Red Hare 9 Ultra (ARPW007)

At $150? If you live in U.S., I would hunt for Red Hare 9 Ultra (obtainable at $130 - $160 price range, depending on where you get them and what color) or Dynafish Xiaonian (obtainable for $130ish)....both obliterate the $150 western competition. R9U will make you bounce around, Xiaonian will trick you into running faster because of geometry...and you won't even notice it, unless you look at your watch.

The novablast is a good shoe but it isn't anything too crazy and it's due for a replacement pretty soon. There are also durability concerns especially with the midsole that I've personally had issues with I'd consider something like the Qiaodian TG1.0/Leili for a cheaper, similar (if not slightly better) version of the NB5 or the Li Ning Red Hare 9 Ultra as something a bit elevated and fun. If you're not comfortable with Chinese options the puma magnify nitro 3 or velocity nitro 4 are both great options that are relatively cheap. If you want higher stack the magmax 2 is meant to be a great shoe too. The adizero SL2 is also meant to be decent and it can be found heavily discounted which makes it a good option

I highly recommend. An amazing, bouncy shoe which I actually prefer over the highly rockered geometry of the Dynafish. And I still really like the Dynafish.

Yes, certainly not narrow. I suffered with Mortons Neuroma from a too narrow shoe so I am always out to avoid anything narrow in the forefoot. Dynafish great all rounder, dynamic, bouncy, amazing rocker. Red Hare has it for the softer sense of cushion, unique with that boom fiber capsule. I have both and choose Dynafish for long runs because sometimes extra soft shoes and long runs can make my feet work more with that extra compression and rebound. But that's insanely nitpicky..they are both amazing. I used the TaoBao App to get the rock bottom prices as well.

I have a pair of the Xiaonian (10.5 according to them) and a pair of the Red Hare 9 Ultra (10). The XN is a little more comfortable for me, but the RH9U is still very good too. It may be just that I haven't broken into the RH9U yet (10km vs 50km on the XN). I have tried the FD6E at a store and completely agree with the OP's review: the middle of the shoe is very narrow (I call this "the Nike effect"), and even though I didn't feel anything actually bad in the few minutes I walked around in it at the store, I am 100% sure I'd end up hating the shoes if I bought it, so I passed.

Are the Asics Superblast 3 close to a Superblast 1 when broken in? I just started running in them for the first time indoors and it finally felt soft! 😄 I have a pair of Li Ning Red Hare 9 Ultras but somehow on the first run it gave me pains on my left talus. Could be from overloading from so much running that week. Now that's a great shoe in itself but has less stability and really just depends on the runner. Back to the Superblast 3. My version 1s feel better running indoors but cusious if some runners here feel there's a version 1 and 3 have a similarity to them once the 1s are broken in.

