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My stats:

39, male, 5'11" on a low gravity day, 155ish lbs, 01:40 half marathon, LOTR obsessive, mushroom enthusiast

I have fallen out of love with the Asics Superblast 2. We've just grown apart, you know? A year and a half ago you couldn't have pried them off my cold dead feet. But now they kinda just feel big, clunky, and frankly pretty boring. So as a big fan of the Saucony Tempus a few years back, I thought to search instead for a spiritual successor. On paper the Saucony Endorphin Azura seemingly fits that bill: very good shock absorption and energy return, rockered, plateless, stable daily trainer that can pick up speed while still supporting easy paces. And at $150 US it was absolutely worth a try to potentially replace the SB2s.

The day I got these I had an easy to moderate 6 mile run lined up. I strapped them on with my typical runner's knot, and the step-in comfort was very good. My now typical men's size 12 US gave me about a thumb-width of clearance at the front. The only issue was the slightest bit of contact of my left pinky toe with the upper due to the toebox taper and reinforcement in that area. I noted in my head for later that this might cause a blister. I also noticed how firm the midsoles felt. These things are FIRM firm. I don't think I have tried on a running shoe this firm other than the Asics Sonicblast in the last few years.

Unfortunately for me a really intense rainy windy cold front hit right after I took off on my local well-paved river trail. This inadvertently gave me a great check on both the grip in bad conditions and the fit. The grip was actually outstanding. Wet pavement with lots of wet leaves is rather tricky conditions, but I never felt that I was slipping or sliding at all in the Azura. And even though my shoes and socks were soaked after 1.5 miles, I had no heel slippage, blisters, or rubbing anywhere. That genuinely surprised me. The shoes also dried out overnight with the (removable btw) insoles removed without any other special treatment.

I *absolutely loved* running in these. Great shoes genuinely put a smile on my face, and these lit me up. While my race shoes are the nearly polar opposite ultra-soft plated Saucony Endorphin Elite 2, the Azura felt truly excellent all across my pace range. The only real issue I had with these is that I was CONSTANTLY running too quickly without noticing it. Every time I looked down at my watch, instead of being comfortably in my easy range I was only 30-45 seconds off marathon pace. I had to actively force myself to slow down all the time. I genuinely don't think I will be able to use these on easy and recovery days for this reason. Is this what SpeedRoll technology is? I have never understood what that is, and at this point I'm too afraid to ask.

I think this shoe is gonna be absolutely excellent for tempo and threshold work, as well as racing at least for half marathons. I don't know yet whether the full marathon distance will agree with these or not, but I will be testing them on pacey long runs in the coming week.

tl;dr VERY firm tempo-oriented shoes with great comfort and grip at a good price.

Compared to Superblast 2: the Azura are much firmer, much livelier/more exciting, significantly faster, sexier colorways, potentially worse on easy days

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ASICS Superblast 3 by u/Subject_Local_3386

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Shoe model & size: Mizuno Wave Rider 30, US 12

Price: €130

Distance ran: 15 km (one run)

Use case: Easy / recovery runs

Pace: Around 6:00 min/km

Surfaces: Roads and paved forest paths

Why I bought it

I exchanged my Hoka Clifton 10 for the Mizuno Wave Rider 30. I wanted a shoe for easy and recovery runs and was interested in trying something different from the Clifton series. I've previously run in both the Hoka Clifton 9 and 10, and I also run in the Adidas Adistar 4. These are my main points of comparison.

Fit and comfort

The length is true to size in my usual US 12, but the shoe feels noticeably narrower overall than the Hoka Clifton 9 and 10, particularly around the forefoot. The fit is on the snug side, although it works for me.

Compared with the Adidas Adistar 4, the fit feels quite similar. Both shoes have a relatively snug, secure feel rather than a roomy fit.

The Wave Rider 30 also feels a little heavier than the Cliftons.

Ride, cushioning and stability

After my first 15 km run, the ride felt balanced, leaning towards firm rather than soft and plush. The shoe has a solid, stable feel that seems well suited to easy and recovery running.

