Comparing the ASICS Superblast 3 and the On Cloudmonster 3 Hyper
Below we are comparing the new ASICS Superblast 3 and On Cloudmonster 3 Hyper, two premium long-distance trainers by analyzing their construction, fit, and on-road feel. We will explore how their different foams, midsole constructions, and geometries affect performance across various paces.
We’re back today comparing two of the newest elevated, max stack daily trainers to hit the running shoe scene in 2026: the ASICS Superblast 3 and the On Cloudmonster 3 Hyper. We are going to let you know what each of these three shoes is best for, whether or not you should add one or both of them to your running shoe rotation, and what strengths and weaknesses they each have.
Upper
The Superblast 3 has a very generous upper made with nice materials. It has more of a performance oriented, lighter weight upper with good padding in the back. The Cloudmonster 3 Hyper has a more dialed fit compared to the original Cloudmonster Hyper, but it still should accommodate most normal to slightly wider feet with plenty of length, volume and width across the toebox. It also has good padding in the back.
Comfort
The step-in feel of the Superblast 3 is much more plush and soft, but the Cloudmonster 3 Hyper has a more normal feel. If you had to walk in either shoe, the Cloudmonster 3 Hyper would be more comfortable and smooth. You sink into the heel of the Superblast 3, which has a lot of soft foam.
On Cloudmonster 3 Hyper
Midsole Construction
The On Cloudmonster 3 Hyper has a top, very thick layer of PEBA with a bottom layer of the firmer carrier foam in the EVA-based Cloudtec. The Cloudtec holes create some stabilization like a plate would, but instead of creating a jarring or snappy effect, you get more of a floaty, smooth ride. The ASICS Superblast 3 has a very similar construction with the top layer of race foam. In this case the top foam is a more exciting and innovative foam—the new FF Leap—an ATPU foam that is softer and feels wilder. It has a lot of give and bounce. The bottom layer is FF Blast Plus, which is a standard EVA. It has the stiffness, rigidity and underfoot feel of a plated shoe, even though it technically does not have a plate. The bottom layer of EVA is very firm and provides stability for the softer layer of FF Leap.
ASICS Superblast 3
Geometry
The Superblast 3, just like the OG Superblast and Superblast 2, has a very chunky, clunky wide heel. It has a disjointed forefoot and heel with a small midfoot bump, which causes a bit of a choppy feeling when landing on the heel. On the other hand, the Cloudmonster 3 Hyper has a very smooth rocker geometry that just rolls you effortlessly through the plarform no matter where you land.
Ride
The ride of the Superblast 3 is defined by the soft, bouncy, energetic FF Leap foam. For some people, it takes a couple of runs to break in the Cloudmonster 3 Hyper, but for us it felt very smooth and pleasant to run in, with a disappearing on foot feel, right out of the box. You don’t ever forget that you are running in the Superblast 3 because of the massive, chunky heel. With the Cloudmonster 3 Hyper you can feel all the components working beautifully together. You get the squish and the rebound of the PEBA and the stabilization of the EVA with the compression of the Cloudtec.
Versatility and Speed Assistance
The Cloudmonster 3 Hyper screams high mileage daily trainer that allows for any type of footstrike and pace. It is very versatile in terms of the daily range of paces. While it is not a speed shoe, it is great for all paces from recovery to steady. It is very easy to run in and comfortable. The bottom layer of EVA on the Superblast 3 is very stiff and provides a more snappy ride, which makes it feel a bit faster and easier to get down to workout paces. It also has a more aggressive toe-off and less of a smooth ride, compared to the Cloudmonster 3 Hyper.
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Where they Excel
The Cloudmonster 3 Hyper is by far On’s best daily trainer since the launch of the original Cloudmonster. It excels as a max cushion daily trainer and a long run shoe. The protection, impact protection, comfort, and cushioning is top tier. The compression in the heel and the pop of the PEBA create a really smooth ride, making it a better recovery shoe than the Superblast 3; but the Superblast 3 has it over the Cloudmonster 3 Hyper when it comes to any type of speed work. The strength of the Cloudmonster 3 Hyper will be for recovery runs, stacking mileage, and long runs because of the protective floaty feel with a decently light weight. It was not as good for getting down to marathon pace. The Cloudmonster 3 Hyper allows you to be in control of the run. If you want to get up on the midfoot and forefoot, it lets you do that and you aren’t fighting over the foam; on the other hand, if you want to hang back and do more heel striking and shuffling, it feels great too. On the contrary, the Superblast 3 asserts what you should do when you have it on. It is an absolute tank with a really wide heel. It has a very floaty, bouncy feel, but it can feel choppy at more relaxed, jogging paces and it feels better when you pick up the pace a bit. The Superblast 3 provides more of a cool and unique running experience with the innovative FF Leap foam—you get such a soft ride underfoot with such a stable platform. The Cloudmonster 3 Hyper is the best version of a daily trainer and a max cushion shoe with the race foam, making it the best implementation of a race day foam in a max cushion shoe for recovery runs. The Superblast 3 feels more like a fun, unique, true runners product. It’s not just a daily trainer since it encourages you to pick up the pace and could be used for tempo runs and faster daily miles.
For Yowana's full video comparison of the Cloudmonster 3 Hyper to the Superblast 3, check out the Supwell YouTube channel:
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