The original ASICS Sonicblast was one of the most disappointing ASICS running shoes I had tested in recent years. On paper, it sounded fantastic: a dual-foam setup, a plate and a position within the increasingly impressive Blast family that should have made it a brilliant tempo training shoe.
Unfortunately, the reality was very different. Version one felt heavy, firm and pretty lifeless underfoot. The good news is that ASICS has clearly listened, because the Sonicblast 2 is a massively improved running shoe.
The Sonicblast 2 now makes much more sense within the ASICS Blast lineup. Think of the Megablast as the premium do-it-all option, the Superblast as the max-stack daily trainer, and the Sonicblast 2 as the faster, plated tempo option designed for workouts and long runs where you want to inject some pace.
The ASICS Sonicblast 2 launches in September 2026 with a UK price of £170. My UK 9.5 weighs approximately 240g and fits true to size. That's around 20g lighter than the previous version, which turns out to make a significant difference to how the shoe performs.
The Sonicblast 2 retains a dual-foam midsole but combines FF TURBO SQUARED on top with FF BLAST MAX underneath. It has a huge 46mm heel stack and 38mm forefoot stack, giving it an 8mm drop.
One of the biggest changes is the redesigned ASTROPLATE, which uses a forked design around a forefoot trampoline pod of FF TURBO SQUARED. The idea is to create additional spring and energy through the front of the shoe, and this is one of the areas where I think ASICS has completely transformed the Sonicblast. ASICS has also replaced the previous jacquard upper with a lighter engineered mesh. Combined with sections of the midsole being carved away, this has helped remove around 20g from the shoe.
Fit and Comfort
The Sonicblast 2 fits me true to size in my usual UK 9.5. There's plenty of room in the toe box, although it is slightly narrower than the Superblast 3. Importantly, I didn't find it restrictive. The engineered mesh is also a definite improvement over version one.
You get a comfortable, slightly racier gusseted tongue and strategically placed rubber on the outsole. I perhaps would have preferred ASICS' sawtooth-style laces, but that's a relatively minor complaint.
Despite that enormous stack height, the Sonicblast 2 also feels surprisingly stable. FF TURBO SQUARED isn't excessively soft, which gives the shoe a more controlled platform underfoot.
This is where things get much more interesting because the ride has been transformed. Simply removing around 20g has made a big difference. Version one felt heavy and lifeless, whereas the Sonicblast 2 immediately feels lighter and more energetic. But it's the combination of the redesigned plate and forefoot trampoline pod that really stands out for me.
I'm much more of a forward-striking runner these days, which means I'm landing directly around the area where ASICS has positioned that FF TURBO SQUARED pod. The forked ASTROPLATE works around it, and I'm getting a noticeable spring from that section of the shoe. I was initially sceptical about whether I'd even notice the trampoline pod, but I absolutely do.
The front of the shoe feels bouncier and springier than version one, and the whole package works particularly well with my running style. That's worth stressing because I'd be interested to see whether heel strikers get quite the same experience from the Sonicblast 2.
Finally, the Sonicblast Feels Like a Tempo Shoe
One of my biggest problems with the original Sonicblast was that you had to work far too hard to get anything back from it. That's completely changed.
The Sonicblast 2 slips into tempo pace surprisingly easily and transitions nicely between different speeds. During marathon training and 60-mile weeks, I've found it feels great underfoot when adding faster running into my sessions.
And that's ultimately where I think this shoe belongs.
I could take the Sonicblast 2 out for eight or ten miles with tempo work included. I could also happily use it for a 20-mile marathon training run and finish with four, five or six miles at marathon goal pace. That versatility is something version one simply didn't offer me.
Where Does the Sonicblast 2 Fit in the ASICS Blast Range?
ASICS now has a lot of shoes carrying the Blast name, and understanding exactly where each one sits can be confusing. For me, though, the Sonicblast 2 finally has a clear purpose.
The Megablast remains the premium do-it-all shoe that can handle everything from training to racing. The Superblast 3 is the premium max-stack daily trainer that can also handle plenty of longer running. The Sonicblast 2 now gives ASICS a genuine plated tempo training option within that family. That was presumably what ASICS wanted the original Sonicblast to be, but version two finally delivers it.
Is the Sonicblast 2 Worth £170?
The biggest issue is inevitably the price. At £170, this is an expensive training shoe and the ride isn't necessarily going to appeal to everyone. But the Sonicblast 2 is now competitive with some of the other premium, lightweight and versatile training options on the market. Where I couldn't recommend the original Sonicblast, version two genuinely puts itself back into the conversation.
I'd still be interested to see what the shoe would feel like with a carbon or carbon-composite plate, but ASICS deserves credit for making meaningful changes rather than simply releasing a lightly updated version two. The changes may not sound enormous on paper, but they're extremely effective when you actually run in the shoe.
Verdict
The ASICS Sonicblast 2 is a huge improvement over the original Sonicblast. ASICS has taken weight out of the shoe, improved the upper, redesigned the plate and created a forefoot setup that gives me noticeably more bounce and spring. The result is a shoe that feels lighter, faster and far more enjoyable to run in.
Most importantly, it finally has a purpose. If you're looking for a max-stack tempo shoe capable of handling faster workouts, marathon-pace sessions and long runs with sections at pace, the Sonicblast 2 is now a shoe worth considering.
At £170 it's certainly not cheap, and I think the ride could still divide opinion. Forefoot and midfoot strikers may also get more from that trampoline pod than runners who land heavily towards the heel. But compared with version one, this is night and day. This is the Sonicblast ASICS should have made in the first place.
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