Asics Sonicblast, Megablast Release Date

Asics‘ blast radius is growing with the introduction of two new running models, the Sonicblast and Megablast.

Coming out of the same franchise as the popular Novablast series, the Asics Sonicblast and Megablast employ a brand-new ATPU super foam called FF Turbo Squared. Compared to FF Turbo foam, the new formula is 32.5 percent bouncier, 9.6 percent softer and 2.8 percent lighter.

“There’s this conversation around what’s the greatest foam to be using for a couple of years,” Paul Lang, Asics Global Footwear senior product manager, told Footwear News in a call Tuesday. “We’re not going to to say one foam is our definitive go-forward. We’re playing with all different recipes, but we’re excited about this FF Turbo Squared for our ‘bounce’ shoes because we think it takes it to the next step of bounciness or experience.”

For the Sonicblast, which is being framed as a speedier version of the Novablast daily trainers, FF Turbo Squared is one of two foams to appear in the midsole along with the first application of a plate in the Blast franchise. An upper layer of FF Turbo Squared claims the most territory, while a smaller lower layer makes use of FF Blast Max foam that’s more soft than bouncy.

Sitting in between is a pebax plate that sprouts wings beneath the ball of the foot for torsional stability and forms more of a teardrop shape near the heel. Pebax was chosen over carbon fiber, a core element of super shoes, because it’s more flexible and more suited to differences in gender and weight. It also helps make the Sonicblast versatile in the types of runs it can be used for, from daily training and tempo runs to a race day shoe for those who are plate-curious but not ready to jump fully into carbon fiber.

Consumer feedback indicated strong interest in a Novablast made speedier with a plate, but Asics didn’t want to simply insert the piece into an existing midsole. When the Material Sciences team produced FF Turbo Squared, that’s when Lang said his own team felt confident playing with the idea.

Even bouncier than the Sonicblast is the Megablast, which opts for a midsole made entirely of FF Turbo Squared. Lang says it’s the type of shoe that brings a smile to your face because of how fun it is and “the greatest expression of bounce that we have.” Asics began testing full FF Turbo Square cushioning on the Superblast and received feedback indicating it offered an entirely different experience even before getting its own geometry or upper.

No plate appears underfoot but a bit of stiffness at the forefoot should be noticeable and provide some pop. An engineered woven upper with ribbon lacer bring the spirit of race shoes, and at 230 grams for a men’s size 9 it comes in 19 grams lighter than the Superblast and 26 grams lighter than the Sonicblast.

Both the Sonicblast and Megablast feature an 8mm drop, with the latter coming in with a 46mm stack height that’s 1mm taller than the former. The two runners also share an identical Asicsgrip outsole.

The Asics Sonicblast and Asics Megablast will release Sept. 1 through Asics’ website and select third-party retailers. Pricing for the Sonicblast is set at $180 and the Megablast $225.