Asics Superblast Performance Review

The new max stack running shoe category is growing like crazy, and with the Asics Superblast, Asics enters the category like the Kool-Aid man busting through a wall. At WearTesters, we love both the Asics Metaspeed Sky+ and the Asics Novablast 3. So when Asics told us the Superblast is a hybrid forged from both those high-performance (and highly-rated) running shoes, we were all in.

Of course, that also upped our expectations to possibly unreachable levels. Can the Asics Superblast deliver performance that matches or exceeds its high-performing parents? That, my friends, is what we’re here to find out.

Asics Superblast

Release Date: December 1, 2022

Price: $220

Weight: Men’s 8.4 oz., Women’s 7.5 oz.

Drop: 8mm (37.5mm forefoot, 45.5mm heel)

Sizing: True to size

• Rundown: The Asics Superblast is a fun, versatile, and lightweight shoe with a price that will make you hesitate even though it’s a great shoe.

Pros

Drew: When I first saw this shoe in August at Asics America HQ, my jaw dropped. The Asics Superblast is a fast (and cool) looking shoe. And all that stack looked heavenly.

I’m glad to report that it just doesn’t look heavenly. It feels awesome underfoot. Asics took two great foams, FF Blast+ and FF Blast Turbo, and created a soft midsole that’s not too squishy nor unstable. It’s got a nice bounce and speeds up nicely. The rocker shape, looking very similar to the Metaspeed Sky+, feels smooth from the moment you touch down to when you toe off the ground.

I know some people are bemoaning the lack of a carbon fiber plate, but honestly, it’s nice to have a non-plated option in the market. The running shoe industry is plate crazy these days, but sometimes the stiffness of a plate is just too much. A shoe packing a mountain of soft foam and no plate fills a need for runners who just don’t need or love carbon fiber plates.

Above that glorious midsole is an upper that looks like a Metaspeed but is better. It’s still light and plenty breathable, but it’s more comfortable. The gusseted and well-padded, almost neoprene tongue has a lot to do with it. It’s luxurious compared to the tongues on the Novablast 3 and Metaspeed Sky+. It’s a small tweak that pays dividends on long runs. The upper also has plenty of room for feet to expand…making it pretty wide-foot-friendly. It’s always nice when a shoe accommodates lots of foot types without the upper flexing weirdly when the shoe is laced up tight. It’s just great upper construction all around.

Even with the great midsole and upper, the Nike Lebron 20 feels really light. It’s light enough, protective enough, and bouncy enough that I can see people using it as their marathon racing shoe. I even think friend of WearTesters and running shoe reviewer, Kofuzi, is planning to use the Asics Superblast when he runs the California International Marathon (CIM) in December. If someone who has all the super shoes chooses the Asics Superblast as his marathon shoe, that’s a huge endorsement of its abilities.

Tyler: Over the last few months, one of my favorite running shoes has been the Asics Novablast 3, and before that, it was the Asics Glideride 3, so I’ve been a big fan of what the brand has been churning out, and aside from a few small hiccups with the sizing of the Glideride 3, I’ve put a ton of miles in Asics shoes this year. So when the Asics Superblast came in, I was optimistic. My closet is full of plated shoes and this seemed to be just what I would gravitate toward to even out my rotation.

Out of the box, the shoe is extremely light, even in my size 13, and that weight shows (or doesn’t show?) on foot. At no point in any of my runs did I ever feel like the shoe was bulky, even though, in hand, it was quite chunky. But, I was more impressed with the ride than anything and assume it’s the combination of the foams and slight rocker, as Drew alluded to. Even more enjoyable was the toe-off – while the plush cushioning in the forefoot resulted in a nice ride, it is one of the smoothest and most stable experiences when transitioning off your toes.

And I would be remiss if I didn’t talk about the upper. Oh, this fantastic upper. It’s almost like something NASA designed. It’s soft, yet structured. It’s comfortably rigid, yet pliable and giving. It’s breathable. Most of all, it’s forgiving and simple. From a design standpoint, I can’t wait to see upcoming colorways, but from a functionality standpoint, this upper may be one of the best on any running shoes I’ve slipped into over the last 2-3 years.

