Asics Megablast vs Asics Superblast 2 — which running shoe should you get?

The Asics Megablast and Asics Superblast 2 are two of the best running shoes I’ve tested in the past year, and both offer an impressively versatile ride and have an exceptionally high price tag.

I’ve done a huge range of runs in both shoes, racking up over 100 miles in each of them, and although they have similar strengths and weaknesses for the most part, there are some subtle differences that, for me, make the Megablast a stronger all-rounder and worth the extra you pay for it.

I’ll explain those differences below, but for more details on either shoe, check out my Asics Megablast review and Asics Superblast 2 review.

Asics Megablast vs Asics Superblast 2: Price

Both shoes are certainly at the expensive end of the spectrum for running shoes, but the Megablast is the pricier option at $225 / £210, compared to $200 / £200 for the Superblast 2.

The Megablast is a brand-new release, so it's unlikely to appear in sales anytime soon, whereas the Superblast 2 is older and rumors of the Superblast 3 are starting to swirl, so there’s more of a chance that you could find it reduced somewhere.

Asics Megablast vs Asics Superblast 2: Design and fit

The Superblast 2 is available in a wider range of colors than the Megablast (seven), which has only recently launched and is only on sale in two colors. I have the same size in both shoes, and both fit me well in my normal running shoe size.

Both shoes pack a lot of foam underfoot. The Megablast has a stack height of 46mm at the heel and 38mm at the forefoot for an 8mm drop. The Superblast 2 stack height is 45mm at the heel and 37mm at the forefoot, with an 8mm drop.

Despite these monster stack heights, both shoes are impressively light. The Megablast is the lighter option of the pair at 8.5oz in my US men’s size 10, whereas the Superblast 2 weighs 8.9oz.

Upper

Both shoes have comfortable, breathable uppers made from an engineered mesh material. There’s a little more padding around the collar of the Superblast 2, but the differences in this area of the shoes were minimal for me — both fit well and are comfortable throughout the upper.

Midsole

The midsole is where the key differences between the Megablast and Superblast 2 are found. The Superblast 2 uses two foams in its midsole, with a larger top layer of FF Turbo+ and a thinner bottom layer of FF Blast Plus Eco.

Meanwhile, the Megablast’s midsole is entirely made from FF Turbo Square, a bouncier material than the FF Turbo+ used in the Superblast 2.

The shape of the midsoles on the shoe is also important, with the Superblast 2’s foam extending further back behind the heel, which gives it a larger, more boat-like feel on the foot than the Megablast.

Neither shoe has a plate in the midsole, but both do have quite stiff rides. Coupled with the energetic foams they use, this creates a ride that’s both fast and comfortable.

Outsole

Neither shoe has a full outsole; instead, it uses rubber selectively to cover the main impact areas on the heel and forefoot, without adding too much weight.

Despite this, I’ve seen no signs of wear and tear on the bottom of each shoe, on either the rubber or the exposed foam, and both have gripped well enough for me on wet pavements during testing.

Asics Megablast vs Asics Superblast 2: Running performance

The Asics Superblast 2 and Asics Megablast share several strengths when it comes to performance, with the standout being how versatile they are. The high level of cushioning underfoot means they are comfortable for easy and long runs, but they are also light and responsive at faster paces.

Both have great foams in the midsole, providing a lot of energy return, and although they are big shoes, I found them comfortable to cruise along at faster paces during tempo and interval workouts.

They are both shoes you can slip on for any run and take away on a trip, unsure what kind of runs you’ll actually do, confident they can handle anything. I’ve done exactly that with both shoes, and they’re also comfortable for the miles of walking and standing you do when travelling.

There are differences, though; the Megablast is a little lighter and has a livelier ride than the Superblast 2. It’s also less blocky around the back of the shoe, and I found the ride smoother in moving from heel to toe in the Megablast, especially at faster paces.

When I tried running in both shoes at the same time, I found the FF Turbo Squared foam has a little more pop off the toes, though the Superblast 2 still has a very responsive ride.

Asics Megablast vs Asics Superblast 2: Verdict

These are both great shoes, but I prefer the feel of the Megablast, purely as it’s a little better at faster paces and a little smoother off the heel than the Superblast 2. The new midsole foam is a little more energetic, too.

The Superblast 2 is still a strong option, but I’d pay the extra for the Megablast myself if both are at full price. It will be interesting to see where Asics goes with the Superblast 3, though, and especially whether it brings in the incredibly soft and springy FF Leap foam used in the Asics Metaspeed Ray racing shoes.

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