With the Tokyo range, ASICS have given us new versions of the MetaSpeed series with a whole new foam. The Edge and Sky return with FFLeap to make them lighter and bouncier. Along with these, ASICS unleashed the Ray. This is their ultralightweight hyper-shoe contender. But not every day is race day. To assist with these, we get two brand new shoes from ASICS. The Megablast which is here and the Sonicblast. Both contain another new ASICS foam, FFTurbo2, which is bouncier and lighter than the previous FFTurbo.
I loved the Megablast, but how does the Sonicblast compare?
Upper and Fit of the ASICS Sonicblast
What works for me
On my first run, I found that the Megablast gave me a little chaffing on my little toe. The mesh upper is a little narrow for even my average width feet. However, in my first run in the jacquard mesh Sonicblast, I found that it has a less race style width. Whilst it is still not the widest shoe on the shelf, it does have more toe room than the Megablast. On the whole, the upper is comfortable and the lockdown is good for when picking up the pace is the order of the day.
Midsole and Ride of the ASCIS Megablast
What works for me
Here is a major difference to the Megablast. Whilst the Megablast is an unplated shoe with a monofoam midsole, the Sonicblast offers a plated dual foam setup. The top layer of the sandwich is the new FFTurbo2 foam. This is a super bouncy and responsive foam which holds the Astroplate for added forward propulsion. Finishing the sandwich, we find FF Blast Max.
While I loved the ride of the Megablast from the very first step, I found that the initial spark wasn’t quite there for me in the Sonicblast. For me, it was very reminiscent of the Magic Speed 4. The ride and foam feel was very similar. From this, I deduce that the Sonicblast will require a little break in time. After the first 35 – 40km of running my Magic Speed 4 opened up a little. The feel of the foam became more enjoyable and it earned its place as one of the bet session shoes on my shelf. I am hopeful that when we come to the full review of the shoe, my colleagues and I will be able to report the same. Whilst the ride may not be as instantly adorable as the Megablast, it is by no means a bad shoe.
The grip is provided by the usually reliable ASICSGRIP which is durable and can handle most conditions.
Conclusion
Initial Verdict
For me, if you are going to buy one of the two shoes instantly, the Megablast is it. On the other hand, if you are looking for a slightly more traditional feel for a session shoe, the Sonicblast is certainly worth trying out. The dual foam set up should become much more enjoyable with more running completed and durability of ASICS shoes is second to none. Let us know what you think about the new pairings from ASICS in the comments below.