It’s also worth mentioning the flair that accompanied the Asics Superblast. In the box, the paper mimics a newspaper, reading “SUPERBLAST HAS ARRIVED!” with a few “stories” about the shoe. Also included were three pins. It’s the small details like this that make an unboxing experience fun and shows the Asics team knows how to surprise and delight.

Cons

Drew: There are a few things to mention here though not everyone will view each of them as true negatives. I know I don’t.

First, the laces are a bit too long. Seeing as how this shoe can be a race-day option, I’d have liked a little less length. No one likes laces flopping around like crazy when they’re trying to go fast.

Second, I know people had issues with the traction of the Asics Novablast 3, so Asics worked to improve that experience by using AHAR+ rubber on the Asics Superblast. For me, it made a difference in terms of gripping the ground. I experienced only minor slippage with the Novablast 3, likely due to my size, and none, even in wet, rainy conditions in the Superblast. However, the traction pattern itself is still the same. If you had trouble with the Novablast 3 traction, this may not be the shoe for you.

Third, the price. The Asics Superblast is $220. AJ has the unfortunate luck of being one of the first to launch a high-end shoe with post-inflation-driven cost increases. I expect a lot of shoes in 2023 to feel expensive. Is the Superblast actually expensive, though? After a lot of thought, I don’t think so. The only thing that’s missing from what would otherwise be a $250 super shoe is the carbon fiber plate. Everything else is included. Paying $30 extra for a carbon fiber plate feels about right. But I’ve always thought of the super foams being the main source of extra cost, not the plate. It may be difficult for others to reframe their thinking with that in mind.

Tyler: The elephant in the room (and across Instagram comments) is my only con: the price. $220 is STEEP. When Nike released the ZoomX Invincible Run, that $180 price point was a lot to stomach, and while I do think the Superblast is a superior shoe to the Invincible, another $40 is borderline ridiculous. I don’t care that it’s not plated, but it’s just downright expensive. I’ve wracked my brain on the pricing strategy here and still come up short.

Asics Superblast Summary

Drew: The Asics Superblast is a fun, versatile shoe that I can use for anything from easy miles to workouts to races. It’s so light it feels like a race day shoe, it’s soft but stable, and even without the plate, it has a nice pop. While you may do a double take at the price, I think it’s worth it. You’re getting a really good shoe for the money. And what’s more, you’re getting a shoe with a ride that will make you want to run more often.

Tyler: I think Drew hits on every single point that you should take into consideration here. The Superblast is such a solid, versatile, and light shoe, and continues to create a lot of enjoyment during each run, but I can’t get on board with recommending it at its price point. If you’re in the Novablast 3 (or have thought about the Novablast 3), I think that’s the route to go (I also think they underpriced the Novablast 3, so maybe that’s their pricing strategy, now that I think about it). So, while you won’t capture all of the magic of the Asics Superblast, you’ll get damn close and have one of the best shoes of 2022.

Nike Infinity Pro 2 Performance Review

Golf shoes are steadily becoming less traditional looking. The Nike Infinity Pro 2 is Nike’s response to consumer demand for a golf shoe that looks and performs like a running shoe. On the surface, the Nike Infinity Pro 2 does share some characteristics to Nike’s lineup of running shoes, but that’s only half the battle. A golf shoe is effectively worthless if it can’t pull its weight in the on-course performance test.

Can a golf shoe that looks and performs like a running shoe possibly be the shoe you’ve been looking for? Or is the idea of blending both running and golf into one shoe just a marketing gimmick? Let’s find out.

Nike Infinity Pro 2

Price: $110

Sizing: Runs small; go up 1/2 size.

• Rundown: This budget-friendly shoe is jam-packed with cushion, but it’s the traction that really shines. Be wary of the narrow and short fit.

Pros

• Cushion
• Traction
• Price

Cons

• Fit

Pros

Cushion

Nike designed the Infinity Pro 2 with the idea that it should look and perform like a modern running shoe. This really shows up in the traction department. Nike packed the Infinity Pro 2 with a beefy React Foam midsole that’s both bouncy and responsive.

