Responsive Max cushion: Our Asics Megablast Tokyo Review

The first Novablast brought a breath of fresh air to the Asics running shoe range. The Blast series has since expanded, notably with the Superblast, also acclaimed by runners despite its steep price.

The Japanese brand goes one step further with its Asics Megablast, premium shoes with even more cushioning.

But how good is the Megablast really? How does it compare with the Superblast 2?

This is what we’ll see in this in-depth review.

Our verdict

Cushioning

It’s hard to get bigger than this with a maximum dimension of 45 mm under the heel and 37 mm under the metatarsal. It’s simply one of the highest shoes you can find (note that the Sonicblast, released simultaneously, goes up to 46 mm).

Shock absorption is simply incredible, especially for such a lightweight shoe. It’s certainly one of the shoes offering the most protection among all those I’ve tried.

Thus, it suits any type of runner to lengthen the distance without restriction in terms of level or build. The limit will come rather from your cushioning preferences in terms of sensation.

On this point, I was eager to try on the shoe to form an opinion, as I read completely contradictory reviews, with some describing it as a rigid shoe and others as too soft.

My opinion? The shoe is very well balanced, with a sensation leaning slightly towards softness, a bit more than the Superblast 2, for instance.

But not as much as other models. I’m a bit puzzled by the reservations in either direction. In any case, I think this feeling will suit the majority of runners.

The midsole design is quite simple, with a single block of the new FlyteFoam Turbo² foam. It’s an A-TPU (aliphatic thermoplastic polyurethane), a new generation foam more efficient than Peba.

It’s basically the same foam as FlyteFoam Leap, found on competition models like the Asics Metaspeed Ray, but in a more durable formula designed more for training.

Another strong point for greater accessibility, the shoe is without a plate and thus less rigid than competition models.

Finally, the 8 mm drop is classic and should suit all runners.

Energy Return

Weighing 218 g in size 42, the shoe is very light, especially considering its imposing dimensions. It features the asymmetrical design of the outsole and midsole (Trampoline Pod), a characteristic geometry of the Blast range.

One finds the smooth roll with rapid and effective transitions. The rocker is very pronounced, even more so than on other Blast models, offering a strong lean and powerful propulsion.

The dynamism is excellent. Not comparable to that of carbon rockets, but the reactivity is very good, and the energy return allows sweeping all paces with ease.

Support and Stability

Point criticized by a number of testers, especially those who found the shoe too soft, I personally find the stability conventional, perfectly comparable to those of competitor models.

With such a high stack, one cannot talk about close-to-the-ground sensations. But the base is quite wide, and the sensation well balanced, all the more as the outsole offers very good traction.

Let us add that the shoe is for a neutral stride and does not have a specific technology to stabilize it, but the brand states that it may also be suitable for supinators.

Foot Lockdown

Brands know how to produce maximalist shoes while keeping them light, proven by the carbon rockets. This is generally less true for training models, designed to be more durable and more comfortable.

For the Asics Megablast Tokyo, the brand necessarily had to make concessions to reach a weight of 218 g in size 42 (despite 45 mm of stack). And these are concentrated on the upper.

It’s no surprise then that this is the point where criticisms crystallize, even if, in my opinion, not all are justified, as I will explain here. I’ve even read a review describing an “unfinished” upper, not justifying the shoe’s price.

The upper is made of technical mesh, very light and permeable. Contrary to what’s said in this review, I would describe it as a high-end upper. The brand has reinforced the heel and midfoot (for better support), but has kept a very thin toe.

The stitching is precise, and the fibers strong, with numerous micro-perforations ensuring very good breathability. Even without lining, I approve of good protection in cold weather for use in any weather.

The shoe offers very good comfort with plenty of padding. The interior is soft throughout the upper, except in the toe area (better to wear socks).

The gusseted tongue accompanies the foot’s movement well, though it hasn’t met everyone’s approval: some would like more padding. That hasn’t bothered me despite my high instep, and I find it very relevant as it allows the shoe to be lighter.

The semi-rigid heel counter is well-padded and effectively holds the heel in place. There’s also a loop for easy putting on. The lacing system with serrated laces locks the foot in well, although it would be better if they were longer.

In short, the upper is well-executed and confirms the shoe’s premium aspect.

Size and Fit

The shoe is very close to the foot. It feels tight the first time, especially if you have wide feet like I do. But I find it fades when running — the upper adapts to the foot.

