The best ASICS running shoes for women

Best for road running: ASICS Gel Nimbus 28

ASICS Gel Nimbus 28 technical details

RRP: £180
Weight: 242g
Drop: 8mm
Stack height: 34.5/42.5mm
Foam: FF BLAST™ PLUS

Pros:

• Excellent comfort
• Smooth, stable ride
• Soft, premium upper

Cons:

• Premium price tag
• A little noisy

What our tester said

“I’ve done a few 10k runs in these shoes now, and I’ve found them to be super comfortable. The cushioning absorbs impact beautifully on hard roads. The FF Blast PLUS foam adds a touch of bounce that keeps it from feeling sluggish and the Hybrid ASICSGRIP performed well on wet pavements.”

Want more? Read Laura’s full ASICS Gel Nimbus 28 review.

Best for everyday short runs: ASICS Novablast 6

ASICS Novablast 6 technical details

RRP: £140
Weight: 212g
Drop: 8mm
Stack: 41.5mm / 33.5mm
Foam: FF BLAST MAX cushioning, FF TURBO SQUARED trampoline pod

Pros:

• Impeccable fit
• Slipper-like comfort
• Lovely for short runs

Cons:

• Versatile but not quite plush enough to be a long-run shoe, or give enough energy return to be a technical shoe

What our tester said:

“While I loved the comfort and immediately went for a little 3 mile plod in them, I couldn’t feel that race day pep that was suggested by the idea of a ‘trampoline pod’. In fact, I actually feel a little quicker and more comfortable in the Novablast cousins, the Gel-Nimbus 28 – perhaps I can actually feel the difference between the BLAST PLUS cushioning in that shoe?

I liked the Novablast 6 a lot, though: it was comfortable, plush, and guided me through a number of shorter runs very happily indeed. It didn’t offer quite enough in terms of plushness to be a long-run shoe, or energy return to be a technical one. For short, non-technical everyday running, they were ace.”

The ASICS Novablast 6 launches on 1st July 2026

Best stability shoe: ASICS Gel Kayano 31

ASICS Gel Kayano 31 technical details

• RRP: £180
• Weight: 266g
• Drop: 10 mm
• Sizes: UK 3-11

Pros:

• Supportive shoe for overpronators
• Premium feel
• Comfortable underfoot

Cons:

• On the pricier side
• Not as soft as the Asics Gel Nimbus (although some runners may prefer this)

What our tester said:

“While £180 is a lot of money for a running shoe, you’re getting a lot of premium cushioning for your money that makes this shoe very comfortable. The upper has a lot of padding around the ankle, there’s Asics’ FF BLAST PLUS ECO cushioning underfoot and PureGEL technology in the heel.

I first headed out for an 8-mile run in this shoe a few days after a hard 5k race where I’d set a new PB. So my legs were pretty tired and I was glad of the cushioning and guidance that the Asics Gel-Kayano 31 offered.

This is definitely a long run and recovery run shoe – you’re not going to want to be doing any faster running in it, but that’s not what it was designed for.

Underfoot, the shoe didn’t feel that different to the previous model – most of the changes are to the upper where there is now a knit collar. But that’s a good thing if, like me, you were fans of the previous model. If it works, why change it?”

Read Laura’s full ASICS Gel Kayano 31 review.

Best for speedy trails: ASICS METAFUJI Trail

ASICS METAFUJI Trail technical details

RRP: £220
Weight: 260g
Drop: 5mm
Stack: 45/40mm
Foam: FF BLAST™ TURBO and FF BLAST™ PLUS
Special technology: Full length carbon plate
Sizes: 3.5 to 12

Pros:

• A fast trail shoe
• Comfortable, big stack
• Very lightweight

Cons:

• Not for slower paces
• A little unstable underfoot
• Unisex shoe – check sizing

What our tester said

“I headed out for a six mile run in these shoe and from the off they were lively and fun to run in. I had about a quarter of a mile of road before I actually hit trail and though that’s not what they’re designed for, it did show me how springy and bouncy the shoe is on hard ground.

I covered a few different off-road terrain including woodland paths, gritty trails and slightly muddier sections. The shoe coped well with all of it and those 4.5mm lugs gripped well. It’s a shoe for running fast in on fast trails – so where it was flat and not too technical, you could really put your foot down and cruise along nicely. It’s not however a trail shoe for overly technical terrain. The big stack height means it’s a little unstable when the path gets too uneven with tree roots. But given that you’re going to be choosing this shoe for speed, you’re probably going to be pairing it with a route that also allows you to run fast too.”

