ASICS Superblast 2 introduction:
The ASICS Superblast 2 is the ideal daily trainer for almost any runner. It comes with a stable base, perfectly balanced cushioning on the midsole and a plush supportive upper. Furthermore a low enough weight to make you wonder whether you’re wearing a super shoe. On paper, this seems like the ultimate shoe and on foot they feel amazing. But does it warrant the €220 price tag?
ASICS Superblast 2 upper:
Josh: The upper of the ASICS Superblast 2 is predominantly a woven upper. Initially, this struck me as looking quite thick and plush. However, that couldn’t be further from the truth. The upper of the Superblast 2 is a thin single layer of engineered woven mesh, presumably done to keep the weight down and breathability high. This engineered mesh is extremely soft. I haven’t found it to be abrasive or to create any sort of hotspots on my feet when running.
ASICS have strategically placed areas of thick padding where necessary. The majority of the padding is in the heel of the shoe. This is where the shoe excels in my opinion. This thick layer of padding not only makes the shoes extremely comfortable but greatly improves the lockdown too. I have never had any issues with heel slipping. Moreover, I am yet to develop blisters on my achilles while running in them. (Something which I am grateful for considering they are white).
The generous toe box along with the wide base makes this a great shoe for someone looking for a more spacious fit. The gusseted tongue along with the lacing system has meant that I have been able to get a perfect fit from my first run. This was something which I was especially pleased with when using them for some speed work (more on this later).
Maisie: The single engineered woven mesh of the ASICS Superblast 2 certainly ticks the box for breathability and performs very well on this front. Moreover, the upper was predominantly comfortable. Also, as Josh notes it is extremely soft. At the front, the toe box has a slightly different fabric combination giving a firmer feel across the top of the foot. However, this certainly wasn’t a deal breaker. In fact, it is probably to be expected considering the purpose and design of the shoe.
Although the overall fit of the shoe seems true to size, the toebox caused a few issues for me. Whilst I have plenty of room vertically in the toe, it isn’t quite wide enough for me in places. Over longer runs and faster speeds, I experience a small amount of pinching on the outer side of my right foot. The Superblast 2 is a unisex shoe and is designed using a men’s last. In theory, this should mean a roomier fit. But, perhaps, due the performance fit nature of the shoe, this doesn’t quite translate for me. Perhaps a shoe half a size up would resolve this. Although, I question the impact this may have on fit and performance in other areas.
Overall, the heel lock and padding around the heel is extremely comfortable. I agree with Josh, this part of the shoe really does excel. Furthermore, I had no issues with slippage on the heel. During my runs, the padding feels snug yet comfortable. I feel really stable while running in the Superblast 2, which is impressive when considering the stack height.
The colourway, of course, bears no relation to the performance of the shoe. However, I was testing the re-imagined edition from the Lucy Charles-Barclay collection. Consequently, it would be remiss of me not to touch on this. This edition features iridescent fish scale stripes, a pearly purple midsole and ‘Never Give Up’ laces. A bold choice and I think you are either going to love it or hate. That said, I am firmly in the ‘I love it’ category. As well as being completely eye-catching, the mermaid scales have an unexpected secondary benefit of being reflective in the dark. A win-win for a UK based runner in winter months trying to keep visible!
ASICS Superblast 2 midsole:
Josh: My initial thoughts of the ASICS Superblast 2 were that they were horrible. They felt extremely firm underfoot, almost like running on two slabs of wood. I instantly regretted wearing them for my easy run. The ASICS Superblast 2 features a dual-density midsole with a thin layer of FLYTEFOAM Blast Turbo+ (the same found on many of ASICS’s race day shoes) placed below a thick slab of FLYTEFOAM Blast+.
The FF Blast Turbo+ offers that responsive cushioning of ASICS’ race day shoes. On the other hand, the FF Blast+ offers a nice balance to this with its slightly firmer, more stable characteristics. I believe the FF Blast+ was to blame for my initial sour experience. After only a few kilometres of running to loosen up the foam and break it in, they were a dream to run in. The difference was night and day.
As a result of this wide, stable, yet surprisingly responsive and ultra lightweight midsole, I have found myself reaching for the Superblast 2 far more than any other shoe at the moment. Whether it’s an easy recovery run or a longer steady run they get the job done perfectly. Furthermore, I even used them for a speed session on the track (slightly by accident, because I didn’t bring any other shoes that day). While it did feel like they were a little out of their depth running k rep’s at 2:50 pace they handled the task well.
