on a hot streak. The best Asics running shoes include one of our favourite carbon plate running shoe in the Metaspeed Sky Tokyo, one of our favourite all-rounders in the Megablast, and a host of other excellent options to suit a range of runners.
Asics were our brand of the year in 2025, launching impressive updates to popular lines like the Novablast and Gel-Nimbus as well as surprising us with some new shoes like the Metaspeed Ray and Megablast. Expectations are high for 2026 then, when a new version of the Superblast is expected, among many other updates.
You’ll find reviews of the best Asics running shoes we’ve tested below, and if you head to our YouTube channel you’ll get more in-depth takes on each shoe plus comparisons with rivals from within the Asics range and other brands.
Who Are The Run Testers?
The Run Testers are a team of experienced journalists who have been running for decades, and testing out running shoes for just as long. You can find more info on the team here, and if you read around you’ll find it easy to spot our bylines on articles covering running and running gear on a wide variety of websites.
All of our reviews are completely independent and impartial, and we’re confident that our advice can steer you in the right direction because we’ve spent years accumulating knowledge by testing everything we can get our hands on, so we can compare the latest releases to the best options already on the market.
The Best Asics Running Shoes 2026
Asics Megablast
Price: £210/$225 | Weight: 241g/8.5oz (UK 9) | Drop: 8mm
The Megablast is an outstanding all-rounder that offers a lot of comfort thanks to the towering stack of cushioning in its midsole, but also a lot of versatility thanks to its light weight and the springy FF Turbo Squared foam used.
It’s a shoe we’ve used for everything from relaxed recovery runs to hard sessions, and while it can feel a little blocky at faster speeds at times, the Megablast is great for longer reps and tempo efforts, while also being highly comfortable for easy and long runs.
The only real downsides to the Megablast are that some runners might find it a little unstable, and it’s incredibly high price. As much as we love the shoe, it’s certainly true to say there are better value options available from Asics and other brands.
Read our full Asics Megablast review
Asics Superblast 2
Price: £200/$200 | Weight: 252g/8.9oz (UK 9) | Drop: 8mm
The original Asics Superblast was a sleeper hit – even Asics didn’t seem to realise what a great shoe it had on its hands, and failed to make enough – and the Superblast 2 is just as outstanding. It’s one of our favourite all-rounder shoe,s with a plate-free but punchy design that delivers an unrivalled blend of speed, comfort, bounce and even stability despite the high stack.
That stack is mostly made up of Asics’s FF Turbo+ foam, which is the stuff used in its Metaspeed Paris racing shoes, and this springy foam combined with the stiff design of the Superblast 2 creates a remarkably fast ride for such a large shoe.
Compared to the Megablast, the Superblast 2 is a little heavier and less well-suited to fast efforts, but it’s also a little cheaper, which is not something we ever thought we’d say about the Superblast 2 compared to another shoe.
Read our full Asics Superblast 2 review
Asics Novablast 5
Price: £135/$140 | Weight: 274g/9.7oz (UK 9) | Drop: 8mm
The Novablast 5 is the mid-range daily trainer in the Asics range, with a versatile and comfortable ride that is designed to suit a wide range of runners. It’s cheaper than the top cushioned models like the Gel-Nimbus 27 while still having a sizeable chunk of comfy foam underfoot, and offers a more affordable alternative to the Superblast 2 for those in need of a daily trainer to handle a range of runs.
Asics has made big changes with every edition of the Novablast, and the 5 is softer than the Novablast 4 thanks to the new FF Blast Max foam in its midsole. The updates divided opinions in the Run Tester team – some felt the Novablast 5 is now less good for fast runs than the Novablast 4, while others liked the smoother ride and softer feel to the foam.
We all agree, however, than the Novablast 5 stands up well against its mid-range competition from other brands, like the Nike Pegasus 41, Brooks Ghost 16 and Hoka Clifton 10. The Novablast is great value and an easy shoe to recommend to beginners in particular, since it does offer a winning balance of comfort and versatility at a good price.
Read our full Asics Novablast review
Asics Metaspeed Sky Tokyo
Price: £240/$270 | Weight: 169g/6oz (UK 9) | Drop: 5mm
The Metaspeed Sky Paris was, in our view, the best carbon plate running shoe of 2024, and its successor is even better. The Sky Tokyo has a lighter and bouncier design thanks to the new midsole setup, which contains a later of FF Leap foam to add more spring to your step.
It’s a phenomenally fast shoe that works well for races of any distance, as well as hard training sessions, though we’d limit how much you’d use it in training because the Sky Tokyo doesn’t have the most durable outsole design.
The Sky Tokyo is our favourite Asics racer overall, though the Edge Tokyo is also terrific and might suit some runners better, while the Metaspeed Ray is the lightest, bounciest and most fun option in the range, but unstable and lacking durability.
Read our full Asics Metaspeed Sky Tokyo review
Asics Gel-Nimbus 28
Price: £180/$170 | Weight: 272g/9.6oz (UK 8) | Drop: 8mm
The Gel-Nimbus 28 is the most cushioned neutral shoe in the Asics line-up, and pairs that comfort with stability thanks to the wide base and sidewalls of foam on the shoe. It’s built to offer a lot of protection and is a good shoe for heavier runners and beginners worried about the impact of the sport, as well as being a strong pick for more experienced runners looking for an easy day shoe for their rotation.
