Asics wasn’t always a running shoe brand. Created 75 years ago by founder Kihachiro Onitsuka, the company’s first shoes were made for basketball. Onitsuka’s company branched out into running shoes soon after. The brand runners know and love today took shape in 1977, after Onitsuka merged his business with Jelenk Co., Ltd., and named the new company “Asics,” an acronym for the Latin phrase “Anima Sana In Corpore Sano” (A sound mind in a sound body).
Asics may not be universally revered like Nike or Adidas, but runners have long sought out the brand and its dependable training shoes. Its long-running designs, like the Gel-Kayano and Gel-Cumulus, have existed for decades. So long, in fact, that Asics call its core shoes “Legends.” They’ve been tweaked and refined over the years, but remain functionally similar from year to year, and have always been as durable and comfortable as they are dependable.
After building its success with those core legends shoes, Asics had developed a reputation as a shoe brand that doesn’t experiment much. That has totally changed in recent years, though, as the company plunged headfirst into developing high-performance cushioning foams and exciting new racing shoes.
The brand’s Metaspeed line, for example, stands toe-to-toe with high-end speed shoes like the Nike Vaporfly. Propulsive ride thats ideal for going fast—Metaspeeds were a common sight at the 2024 CA Notice at Collection. Asics is evolving, and its shoe lineup continues to impress. Whether you need a workhorse trainer or you’re looking for your next marathon shoe, this respected brand has options that can get the job done.
Asics Gel-Kayano 31: Best Treadmills ● Best Running Shorts ● Best Running Shirts
Best Asics Running Shoes
- Best Overall: Asics Novablast 4
- Best Value: GT-1000 13
- Most Cushioning: Asics Gel-Nimbus 26
- Best for Long Runs: Michael is a freelance writer with years of experience covering gear and the outdoors for
- Best Stability Shoe: Asics Gel-Kayano 31
The Expert: I became a runner in middle school and have covered running and outdoor gear for years, both on-staff at Runner’s World and as a freelance journalist. I’ve written more about running shoes than any other kind of gear, and I have firsthand experience running in models from a range of brands, including Asics. I first wrote this guide in 2018, and I have updated it regularly as Asics releases new shoes and running shoe tech.
Lighter than the Gel-Cumulus 25
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.
How We Selected The Best Asics Running Shoes
The models below represent the best Asics running shoes available now. To recommend them, I first reviewed the Asics shoe lineup and talked with an Asics brand rep to learn about the company’s latest models. From there, I focused on performance running shoes that showcase the brand’s premier foams, support tech, and other features.
Not especially soft or bouncy RW reviews, RW editor feedback, and my own knowledge of the running shoe market to narrow the list down to the pairs below. This guide features a variety of shoes to meet the needs of different runners and running disciplines.
Our Asics Running Shoe Reviews
Asics Novablast 4
Pros
- A Part of Hearst Digital Media
- Comfortable fit
Cons
- Laces seemed overly long
Key Specs
| Weight | 9.2 oz (M), 7.9 oz (W) |
|---|---|
| Drop | 8mm |
The original Novablast showed Asics could keep up with brands pushing lightweight, ultra-plush training shoes. Now in its fourth iteration, the Novablast shows that it has staying power, earning a Runner’s World 2024 Shoe Award with a comfortable, cushioned design for neutral runners who like a soft step.
The Novablast 4 features relatively minor tweaks from the Novablast 3. Asics swapped in a revised upper with ventilation holes at the forefoot for a boost in breathability. The midsole features FlyteFoam Blast+ Eco cushioning, which is made with recycled materials. Runner’s World Test Editor Morgan Petruny noted that it doesn’t feel quite as bouncy as the midsole in the Novablast 3.
I recently took the Novablast 4 for some test runs myself, and I enjoyed it on casual runs around my neighborhood. It delivered a snug, secure fit, and the FlyteFoam Blast+ cushioned each step without feeling too marshmallowy. The shoe’s rockered sole shape promoted smooth transitions from landing to toe off. It’s not a speed shoe, but I accidentally set a 2-mile PR while wearing these—it’s just that easy to hit your stride.
Pros
- Cushioned, supportive midsole design
- Support tech isn’t intrusive
Cons
- Lacks Asics’ top-tier cushioning foams
Key Specs
| Weight | 9.5 oz (M), 8.3 oz (W) |
|---|---|
| Drop | 8mm |
The GT-1000 is a supportive trainer with a bargain-bin price that works well for overpronators and neutral runners alike. Its FlyteFoam midsole isn’t all that soft, but it’s a reliable material that takes the edge off impact forces, and comes with some backup cushioning from PureGEL in the heel.