I even took a ruler and made some measurements. At 9.3 cm wide, the base is just a bit below the average for shoes (9.5 cm). Nothing significant.

The shoe is even wider than the Superblast 2 in the toe area. The feeling of narrowness comes more from the depth of this area. The Megablast has a very curved profile, more than other shoes, leaving little height for the toes.

In my view, this is the only point to watch out for.

For the rest, the shoe fits true to size. If you like space for your toes (especially in height), consider going up half a size.

Traction

The outsole utilizes ASICSGRIP rubber, like the Superblast 2.

The traction is powerful, resulting in very good grip, whether on dry or wet surfaces — no slipping to anticipate.

Despite numerous grooves and micro-grooves, the shoe is moderately flexible (a bit hard to bend), but this remains within the norm.

Besides the asphalt, the shoe will easily handle most non-technical trails.

Use Scenarios

With impressive shock absorption, the Asics Megablast is a formidable shoe for lengthening outings. Cushioning allows without any problem to push on long distances, whatever your profile.

The shoe is an excellent choice for marathons due to its great comfort. Its excellent dynamism makes it suitable for all speeds.

This last point is important: unlike carbon rockets, the Megablast remains pertinent at lower speeds. It can therefore perfectly be used in training for any moderate pace outing (e.g., recovery run, fundamental endurance).

For runners who do not like (or cannot cope with, due to a syndrome like Morton’s) the rigidity of plated shoes, the Megablast might be the best non-plated competition shoe currently on all distances.

In pure performance, it will struggle to compete with more efficient plated models like the excellent Asics Metaspeed Ray. It will also be less pertinent on dry accelerations in training (e.g., 400 m repeats).

But these last points concern more seasoned runners. For the vast majority of the field, the Megablast will be sufficient to cover all paces.

In summary, the Megablast offers formidable versatility and ranks among the best shoes currently for training.

Quality and Durability

The ASICSGRIP rubber is of very good quality, just like the foam which retains its properties over time. The upper is also resistant, even if some testers noted moderate durability in the toe area (perhaps they should have taken an extra half size).

The shoe is thus equipped to accumulate kilometers but considering the price is high, we let you judge the value-for-money.

In terms of eco-responsibility, the Asics Megablast has the GRS (Global Recycled Standard) label with at least 50% recycled fibers. This label also controls the quality of working conditions according to ILO (International Labour Organization) principles, and environmental and chemical practices throughout the production chain.

Finally, these shoes are vegan (like all ASICS running models).

Alternatives

Asics Sonicblast

It’s hard to compare the Megablast with the Sonicblast, released simultaneously. The latter is plated and 30 g heavier. It is also composed of two foams, the FF Turbo² and the FF Blast Max.

It’s more affordable (50 euros less), which is not negligible. But its Pebax plate places it in another category: it’s more rigid and less versatile than the Megablast, hence overall less pleasant.

Asics Superblast 2

The Megablast is ultimately much closer to the Superblast 2. Some even see the Megablast as the Superblast 3. But I do not share this view. The Superblast 2 is slightly more comfortable, a bit heavier, and a bit firmer.

It is therefore somewhat better suited for dry accelerations, while the Megablast is slightly more versatile and pleasant at tempo speeds. I add “slightly” each time because these two models remain close and offer similar sensations.

Conclusion

The Asics Megablast goes further than the other shoes in the range. It is close to the Superblast 2, but it is lighter, and the new foam makes it more dynamic, therefore even more versatile.

It’s hard to locate the shoe’s limitation; it suits all training scenarios and is one of the best competition shoes for those who do not want a plate.

Facts

Technical Specs

Terrain	Road
Pronation type	Neutral
Drop	8 mm
Heel height	45 mm
Forefoot height	37 mm
Weight (men)	218 g/7.7 oz
Weight (women)	193 g/6.8 oz
Features	Vegan, Rocker
Athletes
Release year	2025
Price	Check prices

Cushioning

Softness	Balanced
Responsiveness	Medium

Technologies

Outsole	ASICSGRIP
Midsole	FF TURBO2
Upper	Engineered Knit

Use

Speed	Slow, Moderate, Fast
Distance	Short, 5K, Mid, 10K, Half marathon, Long, Marathon
Workout	Daily running, Racing

Reference: official site