The Asics Megablast is both one of the best running shoes I’ve tested this year and also a shoe it’s hard to heartily recommend, because it’s so expensive. While high prices are nothing new for running shoes, there are excellent alternatives to the Megablast available for almost $100 less.
Based on pure performance, though, the Megablast is terrific. I’ve used it for all kinds of runs, and it has impressed me every time. The high stack of bouncy and lightweight foam in the midsole delivers a comfortable and fast ride; this really is a running shoe you can use for everything, and it seems durable based on my testing, too.
If the price doesn’t deter you, the Asics Megablast is worth picking up, but you’ll get better value from the Adidas Adizero Evo SL, New Balance Rebel v5, or Puma Velocity Nitro 4, all of which are excellent, versatile running shoes that cost a lot less than the Megablast.
Asics Megablast review: price and availability
The Asics Megablast launched in August 2025 and costs $225 in the U.S. and £210 in the U.K., making it even more expensive than the Asics Superblast 2, which has been the standard-bearer for brilliant but expensive training shoes until now.
Not only are there excellent plate-free alternatives available for $150 or less, there are some outstanding plated super-trainers that undercut the Megablast, like the Hoka Mach X2, Saucony Endorphin Speed 5 and Nike Zoom Fly 6.
Asics Megablast review: design and fit
The Asics Megablast is currently available in two colors, with an all white version joining the purple model I tested in the range. I found the fit comfortable in my normal running shoe size, the same size I use across the Asics range.
It has a very high stack height of 46mm at the heel and 38mm at the forefoot for an 8mm drop, but despite this, the Megablast is impressively lightweight at 8.5oz in my US men’s size 10.
Upper
The Megablast has an engineered woven upper which is quite thin and breathable and has minimal padding on the tongue, though there is more around the collar of the shoe.
It’s built to balance comfort and weight, and does this well in my experience. I had no rubbing or hotspots during long runs, and when using the shoe for runs in hot conditions it breathed well and my feet didn’t get too sweaty.
Midsole
The midsole of the Asics Megablast is entirely made from a foam called FF Turbo Squared, which is a highly resilient and bouncy material. It’s not very soft, but still comfortable, and delivers a lot of energy return at faster paces.
There’s no plate in the midsole of the Megablast, but it is still quite a stiff shoe, which is similar to the feel of the Superblast 2. It has quite a wide base, and this helps it to be stable despite having such a high stack height.
Outsole
The Megablast doesn’t have a lot of rubber on its outsole, but the key impact areas at the heel and forefoot are covered with a pretty thick layer of Asicsgrip rubber, and after 100 miles of running, I haven’t seen any signs of wear on the rubber or the exposed foam.
I’ve also found the grip to be good, despite it not being the most extensive outsole, and I’ve taken the shoe on some light trails and gravel paths without any problems.
Asics Megablast review: running performance
The Asics Megablast is one of the most versatile running shoes on the market, in that it feels great for a wide range of runs. I’ve used it for everything from easy recovery runs to fast interval sessions, and took it away with me as my only running shoe for a week’s holiday, knowing it could handle anything.
For such a light and fast shoe, it’s highly stable and comfortable too, which is a combination that’s not easy to find, and the FF Turbo Squared foam delivers on its promise of being a very energetic material.
While you don’t sink into the midsole as much as with softer shoes, you feel the pop from the foam as you spring back up, and despite the Megablast being a large shoe, I found it easy to turn my feet over at fast paces.
It’s better on this front than the Superblast 2, thanks to the Megablast having a smoother transition off the heel, though it does still feel a bit more cumbersome than a leaner shoe like the Adidas Evo SL.
I also enjoyed using the shoe for long tempo runs, including a 15-miler at just under 6min/mile pace, where it felt like I was cruising thanks to the responsive foam.
There’s very little to fault about the performance of the Megablast. In fact, it’s a great do-it-all running shoe, and I haven’t put a dent in it after 100 miles of running, so I’d expect to get hundreds of miles more out of it.
Should you buy the Asics Megablast?
The Asics Megablast is a brilliant running shoe, and if the price isn’t a problem, I’d happily recommend it as one of the best all-rounders available.
However, you can get the equally brilliant Adidas Adizero Evo SL for $150, and while the Adidas isn’t as stable and comfortable as the Megablast, it’s a faster shoe for speed sessions while still being good for easy runs.
Then there’s the New Balance Rebel v5, which is even lighter than the Megablast while also having a wide, stable design with a poppy midsole foam, though it’s not as energetic and fast as the Asics shoe, or as durable.
The Rebel costs $140, as does the Puma Velocity Nitro 4, another excellent daily trainer that can handle most runs well, with a comfortable but lively foam in its midsole.
Even if none of these shoes is individually quite as good an all-rounder as the Megablast, you can almost buy two of them for the same price.
Then there are great plated all-rounders like the Hoka Mach X2 and Saucony Endorphin Speed 5, which are as versatile as the Megablast and cheaper too.
It all comes back to where I started. I love the Asics Megablast, and if you buy it, you'll be getting a great running shoe, but the price is hard to swallow.