Need to know more? Check out Laura’s full ASICS METAFUJI Trail review.

Best trail shoe for wider feet: ASICS Trabuco 14

ASICS Trabuco 14 technical details

RRP: £140
Weight: 249g
Drop: 8mm
Lugs: 4mm
Stack: 35/27mm
Foam: FFBlast Max Tech ASICSGRIP
Special technology: Full length carbon plate
Sizes: 4-9

Pros:

• Great improvements to width and fit
• Lovely foam upgrade makes for a bouncy midsole
• Light and airy – ideal for summer

Cons:

• Fit doesn’t hug foot as much as some runners may want

What our tester said

“ASICS has widened the toebox substantially in this iteration, presumably after feedback on the 13s. For me, that’s a big win and I enjoyed the footsplay I got.

ASICS has added more bounce and comfort to this shoe while keeping the feel responsive by changing the foam type to FFBlast Max. The result is a triumphant midsole which is bouncy rather than saggy. Coupled with the light weight of the shoe, it’s really springy to run in.

I also like the way the sole feels on the ground, when running over knobbly stones. It kind of bends this way and that, instead of trying to overpower the terrain. The upper is light and airy so I’ll also be reaching for these during the summer months.”

Need to know more? Check out Rachel’s full ASICS Trabuco 14 review.

Best for racing: ASICS Metaspeed Edge Paris

ASICS Metaspeed Edge Paris technical details

RRP: £220
Sizes: 2.5 to 12
Weight: 185g
Drop: 5mm
Stack: 39.5mm/34.5mm
Foam: FF TURBO PLUS

Pros:

• Lightweight
• Super-bouncy foam
• Fast and responsive

Cons:

• Unisex sizing might not suit everyone
• Came up a little small

What our tester said:

“I took these out for my last runs before a half marathon and was in two minds about whether to use them for the race itself. I’ve run in last year’s Metaspeed Sky+ and that’s actually my 10K and 5K PB shoe. So I was excited to compare this newer shoe. I took them out on two runs of 4 and 6 miles.

The high stack, bouncy foam and carbon plate make this immediately feel propulsive and energetic on the run. The stack felt big under my feet but not unstable, and definitely lightweight. There’s a lovely roll through each stride, and I found my pace was quicker than I expected it to be when I looked down at my watch.”

Want more? Read Laura’s full ASICS Metaspeed Edge Paris review.

Best for speedy heel strikers: ASICS Superblast 3

ASICS Superblast 3 technical details

RRP: £200
Sizes: 2.5 to 14 (unisex)
Weight: 239g
Stack: 45mm/37mm
Drop: 8mm
Foam: FF Leap + FF BLAST PLUS

What our tester said:

“On the run, the Superblast 3 feels lively and adaptable. At easy paces, the foam is comfortable with just enough softness to absorb impact, making relaxed miles feel effortless. When you pick up the pace, the midsole becomes noticeably more energetic.

For my first run in the shoe, I headed out on my usual 10K route of hard paths and the miles ticked by nice and comfortably.

One design feature that stands out is the large heel extension. The sole flares out behind the heel, which makes downhill running feel particularly stable and comfortable. This design will especially appeal to heel strikers, as it provides extra cushioning and a smooth transition when landing further back on the shoe.”

Need more info? Check out Laura’s full ASICS Superblast 3 review.

Best for a road PB: ASICS Metaspeed Tokyo Sky

ASICS Metaspeed Tokyo Sky technical details

RRP: £240
Sizes: 2.5 to 14 (unisex)
Weight: 170g
Drop: 5mm (39.5mm heel / 34.5mm forefoot)
Price: £240
Foam: FF Leap + FF Turbo Plus cushioning
Special tech: carbon plate

What our tester said:

“I wore these shoes to a local evening 5k race. It was a sticky summer evening with some light drizzle before the race started, so the pavements were just a little damp. But what impressed me about the shoe is how they gripped well in these conditions.

“There were a lot of tight turns on my race and I did feel the softness of the heel and the high stack made me a little more cautious coming into those bends, but he shoe responded well when I was running at 5k pace.”

Need more info? Check out Laura’s full ASICS Metaspeed Toyko Sky review.