Article by Peter Stuart and Sally Reiley
ASICS Megablast ($225)
Introduction
Peter: The ASICS Megablast is a new super trainer from ASICS. It is unplated and sits on a nice big slab of ASICS new FF Turbo Squared foam. Stack Height is up there at 45mm and the shoe has an 8mm drop to the forefoot. Remarkably light for so much foam and it’s a pretty good looking shoe overall.
Pros:
Max stack height with versatility: 1st all around super max stack height trainer with no paces or distances limits? Sam/Peter/Sally
Incredibly light weight: under 8 oz / 226g for 45mm heel / 37mm stack height: Sam/Peter/Sally
Superb high energy ride: Very reactive yet at the same time plush and soft Flyte Foam Turbo Square A-TPU foam: Sam/Peter
Smooth flowing unplated geometry: wide range of paces friendly, unlike same stack height Superblast I struggled slow in: Sam/Sally
Very light, highly breathable and secure upper: Sam/Peter/Sally
Cons:
At $225 expensive for an unplated non race shoe but.. .Sam/Peter/Sally
Not particularly stable due to soft foam, light upper and no tongue gusset. Look at Sonicblast: Sam
Can feel a little labored to push through toe-off at slower paces: Peter
Lightness of unlined upper comes with a somewhat rough feel over the toes: Sam/Sally
Fits my narrower foot well but might be problematic for wide feet: Sally
Could use more padding on tongue (padded at top lace hole only) to prevent lace bite I experienced - Sally
Most comparable shoes
ASICS Superblast 2 (RTR Review)
Brooks Glycerin Max (RTR Review)
Nike Vomero Plus (RTR Review)
Stats
Approx. Weight: men's 7.89 oz / 224g US9 // women’s 7.2 oz / 202 US W8
Sample Weights:
men’s 7.69 oz / 218g US 8.5
Men’s 11 8.65 oz245 g
Women’s 7.2 oz / 202 US W8
Stack Height: 45 mm heel / 37 mm forefoot
Platform Width: 90 mm heel / 85 mm midfoot / 110 mm forefoot
First Impressions, Fit and Upper
Peter: The Megablast is a vibrant looking high stacked shoe with a modern superfoam and no plate. This supertrainer has a thin, gusseted tongue with a minimal amount of padding at the very top of the tongue. The laces are thin and sawtoothed, so they stay tied.
There is ample cushioning in the heel collar–which makes for excellent foot hold.
The toe-box is perhaps a bit cramped. I’m finding that I get some irritation on the outside of my pinky toe. It’s not necessarily too short or too tight, but might instead be the rigidity of the toe bumper which extends around on the pinky toe side. They may run a hair short, but I’m not sure I’d want to size up.
Sally: I am presently loving the ASICS Metaspeed Sky Tokyo and thinking it is MY SHOE for the upcoming fall marathons (for me that means Berlin and New York). The Asics lineup has been hot lately, especially the Blast series with the wildly popular daily trainer Novablast 5 and the equally popular long run specialist Superblast 2. The rumor mill has been buzzing with talks of a new Asics foam and two new supertrainers, so I was thrilled to receive pairs of both the Sonicblast and the Megablast for testing. I have put a number of miles on both shoes now and can say with confidence that these two new models will be vying for trainers of the year in my book!
Both the Megablast (top) and Sonicblast (below) feature the new proprietary FF Turbo Squared A-TPU foam in the midsole, which claims to be 32.5% bouncier, 9.6% softer, and 2.8% lighter than the original Turbo foam. The Megablast is the max-cushion unplated sibling with a full slab (45mm at heel/37 mm forefoot) of the new foam, whereas the Sonicblast has a combo of the new foam atop a plastic plate with the FF Blast Max foam (as in Novablast) below.
The Megablast feels great underfoot immediately. The first thing you notice is the soft bounciness. As for the fit and the upper, it has a thin race-type engineered woven upper that is light and breathable but not what I would call stretchy. The heel collar is nicely but not overly padded and fits comfortably, but more importantly it holds your heel securely. I have a slightly narrow foot and the toebox width is perfect for me, so I worry that this might be problematic for wide feet.
