ASICS MEGABLAST Review

The ASICS MEGABLAST is for you if...

You want a performance trainer that makes running fast feel effortless 

Maximum cushioning that's light and speedy sounds like your perfect shoe 

You’re after incredible versatility—easy runs, long runs, tempo runs, you name it! 

What is the ASICS MEGABLAST made for?

ASICS has been working on something special—the BLAST series is a collection of trainers with emphasis on energy return for a bouncy and energetic ride. While each running shoe in the BLAST series is made with responsiveness in mind, each offering has their own design specialties, allowing you to choose the shoe that’s best for your running preferences. It includes the entry-level Novablast, the speed-focused SONICBLAST, the long-hauling SUPERBLAST, and last but certainly not least, we introduce the high-performance MEGABLAST. 

The ASICS MEGABLAST is a max-cushion super trainer that does it all, from easy runs to tempo work, and everything in between. It’s a plateless running shoe with approachable geometry and a full bed of brand-new super foam, Flight Foam Turbo 2, making MEGABLAST the bounciest and most responsive offering in the BLAST series. Without a plate, the foam is just stiff enough for a versatile experience, great for everything from cruising paces to strides. This duality of comfort and performance is in every detail of this shoe, from heel to toe. 

FF Turbo 2 is lighter and more propulsive than the preceding FF Turbo foam, giving an elevated and enjoyably soft and bouncy experience. With 45mm of this foam under the heel, it’s comfortable enough to treat you kindly on easy long runs, but with plenty of liveliness when you’re ready to rev up the pace. The engineered mesh upper is light and thin with a race-oriented fit, granting you further speed potential, with a padded heel collar that gives back an appropriate amount of comfort for training. As a successor to the well-loved SUPERBLAST, another highly cushioned responsive trainer, does the MEGABLAST rise to the occasion to deliver all that it promises? Let’s find out.

Comfort

As a performance shoe, the MEGABLAST has achieved an excellent balance of comfort. The FF Turbo 2 feels comfortable as soon as you step into the shoe. This is our ideal foam: soft enough to provide soothing absorption on initial impact (but not so soft that you sink into it), then instant bounce for resilient performance. We could definitely feel the lift assist for charging up hills and across flats. 

The heel cup structure and ankle collar padding also gave us optimal comfort in our heels. The upper material is slightly stiff; it’s not as soft as a jacquard or knit mesh, but it is extremely light and airy. The scalloped laces are a nice little bonus, and we always appreciate when they’re included in racing shoes. The added texture on the edge of these laces prevents knots from slipping once they’re cinched down, giving a secure lockdown experience. 

Some runners will argue that the SUPERBLAST 2 is better because it’s a firmer and more stable platform. While they’re not wrong, the MEGABLAST in our opinion just does a better job of absorbing impact more comfortably, not beating up the bones in the soles of your feet. Plus, it feels just responsive as the SUPERBLAST 2, if not even MORE responsive. All this, not to mention it’s a full ounce lighter than the SUPERBLAST 2, which is already absurdly light for the max-stack category.

Performance

We’re razor-close to perfection here. The MEGABLAST did exactly what it set out to do—providing a stunning duality of comfort and speed. This shoe is even more responsive than the SUPERBLAST, yet it still has this unreal versatility to handle easier paces, fast paces, and long runs alike. The foam feels VERY responsive and very cushioned at the same time. It’s this perfect balance—not too squishy, but bouncy and comfortable, even after something like an 18-miler. The upper is well-ventilated and kept our feet cool in hot and humid weather. 

Right out of the box, one tester ran 8 miles at an easy pace, and ran over a minute per mile faster than usual without any extra effort. Simply put, it makes running faster easier and more fun. We loved having the MEGABLAST on long-run workouts for marathon training. They did great at a relaxed, slow pace for warm-ups and cool-downs, and then their impact absorption and featherweight responsiveness let us absolutely crush long reps of tempo/threshold intervals in between.

Fit

Step in, lace up, and it just works. There’s enough volume to work for a variety of foot types, while somehow still delivering great lockdown. Our testers’ preferred fit ranged from narrow and fairly low-volume feet, to higher volumes with emphasis in the forefoot, and in both cases this shoe provided a great experience. It locks down especially well in the midfoot and heel, with no slippage issues. The transparent upper is, of course, highly breathable and, most importantly for us, our toes didn’t feel squeezed or cramped. Overall, this is how we expect performance training shoe to fit—pleasantly light, secure, and close enough to the foot to let you fly down the road.