Best Asics Running Shoes of 2023

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.