The tongue is of the ideal length and nicely gusseted with minimal padding that protects the top of your foot from the laces at the top hole. I did initially experience a bit of lace bite the first run or two lower down at the second lace hole, but that issue resolved itself after a few runs. The serrated laces continue the race shoe vibe and simply do not lose their grip, though I found them exceedingly long which necessitated using the extra lace hole even when the hold of the foot was fine.
Others seem to think they run TTS and I wanted to think so, but after doing a 21 mile marathon training run in them I definitely think they run on the shorter side. I recommend sizing up one half size for the sake of your big toes - I wish I could.
Midsole & Platform
Midsole: FF Turbo Squared is 32% bouncier, 9.6% softer, 2.8% lighter than FF Turbo
Peter: I haven’t been the biggest fan of the FF Turbo. It’s been fine, but one of the less super feeling super foams for me.
FF Turbo Squared is noticeably softer and bouncier and the Megablast is remarkably light for such a high stacked shoe. Some of the other high stacked shoes in this category look higher than the feel because the foot actually sits lower in the foam than it appears –in the Megablast the foot sits pretty much on top of all 45 mm of foam.
That said, I have found the shoe to be plenty stable and to roll through the gait cycle pretty well. I actually felt like the Megablast started to break in over the first few runs and is now a much smoother ride than what I started with.
Sally: The midsole is where the magic is! The massive stack of the new FF Turbo Squared foam makes for a bouncy, lively, energetic, fun ride. One might expect a bottomless marshmallowy feel given the massive amount of a soft feeling foam and no plate, but that is not the case at all. It somehow feels very soft to the touch but also feels firm underfoot, as if the massive height of the foam (and perhaps in combination with the outsole rubber) stiffens the platform.
I welcome the soft cushiony feel underfoot because I know it is acting as a shock absorber that is protecting my (aging) joints from the impact of a long run, but at the same that soft cushiony midsole is uniquely resilient and responsive, returning that precious energy to keep my stride bouncy and efficient even late in the miles. My legs felt fresh after 21 miles and my mental attitude remained as upbeat and peppy as my legs. This light bouncy energetic foam makes for a FUN run!
Initially I found they excelled at uptempo paces but were harder to get going at easy paces, yet after a few short runs I realized they are quite versatile and responsive at almost all paces. They can shine on easy runs or long runs or mixed tempo workouts or everything in between.
Sally: The Asics grip outsole is delightfully sticky and grippy with no issues whatsoever with traction, even on wet surfaces. And bonus points for no gravelcatching nooks and crannies. This outsole is quiet in its own way, with a unique sound on hard surfaces. Have you ever walked across a freshly varnished hardwood floor of a yacht club in brand new non-slip boat shoes? Or listened to basketball players run and stop and turn on a hardwood court? There is a particular squeak… these shoes make the same sound.
Outsole
Peter: The Outsole rubber on the Megablast is strategically placed around the perimeter of the forefoot with a pad of rubber directly under the ball of the foot and long strips of rubber on either side of the heel. Rubber is a good thickness, traction has been excellent and durability should be good even though there’s a fair amount of exposed foam.
Ride, Conclusions and Recommendations
Peter: The Megablast has really grown on me over the past few weeks. At first I felt the Megablast was a little tough to push through my stride. Over the first few runs, though, they started to break in and smooth out. The Megablast is a more versatile shoe than most. I’ve found them to be really easy and forgiving on recovery days and they have an excellent pop when you start moving faster. I’m not sure I’d call them a tempo or workout shoe, but as an all around fun and comfortable shoe to run in they’re aces.
Peter’s Score: 9.2 / 10
Ride is excellent, fit is a little constricted in the toe-box, value is not great at $225 for a trainer and Style is excellent. The Megablast is a versatile and fun daily trainer with superfoam and no plate. An excellent all-arounder.
Fun Score 😊😊😊😊1/2
Sally: I have already run 120 miles in my Megablast, and not because I have to or I don’t have other shoes to wear; it is because I really enjoy this comfortable, lightweight, bouncy and energetic supertrainer that makes running FUN. The new FF Turbo Squared foam gives them plenty of bounce and pep, especially at faster speeds.
