Asics Megablast Performance Review

The Asics Megablast continues to extend Asics’ “Blast” lineup following the Novablast, Superblast, and Sonicblast. And in my opinion, the Megablast is the best “blast” of them all. 

After running close to 50 miles in the Asics Megablast, let me walk you through why the Megablast has become a personal favorite and one of the best running shoes available.

What is the Asics Megablast?

According to Asics, the Megablast is “one of the bounciest Asics trainers that’s functional for various speeds and distances.”

No marketing fluff there. Bounciness and functionality only. This is the kind of marketing copywriting I can get behind.

Cushion

The cushion is by far the best part of the Asics Megablast experience. The FF Turbo² midsole packs 46mm of foam in the heel and 38mm in the forefoot which is a TON of foam underfoot. But FF Turbo² is ATPU and that’s where the magic lies. 

It’s so bouncy and responsive you’ll wonder how Asics accomplished that without a plate. It’s impressive. I can’t get enough of FF Turbo² because it makes running easier. In fact, the rocker motion and bounce are so good, I used the Megablast for a road mile race held in my hometown. 

I wasn’t in mile shape and didn’t expect much, but the pace I targeted felt easier than expected and I sped up as the race went on, passing people and finishing just 10 seconds off my adult mile PR (using my adult PR is necessary as I ran under 5 minutes in high school and that’s still far off). 

I felt like the Asics Megablast provided a helping hand akin to a super shoe. Could I have used the pop from a carbon plate in the last 400 to really close it out? Sure, but now I can’t think of a shoe I’d rather wear for going fast on days I don’t want the stiffness of a plate. Maybe the adidas EVO SL, but other than that, there’s not many great options.

Adding to that fantastic experience, long runs in the Megablast are fantastic. It’s lightweight but still packs enough support to be an extremely comfortable experience as the miles tick up towards the 20 mile mark. I expect we’ll see many runners who don’t love carbon plates rocking the Megablast for fall and spring marathons. It is truly taking the super trainer moniker to the next level in terms of versatility and performance.

Support

The Asics Megablast features a beefy internal heel counter, great lockdown, and natural outriggers at the lateral heel and forefoot. It’s about as supportive as a race fit upper can get. There are some corners I had to take gingerly but for the most part I could plant and push off like normal when flying around corners. So think of the Megablast’s support as a step up from a race shoe but a step down from beefier super trainers like the Asics Superblast 2.

Traction

Despite the midsole and upper screaming “I’m a race day shoe” the outsole packs some thick rubber that makes the Asics Megablast very durable. I’ve run 50ish miles in them and there’s basically zero wear. ASICSGRIP is also one of the grippiest options on the market just below PUMAGRIP. I had zero problems with traction across a ton of different conditions. It’s just as good as the outsole on the Superblast 2.

Upper

The Asics Megablast upper will be polarizing. It’s a slim and trim race fit providing a much different feel than the plush, comfortable Superblast 2. It feels a lot like a throwback to the Asics Metaspeed+ uppers. It’s thin, breathable, and fairly comfortable for what it is…and by that I mean it doesn’t add much, just stays out of the way and feels barely there while running.

The barbed laces are a nice touch but the tongue is kind of lackluster, more like the Asics Metaspeed Sky/Edge Tokyo than like the luxurious Superblast 2. I would be fine with a little more weight to get a bit more comfort on the top of my foot, especially since the Megablast is more a training option than race day option.

The worst part of the upper is the toebox fit. It’s going to rule this shoe out for many wide footers. I’ll explain why in the next section.

Is the Asics Megablast wide foot friendly?

No, the Asics Megablast is not wide foot friendly. The heel is narrow and the toebox is pointy and narrows quickly. There’s not as much room upfront as either the Superblast 2 or the Metaspeed Sky/Edge Tokyo. This is partially width and partially the upper material not having much volume on the lateral side of the foot near the big toe.

I wear my Superblast 2 casually a ton because the toebox is plenty big. I don’t anticipated wearing the Asics Megablast casually because the fit makes it a shoe that performs well but that you’ll want to get off your feet once you finish a hard workout or long run.

The Asics Megablast does fit true-to-size lengthwise so order your typical Asics running shoe size.

Is the Asics Megablast worth $225?

Yes, the Asics Megablast is worth $225 despite that price point feeling high at first glance. The main reasons are the foam underfoot, the almost super shoe-like performance, and the durability. I’m confident that most runners will get their money’s worth from the Megablast.

How to use the Asics Megablast

The Asics Megablast is a versatile, high performing running shoe that can handle hard workouts on the roads or track, long runs, and road racing.

Asics Megablast Summary

The Asics Megablast has some small flaws and I’m bummed that wide footers won’t be able to experience its luscious bounce, but Asics again has delivered a “Blast” that’s one of the most fun shoes on the market. Those that want a bouncy but plateless option for workouts and long runs won’t find a better option.

How does the Author Run?

Drew Whitcomb (age 43, 6’6″ 200lbs): Runs daily with a once a week rest day. Runs a lot of miles due to testing needs and a growing affinity for long-distance races. Regularly competes in marathons, half-marathons, 10k, and 5k races.

Disclosure

While Asics did provide a pair of the Megablast to facilitate this review, the company had no involvement in this review, didn’t receive an advance look at it, and has not attempted to influence it.