ASICS Megablast Review
By Nathan Brown
ASICS MegablastPrice: $225 at Running Warehouse
Weight: 7.9oz, 224g (men's size 9)
Stack Height: 45 mm heel / 37 mm forefoot
Drop: 8 mm
Shoe Purpose: Daily Trainer/Performance Trainer/Casual Racer
Pros: Lightweight, Responsive, Fun, Cushioned
Cons: Snug Fit in Forefoot, Not the most stable
RUNNING SHOE SUMMARY
The Megablast enters the "Blast" family as the most performance-oriented, lightweight, and "unleashed" experience. It has a full midsole of FF Turbo², an ATPU blend, providing a ton of responsiveness and a geometry that allows it to perform at varying paces and efforts. The FF Turbo², while responsive, it less compliant than their other new foam, FF Leap, and is more geared for training and some uptempo efforts. The shoe is a step up in performance from the more tamed Superblast, with a dialed-down fit and a more responsive and rockered platform.
SIMILAR SHOES: A much lighter HOKA Skyward X
PAST MODEL: New Model
FIT
(To learn how a shoe should fit, check out our full podcast on fit by Matt Klein.)
Nathan: The Megablast uses a woven upper that is very thin and has a synthetic-type feel. It is translucent in the forefoot, where there is a lower volume and a tapered toe box. It certainly has a "dialed-in" fit that isn't very accommodating and fits slightly short. However, I have taken it on a two-hour run without any blistering or discomfort from the upper. There is a semistructured heel counter with a mild amount of padding that locks the heel in well. The tongue is quite thin and has ribbed laces that hold really well and do not irritate the top of the foot. In all, you get a very lightweight and snug upper that runs slightly on the short side. However, I personally would not size up. It's a performance-ready upper that handled daily training and long runs well.
Typical Size: Men's US Size 9
Shoes that have fit Nathan well: Topo Phantom 3, Saucony Endorphin Speed 4, ASICS Novablast 4
Shoes that have fit snug: HOKA Mach 6, Puma Deviate 3, New Balance Rebel v3
Shoes that have fit large: Saucony Triumph 22, Brooks Launch 9 (length)
Doctors of Running Checklist
Is This a Good Shoe for Walking: No
Is This a Good Shoe for Standing: No
Is the Forefoot Flexible: Not really (very mild)
How Flexible is the Shoe: Mild
Is This a Good Heel Bevel: Yes
Recommended for Haglunds: No
Is This Shoe Orthotic Friendly: No
Recommended for Sockless: No
Durability Expectation: Normal
PERFORMANCE
Nathan: This has genuinely been one of the most fun trainers that I've tested in a long time. The combination of cushion, bounce, and geometry hit the sweet spot for many aspects of my training. At slower paces, the foam feels peppy, yet tamed, and the shoe operates on an overall moderate rocker. The rocker starts early enough that it transitions smoothly, and it's easy to get up on the toes. There is no plate, but that doesn't stop this shoe from being more rigid through the forefoot. I didn't feel a lot of flex through the forefoot during toe off, and it truly operates on the rocker profile. The most notable "feeling" when running in this shoe was how light it was. The weight ASICS provided was 8.1oz, but mine measure 7.9 oz on my scale and it feels even a bit lighter than that at all paces. What was most fun was when pushing the pace down to my 10K effort, the foam really popped back with the additional force put into it, making it feel more responsive when picking up the pace. Given its response to change in pace, it makes the shoe very versatile.
However, I think it is perfect for runs where there is a variety of paces that are going to happen so that you can take advantage of the pop when you pick up the pace. The best runs I can imagine in this would be a long run with a workout embedded. If I were going on an easy long run, I'd probably still lean Superblast, given that it is a bit more controlled and stable (more on that later). In addition to training, this shoe could be great for long-distance racing for those who don't want something as aggressive as a super shoe.
I also need to mention the outsole, which uses ASICSGRIP. This was a remarkably sticky outsole given the material and the ribbed design. It gripped so well on the boardwalks on our trails that it would sound like a basketball shoe on the court when slowing down or turning. The shoe is incredibly grippy and felt secure in wet conditions.