Asics made several updates with the Gel-Nimbus 28 to make it lighter than the Gel-Nimbus 27 while maintaining its high level of cushioning, and it is an impressively light shoe given the high stack height of 43mm at the heel. It’s still not as versatile as shoes like the Megablast or Superblast, but the lighter design makes the Gel-Nimbus 28 even more enjoyable for cruising through easy runs.
Asics Metaspeed Ray
Price: £265/$300 | Weight: 136g/4.8oz (UK 9) | Drop: 5mm
The Asics Metaspeed Ray is an absolutely wild racing shoe, with an unbelievably light and bouncy design. It’s about as much fun as shoes get too, and we adored running fast in it, especially when cruising at marathon or half marathon pace.
Unfortunately, it’s also more unstable and less durable than Asics’s other racing shoes (which are already pretty pricy and unstable), and the Metaspeed Ray’s soft midsole and lack of a full carbon plate mean that it’s far from a safe or sensible choice for runners looking for their next super-shoe.
That said, it is undeniably fast and fun, and some runners might well find it the best racer on the market, as long as you don’t mind a little wobbliness.
Read our full Asics Metaspeed Ray review
Asics Sonicblast
Price: £170/$180 | Weight: 261g/9.2oz (UK 9) | Drop: 8mm
The Sonicblast is a plated super-trainer that uses the same responsive FF Turbo Squared foam in its midsole as found in the Megablast. In the Sonicblast it’s used alongside a later of FF Blast Max foam and a three-quarter length Pebax plate to add extra stability and propulsion.
We had mixed feelings about the Sonicblast on the team, with Mike and Nick finding it a little stiff and slappy compared to the Megablast and plated trainers from other brands, while Kieran liked the more direct feel of the Sonicblast. It’s certainly a versatile shoe, but not as fun as some rivals.
Read our full Asics Sonicblast review
Asics Gel-Cumulus 27
Price: £140/$140 | Weight: 274g/9.7oz (UK 9) | Drop: 8mm
The Asics Gel-Cumulus line is designed to be a more affordable alternative to the Gel-Nimbus 27, and also differs from the max-cushioned design of the Nimbus and the Novablast 5, standing 37.5mm tall at the heel and 29.5mm at the forefoot.
That’s enough cushioning to still be comfortable, but creates a more tradition feel to the ride that’s closer to the ground and more nimble than the very wide Nimbus in particular.
However, the foam in the Gel-Cumulus 27 lacks energy return, and it’s not the most versatile shoe despite being quite lightweight. For our money, the Novablast 5 is the better shoe for the same price, offering a more cushioned and versatile ride.
Read our full Asics Gel-Nimbus 27 review
Asics Metaspeed Edge Tokyo
Price: £240/$270 | Weight: 166g/5.9oz (UK 9) | Drop: 5mm
Like the Metaspeed Sky Tokyo, the Edge Tokyo got a big update in 2025 thanks to the introduction of FF Leap foam into the midsole alongside FF Turbo+. It has the FF Leap foam on the top, whereas the Sky Tokyo has it on the bottom, and the Edge Tokyo also has a more scooped carbon plate.
This difference means the Edge Tokyo should suit runners who mainly increase their cadence when running faster, while the Sky Tokyo should suit runners who mainly increase their stride length. However, we don’t really think this holds up in practice, and the two shoes are just both great racers with a slightly different feel.
Read our full Asics Metaspeed Edge Tokyo review
We dive into a more detailed comparison of the Edge and Sky Tokyo in this video.
Asics Gel-Kayano 32
Price: £180/$165 | Weight: 311g/10.9oz (UK 9) | Drop: 10mm
The Gel-Kayano 32 is the flagship stability shoe in the Asics range, offering a similar experience to the neutral Gel-Nimbus 27 but with extra elements that add more support for those who overpronate – where your foot rolls excessively inwards on landing.
While it largely sticks to the same design as the Gel-Kayano 31, which might be a better value option in sales now, the Gel-Kayano 32 does have a slightly lower drop at 8mm instead of 10mm, and we found it rolls through a little more smoothly from heel to toe.
It’s a very comfortable and protective shoe and one that works well for neutral runners and overpronators. The 4D Guidance System provides support through features like a wide base and a springier foam on the medial side, rather than the classic stability go-to of a firm medial post, and this means it doesn’t feel uncomfortable or too blocky if you are a neutral runner.
The Gel-Kayano 32 is at its best for easy and long runs and can be used for everything if you’re a newer runner or one who just wants a protective shoe for daily training. If you have a rotation it’s best paired with a lighter, faster shoe for workouts.
Read our full Asics Gel-Kayano 32 review
Asics Metafuji Trail
Price: £220/$250 | Weight: 276g/9.7oz (UK 9) | Drop: 5mm
The Metafuji Trail is Asics’s top off-road racing shoe, with a carbon plate sandwiched between layers of FF Turbo and FF Blast Plus cushioning. It has a responsive and fast ride and enough cushioning for trail events of any distance, which Kieran put to the test by running a marathon and an ultramarathon in the shoe.
While the Metafuji Trail doesn’t deliver as impressive a ride as the road super-shoes in Asics’s range, it is a solid pick for trail races on harder terrains. We found the outsole came unstuck on boggier ground, and it’s not perfect for the race Kieran did in the Lake District in particular, but stick to rockier tracks and it should serve you well.