Both on and off the course, React is one of my favorite foams, but I did find this particular setup to be more firm than I’m used to. If you’re a fan of firm and supportive cushioning, the Nike Infinity Pro 2 is absolutely a champion in this regard. You should have no problem walking 18 holes in this shoe!

Traction

I don’t really know how to describe the traction on the Nike Infinity Pro 2, but it flat-out works. It’s a very low-profile pattern made of flexible rubber and some funky-looking grooves. Even still, I found it to be perfectly grippy on both dry and wet surfaces.

Nike made it a point to keep the spikeless traction on the Infinity Pro 2 versatile so that you can wear these “casually” after your round. I found this to be true. If you’re someone who doesn’t like to change shoes after your round before you head to the restaurant or bar, the Lebron 20 makes the transition from the course to the concrete pretty seamless.

Price

Price is often overlooked, especially in the game of golf. It’s expensive to start the game, and I’m all for any shoe that lowers that barrier to entry. The retail price of the Nike Infinity Pro 2 is $110, which by golf shoe industry standards is pretty darn low.

Most “budget” shoes I’ve tested hover around the $130 price range. At the time of writing this, you can find a few colorways of the Infinity Pro 2 for less than $100. At that price point, these are extremely easy to recommend.

Cons

Fit

The issues with the fit of the Nike Infinity Pro 2 are partially my fault; Nike did mention that the shoe runs small on their website, and I just skipped over that part. The Infinity Pro 2 fits at least 1/2 size small, and is pretty narrow, too.

If you can try this on, I’d highly recommend it. If trying on isn’t an option, I’d suggest going up at least 1/2 size or buying the wide version (only one colorway available) for those of you with wide feet.

I will also mention that most modern golf shoes have gone to a one-piece construction, whereas the Infinity Pro 2 features a detached, more traditional tongue. Normally this wouldn’t be an issue, but I did find the tongue caused some irritation to my ankles.

Nike Infinity Pro 2 Summary

Can a shoe that looks and feels like a running shoe hold its own on the golf course? Absolutely. The Nike Infinity Pro 2 is proof that golf doesn’t have to look or feel traditional.

Don’t let the marketing lingo scare you; the Nike Infinity Pro 2 is a very solid golf shoe at an amazing price point. You’re going to want to grab a pair of these, especially if you can catch them on sale!

Nike MC Trainer 2 Performance Review

Rundown: The Nike MC Trainer 2 is a good shoe with weaknesses that might deter some people from purchasing.

Release Date: 2022

Price: $75

Weight: 11.1 oz (size 10)

Fit Guide: True to size

 

7/10

Total Score

Pros

• Flexible Outsole
• Free Tongue

Cons

• Thin Materials
• Tapered Heel

The Nike MC Trainer 2 is another budget Nike cross training shoe that aims to give gym-goers and stay-at-home athletes alike an affordable option. While it is more affordable, some critical strengths and weaknesses will significantly determine your choice to purchase these. It’s not oddly specific, but there are deal breakers and makers for others. Don’t compare these to the Nike Lebron 20 or Under Armour HOVR Rise 4. You won’t be doing it any favors.

Pros

Flexible Outsole

The outsole is full rubber with triangles and lines as its traction pattern. From the forefoot to the midfoot are flex zones. They’re cored-out sections that ensure those areas are not stiff, and you can flex your feet as naturally as possible. I found this especially helpful during lunges. The Phylon midsole isn’t too fluffy, so the midsole doesn’t over-compress and cause instability. The grooves are thick, and the rubber compound is tough, so these should last you a good while, too.

Free Tongue

The tongue is made of a breathable mesh that is only connected at the end. This allows you to easily manipulate it and get the right fit. Entry and exit are easy and don’t take too much effort. If you feel like the tongue will move around while you work out, think again. There’s a big loop where the laces go through to make sure it stays put. If you do need to tug your tongue and adjust the fit for whatever reason, it’s simple, and nothing gets in the way.

