What’s So Mega About the Asics Megablast Running Shoe?

The Asics Megablast comes to us during an interesting time. Right now, one of the hottest categories of running shoes is a “supertrainer:” a sweet spot between a normal ol’ daily trainer and a fast, carbon-plated race day shoe. The Megablast is a lightweight supertrainer, garnering so much runner attention because of how bouncy it is. Overall, it is a model that could work for plenty of runners—beginner or advanced, training for anything from a 5K to a marathon. I, however, have a few caveats.

The magic of these shoes is that they feel like you’re running with a carbon plate without actually having one anywhere in the shoe. The downside? They’re not all that versatile for slower runners. These shoes are majorly fun for fast paces—and many reviewers note that they are versatile enough for easy runs—but my 11-minute-mile easy pace was very much not fun in these shoes.

That said, most runners are faster than I am. For runners whose easy days cap out faster than a 10-minute-mile, it could function as a very versatile option. I still think it’s better for the upper ranges: tempo runs, sprints, and race paces.

With that in mind, here’s how the shoes performed.

Specs

Initial Thoughts

First impressions: This is a very pretty shoe. I got compliments on them every time I wore them. Fit-wise, it runs narrow. I have wide feet and wore my normal size, which worked, but the fit felt snug through the midfoot. If I sized up, they would’ve been too long.

The upper is divisive. It isn’t a traditional knit, it’s a thin, engineered mesh that lacks stretch. It’s not very forgiving; at first my foot felt like it was being pinched on both sides. However, after about 20 miles, it broke in for much better comfort. Runners with narrow feet will likely find the upper stream-lined and secure from the jump.

One great thing about the upper material is it makes the shoe both light and insanely breathable—almost too much so in the winter. The first time I stepped outside in these to walk to the gym for a treadmill run, I was shocked at how breezy they felt. However, I was wearing thin socks but they were still notably cooler than most other running shoes I wear. Still, I’d take this any day over a shoe that traps heat.

The laces are awesome; they’re a sawtooth design that grips well and never came untied on me. Before you lace up, give the tongue a nice tug to set it in place because it tends to slip down.

Firm and Fast

I took the Megablast out across a mix of short runs, treadmill workouts, intervals, and easy longer efforts. I did not enjoy all types of running equally in this shoe. There’s no carbon plate in here, but it runs like it has one. I found that when I slowed down to a recovery pace, my shins lit on fire and my shin splints lasted for days. However, once I broke them in, they felt amazing when I picked up the pace.

The first time I wore these shoes was for a quick two-mile run around Central Park during a pre-NYC marathon running event. I felt like I was on a bucking Bronco. The roll-forward and push-off were so strong that I felt slightly out of control, like driving a car that accelerates faster than you’d expect.

This feeling like you’re flying forward doesn’t come from an overly aggressive rocker shape. It’s the foam: A newer compound called A-TPU foam, which Asics chose instead of the more common PEBA foam that has reigned supreme in supershoes. It’s bouncy, and it certainly feels unfamiliar during the first couple of runs.