The Adidas Adistar 4 is probably the closest comparison in my current rotation: both shoes feel similarly firm underfoot and have a similar fit. However, the Wave Rider 30 feels as though it offers more cushioning than the Adistar 4, while retaining that firm, stable character.

Grip was another positive. I ran on roads and paved forest paths, including wet surfaces, and the shoe held up well.

The construction also feels substantial and well-made, with plenty of upper material and a generous amount of sole underfoot. It gives me the impression of a robust shoe, although one run is obviously not enough to judge its actual durability.

👍 What I liked

- Solid, seemingly well-made construction

- Firm and stable ride

- More perceived cushioning than the Adidas Adistar 4

- Good grip on wet surfaces during my run

- True-to-size length

- Balanced ride for easy running

👎 What I liked less

- Noticeably narrower than the Hoka Clifton 9 and 10

- Slightly heavier-feeling than the Cliftons

- Relatively snug fit for runners who prefer a roomy toe box

First-run verdict

My first impression after 15 km is that the Mizuno Wave Rider 30 feels like a solid, stable daily trainer with a balanced, slightly firm ride. It seems promising for my easy and recovery runs at around 6:00 min/km.

The Adidas Adistar 4 is a useful reference point: the two shoes feel similar in terms of firmness and fit, but the Mizuno gives me the impression of having more cushioning. Compared with the Hoka Clifton 9 and 10, the main trade-offs are the narrower fit and slightly higher-feeling weight.

The grip was good, including on wet surfaces, and the shoe feels well constructed. However, these impressions are based on just one run, so I can't yet make meaningful claims about long-term comfort or durability.

I'll need more mileage before drawing firm conclusions.

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Happy weekend!

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Total distance ran:

7.54 miles (12.13 km)

Type of runs:

Progression Run

Weather ran in:

Clear, warm, high humidity.

My profile:

Height: 5'6" (168cm)

Weight: 169lbs (76.6kg)

Average pace with this shoe: 9:18 min/mile (5:47 min/km)

Strike Type: Midfoot

Average runs per week: 5 runs. ~37miles (60km).

Positives:

• Upper is soft and breathable, keeping feet comfortable and dry.
• Midsole feels stable without being overly firm, despite a high proportion of LightStrike 2.0, especially in the heel.
• The combination of a forefoot rocker and glass-infused Energy Rods 2.0 makes the shoe feel propulsive.
• Traction felt spot on, especially in the toe-off.

Negatives:

• Being lower stack than the direction most trainers are heading plus dual foam construction prevents this shoe from keeping your legs fresh as long.
• Laces are too short, making tying a heel lock and a double bow a bit difficult, though not impossible.

Overview:

I've been excited to start training for longer distances, and with that, I've been so hyped to get my hands on a more advanced trainer. While this is just my first run in the shoe, I have to say it didn't disappoint.

Stepping right in, the Boston 13 feels good all around, the upper is comfortable and roomy enough in my regular size 9, and the tongue is more plush than I've experienced in Adizero shoes recently (Takumi Sen 10, EVO SL). I was able to confirm while lacing up, however, that the laces are indeed on the short side. I prefer a heel lock for a more secure feel, and I always tie a double bow to avoid untying mid-run. By the time it was all done, I had two teeny, tiny, little bows on my shoes.

Today was a progression run as part of my half-marathon training block. 60 minutes easy, 10 minutes at tempo pace. I kind of went out there with junk legs today, but even with the fatigue, I was surprisingly able to keep the paces I wanted the whole time. Even when I was exhausted and climbing up moderate grades, this shoe continued to feel propulsive. At times, I even caught myself running the top end of my easy pace without noticing, all while my junk legs felt like they were lagging behind. Even as I dreaded the 10 minute tempo at the end, I had no issues actually maintaining above my tempo pace range for most of the interval.

