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Asics Sonicblast 2 carbon plate road running shoe
Asics

Sonicblast 2

Tracked dailyCarbon Plated👁 32 people tracking this

Plated FF Turbo Squared super trainer with a forked Pebax plate and FF Blast Max base.

Best price todayLowest tracked · 90d
£169.99£170.000
Gender: check retailerColour: White/Orange
at HouseOfFraser · 1% under 30d avg
90D Low£140.00
30D Avg£171.53
RRP£170.00
Go to HouseOfFraser →
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Expert review

Our verdict

Fordy Runs calls it a big step up from the first version, and the spec sheet backs that up. The Sonicblast 2 keeps the layout of the first version (FF Turbo Squared on top, FF Blast Max underneath, a Pebax plate between them) but the plate is now forked, and reviewers say it's noticeably lighter and bouncier than before. It's a plated super trainer for tempo sessions, marathon-pace long runs and the odd race, not a soft shoe for recovery days.

Doctors of Running graded it A-, and another review's three testers liked the ride too, though all of them found it firm at easy pace. The catch is price. At £170 RRP it sits right beside the Superblast 3, which is still the better choice if you want one shoe for easy days as well as fast ones. If most of your running is at tempo or marathon pace, the Sonicblast is the sharper of the two, and it gets easier to recommend once it drops below full price in the table.

Key features

  • FF Turbo Squared top layerPuts the firmer, livelier foam right under your foot, so the shoe feels quick when you push the pace.
  • FF Blast Max baseAdds a softer layer underneath the top foam, which takes some sting out of long runs on hard roads.
  • Forked Pebax plateStiffens the shoe for a snappier toe-off while the split design lets your foot roll through more naturally than a single rigid plate.
  • 242g listed weightKeeps it light enough for sessions and races despite the big stack.
  • 8mm dropSits in a middle ground that suits most runners without asking your calves to adapt.

Who it suits

Who should buy it

  • Runners who want one plated shoe for tempo runs and marathon-pace long runs
  • Midfoot and forefoot strikers who will feel the livelier forefoot
  • First Sonicblast owners who found it flat, since this version is much livelier
  • Racers who want a plated training shoe for goal-pace sessions without wearing out their race-day pair

Who should not buy it

  • You mainly run easy miles and want a soft, forgiving ride
  • You overpronate and need a shoe with support features
  • You're paying full price and could get the Superblast 3 for the same money
  • You have a very wide forefoot, as it runs a little narrower than the Superblast

Best uses

  • tempo
  • long runs
  • marathon pace
  • half marathon
  • intervals
At a glance

Ratings

8.4Greatout of 10
Lightness7.5
Cushioning7.0
Flexibility3.5
Responsive8.5
Stability7.5

Pros

  • Much lighter and bouncier than the first Sonicblast, reviewers agree
  • Forefoot gives a clear lift when you speed up
  • Steadier than most shoes with this much foam
  • Heel rub from version one fixed
  • No break-in needed

Cons

  • £170 RRP puts it level with the Superblast 3
  • Firm at easy pace, so it isn't a recovery shoe
  • Heel strikers may feel less of the spring
  • Slightly narrower forefoot than the Superblast 3
  • Non-stretch laces
Good to know

Extra information

Fit & sizing

Reviewers agree it runs true to size. One UK reviewer wore their usual size and found plenty of room in the toe box, though noted the shoe is a touch narrower than the Superblast 3. If you already wear a Superblast and have a broad forefoot, that is the one comparison worth trying on before buying.

The gusseted tongue keeps the midfoot held without much lacing effort, and one tester said the heel rub some people had with the first Sonicblast is gone. Nobody reported needing a break-in period. Two small niggles: the laces are soft but don't stretch, and one reviewer would have preferred a sawtooth-style lace that grips better.

Stick with your normal size. If you sit between sizes and have wide feet, go up half rather than down.

Performance breakdown

Ride & feel

The ride is where the new version earns its keep. Reviewers describe it as bouncy and responsive, with the forefoot giving a noticeable push when you pick up the pace. One review's testers were clear that it rewards effort, though: you have to press into it to get the energy back, and at easy pace it can feel firm and flat.

How you land matters. One reviewer who lands on the midfoot and forefoot felt the forefoot spring clearly and suggested heel strikers may get less out of it. On paper that fits, since most of the liveliness sits under the front of the foot.

Cushioning

There is a lot of foam here (the stack is in the spec table) but it isn't a plush shoe. The firmer FF Turbo Squared layer sits on top, so you feel it before the softer base, and reviewers put the overall feel on the firm side of bouncy. For long runs at steady or marathon pace that firmness helps you keep moving; for a slow recovery jog the Novablast 6 will feel kinder and costs less.

Stability

For a shoe this tall it's steadier than you might expect. One UK reviewer called it surprisingly stable and put that down to the firmer top foam giving a more controlled platform, and another tester rated it more stable than the Megablast. It is still a neutral shoe with no dedicated support features, so overpronators who rely on guidance should look at a stability model instead.

Upper & comfort

The engineered mesh upper is lighter and more breathable than the first version's, and reviewers credit it with part of the weight drop. Step-in comfort is fine rather than luxurious: one tester felt it didn't feel special enough for the price. The lightly padded, gusseted tongue sits flat and stays put.

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Common questions

FAQ

Yes. Reviewers wore their usual size and found enough toe room. It is a little narrower than the Superblast 3 through the forefoot, so try it on if you have wide feet.

You can, and reviewers see it as a good marathon training shoe with race potential. It's heavier and firmer than a dedicated race shoe, so one of those will still feel faster on the day. Many runners will use the Sonicblast for long runs at goal pace and save a lighter racer for the race itself.

Not as a first or only shoe. The ride is firm at easy pace and it's built to reward faster running. A beginner will get more from a softer daily trainer like the Gel Cumulus 28 and can add a shoe like this later.

Pick the Sonicblast 2 if most of your running is at tempo or marathon pace and you like a firmer, springier forefoot. Pick the Superblast 3 if you want one shoe for easy days as well as faster ones, or need a bit more room up front. At full price they cost about the same.

It's too new for long-term wear reports, and none of the reviews we read flagged early outsole wear. Check back once runners have put a few hundred miles on it.

The plate is now forked and the upper is a lighter engineered mesh, and reviewers found the shoe noticeably lighter overall. The result, they say, is a bouncier and more responsive ride, and the heel rub some runners had with version one has gone.

The numbers

Specifications

Technical specifications for the Asics Sonicblast 2
CategorySuper Trainer
SurfaceRoad
Drop8mm
Heel Stack46mm
Forefoot Stack38mm
Weight242g
Carbon PlatedYes
StabilityNo
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