I wouldn’t recommend using them everyday for speed work. However, it is nice to know that, for the average runner, the ASICS Superblast 2 could be a great option as a do-it-all shoe. It works for anything from easy runs to local Parkruns.
Maisie: On the contrary to Josh, I instantly loved the ride and feel of the ASICS Superblast 2. The dual density midsole feels light and responsive. Consequently, it contributes to a real stand out performance.
Overall, the ride for me, feels great across nearly all paces. However, it really comes into its own when you hit marathon pace and just above. The mechanics are hard to describe, but as I work up to this pace the ride just feels better and better! It is hard to find the words to describe how wonderful they feel. Although, I do have to agree with Josh that they wouldn’t be my top choice for my ‘speediest’ sessions. That said, this is due to the fact I have a number of other options in my shoe rotation. If you have a small rotation, then it could certainly be a good contender for a ‘do it all’ shoe.
Like its predecessor the Superbalst 2 has a late toe rocker. This likely contributes to the versatility and smooth transition across paces. Considering the shoe doesn’t have any kind of plate, the ride and energy return, in my opinion, is really impressive. Although the Superblast 2 has gained a fraction of weight on its predecessor, they still feel very light on foot.
ASICS Superblast 2 outsole:
Josh: The outsole of the ASICS Superblast 2 follows the lightweight, high quality precedent set out by the rest of the shoe. Strategically placed where it’s most needed the outsole follows the “less is more” principle. The majority of the material is found in the forefoot with some also placed towards the heel of the shoe. Having run in the Superblast 2 for roughly 300 km so far, there are some signs of wear on the outsole. That said, there is nothing that is surprising for a shoe with so much super-shoe technology.
As for the areas of the outsole which doesn’t have any AHARPLUS outsole rubber coverage, there is no noticeable wear other than the discolouration of the foam from running on roads. Therefore, I believe that the outsole of the shoe will most likely outlast the midsole unit and is of little consequence regarding the longevity of the shoe.
Having predominantly used this shoe for dry easy runs. I can’t comment on the performance of the outsole on wet surfaces, however, when on both loose and hard surfaces I have been more than satisfied with the grip on offer.
Maisie: To be honest, I think ASICS have nailed the outsole on the Superblast 2. They coined the outsole design as being ‘trampoline-inspired’ to help provide more bounce.As shown above, I think that description is very fair. The ASICSGRIP rubber outsole feels soft under foot but has really impressive traction.
I have tried the shoes across most terrains and weather conditions, including some really wet runs. In every instance, the traction has been spot on. Although I didn’t test the first iteration of the shoe, it seems that ASICS have resolved the issue some had with the sole collecting small pebbles. From my testing, this isn’t an issue at all for the Superblast 2.
ASICS Superblast 2 conclusion:
Josh: My experience with the ASICS Superblast 2 started off slightly shakily. However, after an initial break-in period of around 20 km I found that they were the shoes which I grabbed most often when going for runs. They’ve also been the shoe I was most excited about wearing over the last few months.
While the €220 price tag is definitely a hefty price, I think it is a great option to consider as a tempo/easy shoe for those who can afford it. Words which I’d use to describe the Superblast 2 include: lightweight, stable, breathable, and well cushioned. All of these add to the fact that I believe this is one of the best max-cushioned easy running shoes on the market in 2024. It is a worthy successor to the original.
Maisie: The Superblast 2 is an incredibly versatile shoe. It offers an energetic and supportive ride that, for me, gets better and better over pace. I wholeheartedly agree with Josh that it has to be up there with one of the best max-cushioned running shoes of 2024. If, like me, you are a big fan of the Novablast 4, then you are likely going to love the Superblast 2. Overall, it will give you an impressive ride and energy return across paces. However, it does that without the potential drawbacks of a plated shoe. While the price point is high, I think this is a true ‘do it all’ shoe for most everyday runners.
Despite my glowing review of the Superblast 2, I can’t ignore the slight fit issues that I experienced. For this reason, if you have wider feet, I would advise a good fit check before committing. Without this, it could end up being a costly mistake. For both your wallet and your pinky toe!