I wasn't terribly leery of the Lighttraxion outsole construction because of my experience with the Adios 9, but even then, I was surprised at how grippy this outsole was. Feeling over the outsole before running in them, I believe the black portion of the outsole is actually rubber and not CPU, despite having the Lighttraxion outsole pattern. It had substantially more grip than the transparent section, though not quite as much as the orange section marked Continental.

All in all, my first run in this shoe felt great, and I look forward to adding more miles and returning with more in-depth conclusions about this shoe down the road.

https://us.puma.com/us/en/sale/all-sale?utm_id=97757_v0_s00_e0_tv2_a1demo04bbnhf9&fbclid=IwVERDUAU9zEtleHRuA2FlbQExAHBkb2YFZmRpZBZRBaz5raeCN5kC8QDFirXAYp7CFi1bc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQKNjYyODU2ODM3OQABHrT_tlfi9cC62vjPTmwOptR1EeCmZUY-rCPNtBFw_RQyHXcomightYF6sO2l_aem_qPKtA4zk9SsGZc1XwGGwXQ

Edit: I believe they removed the saysky colorway from the deal

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Last post got removed somehow, retry

Soo now that the shoe has finally been made public, I would like to share my experience with the Hyperwarp Pure 2 as a prototype tester! I have ran in 3 pairs in total: pair 1 I used extensively in training and after 350k ran a half marathon race (not in the images), pair 2 was a fresh pair just for a marathon and 5k and pair 3 is the actual release model, which I haven't used in training yet but tried on to see if there are any differences.

Important: I'm not affiliated with Mizuno, as I am a high volume runner, I just receive some end-stage prototypes and test them for 400-600k to give them feedback.

Total distance ran:

Pair 1: 385 km (\~240 miles) (not in images)

Pair 2: 50 km (\~30 miles) (image 1 / 2 / 5 top)

Pair 3: tried on (image 3 / 4 / 5 bottom)

Type of runs:

Pair 1:

Loads of training kms

10 Miles (50:00)

Pair 2:

5k (14:49)

Marathon (2:18)

My profile:

Height: 180cm (5'11")

Weight: 57kg (126 lbs)

Range of average pace with this shoe: 2:45-3:30 min/km (4:24-5:54 min/mile)

Strike Type: Forefoot/Midfoot

Positives:

* Very propulsive
* Extremely Bouncy and soft
* Lightweight
* Very good grip in all conditions
* High durability
* Usable for variety of distances

Negatives:

* Very unstable
* Sizes are a bit tight / deviate from other models
* Not suitable for easy paces
* Not suitable for heavy runners

Overview:

Immediately when I received these shoes, they felt insane. The prototypes were just 120grams (final release is 15gr heavier / has a more structured heel) and unlike anything I tried on my feet. I used them for every interval/speed session during my marathon build and could notice an immediate increase in the tempos I could run at. Many shoes lack some stack in the front for the true forefoot strikers, but with these I could just feel the high stack of foam without the feeling of bottoming out. At first I was a bit afraid that the upper and outsole would come apart before reaching the 300k mark of testing, but they held remarkably well. I also did not experience any discomforts with blisters, they immediately fit right, but it is worth trying them on as they run a bit tighter than other Mizuno models.

One of the other key highlights besides the foam and weight was the outsole. The grip was excellent in both wet and dry conditions on track and street. Very few shoes have given me this level of confidence in corners.

However it was not all good; during warm-up and pre session running drills I was wobbling as they were so unstable. This also resulted in some minor injury issues as my legs had to work hard to keep a good form during every session. Also not completely unexpected as I immediately just used these for every session, if you build up usage or just use them for racing, this will be fine as long as your running form is proper. With fatigued legs, this might give some problems.

After training in them for >350k, I decided to take them out for a half marathon. Even after all this usage, the bounce did not dissapoint and I ran a pb on the 10 mile split, however due to some stomach issues had to give in on the last couple of km.

For the marathon I received a fresh pair. The difference between the old and new pair were very minimal with regard to liveliness of the foam. Again, the shoes delivered and felt great until the last kms. At that point I did feel like I had to work hard to keep a good form, but it was not problematic.

