Asics Sonicblast 2 Review: Who Is This Super Trainer For? (2026)
Asics’ Blast range is now a deep lineup, with models that keep getting more innovative and more capable. It sums up the brand’s revival perfectly, the one that started with the hugely popular Novablast.
Finding your place in that range is hard when the Novablast and the Superblast are the giants standing next to you. The first Sonicblast pulled it off a year ago, by becoming the first plated shoe in the lineup.
The Sonicblast 2 arrives with several changes and a clear goal: to be an explosive training partner that feels close to a carbon racer. Where does it stand against the Superblast 3 and the Megablast? Does it suit your runner profile and your goals?
That is what this full review covers.
Why trust me?
With a 2:38 marathon PR and high weekly mileage, I test a lot of running shoe models to support my training.
I field-tested the Asics Sonicblast 2 across different types of workouts to judge its comfort and ride feel. I also checked in with runners of various levels to validate my impressions and make sure these recommendations work for as many runners as possible.
Our Verdict
An excellent, explosive and responsive shoe for anything fast.
- Weight: 223 g / 7.9 oz (EU 42)
- Foam: FF Turbo², FF Blast Max
- Stack: 46 mm (heel), 38 mm (forefoot)
- Drop: 8 mm
- Fast training at every distance, racing
The midsole is as massive as ever, with a 46 mm stack. It combines two foams, in different blends from the v1. The top layer uses the very good A-TPU FF Turbo², the bottom layer a slab of FF Blast Max that gives the shoe a bit more stability. The Pebax plate, the Astroplate, sits between the two layers, redrawn into a fork shape.
The feel at impact is very well balanced, with a touch of firmness. Shock absorption is excellent and the push-off gets genuinely close to the brand’s carbon-plated models. Responsiveness is very good and it is seriously versatile in any scenario where you need to pick up the pace.
The engineered mesh upper delivers very good comfort and very good breathability. The ASICSGRIP rubber outsole, with its new trampoline-inspired pod, gives very good traction on every surface.
The Asics Sonicblast 2 rounds out the range perfectly: an explosive shoe for picking up the pace, in training and on race day.
Pros
- Very good responsiveness
- Easier to run in than carbon racing models
- Very comfortable upper with excellent breathability
- Very good shock absorption for running longer
- Very good traction
Cons
- A slightly firm feel at impact
- The fit didn’t work for some testers
- Less ground feel with the tall stack
Cushioning: 46 mm of Stack and a Balanced Feel That Leans Firm
The dimensions are unchanged and still massive: 46 mm at the heel and 38 mm under the forefoot. It is quite simply one of the tallest shoes you can find.
Shock absorption lives up to that maximalism. There is plenty of protection to run longer at any distance. Does that hold for every runner?
For me it comes down to preference more than runner profile. The feel at impact is well balanced, but it leans firm. That can hold some runners back over long distances.
I generally don’t get along with shoes that are too stiff: past a certain distance I start to feel a pounding. That is not the case with the Sonicblast 2, and I pushed past 30 km without any trouble.
So the cushioning lets any type of runner go long, as long as you accept the slightly firm side. If there is anything to watch, it is on other points, and I come back to those below.
Midsole Anatomy
The midsole uses a setup runners now know well:
- On the top layer, a big block of FF Turbo² foam, in A-TPU (aliphatic thermoplastic polyurethane), the best material out there right now. You find it on racing models, like the excellent Asics Metaspeed Ray.
- On the bottom layer, a block of FF Blast Max foam. It is not the most revolutionary foam out there, but it matters a lot for stability and comfort.
- Between the two layers, the Pebax Astroplate, this time in a fork shape. You feel it in the ride, which is more aggressive.
Like on the previous version, these parts work very well together and give a feel that suits a wide range of runners. The 8 mm drop is standard and asks for no particular adjustment.
Energy Return: 223 g / 7.9 oz and a Trampoline Pod for a Strong Push
At 223 g / 7.9 oz in a EU 42, the shoe is lighter than the v1 while keeping the same dimensions. It is closing in on the 200 g mark. That is remarkable for a shoe that doesn’t have the same durability constraints as a carbon racer.
The asymmetric outsole and midsole design is back, the geometry that runs through the Blast family. What is new is a trampoline-effect pod (Trampoline Pod) under the forefoot. You feel it at toe-off, with a clearly marked forward push.
The rocker also gives smooth heel-to-toe transitions. All of it gives the Sonicblast 2 very good responsiveness, close to what the Metaspeed models deliver, for a very versatile shoe.
Support and Stability: A Sure-Footed Ride for Neutral Runners
Given the shoe’s maximal dimensions, having doubts on this point is fair. For me there is no stability issue at all. A grippy outsole, a fairly dense foam and a well-fitted upper add up to stability that holds up.
The shoe is aimed at neutral runners and has no specific technology to stabilize the stride. Asics says it can also work for supinators.
Foot Lockdown: A Light, Breathable and Precise Engineered Mesh Upper
Shoe after shoe, Asics proves it knows how to build an upper. The Blast range is where I find that craft most impressive: producing a shoe this light and this tall with no compromise on the upper is quite a feat.
The new engineered mesh upper is very breathable, like on the previous version. It is perforated throughout for excellent airflow. Cold-weather coverage is not sacrificed, so it works whatever the weather.
