The Best Asics Running Shoes Deliver Cushion, Stability, and Speed

Before “cloud” was associated with On’s trainers and Phil Knight cofounded Blue Ribbon Sports, which eventually became Nike, there was Asics. The brand was founded over 75 years ago as Onitsuka Tiger, and would eventually merge with the Asics Corporation in 1977. The Asics “tiger stripes” logo on its shoes derives from 1950s Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66 shoe model. Its Gel-Cumulus and Gel-Nimbus legacy models were released in 1999. Though the company is Japanese, the origin of Asics’s name is actually a Latin acronym, anima sana in corpore sano, for “sound mind in a sound body.” This is exemplified when wearing, running, and racing in an Asics shoe. The brand’s dynamic cushioning provides comfort and a responsive ride for all running experiences. Well-received by wear-testers, we’ve included Asics trainers in multiple buying guides, including Best Running Shoes and the 2025 Shoe Awards. Best Asics Running Shoes Preview - Best Overall: Asics Novablast 6 (Men’s/Women’s) - Best Value: Asics GT-2000 14 (Men’s/Women'’) - Best Daily Trainer: Asics Gel-Cumulus 28 (Men’s/Women’s) - Best Cushioning: Asics Gel-Nimbus 28 (Men’s/Women’s) - Best for Stability: Asics Gel-Kayano 33 (Men’s/Women’s) How We Selected Runner’s World has offered running advice and gear recommendations since 1966. We assembled a 300-plus local group of runners of varying experience levels, paces, and foot types to test the latest shoe releases and give their honest assessments on fit, comfort, and ride. The shoes included on this list were all vetted by wear-testers and RW staff. I have also included my own experience testing some of these models during all kinds of workouts and in a couple of races. RW contributor Michael Charboneau provided insight on Asics shoe tech and answered frequently asked questions about Asics trainers. Full Reviews The Novablast 6 gets an injection of fun that is awfully reminiscent of the original, bouncy Novablast but is still tuned for everyday running. That original shoe was so spring-like that it was nearly impossible to tame—and rounding corners was a harrowing experience. Subsequent versions got reined in, perhaps a bit too much. For this update, though, Asics cored out a hole in the forefoot and filled it with A-TPU. The effect is that the carrier (the bulk of the midsole) delivers a predictable, stable ride, yet the forefoot feels explosive and propulsive. It makes an otherwise ho-hum trainer suitable for days when you get a little excited with the pace. Shop Men’s at amazon.com | Shop Women’s at amazon.com The GT-2000 gets a makeover with its 14th iteration. For one thing, the shoe is even softer. Asics switched out its FF Blast Plus foam for its cushier FF Blast Max, which gives it a plusher feel. Testers said they didn’t sink down into the midsole; the foam was soft without being marshmallowy, and provided a high-rebound ride. The outsole is reworked with flame-like pods for better traction and stability. And speaking of stability, the GT-2000 14 uses Asics’s 3D Guidance System, which involves high sidewalls for a secure fit and a wider platform for support. “The versatility of the GT-2000 14 was impressive,” said tester Jeremy Garges. “I feel it could be an everyday trainer, tempo run, and long run shoe and still be competitive in each category. The forefoot cushioning was the feature I noticed the most. I’ve tested other shoes that have great heel cushioning, but then the forefoot is too hard or too soft. The GT-2000 14 was evenly balanced from heel strike to push off.” For an even cheaper option, check out Asics’s GT-1000 14 ($110), which also has the brand’s 3D Guidance System. Shop Men’s at amazon.com | Shop Women’s at amazon.com The Gel-Cumulus is a long run favorite for its plush, supportive cushioning. It buffers miles of pounding in a surprisingly lightweight package. The shoe’s midsole is FF Blast Max, which promotes soft landings with high rebound. The foam—along with Asics’s PureGel tech—provides arch support for both neutral runners and underpronators. “Compared to other daily trainers I have tested, the Asics Gel-Cumulus 28 is a perfect, stable, trainer,” said Caroline Lennon, a heel-striker who trains at 8:30 pace. “I found myself not interested in reaching for any other shoes in this period, no matter whether I was running on the treadmill, trail, or road. They were exceptionally comfortable and I never had any pain, discomfort, or nagging injury crop up in my time with these shoes. “They don’t feel flashy, light, responsive and fast,” she continued. “But when I was waking up, and bleary-eyed pulling on my sneakers for a pre-dawn run, they felt like the comforting warm hug my feet wanted. Like getting back into bed. The cold