ShoeGeometry

ASICS Superblast 3 vs Saucony Kinvara 16

Two popular shoes in the same category, compared on measured geometry. Each cell carries a provenance badge; open a shoe for sources.

heel boneASICS Superblast 3: heel 47 mm, forefoot 39 mm (drop 8 mm); toe rocker 32 % of length, radius 37 % of length; heel bevel 12 % of length, 27 mm high at the back, ending about under the heel bone.ASICS Superblast 3: toe rocker 32 % of lengthSaucony Kinvara 16: heel 28 mm, forefoot 24 mm (drop 4 mm); toe rocker 34 % of length, radius 44 % of length; heel bevel 12 % of length, 20 mm high at the back, ending about under the heel bone.Saucony Kinvara 16: toe rocker 34 % of length
  • ASICS Superblast 347/39 mm · toe rocker 32 % · heel bevel 12 %
  • Saucony Kinvara 1628/24 mm · toe rocker 34 % · heel bevel 12 %
Illustrative profiles, not photographs: drawn from published stack heights and photo estimates of the unloaded shoes on a common length (300 mm), heels aligned, toe to the left; dots mark where each toe rocker starts; the dotted vertical line is under the heel bone (12 % of length), so a heel curve reaching past it is a bevel in front of the heel bone. Dotted lines use typical values where a shoe has no measurement. Exact values are in the table below.

Which suits you

If you wantPickBecause
A smoother roll at toe-offAbout the same31.7 vs 34.1 % toe rocker
More cushioning under the heelASICS Superblast 346.5 vs 28 mm heel stack
More under the forefootASICS Superblast 338.5 vs 24 mm forefoot stack
A lower dropSaucony Kinvara 168 vs 4 mm drop
A stiffer, snappier forefootASICS Superblast 345 vs 21 /100 stiffness
A wider base under the forefootASICS Superblast 3120.7 vs 113.8 mm forefoot base

From the values below, with differences inside measurement noise shown as about the same. This describes the shoes, not what is right for your feet; comfort in the first few runs decides.

MetricASICS Superblast 3
Tempo · Road
Saucony Kinvara 16
Tempo · Road
Heel-to-toe drop8 mmStated4 mmStated
Heel stack46.5 mmStated28 mmStated
Forefoot stack38.5 mmStated24 mmStated
Weight238 gStated207 gStated
Toe rocker32 %est.34 %est.
Rocker radius37 %est.44 %est.
Rocker rise angle32 degest.25 degest.
Rocker angle at toe64 degest.57 degest.
Toe tip over ground41 mm*est.36 mm*est.
Visible rocker lift onset77.4 %est.78.9 %est.
Toe spring (relative)20.2 %est.15.8 %est.
Heel bevel length12.4 %*est.12.1 %*est.
Heel bevel height27 mm*est.20 mm*est.
Midsole width (forefoot)120.7 mmMeasured113.8 mmMeasured
Midsole width (heel)95 mmMeasured86.5 mmMeasured
Toe box shape—73 %*est.
Interior forefoot width95.7 mmMeasured94 mmMeasured
Toebox width71.6 mmMeasured70.8 mmMeasured
Longitudinal stiffness45Derived21Derived
Midsole firmness8Derived—
PlateNo plateNo plate
Primary foamFF LeapPWRRUN
List price$210$130

Key differences

  • ASICS Superblast 3's heel-to-toe drop is 8 mm, 4 mm higher than Saucony Kinvara 16's 4 mm.
  • ASICS Superblast 3's heel stack is 46.5 mm, 18.5 mm thicker than Saucony Kinvara 16's 28 mm.
  • ASICS Superblast 3's forefoot stack is 38.5 mm, 14.5 mm thicker than Saucony Kinvara 16's 24 mm.
  • ASICS Superblast 3's weight is 238 g, 31 g heavier than Saucony Kinvara 16's 207 g.
  • Toe rocker is about the same: 32 % of length for ASICS Superblast 3, 34 % of length for Saucony Kinvara 16.

Read more about both shoes

We measure the shape. For how they feel over many miles, and for lab tests of cushioning, grip and fit:

ASICS Superblast 3

Saucony Kinvara 16

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ASICS Superblast 3 details · Saucony Kinvara 16 details · Add more shoes