The ASICS Blast Family Explained: What each shoe is built to do

The ASICS Blast Family has become one of the most exciting line-ups in running, with a strong mix of shoes designed for different runners, different sessions and different goals.

But with more choice comes the question many runners are asking: which Blast shoe is right for me?

At first glance, the ASICS Novablast 5, ASICS Sonicblast, ASICS Superblast 3 and ASICS Megablast all share a similar identity: energy, cushioning and bounce. It can be easy to group them together as shoes that do the same thing. However, each shoe has its own distinct feel and purpose.

At RunDNA, our view is simple: the right running shoe is not automatically the fastest, softest or most premium option. The right shoe is the one that supports your run: your goals, your experience, your stride and the way you like a shoe to feel.

What is the ASICS Blast Family?

The ASICS Blast Family is a group of running shoes built around a shared feeling: energy return, responsive cushioning, lightweight bounce and a dynamic ride.

This means each shoe is designed to feel lively underfoot. When your foot lands, the foam compresses. As you move forward, the midsole, outsole and ride geometry help create a sense of rebound, transition and toe-off. You put energy into the ground, and the shoe helps return some of that feeling back into your stride.

But the foam, stack height, outsole design, plate structure, rocker shape and overall build all influence how each shoe feels on the road. That is why the Blast family works best when you choose the model based on the type of running you actually do.

ASICS Novablast 5: the energetic daily trainer

The ASICS Novablast 5 is the energetic daily trainer of the Blast family. It is built for the runs most runners do most often: daily training, easy kilometres, steady weekly mileage and recovery days.

It uses soft FF BLAST™ MAX cushioning and a trampoline-inspired outsole to create a bouncy, lively ride without the need for a rigid plate. That makes it approachable, versatile and easy to enjoy across a range of everyday runs.

For newer runners, that matters because a daily trainer is often the shoe you spend the most time in. It needs to feel comfortable, consistent and enjoyable. Novablast 5 gives runners that energetic underfoot feel without making the shoe feel overly aggressive or too technical.

For casual runners and fun runners, it works well when you want one shoe that can handle easy runs, midweek kilometres and regular training. For more experienced runners, it can sit in the rotation as a reliable daily option that still brings bounce to general mileage.

Best suited to: daily training, easy runs, recovery days, new runners building consistency, casual runners logging weekly kilometres and runners who want a lively, non-plated trainer.

ASICS Sonicblast: the fast, propulsive training shoe

The ASICS Sonicblast is the Blast model for runners who want a quicker, more pronounced ride.

This is the shoe to look at when your run includes fast tempo efforts, speed workouts, intervals or quicker training days. Compared with a traditional daily trainer, Sonicblast is designed to feel more rockered, more rigid and more propulsive through toe-off.

It is built for speed with a Pebax plate, dual-layer FF BLAST™ MAX and FF TURBO² cushioning. That combination helps create maximum energy return, a bouncy toe-off and a more guided forward feel.

The plate is important here. It gives Sonicblast a more structured ride than Novablast 5. That does not mean it is only for speed-work, but it does mean the shoe is best matched to runners who want to move quicker and enjoy a more direct and snappier feel underfoot.

Sonicblast makes the most sense when the goal is pace, rhythm and propulsion.

Best suited to: fast tempo runs, speed workouts, quicker training, runners who like a rigid, rockered ride, and anyone wanting a more propulsive daily trainer for faster efforts.

ASICS Superblast 3: max-cushion performance for bigger training days

The ASICS Superblast 3 is the max-cushion super trainer for runners who want soft protection, lightweight bounce and a smooth ride across bigger training weeks. It is built for easy runs, steady efforts and long-distance training, giving runners a cushioned platform that feels forgiving without losing energy.

This is where cushioning and performance come together. The Superblast 3 is not simply about being soft. It is about delivering a high-stack, cushioned platform that still feels responsive and propulsive when the kilometres build.

The biggest change is the introduction of FF LEAP™ foam through the midsole. It gives the shoe a softer and bouncier feel underfoot, while FF BLAST™ PLUS underneath helps keep the ride stable and controlled. That balance is important. Superblast 3 feels more forgiving on landing than the previous version, but it still has enough structure underneath to stop the ride feeling overly soft or unpredictable.  

That makes it a strong choice for runners who want cushioning and protection across regular training. It works well for easy runs, longer easy runs, steady efforts, warm-ups, cool-downs and high-mileage weeks where you want the shoe to feel comfortable without feeling flat. It has a similar protective role to a reliable max-cushion daily trainer, but with a more energetic and enjoyable ride.  

Where Superblast 3 now sits most clearly is as the more forgiving, everyday super trainer in the Blast family. It can still handle long runs, but compared with the Megablast, it is less about faster long efforts and more about smooth, cushioned, consistent training. If your legs are tired, your week is building, or you want a shoe that makes daily kilometres feel easier to settle into, Superblast 3 is the model that makes sense.

Best suited to: easy runs, longer easy runs, steady efforts, warm-ups, cool-downs, high-mileage daily routines and runners wanting a soft, bouncy, protective super trainer that still feels controlled.

ASICS Megablast: maximum bounce and comfort for long distance 

The ASICS Megablast is the premium do-it-all super trainer for runners who want maximum energy return, high-stack cushioning and a lightweight ride that can handle more than one type of session.

It is best suited to long distances, quicker runs and daily training when you want that max-cushion feel. It has the cushioning depth to feel protective over longer efforts, the rocker geometry to help the shoe roll smoothly through transition, and the energetic rebound to keep the ride feeling lively when the pace lifts.

A big part of that comes from FF TURBO™ SQUARED foam. It gives Megablast a responsive, race-shoe-like bounce, but with the resilience and support needed for a super trainer. That means the shoe can feel exciting when the pace lifts, while still offering the cushioning depth runners want for long distances and regular training.

For runners who like the Superblast concept but want the most premium and energetic version of the BLAST feel, Megablast is the shoe to look at. It brings comfort for easy running, protection for longer distances and enough pop for quicker sessions.

Best suited to: runners wanting the ultimate super trainer experience, premium do-it-all super training, long runs, faster finishes, high-energy daily workouts and a non-plated shoe that can handle a wide range of paces.

So, which ASICS Blast shoe should you choose?

Here is the simple RunDNA guide:

Choose ASICS Novablast 5 if you want a lively, versatile daily trainer that can handle regular weekly running.

Choose ASICS Sonicblast if you want a lightweight, responsive shoe for tempo runs, workouts and faster-feeling daily training.

Choose ASICS Superblast 3 if you want a soft, bouncy and forgiving super trainer for easy runs, steady efforts, long-distance training and bigger weekly mileage.

Choose ASICS Megablast if you want maximum cushioning, a strong rocker feel and plush protection for long distances, quicker runs and maximum daily training workouts.

The best part of the ASICS Blast family is not that one shoe does everything for everyone. It is that the range gives different runners different ways to find more energy, comfort and bounce in their training.

Whatever your version looks like, RunDNA is here to help you understand the options clearly and choose the ASICS running shoes that match your next run.

Explore the full ASICS Blast family at RunDNA and find the shoe that matches your run.

Ed - Runner & Content Specialist

I’m a distance runner and Performance Content Specialist at RunDNA, with a passion for running, road and gravel cycling, quality gear, and the stories shaped by effort and adventure. My current focus is long-distance road running and triathlon, driven by a love of performance and the challenge of pushing body and mind further.