streets/sidewalks didn’t feel nearly as jarring underfoot, and despite my feeling slow, I actually ran faster than I was expecting every time I wore these.” Shop Men’s at amazon.com | Shop Women’s at amazon.com Since its release 27 years ago, the Gel-Nimbus has delivered a premium cushioned, long-lasting ride. The Gel-Nimbus 28 is updated with 20 grams shaved off its weight, a feature testers were keyed in on when they ran in the shoe. “I really like having a lightweight shoe that offers enough support for mostly road surface miles,” said Courtney Kazmierczak, an intermediate runner who trains at 9:15 pace with a forefoot strike. “The shoe feels like a feather when you hold it and honestly, putting it on I was doubtful that it would have enough cushion based on the weight of the shoe.” Kazmierczak shared she had recent heel pain before testing the shoe and was surprised her runs were absent of discomfort in that area. The Gel-Nimbus 28 has a much softer version of the brand’s PureGel tech in the midsole. The Gel tech combined with FF Blast Plus foam results in high energy return workouts and support that lasts for miles. “The forefoot cushioning, like I mentioned in the overall rating. It was spot on,” said fellow forefoot striker Dave Brattley, who runs at 10:00 pace. “I’m still able to feel the road while still minimizing the impact. It made these shoes a real pleasure to run in.” Shop Men’s at amazon.com | Shop Women’s at amazon.com Year after year, the Gel-Kayano lands on our list of the best stability shoes for its comfortable fit and smooth ride. The latest version introduces Asics’s new stability tech: FluidSupport. Replacing the 4D Guidance System, which made the shoe feel stiff, FluidSupport enhances cushioning with a dual-layer of foam. FF Blast Plus and FF Blast Max are combined in the midsole; what you get is a softer top layer of foam and a denser bottom layer. Working in tandem with the shoe’s geometry, FluidSupport provides guidance only when you need it. The result is a more flexible trainer that delivers high energy return on your runs. Shop Men’s at amazon.com | Shop Women’s at amazon.com The Magic Speed 5 is the cheaper but still capable carbon-fiber plated racing shoe for the first-time marathoner or 26.2 vet looking for a speedwork trainer. FF Blast Plus foam cushions your landings along with a layer of brand’s lightest and bounciest FF Leap foam. Asics also reduced the offset to 7mm and the heel height and forefoot height for a more stable ride. Testers felt the shoe was too firm for long runs, but liked its responsiveness for shorter efforts during their training. Midfoot striker Gabrielle Kelenyi, who trains at 7:45 pace, said the Magic Speed 5 wouldn’t be her first choice of shoe in terms of comfort (the arch felt too pronounced for her foot), but the functionality was there. “Without extra effort, I was going 15 to 30 seconds faster per mile on my runs,” she said. “These shoes offered good control during wet runs and up and down small hills. The lace closure was secure. Overall, I wore these for shorter runs (6 miles) and they gave those runs some extra oomph. They were not comfortable enough for longer runs (8+ miles).” Other testers, like Stephanie Petrides, appreciated the arch support and overall cushioning. “I have very flat feet and tend to give my knees and ankles a good pounding because of it, but the cushioning made everything very comfortable,” said Petrides, an overpronator. “The shoe was definitely not too soft and didn’t make me feel like it was slowing me down.” I raced in the Metaspeed Edge Tokyo at the 2025 Sydney Marathon and didn’t expect to run 3:05 after combatting a week of being a tourist and jet lag. The shoe is more aggressive than the Metaspeed Edge Paris. Its bounce derives from a new layer of FF Leap foam, which is super light and responsive. The carbon-plate is sandwiched between this top layer of Leap and FF Turbo Plus. The Edge is made for cadence runners, with the plate at a lower angle in the forefoot area compared to the Metaspeed Sky Tokyo, which has a more equal distribution of foam with its carbon plate placement. We highlighted the Edge version here, but both models are favored by testers and can be worn by the same runner (some prefer the Sky for long races and the Edge for shorter races, like 5Ks, and vice versa). “I think that the Metaspeeds are my all time favorite super shoe,” said tester Anthony Calantoni. “I have worn over 10 different pairs at this point and still find these to be the best feeling all around. They have definitely made improvements from the first edition which feel great. “I think the increased padding on your foot is the biggest improvement from previous models. The old shoe you could feel the plate and the hardness was real, especially in a marathon. These