**Stats** * M | 5'4 | 73kg * Forefoot/midfoot striker * Cadence: \~180 * Easy pace: 6:00–6:30/km   **Quick Verdict** Superblast 3 (SB3) is softer, bouncier, and more comfortable than Superblast 2 (SB2) —but it trades away some of the firmness and efficiency that made SB2 stand out as a super trainer when it was released. Overall, I find SB3 to be a good additional as a daily trainer for easy and long runs for a broader running audience, however it is not no longer the elusive super trainer that is targeted towards more serious long distance runners.    **Background** I’ve always enjoyed ASICS running shoes. My first pair was the Novablast 3, which I picked up on discount and used throughout my first marathon training block. Since then, I’ve built up a small rotation, with the Megablast being my favourite. For me, it has the right balance of firmness and bounce, and it’s a shoe I can comfortably use across easy runs and tempo sessions while still maintaining good running form. Going into the Superblast 3, I had high expectations. With an updated racing foam and a softer midsole, it sounded like a clear upgrade on paper. So far, I’ve logged around 120km in the shoe, mostly at easy to steady paces, along with some marathon pace efforts as I prepare for the Canberra Marathon.   **Upper / Fit — 8/10** The upper is comfortable straight out of the box—no break-in needed. It also feels breathable, spacious, and greater for longer runs. Compared to the SB2, the upper is less structured and uses softer materials. Compared to the Megablast, the SB3 has a more padded and accommodating step-in feel. My Megablast initially gave me some pinky toe rubbing, but after breaking in, it has become my best-fitting running shoe overall. **Personal note:** I have consistently experienced some soreness on the bottom of my right foot during the first 1–2km of runs, which disappears after about 6km. Recently, I ran in the Megablast again and did not experience this issue, so it seems specific to this shoe. I haven’t seen others report it, so I’ve treated it as a personal quirk and didn’t factor it into the score. **Takeaway:** Very comfortable and accommodating and slightly less structured than SB2.   **Design — 6.5/10** From the initial leaks and images online, I really didn’t like the design, I thought the colour was horrendous —especially the blue colourway. However, in person, it looks a lot better than expected, but it’s still not a standout when I compare this design against other running shoes. I still prefer the design of both SB2 and Megablast. SB2 in particular, I find that it has a strong streetwear aesthetic, which I think also contributed to its popularity alongside with the running performance and the extended supply shortage. By comparison, the design and colourway of the SB3 feels more distinctive but less approachable.   **Outsole — 7/10** Grip has been solid across all conditions. I’ve run on concrete, gravel, sand, and light trails without any issues in both dry and wet weather. However, durability is where it falls short. I started noticing wear quite early—even after the first run—and at 120kms it’s clearly less durable than both SB2 and Megablast. Coming from the Li-Ning Red Hare 9 Ultra, which had excellent grip and durability, SB3 was more noticeably in its wear and I find that to be slightly disappointing, especially considering the price.  **Takeaway:** Reliable grip, but below-average durability for this category (coming from older versions).   **Stability — 8/10** Stability is solid overall. I am confidence with each stride and there is a good control with the underfoot support, with no major issues to flag. It’s comparable to SB2 and more stable than Megablast, which is expected. **Takeaway:** Stable enough for daily training and long runs.   **Midsole / Ride — 8/10** As expected, this is where the SB3 stands out—and also where it differs most from SB2. The ride is  softer and bouncier, with a noticeable “sink-in → rebound” sensation. It compresses on landing and gives a responsive pop on toe-off, making transitions feel smooth and helping with turnover. This will be a controversial take, but in my expereince there’s a slight resemblance to Neo Zen in that initial softness (around 50%), but the SB3 has a stronger rebound, so it doesn’t feel overly soft or mushy. **At easy pace** I think this is where the shoe performs best. It’s plush, forgiving, and easy to cruise in. The rebound keeps it from feeling dull, making it a very enjoyable daily trainer. **At steady pace** The foam becomes more responsive. You still get the cushioning, but with a bit more energy return and a subtle “pop” during toe-off. It feels best slightly above easy pace. **At long run distances (up to 31km from my experience)** The midsole holds up well. Cushioning remains consistent throughout, and the shoe feels protective over longer efforts. **Marathon use (personal take)** I can see why some runners would enjoy this as a marathon shoe, especially if they prefer a softer and more cushioned ride. However, personally, I have reservation with the full marathon distance. As fatigue sets in and form starts to break down, I find that the softness may start to work against me.  For marathon distance, I tend to prefer a bit more firmness and structure to help maintain efficiency over longer efforts. I think this is where Megablast or SB2 still stands out—they both feel more controlled and better suited for holding form late into a race.   **Takeaway:** * Excellent for easy and long runs * Soft, bouncy, and enjoyable * Marathon-capable, but depends on preference   **Comparisons** **Megablast (my favourite so far):** * For me, the form is a perfect balance of softness and firmness that I can use this for both east and tempo easy runs. * The firmer foams helps maintain running form more effectively over longer distance. * I think SB3 to be more cushioned, but less controlled and more fatiguing. **SB2:** * SB2 is noticeably firmer and less bouncy than SB3 * SB2 is also not as comfortable at easy pace, however; * SB2 is netter for maintaining efficient stride and turnover at steady/marathon pace with the firmer mid sole.   **Who I Believe This Is For** **Buy this if:** * You are looking a soft, bouncy daily trainer that is also enjoyable at longer distance * You prefer comfort over firmness * You found SB2 to be slightly too firm **Skip this if:** * You prefer a firmer, more controlled ride * You want a more performance-oriented feel in your super trainer   **Final Verdict** The SB3 is a good update, but it represents a shift in direction from Asics. ASICS has made this version softer, more comfortable, and more accessible to a broader range of runners. As a result, it works extremely well as a daily trainer for easy and long runs. However, it trades away some of the firmness and efficiency that made SB2 stand out, particularly at faster paces or later into long efforts. In such a saturated market with new super trainers from every running brands, I think SB3 is no longer the most sought after super trainers available.   **TL;DR** * Softer and bouncier than SB2 * Great for easy and long runs * Outsole durability is slightly disappointing * More of a daily trainer than a performance-focused super trainer **Bottom line:** More accessible and enjoyable for most runners—but I still prefer Megablast overall as a the preferred Super Trainers.