ASICS Sonicblast v1 vs Nike Zoom Fly v6
A side-by-side comparison grounded in verdicts from 6 reviewers with every source linked. We don't invent quotes; every claim below is attributed.
Specs at a glance
The consensus read
Each paragraph is a synthesis across every reviewer in our database for that shoe — what they collectively concluded after wear-testing. Not a quote. Not one person's take. The shape of the room.
ASICS Sonicblast v1
A firm, plate-driven trainer that excels at faster paces and suits heel strikers or heavier runners, though some testers find the rigid ride and blocky heel transition uninspiring at easy efforts compared to softer alternatives.
Nike Zoom Fly v6
A versatile plated trainer that balances soft ZoomX cushioning with a responsive carbon plate, handling everything from easy runs to marathon pace at a competitive price; most testers praise its durability and value, though some find it slightly firm for a daily trainer.
Reviewers who wore both
Direct paired observations — reviewers who actually ran in both of these and wrote the contrast. This is the strongest comparative signal on the page.
Sonicblast is more stacked and slightly more stable but firmer, less responsive, and less versatile across paces than the lighter Zoom Fly 6
Lower stack but softer and more fun out of the box, and £30 cheaper
Zoom Fly 6 is one of the strong plated trainers with a better ride feel out of the box than Sonic Blast
Nick prefers the Zoom Fly 6 over the Sonicblast, and it is cheaper
Cheaper, softer out of the box and lighter
Softer, bouncier, lighter and cheaper; Mike prefers it for all-round plated training
Closest competitor — Sonicblast has a similar firmer, race-day-leaning feel with a touch of Novablast influence
Zoom Fly 6 is about 20g lighter, more responsive via its carbon plate, grippier waffle outsole, better across varied paces, though less stacked and slightly less stable
ASICS Sonicblast v1 — what reviewers say
Ride profile: maximal cushion , neutral stability .
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Nate found the Sonicblast firm, stiff, and clunky compared to the Megablast. While he eventually settled into its rhythm after 5 miles, it did not click for him on the first run and he noted it would suit runners who specifically prefer late-stage rocker geometry.
Ride:Firm and stiff with a late-stage aggressive rocker and notable toe spring. Getting up onto the toes was difficult. Dual-density midsole with a visible plastic plate. Took about 5 miles to start settling into the shoe's rhythm. Felt clunky initially.
Fit:Felt bottom-heavy on foot, heavier than expected — possibly similar weight to or heavier than the Novablast 5.
In their words: "super bottomheavy" · "really firm and stiff" · "a bit clunkier"
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After more miles, the Sonicblast softens only slightly and still feels firm, heavy and lacking fun; Ed would reach for unplated alternatives like the Megablast or Velocity Nitro 4 over this.
Ride:Firm and dense underfoot even after break-in; heel softens somewhat with miles but plate keeps the ride rigid and encourages a heel-to-toe rocker motion that feels jarring for midfoot/forefoot strikers.
Fit:Great lockdown with a gusseted tongue that stays put, breathable mesh upper, standard lacing works well.
In their words: "I get a great lockdown" · "this just feels denser" · "kind of like a rocker type shoe"
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Steve sees the Sonicblast as the most unique and controlled Blast shoe, fast and smooth with a plastic plate that makes it ideal for workouts and potentially marathon racing.
Ride:Plastic plate adds density and a lower, faster feel; most control of any of the Blast shoes
Fit:Looks narrow but fits fine; true to size
In their words: "the most unique and different" · "feels a little faster" · "I have the most control in this shoe"
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Good but unremarkable — the Sonicblast never comes alive and still feels firmer and less peppy than expected after 50 miles; doesn't stand out against rivals and has weak wet-weather outsole grip.
Ride:Even at 50 miles the foam hasn't softened up enough; ride stays firm and solid with little feedback across paces; outsole grip is poor in wet conditions.
In their words: "much firmer ride than I was expecting" · "this will work for bigger people" · "left me a little bit underwhelmed"
Nike Zoom Fly v6 — what reviewers say
Ride profile: high cushion , neutral stability .
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#1 tempo shoe. Best Zoom Fly ever made — fun for daily training and excellent at going fast. Comfortable, peppy, lightweight.
In their words: "comfortable. it's peppy. it's lightweight" · "everything that i want in a tempo shoe"
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Fordy says the Zoom Fly 6 is a great shoe but skews toward race-day rather than versatile training; would like Nike to make it less firm and more exciting.
Ride:Reviewer calls it a great shoe but more towards a race-day shoe — a toned-down race-day shoe from Nike — and feels it's a bit firm; wishes Nike would inject more excitement and innovation into it
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An excellent versatile super-trainer that does every kind of run well; not quite as lively as the Megablast but a fantastic shoe at a much lower price, making it the value pick.
Ride:Comfortable at easy paces yet capable of fast running; slightly firmer at the heel than the Megablast which makes it feel more stable there for some runners; not as flat-out fast or as bouncy as the Megablast but still moves well at pace
Fit:Comfortable upper with thick dual-layer mesh, generous heel padding; true-to-size fit with secure heel and midfoot lockdown and adequate toe room
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A capable, versatile, better-priced alternative to the Endorphin Speed 5 — the easier overall pick on price and availability even though the Speed 5 is the more nimble shoe.
Ride:Dual-foam midsole (rubbery SR-02 base, ZoomX on top) with a slightly more flexible plate; firmer than the Speed 5 and very versatile for easy through faster running.
Fit:Similar forefoot/heel width to the Speed 5 but slightly less breathable upper.
In their words: "deceptively stacked" · "two different midsole foams here" · "use them for just about anything"
Who should buy which
Use cases the reviewers above actually call out — one bullet per distinct take, attributed. Where reviewers converge (e.g. "5K to half marathon" appearing across multiple takes) the agreement is a stronger buying signal than any single voice.
Consider the ASICS Sonicblast v1 if
- Heavier built runners or those wanting a stable, firm max-stack plated trainer at cruising pace — EDDBUD
- Heavier-set runners wanting a firmer plated trainer for tempo and long cruising. — EDDBUD
- Heel strikers who wanted a plated, stabilized Novablast feeling; those who found the regular Novablast too chaotic or squishy — Kofuzi
- Nova Blast fans who want a snappier, plated daily trainer with some structure, or runners wanting to experiment with plates before going carbon. — Doctors of Running
- First-time half or marathon trainees who want a super trainer for training volume and race day. — FORDY RUNS
- Runners who prefer structured, late-stage rocker trainers and don't mind a firmer, stiffer ride — Doctors of Running
Consider the Nike Zoom Fly v6 if
- Mid-packers wanting one do-it-all carbon-plated shoe at a competitive price — workouts, tempo, long runs and even race day, especially good for heavier runners who need protection. — Ben Parkes
- Versatile do-everything carbon-plate trainer for runners on a budget vs the Speed 5. — EDDBUD
- A versatile, responsive plated daily trainer across all paces short of extreme long runs, at the cheapest price point in the group — EDDBUD
- Runners who want a versatile lightweight trainer that handles easy days well, with a wider anatomic toe box and neutral guidance — and an alternative to aggressive super shoes — Doctors of Running
- Marathon-block long runs and longer tempo efforts where a plush, rhythmic, road-mile-eating super-trainer is preferred — Doctors of Running
- Workout/tempo days plus daily training in a single shoe — pairs well with a race-day Vaporfly. — Kofuzi