Can the Asics Sonicblast 2 repeat as super trainer of the year?

Introduction to the Asics Sonicblast 2

CHAD: Imagine you’re doing the New York Times Crossword, and puzzlemaster Will Shortz has asked for a five-letter word meaning “an explosion” or “colloquially, a good time had by all.” Well, of course he's looking for the word “blast.” The latter clue, in my opinion, is particularly apt for this review, because I can say definitively that I've always had a good time while running in the Blast line from Asics.

I’ll probably get some shade for this, but my ranking of the Blast line is as follows from highest to lowest: Superblast, Sonicblast, Novablast, Megablast. I was so intrigued by the dual release of the Sonicblast and Megablast in 2025 that even though I didn’t get a pair for BITR testing, I went out and acquired a pair of each so I could see what all the fuss was about. 

I was one of the few who actually preferred the Sonicblast over the Megablast, which I felt was simply a more unstable version of the Superblast 3, a shoe which is close to perfect in my eyes. But the Sonicblast had something different about it. 

It was high-stack like the Superblast but had a pep that the Superblast didn’t, with a firmer feel than the Megablast that made it feel more stable; I imagine the plate had something to do with that as well. It wasn’t perfect; I had a few minor issues that I hoped could be remedied. 

So when I saw the second version would be coming out, I knew I would have to get my hands on a pair to see if Asics could improve on what I felt was an impressive debut.

MEG: When Asics dropped the Sonicblast alongside the Megablast last year, it seemed everyone had already picked a winner. The Megablast had the bigger price tag, the bigger buzz, and the Sonicblast got stuck playing understudy. But we ran in both models and strongly disagreed. The Sonicblast seemed like a better shoe all around.

Hot take? Sure. Most of the internet thought we'd lost the plot. But nearly everyone at the office agreed, so we held our ground and gave it the title of “best super trainer of the year.”

Now there's a second version. The Sonicblast 2 trims a little weight and adds an FF Turbo Squared trampoline pod to the forefoot. The Astroplate (Asics' Pebax plate) returns with a new forked shape, the upper swaps jacquard for engineered mesh, and the stack stays put at 46mm/38mm with an 8mm drop. On a less enjoyable note, the price bumps from $180 to $190.

So does it still have what made us fans in the first place? Let's find out.

RYAN: I received the original Sonicblast in something of an unusual way last year: It was sent to me as I geared up to run the Falmouth Road Race on Cape Cod. I didn't have to review it or love it; I just had it as an option for a rather unusual 7-mile race. And at first, I wasn't sure I would do any of the above.

See, the original Sonicblast didn't feel great to me at first. I felt like it was a bit stiff and a bit dead, and it left me very confused as to what I might need the shoe for. But, after a few runs, it softened up just enough and became a whole lot more fun to wear. I laced it up for Falmouth after all, set my 7-mile PR (but treated it like a fun run), and then kind of forgot about the shoe.

Then, when I found out that a second version would be coming out, I dusted off my original pair and took it for a few miles. Either I didn't give this shoe enough love the first time around or time has been kind to it, because I had way more fun this time around. It was enough to get me excited for version two, and now it's time to get into what worked.

What we like about the Asics Sonicblast 2

CHAD: From a design standpoint, I think Asics went a bit safe and kept the aesthetic of the Sonicblast 2 quite demure, and it paid off. The simple white upper with a black logo and yellow/orange accents is clean and a bit retro-looking, but anything but boring. The gusseted tongue is thin and lightly padded, which should be the standard these days. The laces are a softer material but not stretchy, so they stay securely tied and provide a solid lockdown.

Asics kept a lot of what I felt made the original Sonicblast successful in this version. The drop and stack remain the same, and it still uses a dual-composition midsole (FF Turbo Squared top layer, FF Blast Max bottom layer) with a Pebax plate sandwiched in between. The changes, however, were all steps in a positive direction in my opinion. First, the shoe lost nearly half an ounce, which may not seem like much but is noticeable. 

The Pebax Astroplate has a new forked design, which typically allows for the foot to behave a bit more naturally when moving through transition, adding more fluidity in the stride.

The forked Astroplate is stiff, but it works like a charm.

The Sonicblast 2 also now features a dedicated chunk of FF Turbo Squared under the fat pad of the foot, which Asics calls a “trampoline pod.” This section of the midsole, which prepares the shoe for toe-off, provides noticeable oomph, livening up the stride when picking up the pace. My first run in this shoe was a 16-mile long run with marathon-pace miles, and I could feel the extra boost when I picked up the pace for those miles.

Another change I enjoyed was the new upper. It was a bit more breathable than the jacquard mesh in the prior version. I also suffered from some bad heel rub in the original, an issue I did not come across in the second version.

MEG: Updates to an original shoe can go a few different ways: drastic overhaul, minor tweak, or quietly discontinued. Given some of the feedback floating around after the original, I half expected the Sonicblast to fall into that last category. I’m glad Asics kept it alive because this one feels like a nice upgrade.

