
Photo shows one example colourway
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Two years on, the Superblast 2 is still the shoe other super trainers get measured against. Asics has since released the Superblast 3, but reviewers were close to unanimous on this one, and with the newer model out, the v2 is the one more likely to turn up discounted. It's a big, plate-free running shoe with a 45.5mm heel and a weight of 249g, and it copes with almost any pace: slow marathon-block long runs at one end, races from 10K upwards at the other, for runners who'd rather not wear a carbon racing shoe. Ben Parkes kept reaching for it for months after launch and ranks it among the best shoes they have run in, and Believe in the Run gave its performance their top grade. The catches are a ride that's firmer than it looks and a £200 RRP. If you want one shoe for most of your week and you run long, this is the one we'd pick. If most of your running is easy and short, the cheaper Novablast 5 gets you most of the way there.
Reviewers split on length. Most found it true to size, and one lab test measured it as such, but one UK reviewer went half a size down, as they had in the first version, and sent their usual size back. If you ran in the Superblast 1, take the size that worked there. If you didn't, your normal size is the safer start, and it's worth trying both if you can. Width is a performance fit rather than a roomy one. Lab testing called the toe box snug for wide feet, while another tester found plenty of room at the front, so it depends on your foot. There's one unisex last and no wide option, which tends to make it feel roomier for women. Heel hold and lockdown get consistent praise: no slipping and no hot spots reported, even with the stretchier woven upper.
Expect a smooth, rolling ride with more snap than the stack suggests. Reviewers agree it picks up pace far better than a shoe this tall should, and one UK reviewer raced a half marathon in it. The trade-off is at the slow end. It's quite stiff, and one tester said it felt like a plated shoe during relaxed runs, in a way they didn't enjoy. Another called it a little firm for true recovery days. Not everyone felt that. The US testers found it slightly softer and bouncier than the first version, so how firm it seems probably depends on what you're coming from.
The stack is the point here: 45.5mm under the heel and 37.5mm up front, so there's a lot between you and the road on a long run. Reviewers who did their longest marathon-block runs in it said their legs felt well looked after, and the foam didn't seem to go flat late in a run. It's protective rather than plush, though. If you want to sink into the midsole on a slow three-hour run, a softer max-cushion shoe like the Nike Invincible 3 will feel kinder.
It's a neutral shoe with no posts or guide rails, but it's far steadier than most shoes with this much foam. Lab testing put its torsional rigidity at the top of the scale, and one UK reviewer found it much steadier through corners than the softer Mizuno Neo Vista. That stiffness is what stops a tall midsole from wobbling. If you overpronate and need real support, you'll still want a dedicated stability shoe.
| Category | Super Trainer |
| Surface | Road |
| Drop | 8mm |
| Heel Stack | 45.5mm |
| Forefoot Stack | 37.5mm |
| Weight | 249g |
| Carbon Plated | No |
| Stability | No |
Version 2 moved to a one-piece woven mesh that's a bit stretchier and more breathable than before. Most testers preferred it to the original's baggier upper, and lab testing rated its breathability highly. One reviewer found it stiff for the first few runs. The tongue padding is thin too, so lace it evenly rather than cranking it down.
One of the best all-rounders
Insane amount of cushioning for how light it feels, and the FF Turbo+ foam keeps it lively rather than sluggish. Easy days, long runs, tempos, it handles everything. Upper is comfy straight out of the box with no hotspots.
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