Did Asics Just Unleash the New Daily Trainer to Beat? (Hands-On Preview)

Meet the Megablast, the faster, bouncier and, ultimately, funner followup to the fan-favorite Superblast.

Jack Seemer for Gear Patrol

By Jack Seemer

Published August 13, 2025

·

Every product is carefully selected by our editors. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more

No two sets of feet are alike. But every so often, a shoe comes along that all runners agree on.

In 2024, that was the Asics Superblast 2, a versatile everyday trainer that, despite its plateless midsole, thrived at pretty much any pace that came its way.

asics running shoe — Released in 2024, the Superblast 2 won over runners with its smooth, stable and resilient midsole that could tackle any pace.

The shoe was smooth, stable, resilient and quick — an addictive combination of descriptors all born from the PEBA-based FF Turbo+ foam that made up its midsole.

A year on, the Superblast 2 may have finally found a worthy successor. But it’s not the Adizero EVO SL or Nike Vomero Plus, two models currently contending for the title of this year’s “daily trainer to beat.”

It’s a brand-new design from Asics itself.

Meet the Megablast — the lighter, bouncier, arguably funner foil to the fan-favorite Superblast.

The new Megablast is born from the same family of the Superblast but features a new foam compound made from A-TPU.

Jack Seemer for Gear Patrol

On the bounce

To be clear, the Megablast doesn’t replace Superblast, which will continue to serve its legions of fans for many miles to come.

It compliments it.

“The Superblast is really unique in that it’s energetic but in a stable platform. It’s kind of a jack of all trades, whereas the Megablast feels a little bit more pure in terms of energy return,” said Paul Lang, a senior product manager at Asics who helped oversee its creation.

A pair of athletic shoes placed side by side on a concrete surface. The left shoe is predominantly purple with black stripes and a white sole featuring a gradient of blue to red near the heel. The right shoe is mostly black with white accents and a black sole. Both shoes have a sleek, modern design. — According to Asics, the Megablast (right) doesn’t replace the Superblast (left), it complements it.

According to him, the best way to ground the shoe is not by a type of workout or run but by a feeling, with the Megablast catering to runners seeking some pop in their stride.

“The Megablast feels a little bit more pure in terms of energy return.”

Like the Superblast and even entry-level Novablast, the new shoe can go short, long, slow or fast. It just does so with more bounce than you’d find across the rest of the Blast lineup.

A lot more.

Four running shoes in different colors arranged on a concrete surface: one white with purple and red accents, one black with white details, one blue with lighter blue patterns, and one purple with pink and black accents. Each shoe features a sleek, modern design with visible cushioning in the sole. — The Blast lineup now includes four shoes models. The Sonicblast (top) is also new for 2025.

The shoe’s signature ingredient is a new foam called FF Turbo Squared that’s made out of A-TPU — the same compound found in Asics’s disturbingly light MetaSpeed Ray, as well as the Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 3.

According to the brand, FF Turbo Squared delivers up to 32.5 percent more bounce than FF Turbo, while also being 10 percent softer.

“In the lab, we’re seeing a significant increase in that underfoot energy, whether it’s upwards or forwards,” Lang said.

Close-up of a shoe midsole with the text "FF Turbo²" embossed on the white foam. The upper part of the shoe features a purple and red striped pattern with black geometric lines. — Asics claims that FF Turbo Squared has more than 32 percent bounce than FF Turbo.

Light on your feet

Though bounce is the primary keyword here, there’s more to A-TPU than ample amounts of energy return.

One of the chief reasons it’s showing up in shoes from brands beyond Asics is that it’s significantly lighter than other foams on the market, and the fact that the Megablast uses it exclusively makes it feel notably feathery underfoot.

The Megablast has a 46mm stack height.

Jack Seemer for Gear Patrol

The shoe has a listed weight of just 8.1 ounces for a men’s size nine, which becomes even more impressive when considering the stack height: 46mm in the heel.

“If there was such a metric as stack-to-weight ratio, I feel like we’re taking the trophy on that one,” Lang said.

“If there was such a metric as stack-to-weight ratio, I feel like we’re taking the trophy on that one.”

A few other features contribute to that, of course.

The Megablast comes with a super-thin tongue and ultrabreathable woven mesh upper — both inspired by race-day shoes like the various MetaSpeed models — as well strategically engineered outsole that leaves much of the foam exposed as “weight reduction strategy,” Lang said.

Close-up of the front part of a running shoe with a vibrant design featuring purple and red colors, purple laces, and a white sole, placed on a rough concrete surface. — Race-day inspired features include a breathable mesh upper, thin tongue and serrated laces.

Pair of purple and pink running shoes with black and white soles, placed on a concrete surface. One shoe is positioned upright showing the side, while the other is laid flat displaying the sole. — Less is more when it comes to the outsole.

Premium materials, premium price

Asics frames the Megablast as an everyday trainer, and no doubt many runners will have trouble choosing to run in anything else during easy days and track workouts, alike.

However, the luxurious mix of materials — including its best-in-class foam compound — translates to a premium price tag that makes it one of the most expensive shoes in the category.

Pair of purple and pink running shoes with black accents and white soles, featuring the word "FAST" visible inside one shoe and "FF turbo" printed on the side of the sole. The shoes are placed on a textured concrete surface. — The Megablast costs $225 at launch.

The Megablast costs an eye-watering $225 at launch — a $25 increase over the Superblast 2 (already one of the priciest models on the shelf). For context, the Adizero EVO SL goes for just $150.

For casual runners, that may be the deal-breaker, right then and there. But that’d also be a shame.

The Megablast is nimble, comfortable and surely some of the most fun you’ll find in a model from Asics or otherwise.

What else can you ask for in a running shoe?

Asics

Asics Megablast

$225 at Asics

About the Author:

Jack Seemer is the executive editor at Gear Patrol, with over a decade of experience in product journalism. He currently reports on a wide range of topics, including footwear, watches, EDC, cookware and more.