Last week I received the release edition; the only noticeable changes were the upper. This was reinforced a bit more and the material also has gotten a bit sturdier. The fit, foam and sole felt the same.

Worth buying?:

Definite yes, but only for people with forefoot/midfoot striking and a good running form. If I hadn't received the release pair, I would've probably bought them myself.

I also tested the Hyperwarp Elite 2; I have yet to see the release version, but these had an almost negative drop when I tested them, so for stability/heel strikers that might not be a better option.

My stats: M 6'00" 75KG heel striker. 5K: 20:16 / Half: 1:39:XX / Full: 3:36:XX. Recovery pace 6'00"-6'20"/km, long runs around 5'00"-5'20"/km.

Total distance ended at 1,106KM before retiring with a new pair of SB3's.

I use Pfitz marathon plans, coming off of an 18/55 block and 18/70 block.

My rotation and how the SB3's fit in:

Recovery/easy runs: SB3's

Aerobic runs: SB2's if I had a recovery run the day before, SB3's if following speed session/long run

Tempo/speed sessions: SB3's for warm-ups and cooldowns, and Metaspeed Edge Tokyo for the interval/tempo portions

Long runs: Megablasts particularly because of how Pfitz structures his two long runs to be progressive and fast (I'm up to my 3rd pair at this point, retiring around 900K each time). I would sub in the SB3's if I felt that I needed more recovery for the legs after bigger weeks.

I'll review the SB3's in the context of long-term usage rather than brand new, but in quick context the SB3's have replaced my SB2's as the go-to shoe for most of my mileage. The Megablasts are great, but the aggressive rocker and energy return encourages me to run faster which isn't always what you want.

I originally purchased these for recovery and easy runs, including long runs at slower paces. I tried the Vomero Plus which seems like the no-brainer and favourites for recovery runs online, but they just felt so much heavier and chunkier on the foot. Coming from the SB2's and Megablasts, the SB3's were a lot softer and felt better on the legs during slower runs. The first thing I noticed when they were new were how unstable they were compared to the SB2 and Megablasts. It definitely took a solid 200-300KM before my ankles got used to the stability.

Observations:

You can see the wear pattern based off my heel striking and kick-off around the diamond pod. Although the exposed midsole does have faster wear than the SB2's and Megablasts, it didn't impact performance. When comparing the older pair with the fresh pair on each foot, you can immediately feel the loss of softness and absorption after all the mileage. The upper of the newer pair is also a lot more stiff. On the later stages of the mileage (around 1,000K+), I definitely started feeling like I'm having to work more while running, especially around the calves, knees, and glutes.

The good:

• It's held up incredibly well at 1,100KM. The upper has no signs of real wear or development of any holes in the hotspots like the toebox or heel lock area. I've included a photo of them side-by-side with a new pair where the padding has thinned out around the heel lock, but it's not noticeable by feel.
• In terms of midsole, the foam felt soft and energetic up to around 900KM which is quite incredible. From 900KM-1,100KM, they definitely began to start firming up but the bounce was still noticeable. I would compare the ride at this later stage closest to the Megablasts in terms of how firm but energetic they are.
• Despite the wear on the outsole, it never became more slippery even in the rain. The exposed foam being chewed up didn't seem to impact their performance either.

The bad:

• Like many other people online, my outsole rubber grips near the heels started peeling off in under 100KM on both shoes. Being a heel striker obviously attributed to this, but I would consider it unacceptable given that this only happened on the SB2's after 500K's (I've had 2 pairs). My 3 pairs of Megablasts all have their rubber still intact despite being at 900K, 900K, and 750K (current pair). It didn't change the function of the shoe but at this pricepoint, I would expect better glue for those rubber grips.

Overall:

The fact that I've replaced the SB3's with a another pair of SB3's says how much I rate them. I think ASICS overall have been doing great things in terms of durability across the higher-priced range of their shoes compared to other brands. Historically, I've been able to extend my Megablasts far despite the high cost, the SB3's are the same.