ASICS Superblast 2

A snappy, rigid, stable-neutral trainer-racer that excels at workouts, tempo and marathon pace — Matt's recommended pick for runners who want speed versatility.

Best for: Workout, tempo, long-run and marathon-racing shoe; good alternative for runners who don't get on with the aggressive Metaspeed series.

A more premium, more aggressive-feeling version of the Novablast that handles everything from easy runs to intervals to marathon racing; the marathon shoe for most runners who don't need a plated super-racer.

Best for: Mid-pack marathon runners who want a single shoe for training and racing; long runs and workouts at tempo/threshold

Matt's personal favorite and the go-to long run shoe of the trio — a bouncy, stiff, stable-neutral trainer that doubles as an excellent non-plated marathon or half-marathon racer.

Best for: Long runs, uptempo efforts, and non-plated marathon/half-marathon racing for runners wanting a bouncy, stable-neutral trainer.

A tweaked-not-overhauled update to the Superblast: better upper lockdown, more toe-box volume, slightly more compliant foam, and improved outsole grip all make it an improvement over V1 with the same versatile ride.

Best for: Runners who want a single shoe to do daily training, workouts, and a marathon

An exceptionally versatile, proven stable-neutral high-stack trainer that delivers strong value through durability and breadth of use.

Best for: A highly versatile stable-neutral trainer that handles easy runs, long runs, workouts, and even half-marathon racing at moderate efforts.

A firmer, more responsive, more stable shoe than the Novablast 5 that makes the miles disappear at sustained paces — the pick if you want one shoe for tempo and long efforts.

Best for: Sustained efforts, long runs, tempo work, and half/marathon paces

True one-shoe-quiver versatility — Ed's #4 of 2024 and his go-to for almost all training.

Best for: Versatile daily training across the entire pace spectrum.

Lives up to much of the hype: an exceptionally versatile max-cushion trainer that is lighter and more stable than comparable cushioned models, with the main downsides being price and UK availability.

Best for: Runners who want one shoe to handle many roles in a marathon build, including recovery, long runs, and marathon-pace work

Ed's shoe of the year so far — lighter, cheaper, more stable than the SC Trainer 3 and great across the pace range, though it's less softly cushioned and less propulsive when racing.

Best for: All-round daily/long-run cruiser at any pace; especially good value vs $200+ super-trainers.

Ed's clear winner across the comparison set — the Superblast 2's combination of light weight, responsive Flightfoam Turbo Plus and improved outsole makes it the most versatile cushioned shoe on the market right now.

Best for: All-rounder daily training and marathon prep for runners who want one cushioned shoe that handles a wide pace range.

A good but more niche update to the Superblast - firmer foam and extra stack make it less versatile than V1 and less appealing to forefoot strikers, but outsole grip and durability are notably improved.

Best for: Marathon-focused runners using it as an impact protector on long/slow efforts; heavier runners

If forced to pick a single pair from this comparison, Ed picks the Superblast — lighter, more versatile, simpler foam-only construction that just works.

Best for: Most versatile cushioned daily/marathon-training option in the £200 super-trainer bracket.

A lighter, more nimble, more versatile shoe that absorbs distance and shifts through paces easily, outperforming the Vomero Plus for a one-shoe rotation.

Best for: Unicorn do-it-all trainer for long runs, daily mileage, and faster intervals

Still a great, stable high-mileage option that many runners get 500-600 km out of, but denser and less lively than the Megablast.

Best for: Runners wanting a more conservative, stable max-stack trainer for high mileage

A standout do-it-all long-run shoe that excels at marathon training paces and can even race, with exceptional durability.

Best for: Marathon trainees wanting one shoe to do everything, including race day and very high-mileage durability.

Still an unbelievable shoe that can do almost everything, but feels cumbersome at slower paces and has been surpassed by the Megablast's newer foam.

Best for: Half-marathon to marathon training and longer miles at moderate-to-fast paces

A long-standing favorite of the reviewer for marathon training; a firmer, stable long-run shoe that leans into pace work well, and still worth buying on discount if you dislike the softer Superblast 3.

Best for: Marathon training long runs and goal-pace work where a firmer, stable ride that carries speed is preferred.

Steve calls the Superblast 2 the industry standard among max-cushion plateless performance trainers — fast, premium, and widely beloved.

Best for: Marathon racing, tempo workouts, or higher-mileage days for runners wanting a premium max-cushion performance trainer

A top-tier versatile daily trainer with exceptional cushioning and bounce for its light weight; the preferred pick for long, slower runs and for runners who want a softer, bouncier ride.

Best for: Runners wanting a cushioned, bouncy all-rounder for long runs and high mileage that still has enough performance to handle faster sessions and racing

An excellent, reliable cushioned all-rounder that excels at long, smooth marathon-pace cruising with a stable wide base, though it's heavier and less versatile at faster paces than the Megablast.

Best for: Long runs and marathon-pace cruising where cushioning, stability, and consistency matter more than bounce.