Starting with looks, because we eat with our eyes. The Sonicblast always had a clean aesthetic, and that carries over here. I got the Rise and Shine colorway (did we get up at 5:30 AM for a Sydney shakeout run to catch the sunrise that would align with this colorway? We sure did). But the shoe is mostly white, which is always a win in my book.

The upper is light and breathable, a welcome trait during a Baltimore summer that has absolutely refused to end. The tongue is thin, the flat laces are standard but do a solid job locking your foot in, and the overall fit feels dialed. Underfoot, the setup will feel familiar if you ran in the original, just with a little extra pop in the forefoot courtesy of that new trampoline pod.

These shoes found their sweet spot on days when your legs felt good, and your easy run started flirting with something faster. The slightly firmer foam paired with the Pebax plate has a way of nudging your pace in the best direction.

Oh, and the weight drop? Always appreciated. My US W7.5 came in at 6.9 oz, down from 7.3 oz in the original.

RYAN: I'm happy to just sit here and agree with both Meg and Chad on this one. The Sonicblast 2 kind of got the Novablast 6 treatment with a pod of FF Turbo Squared in the forefoot, but this time I actually feel a difference. I took the shoe right out of the box for an 8-mile run, and I didn't feel like it needed the same break-in period as its predecessor.

In fact, this is one of those uncommon shoes where I felt like I could wear it for back-to-back days for vastly different runs. I try not to do that, especially with plated shoes, but the comfort of the FF Turbo Squared paired with the stability of FF Blast Max offered just enough.

Also, when you make a shoe lighter without sacrificing what makes it fun, you're in for a good time. I really did feel like the Sonicblast 2 disappeared on foot, allowing me to go longer around Baltimore's harbor despite utterly relentless heat and humidity. Better yet, now that the heat should (hopefully) start to tail off, the breathable mesh upper will feel all the more comfortable.

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What we don't like about the Asics Sonicblast 2

CHAD: In terms of the shoe itself, I have very little to say. I did notice that after my first run in the shoe, my Achilles was a bit aggravated, which I attribute to the Pebax plate being surprisingly stiff. But the biggest concern I have is the price point of $190. I think there are a lot of shoes in the $160-$170 range that I would pick just as easily as I would pick the Sonicblast 2, and some even come in below that range. This is a supertrainer price for what I would classify as an uptempo/lightweight daily trainer with a plate.

MEG: Chad and I are on the same page about the price. At $190, the step-in comfort should do a little more to justify the cost. This isn't a bad-fitting shoe; it fits well and gets the job done, but it doesn't quite feel like a premium product at first contact.

Worth flagging too: this is a firmer ride. That's not a dealbreaker, but it's something to know going in. If you're expecting the soft, bouncy plate experience of something like the SC Rebel, you'll want to recalibrate your expectations. The Sonicblast 2 leans firm, which can feel great when you want a snappy, controlled feel and less great when your legs are already cooked.

RYAN: I know I said I was down to wear the Sonicblast 2 on back-to-back days, but that didn't happen very often. As Meg said, the shoe offers a rather firm ride, which isn't ideal for easy cruising miles. This one likes to pick it up and keep you turning over for half-mile or mile repeats. It's bouncy and responsive, but you'll have to put in some force of your own to get energy back.

Also, yeah, $190 is a bit too much here. It's not as shocking as the Gel Slowcush at $200, but there are plenty of bouncy tempo trainers that offer as much (or more) as the Sonicblast 2 with softer rides underfoot.

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Final thoughts on the Asics Sonicblast 2

CHAD: I think Asics took a great debut with the Sonicblast and defied the odds by making marked improvements in the sequel. Overall, I think they improved both the fit/comfort of the shoe and the ride, when many new releases tend to improve one or the other. Plus, it looks really good, too. So major props to Asics. My only struggle is the price, and whether or not you’re getting the best bang for your buck at $190. 

But I will say, running in this shoe certainly was a blast, and I think it would be for anyone.

MEG: Here's the bottom line: the Sonicblast 2 is still a great shoe. Super trainer of the year, though? It's a tougher case to make this time around. The market is stacked right now, with some strong options coming in well under $190.

That said, if you loved the original as much as we did, you'll be happy with where this one landed. It's a clean, confident upgrade that keeps the ride you liked and makes it a little better. Sometimes that's exactly enough.

RYAN: Yeah, this is an improvement over the original Sonicblast. Asics should be really proud of making a good shoe better without completely losing the plot. Unfortunately, it's surrounded by a bunch of other good shoes, too. Plated tempo trainers are reaching their peak right now, and they're doing so while staying further and further below the $200 barrier.

If you like the way Asics shoes fit and feel, you'll love the Sonicblast 2. If you're just looking for a new super trainer, you may want to do some comparison shopping before you buy.

You can pick up the Asics Sonicblast 2 for $190 at Running Warehouse (featuring free 2-day shipping and 90-day returns) by using the shop link below.

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