have definitely improved in that area and you can feel it in most steps. I think I also love it because it still feels like a normal shoe but just with some enhancement of the speed.” Asics Metaspeed Edge Tokyo Review The Sonicblast is your prep shoe before showtime, or that trainer with just a little more oomph when you want to push the pace during workouts. A Pebax Astroplate is sandwiched between 40+mm of FF Blast Max and FF Turbo foams, to stabilize the ride as the shoe propels you forward. Testers loved the bouncy, high rebound ride and praised the shoe’s supportive cushioning. “What I liked most about the Asics Sonicblast was the toe-off propulsion and responsiveness,” said tester Dee Koutsourais. “That little pop you get when picking up the pace.” While testers liked the high energy return while running in the Sonicblast, some noticed wear early in their testing. “I think the durability is a slight detraction on the shoe,” said shoe tester Trevor Conde. “The foam at the lateral arch area seemed to show signs of wear within the relatively short testing window, and I don’t think I would get a ton of miles on this shoe total for its lifespan.” Shop Men’s at amazon.com | Shop Women’s at amazon.com The Megablast has that high-octane, pogo stick bounce that makes it earn our Most Aggressive title. The shoe’s midsole is pure FF Turbo², Asics’s bounciest foam. At a tall 46mm stack height, the Megablast is a lot of shoe at a surprising light weight. Josh Davis, an underpronator who trains at 7:00 pace, described the shoe as bulky but appreciated its bouncy ride. “This is a pretty darn good shoe,” he said. “The super high deck broadcasts the FF Turbo² foam, and it lives up to its name. For its size, the shoe is pretty darn light and very responsive. I’ve put over 100 miles on it at this point, and haven’t noticed any change in the pop. I liked this shoe for easy runs. I didn’t try to push it in any workouts because the shoe was a bit bulky.” Some testers, including myself, felt the ride was too squishy and erratic in a whole lot of shoe. RW contributor and tester Heather Mayer Irvine said “the junk in the trunk” was her least favorite aspect of the Megablast. With the Superblast 3 you get the best of both worlds in terms of cushioning and ride. The midsole has FF Blast Plus foam and FF Leap on a trampoline pod-shaped sole, designed to encourage better toe-off. Runners loved its soft but supportive foam and bounce. Said intermediate runner and 7:45 pacer Erin Dewalt: “I like the combination of lightweight cushion and bounce most. For half marathon and marathon training, when you’re logging lots of miles, foot comfort is paramount. During my long runs, I’d marvel at how comfortable my feet felt even towards the end.” Nick Miller, an underpronator and heel striker, named the cushioning as his favorite Superblast 3 feature. “The cushioning of the Superblast 3 is what truly sets it apart from other shoes I’ve tested,” he said. “Its substantial stack height provides exceptional impact absorption, noticeably reducing the stress on my legs during runs. This made a clear difference on longer efforts, where fatigue typically builds up, and allows me to recover more quickly between sessions.” Some testers, however, including myself, felt the loudness of the shoe was distracting. When I tested the Superblast 3 on my runs the pavement slapping was comparable to Nike’s Alphaflys. What to Consider Asics has cooked up quite a few proprietary features, and you’ll see many different terms when browsing the company’s running shoe lineup. To help you get more insight into these features, compare models, and find the right shoe, here’s a deeper dive on the main Asics running shoe tech to know. Asics Running Shoes FAQs Cat Bowen, senior editor of commerce; reviews, is a seasoned runner with more than 20 years of distance running experience, including dozens of marathons, half marathons, and even a few ultra marathons. For over a decade, she has tested parenting, fitness, home, and running gear and written in-depth guides to help readers with their next purchase. Holding multiple advanced degrees and currently studying kinesiology, Cat Bowen brings research-backed insight to all of her guides. Passionate about women’s health and neurodivergent inclusion, she advocates for closing research gaps and helping others—especially AudHD people—find joy in running and fitness. Amanda Furrer, Editor, Running Reviews, studied journalism at NYU and writing at Emerson College. She has reviewed gear and covered other topics in the running space for almost 10 years. Since 2013, she has consecutively run the Boston Marathon. She also has a master’s degree in gastronomy from Boston University and was formerly a professional baker for two years before hanging up her apron.