Comfort is impressive and not minimal at all: the padding is there and the shoe is very pleasant to wear, even for long stretches. Maybe a step below an Asics Superblast 3, but step-in comfort stays excellent for a fast shoe.
The mesh is multidirectional, woven to give more support in the key zones, with more space between the fibers. The side reinforcements round out a very good overall structure and precise lockdown.
The gusseted tongue is welcome: no sliding to report. Some find it a bit thin, but I don’t think that is a problem. It follows the foot’s movement very well and sits without any pressure.
The stiff heel counter is well padded too and holds the heel in place. The eyelet lacing setup lets you try different lacing methods and locks the foot down well. The removable sockliner handles moisture well.
Sizing and Fit
The lockdown is maybe a touch too precise for some testers with wide feet, who would have liked more room in the forefoot. Those comments stay marginal and I find the sizing completely standard.
So go with your usual size. With the stretch and the lacing setup, the upper adapts on the fly to a wide range of feet.
Good Grip on Wet Surfaces
Like on the previous version, Asics uses ASICSGRIP rubber in the impact zones. The only real difference comes from the new Trampoline Pod covered above.
Traction stays reliable on every surface. Grip is very good on wet ground, so you can run whatever the weather. The many grooves and micro-grooves give very good flexibility.
The design also keeps stones from getting stuck. So this road shoe can take you onto most paths without trouble, as long as they are not technical.
Who Is It For and Which Workouts?
As I said above, I had no trouble placing the Sonicblast 2 in the range, which was one of my worries going into the test. I find it has a lot in common with a Saucony Endorphin Speed 5, which from me is a real compliment.
Both use a plate that is not carbon and are built to feel close to a racer while being easier to run in. It clearly works: the Sonicblast 2 is explosive, but also easier to \”drive\” than a Metaspeed.
Careful, that does not mean the shoe is easy to get along with and that every runner should buy it: think beginners, for instance. With a stack this tall and a push this strong, starting out in running with a Sonicblast is not recommended.
The (very) big dimensions were my other worry before the test and, no surprise, some testers brought it up. For me you barely feel it in the ride: with the fairly firm feel, I never once felt far from the ground.
I still have to pass those comments on. It is worth taking into account if you prefer a more natural feel, like on an Asics Magic Speed 5.
As I said above, the protection lets you push at any distance, racing or training. Only the fairly firm side can hold some runners back, and that is not a lack of cushioning.
A Shoe for Speed Only?
At moderate paces, I have read runners who find the shoe less relevant when you slow down, with a feeling of \”pounding\” the ground. I would not go that far, but it is true that it is less pleasant on slow easy runs, like every shoe of this type.
The shoe comes alive when you pick up the pace, with impressive push-off. The new pod up front, the more curved geometry and the fork-shaped plate (which ties the forefoot and the heel together better) make an explosive combination.
I see no limit to the shoe in any scenario where you need to go faster. Tempo workouts or long runs with marathon-pace segments are a real pleasure. On sharper efforts (400 m repeats, say), the low weight shows and the shoe does the job very well.
It is also a very good option for racing, even if there are more responsive carbon-plated models, like the Asics Metaspeed Ray. The Sonicblast 2 is seriously fast, but above all easier to run in than the Ray.
Quality and Lifespan: Performance and Durability Go Together
Asics knows how to pair performance with durability, and the Sonicblast 2 confirms it. The ASICSGRIP rubber holds up and the upper shows no sign of early wear. The foams keep their properties well over time. So the shoe has what it takes to pile on the miles. The price is high, but in line with the current market.
The upper uses recycled polyester (75%) and a dope-dyed inner lining, to cut water use in production. The shoe is vegan.
Asics Sonicblast 2 vs Sonicblast: What’s New?
Compared with the previous version, here is what changed:
- A new engineered mesh upper
- A new tongue, more comfortable and better built
- About 15 g / 0.5 oz less on the scale
- FF Blast Max foam with a new, softer formula
- A new trampoline-effect pod under the forefoot
- A redrawn Pebax Astroplate, in a fork shape
- A new, more curved geometry
Both versions are premium plated models: you won’t go wrong picking the v1 if you find it on sale. The second version is the more complete one in our view, with a better balanced and more stable ride. It is more responsive too, with a better push.
Should You Buy the Asics Sonicblast 2?
The Asics Sonicblast 2 fully earns its place in the Blast range, which is an achievement in itself given how popular the other models are. The Pebax plate gives it a push that brings it close to carbon racers, while staying easier to run in and more durable.
You will find softer models if that is what you want, or faster ones (but also more demanding) for race day. But this second Sonicblast is clearly among the best super trainers out there for fast workouts in training.
Technical Specs
Technical Specs
| Terrain | Road |
| Pronation type | Neutral |
| Drop | 8 mm |
| Heel height | 46 mm |
| Forefoot height | 38 mm |
| Weight (men) | 223 g/7.9 oz |
| Weight (women) | 204 g/7.2 oz |
| Features | Vegan, Recycled materials, Nylon plate, Rocker |
| Athletes | |
| Release year | 2026 |
| Price | Check Prices |
Cushioning
| Softness | Balanced |
| Responsiveness | High |
Technologies
| Outsole | ASICSGRIP |
| Midsole | FF Turbo2, FF Blast Max |
| Upper | Engineered Mesh |
Use
| Speed | Moderate, Fast |
| Distance | Mid, 10K, Half marathon, Long, Marathon |
| Workout | Daily running, Racing |
Reference: official Asics website
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