Is Superblast good for a 8yr old?

Your only option is the Adizero Adio Pro Evo.

I doubt the cushioning is a concern, but going for $200 shoes is serious overkill for an 8 year old IMO, unless he is in contention for age group world records.

Have you looked at the kid's Novablast?

Your instincts are correct. An eight-year-old athlete should be running in fairly minimalist footwear so that they learn to run correctly. High stack maximalist shoes alter mechanics too much. I wouldn't allow a kid to use those while they are still developing. I would also avoid carbon plated shoes at this age.

He is certainly not in contention for the world record but he ran 5:36 1500 over the weekend and can run a sub-20 5k. Hope that helps. I don’t mind investing as long as it is the right thing for him.

thanks

The larger question is why is an 8 year old racing 1500s and 5 kms?

I would think a Vaporfly or some type of fast protype shoe would be the way to go. What are those $500 Adidas shoes? Do they come in kids' sizes?

I say go with the most expensive pair of shoes you can find. Make sure to get multiple pairs. Get the best coach you can find, and a nutritionist. Start them on doubles as soon as you can. Have them race a 5k at least once every 2 weeks. 8 year-olds should never be allowed to have a childhood. Victory at all costs!

I would think double thresholds would be the way to go. Starting at 8 might be a bit late though.

Jack Nicklaus would win today with 1965-era clubs. Let the kid just run.

I appreciate all the helpful and not so helpful comments. He is having a great childhood and does multiple sports - baseball, soccer, basketball, swimming and what not. He likes it, he does it and he has fun- you haven’t seen him and don’t know who he is so why commenting about something you don’t know? Stick to what you know and offer help if you can- he doesn’t race 5k his last 5k race was 5months ago (I said he ‘ can’run sub20 5k). USATF allows 1500m for 7yr olds and he’s turning 9 later in the year. We’re very careful about how much he runs and neither parents are runners. So find a quiet corner and b**** about your own pushy parents if that’s what happened to you; we let our kids have fun in sports and help them as much as possible so they are not glued to screens. Rant over!

So, take it from the runners that responded. Let the kid be a kid. Back off the running competition at age 8.

Perhaps it’ll be helpful if y’all could stick to the original question; is ASICS SB suitable for kids under 10 or not? Thanks for the bonus wisdom which I will take into consideration.

You didn't when you were 8?!

Don’t be stupid. The kid will outgrow any shoe before he runs enough in them for it to matter.

Seriously, all the 8 year old Kenyans swear by Vaporflys.

Why limit it to one pair? Try several pairs from all of the big brands.

Video your kid opening the boxes and then running in them. Get him to give his thoughts on the shoe and you might want to show him how to use a durometer. Does he drink coffee? Teach him how to make coffee. It's essential to running shoe videos.

Upload the videos to YouTube and before you can butter your Bobo, you'll be up to your ears in free gear!

Because Grandma's is still months away.

Just because the USATF has a 7 year old category for the 1500m doesn't make it developmentally appropriate. Pre teens, or more likely their parents, don't need a national championship.

In the same vein, a parent shouldn't be fretting over $200 shoes for an 8 year old.

Give your head a shake.

I was just giving you crap. Don’t listen to these guys, kids are allowed to compete in sports at age 8. My kids did usatf at that age. But I would say don’t buy super expensive shoes. Just buy a decent running shoe that feels good and don’t worry about it too much. Try not to over coach him as the parent. That’s where we lose kids.