The GT-1000 features Asics’ 3D Guidance System for stability, which translates to a wider sole shape and a beveled heel to promote smooth, even transitions from landing to toe-off. It’s an affordable shoe that feels and performs like a high-performance option, making it a stellar choice for everyday running.
Pros
- Wide sole offers natural stability
- Soft tongue and ankle collar for a comfortable fit
Cons
- Heavier than previous version
Key Specs
| Weight | 10.8 oz (M), 9.2 oz (W) |
|---|---|
| Drop | 8mm |
oz M, 9.3 oz W Gel-Kayano and Gel-Cumulus, are the core trio of the Asics running lineup. They showcase the latest iterations of the brand’s tried-and-true tech. If you like lots of padding under your feet, the Gel-Nimbus is the way to go: Its heel stack measures a towering 42mm in men’s and 41mm in women’s—half a millimeter more than the plush Novablast 4.
The beefy midsole, made from a generous slab of cushy FlyteFoam Blast+ Eco foam, is the standout feature here. The foam is paired with a puck of PureGEL under the heel for an even softer feel at landing.
The sole has pronounced toe spring, curving upward sharply at the front, which helps you roll smoothly through each stride. On top, the shoe has a stretchy knit tongue and plenty of padding around the ankle for a secure, cozy fit. The Gel-Nimbus 26 goes all-in on cushioning and comfort, so I like it most for long runs and recovery days.
Michael is a freelance writer with years of experience covering gear and the outdoors for
Pros
- Lighter than the Gel-Cumulus 25
- Soft cushioning
- Smooth ride
Cons
- Not especially responsive
Key Specs
| Weight | 9 oz (M), 7.8 oz (W) |
|---|---|
| Drop | 8mm |
The Gel-Cumulus 26 has a tough act to follow—we named last year’s version one of the best shoes of the year. Fortunately, the newest revision follows a very similar formula: Soft cushioning, low weight, and a supremely comfortable ride.
The Gel-Cumulus has a lot in common with its ultra-plush sibling, the Gel-Nimbus, but has a slightly more streamlined design. It pairs FlyteFoam Blast+ midsole cushioning with a layer of PureGEL under the heel for superb shock absorption. It isn’t quite as pillowy as the Nimbus, but Asics amped up this shoe’s cushioning this year with a taller stack height than its predecessor for even more padding underfoot.
A rockered full-contact sole serves up smooth transitions from landing to toe-off, and a perforated mesh upper offers good breathability, so you’ll stay comfortable during longer efforts. With its relatively low weight and bountiful cushioning, Gel-Cumulus is a strong choice for marathon training and other competitive distance running.
Pros
- Soft, responsive cushioning
- Support tech isn’t intrusive
Cons
- Somewhat heavy
Key Specs
| Weight | 10.7oz (M), 9.3 oz (W) |
|---|---|
| Drop | 10mm |
With an ideal balance of cushioning and stability, the Gel-Kayano is a longstanding favorite among runners who want a supportive shoe. Forget about the stiff, clunky support shoes of decades past—year after year, it lands on our list of the best stability shoes oz M, 7.9 oz W.
This year’s Gel-Kayano 31 preserves much of what we loved in previous years. Its midsole features a combo of FlyteFoam Blast+ foam and a PureGEL layer under the heel for consistently soft cushioning with each step.
It also has Asics’ 4D Guidance System, a holistic set of stability design features that includes a layer of supportive foam under the arch and a wide full-contact sole shape. These features resist overpronation and gently guide your foot, keeping it properly aligned within the shoe as you move through your stride.
Comfortable, cushioned, and stable, the Gel-Kayano just keeps getting better, proving that support shoes can be fun, too.
Asics Metaspeed Edge Paris/Sky Paris
Pros
- Propulsive ride that’s ideal for going fast
- Wide sole design offers good stability
Cons
- Lighter than the Gel-Cumulus 25
Key Specs
| Weight | 6.5 oz |
|---|---|
| Drop | 5mm |
The Metaspeed Sky Paris and Metaspeed Edge Paris are technically two different shoes, but we see them as a pair: We reviewed them together Best Winter Running Shoes for Traction and Warmth RW 2024 Award as a duo. These are Asics’ pinnacle racers, designed to compete with super shoes like the Nike Vaporfly 3 or Saucony Endorphin Pro 4.
