What is FLYTEFOAMā¢?
April 2, 2026
If youāre shopping for ASICS running shoes, youāll likely see the name FLYTEFOAMā¢, often abbreviated as FF. Read on to learn where FLYTEFOAMā¢ comes from, the differences between each version, and how it can deliver more comfort and energy in every stride.
About FLYTEFOAMā¢
FLYTEFOAMā¢ is the name of our proprietary midsole foam technology developed by the ASICS Institute of Sport Science (ISS) in Kobe, Japan. The first version was introduced in 2016 for the ASICS MetaRun running shoe. At the time, it was designed to be significantly lighter than the industry standard, offering an innovative balance of responsiveness, support, and durability.
Since its debut, FLYTEFOAMā¢ has evolved into several new variations, continuously improving upon the one that started it all. If you see the letters āFFā on the midsole of your shoe, you're running on a version of FLYTEFOAMā¢.
Overview of FLYTEFOAMā¢ Variations
Foam Type | Description | Key Shoes |
FF BLASTā¢ | Balanced comfort and bounce | |
FF BLASTā¢ PLUS | A lighter and bouncier evolution of FF BLASTā¢ | |
FF BLASTā¢ MAX | Soft and springy with responsive energy return | |
FF TURBOā¢ PLUS | Racing-level energy return with less weight than FF BLASTā¢ foams | METASPEEDĀ® SKY/EDGE (top layer) |
FF TURBOā¢ SQUARED | A high-performance foam with even more bounce than FF TURBOā¢ PLUS | MEGABLASTā¢ (full-length), SONICBLASTā¢ (top layer) |
FF LEAPā¢ | Our lightest, bounciest, most advanced FLYTEFOAMā¢ to date |
Other terms to know
PureGELā¢
The updated version of GELĀ® technology thatās approximately 65% softer. In running shoes, itās strategically placed alongside FLYTEFOAMā¢ to balance soft landings with responsive toe-offs.
Carbon Plate
A plate found in racing styles like the METASPEEDĀ® SKY/EDGE shoes, designed to enhance energy return from the midsole by increasing the deformable foam volume under the plate.
ASTROPLATEā¢
A plate found in the SONICBLASTā¢ shoe that helps propel your stride forward, made of a PEBAX plastic material thatās designed to be more comfortable for daily runs compared to a carbon plate.
Please note: This information does not contain or constitute medical advice or a medical opinion, and it is provided for informational purposes only. You should always consult a qualified and licensed medical professional prior to beginning or modifying any diet or exercise program.