STABILITY
(Learn more about stability in our full guide)
Nathan: The Megablast is a neutral, max cushioned trainer. Given the liveliness of the foam and compliance, it has a bit of a "wiggle" to is until you get in rhythm. This was fine for me, but those who like some structure and stability will want to look elsewhere for their trainer, or get this shoe more for workouts and racing. There is a wider base and beveling that helps stabilize it a bit, which keeps it from becoming too unstable. There are also some mild sidewalls, but they aren't large enough to make a meaningful contribution to stability, particularly on the medial side.
Thoughts as a DPT: What's a Plate Got to Do With It?
By Nathan Brown
To this day, plates get a lot of attention. Unless you dive into the literature, it's easy to assume that energy return comes from the presence and appropriate flex and rebound from a plate. However, this isn't quite the whole story. What matters more is the overall collection of features that allow a shoe to perform at its best for its intended purpose. Not every shoe needs, or should have, a plate. Even the fastest shoes on the market aren't fast because they have a plate alone. It's a cocktail of the right foam, geometry, and plate that make it all work.
RECOMMENDATIONS AND WHO IS THIS SHOE FOR
Nathan: The Megablast could fill a lot of places in a person's shoe quiver. For some, it could be their long run, workout, and racing shoe. For others, a do-it-all shoe. It's got the versatility. I think it'll come down to if you want such a high stacked shoe that is truly neutral, or if you want a bit more ground contact feel (meaning you should look elsewhere). Sitting beside the Superblast, I'd be leaning toward the Megablast for my next long-distance race. I don't think there's anything that this shoe would hold me back from during my efforts on a half marathon or marathon distance (my PR for a half is around 1:30 and marathon is 3:30). I would lean more to the Superblast for a workhorse trainer for more easy and long runs (while still being versatile). The Superblast is a bit more controlled and stable, while the Megablast is a bit more responsive and "untamed."
I overall appreciated that this shoe feels differentiated from the Superblast,
and I hope they continue to create this Blast family in a way that
provides quite distinct differences. I would love to see the forefoot
volume opened up slightly, which would make it even more accommodating
for training miles.
GRADES
Nathan
Fit: B+ (Nice lock-down, a little snug and short)
Performance: A (Incredibly fun ride)
Stability: B (True neutral shoe)
Value: B+/A- ($225 is a lot, but like the Superblast in my opinion, I think it'll give you what you pay for)
Personal: A (Most fun shoe of the year so far)
Overall Design: A-
SHOP | SUPPORT DORASICS MegablastPrice: $225 at Running Warehouse
Shop Men | Shop Women
*Using the link to purchase helps support Doctors of Running. Thanks so much!
Check out Gear We Love
Naked Belt The best way to carry your phone and goods on the run. No bounce and various sizes for waist.
Saysky Running Gear: We were really taken aback by this Scandinavian company's ultra-thin, durable performance clothing
Skratch Recovery, Coffee Flavor: Mental and physical boost post run. Coffee flavor is excellent and goes great straight into a fresh brewed cup
goodr Sunglases: Run in style with goodr's super fun sunglasses.
Feetures Socks: Massively grippy socks that will make you feel more one with the shoe
Amphipod Hydraform Handheld Water Bottle: Perfect for long runs when you need hydration in the summer
Trigger Point Foam Roller: Help get those knots out post-run and feel better for tomorrow
Ciele Hat: Our team's favorite running hat of choice!
Fractel Hats: Our team's wider fitting running hat of choice!
FURTHER READING
ASICS new performance trainer.
Find all Shoe Reviews at Doctors of Running here.
Thanks for reading!
FOLLOW DOCTORS OF RUNNING ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Facebook: Doctors of Running
Youtube Channel: Doctors of Running
Instagram: @doctorsofrunning
LinkedIn: Doctors of Running
Strava: Doctors of Running
Podcast: Virtual Roundtable
Pinterest: Doctors of Running
PODCAST
Check out the Doctors of Running Podcast to find more reviews, interviews, and running features from the team.
Visit our Podcast Page
Find us on Apple
Find us on Spotify
Contact us at doctorsofrunning@gmail.com
NEXT: ASICS SONICBLAST