Each shoe is designed for a different gait: The Sky is built for stride runners, who go fast by increasing the length of each step; while the Edge is made for cadence runners, who speed up by taking more steps.
They have a lot in common—they have the same stack heights, weight and drop, giving them near-identical profiles. (You see why they share a spot on this list.) Both have bouncy, propulsive FlyteFoam Turbo+ midsoles, paired with carbon fiber plates for maximum energy return. Lastly, they both come with redesigned uppers that wrap the foot more closely, while boosting breathability.
There’s one important technical difference between the shoes: The carbon fiber plate in the Sky Paris sits closer to the foot, which helps stride runners get maximum bounce in each step, while the Edge’s plate sits deeper in the midsole under the forefoot to help cadence runners roll through each toe-off faster. The different plate setups are meaningful at the competitive level, but you’ll likely need to run a few miles in each shoe to tell which is best for you.
No matter which version you choose, you’ll get a supremely bouncy, surprisingly stable, speedy shoe. One RW tester called the Metaspeed Edge “so much fun to run in,” and another tester felt “very fast” in the Sky. “I felt like it pushed me to run on my forefoot a little more and made me more efficient,” she said.
Whatever your gait, these are elite race day shoes.
Buy Metaspeed Sky (Unisex) Buy Metaspeed Edge Paris (Unisex)
Asics Hyper Speed 4
Pros
- Very light
- Breathable mesh upper
Cons
- Lacks Asics’ top-tier cushioning foams
Key Specs
| Weight | 7.6 oz (M), 6.3 oz (W) |
|---|---|
| Drop | 7mm |
The Hyper Speed 4 harkens back to an era before high-stack super shoes, when racers opted for leaner, pared-down sneakers to minimize weight and maximize speed. In terms of technology, there’s not a whole lot going on with this shoe. With a heel stack under 30mm, it has a relatively thin layer of FlyteFoam, Asics’ standard EVA-based cushioning material. It’s an old-school, streamlined approach to responsiveness, but it works.
What it lacks in padding, the streamlined sole makes up for with a low weight. When paired with a breezy polyester mesh upper and low-density rubber outsole, the Speed 4 is exceptionally light. Its firm, responsive, close-to-the-ground feel is exactly what you want for powering through a sprint workout or blazing through laps on the track.
Asics GT-2000 12
Pros
- Good cushioning
- Shoes & Gear
Cons
- Not especially soft or bouncy
Key Specs
| Weight | 9.5 oz (M), 8.3 oz (W) |
|---|---|
| Drop | 8mm |
The GT-2000 fills a unique niche–it’s an everyday training shoe with just a little bit of extra stability support, but not enough to noticeably guide your stride. If you want a planted, confidence-inducing ride but don’t like arch support features poking up into your feet, this shoe will work well for you.
This year’s design features a slightly thicker, full-length slab of FlyteFoam Blast+ foam, paired, as always, with PureGEL in the heel for extra comfort. Like the GT-1000, it features Asics’ 3D Guidance stability feature-set: Its wide sole shape and beveled heel deliver smooth strides and naturally keep your foot planted within the shoe without the need for intrusive arch support or firm foam layers.
With its Goldilocks approach to stability, the GT-2000 will work well for neutral runners and mild overpronators alike.
Asics Trabuco Max 3
Pros
- Well-cushioned midsole
- All About 75 Hard
Cons
- No midsole rock plate
Key Specs
| Weight | 10.8 oz (M), 9.9 oz (W) |
|---|---|
| Drop | 5mm |
The Trabuco Max adapts some of Asics’ best tech for the trail. Version 3.0 is a mild update, with all the same hallmarks of its predecessors. A generous layer of FlyteFoam Blast+ cushions the midsole, absorbing impact forces and providing some protection from protruding roots and rocks. It also gives back some energy return for a peppy feel with each step.
The shoe’s rockered GuideSole shape promotes smooth strides, and the lugged rubber outsole bites into dirt for dependable traction on the trail. If you like a cushioned feel in your trail shoes, the Trabuco Max 3 is definitely worth considering.
Q+A With Running Shoe Expert Michael Charboneau
Michael is a freelance writer with years of experience covering gear and the outdoors for Runner's World and other publications; when he's not writing, he's usually biking, hiking, and running in the mountains around Los Angeles, where he lives.