They are a uniquely versatile supertrainer that can perform well on long runs, easy runs, or anything in between. I find them surprisingly smooth and stable at easy paces, despite the massive stack of soft foam, and they become more and more responsive as you pick up the pace. Think of them as a peppier and more untamed version of the Superblast. They are bouncy and fun yet secure at the same time. A sleek race car body on top of a stable SUV chassis. Do you have a fall marathon that you are training for? (I do: Berlin then New York, followed by Tokyo 2026 and Boston 2026, etc) This could be your new shoe!
Sally’s score: 9.8 / 10
Points off for upper fit: short fit leading to tender toenails (wish I had gone one half size up)
Fun Score 😊😊😊😊😊
5 Comparisons
ASICS Sonicblast (RTR Review)
Sam: The Mega has an all FF Turbo Squared midsole with no plate. Its upper is near race in materials and more minimal if generous in fit and not quite as secure as the Sonic’s. It is a big 33g lighter at 7.89 oz / 224g US9 with a very bouncy, fun and energetic ride but one less stable and straight tracking than the Sonic which for me ends up a more versatile trainer, and a $45 less expensive one.
Sally: (W8 in both) The Megablast has been an awesome choice for my weekend long runs as the bounce and responsiveness of the FF Turbo Squared has been invigorating and energizing. I have however found the Megablast upper to be a bit problematic - it is more of an engineered woven race day upper that does not give at the end of my big toe and has caused toenail pain on these long runs. I also wish the minimal tongue had a bit more padding on it in the Megablast to prevent the lace bite I continually experience. So while the super bouncy ride of the Megablast makes me smile, the upper of the Sonicblast makes my feet happier. As Michael points out, the Sonicblast is definitely a more versatile trainer for a wider range of paces.
Brooks Hyperion Max 3 (RTR Review)
Peter: The Brooks Hyperion Max 3 comes in at about 1.5 oz heavier and has a plate. Even though they are pretty different by specs, they occupy a similar niche for me: High stacked shoes that are good for recovery and can pop up to a higher tempo when you need. Overall, I really like both of these shoes–and for what it’s worth the Hyperion doesn’t feel as heavy as it is. I like the fit of the Hyperion better (I don’t get the pinky toe irritation at all), but I think the Megablast is overall a bit more versatile and fun.
ASICS Superblast 2 (RTR Review)
The Superblast is 25g heavier at about the same stack height. It has the old firmer and less reactive Turbo foam as a top layer with a lower layer of stabilizing FF Blast Max EVA foam. The Mega is clearly more energetic and bouncier with fun plus over the Super but a bit less stable.
Sally: THe Superblast 2 is a fun shoe, but the Megablast takes the fun factor up a notch! The energetic bounce of the Megablast can’t be beat. The Megablast is also lighter and a little more untamed (I personally like that) than the Superblast.
Nike Vomero Plus (RTR Review)
Peter: The Vomero is a bigger, cushier and heavier shoe overall. I feel like the Megablast is a bit easier to run in and rewards all paces. They feel equally protective on easy days, but the Megablast is a little more likely to allow you to have fun and turn on the jets at the end of a run.
Sally: Both are great well-cushioned long run shoes, but the Megablast is lighter and bouncier and more versatile. I agree with Peter in that the Megablast is going to be more agreeable to picking up the pace and overall more fun to run in.
Hoka Mach X 3 (RTR Review)
Peter: The Mach X3 is nearly 2 oz heavier than the Megablast. It also sports a plate. It’s a bit more of a direct comp to the Hyperion Max 3. The Megablast is more forgiving at slower tempos and both the Megablast and the Mach X3 both speed up well. Fit is better for me on the Mach X so I’m more likely to reach for those!
Sally: The Mach X3 fits me really well, and I am really enjoying my varied training miles in them. With its plastic plate, I liken the Mack X more to the Sonicblast or the Saucony Endorphin Speed. The Megablast is lighter and bouncier yet, and more cushioned underfoot ie protective for the longer runs. Both fun trainers though.
Index to all RTR reviews: HERE
The Megablast is available now including at many of our partners below
Tester Profiles
Europe only: use RTR code RTR5ALL for 5% off all products, even sale products
1 comment:
Me topé con https://calculadoradedias.com/ organizando mis plazos de estudio y me resultó muy útil porque pude calcular el número de días disponibles antes de un examen.
Post a Comment