Cons

Thin Materials

The upper is full mesh with fuse overlays and an elastic band at the forefoot. The band is useless in my opinion. The mesh that Nike used here is thin and doesn’t look like it will last too long especially if you’re putting these through continued intense and strenuous exercises. The only upsides to this are weight reduction and breathability. While the materials last, they’ll be okay performance-wise. But you may find yourself replacing this shoe a bit faster than you’d prefer.

Tapered Heel

This was one of the most off-putting things about the shoe. The forefoot is nice and wide, but it gets thinner as you approach the heel. Because of its tapered nature and design, I was wobbly if I accidentally caught myself on my heels. There are no outriggers, too, so it doesn’t help its case. My advice would be to do your best to stay on your forefoot as much as possible. The heel won’t do you any good.

While we’re on the topic of the heel, there’s some pretty consistent heel slip. It didn’t interfere with most of my workouts, but I don’t like feeling any part of my feet pulling out of the shoe. So anyone who’s a stickler for lockdown will want to avoid this shoe.

Nike MC Trainer 2 Summary

The Nike MC Trainer 2 is a good budget cross training shoe that will serve most people well, especially those who don’t use their heels during workouts. If you do, don’t pick these up. You will be unstable most of the time. If your workouts require using your forefoot most of the time, which is the case for many basketball-focused exercises, then these will satisfy your needs. There are a few other things to get over, like the thin materials and the useless strap, but they’re not deal breakers for everyone. The shoe does what it’s supposed to do, and that’s enough for a thumbs up from me, considering the price range.

Nike Air Max Impact 4 Performance Review

The Nike Air Max Impact 4 is the best budget basketball shoe on the market today, a great outdoor option, and just a great performance basketball shoe.

Release Date: 2022

Price: $90

9.2/10

Total Score

 

The Nike Air Max Impact 4 is like that dorky-looking kid on the local courts that you think you can clown but who ends up dunking on you and sends you home packing. This budget model is an unassuming banger, and it gets extra points precisely because of this. I’m a sucker for a hoop shoe that looks like a plain jane and then comes in and knocks it out of the park.

The Air Max Impact 3 was already an awesome performance basketball shoe, and the Air Max Impact 4 brings back everything that was great from that shoe and incorporates a couple of improvements. And it does all of that at a cheaper price than its predecessor! I live in Spain, and the Air Max Impact 4 is 6 bucks cheaper than the Dunk Low. In the US, they’re the same price, but still…

In any case, let’s dive into the performance review to see why I’m so hyped about this shoe.

Traction

The traction makes you wonder why Nike ever uses a different pattern and rubber compound. We have an aggressive and deeply set full-length herringbone traction pattern that gives you really great multi-directional coverage. It’s the same exact setup as on the Impact 3, so if you had that shoe you know exactly what I am talking about. The rubber compound is grippy and tough and worked great indoors and outdoors.

This combo also makes the Air Max Impact 4 a really wonderful outdoor option as well as far as traction goes (spoiler alert, everything else on the shoe also makes it a great outdoor option). The rubber gripped very well when I played outdoors, and that strong rubber and the thickness of the pattern all added durability while playing on the blacktop.

Cushion

The cushioning setup is, again, the same as on the Impact 3, which is great news. The cushioning on that model was amazing for a budget model, and the same is true on the Air Max Impact 4.

You get a full-length phylon foam midsole, and a large Air Max Unit in the heel. But this isn’t your run-of-the-mill phylon. It feels much closer to Cushlon than in other setups. It feels bouncy and reactive underfoot, which is great for forefoot heavy moves like sprints or changes of direction.

The Air Max Unit in the heel feels great if you make it work, but I personally don’t use my heel much when I play, so I really didn’t feel it too much. But I’m happy that it’s there just in case I need that extra bit of cushion I might not be 100% aware of most of the time.

Materials

In my reviews, I’m normally negative when brands overuse cheaper synthetic materials. I always try to be fair and say that performance wise it worked well yada, yada, yada…but in this case, I’m not even going to do that.

The Air Max Impact 4 is a budget model, so it has budget-appropriate materials that worked very well. Nike even improved the materials from the Impact 3 to the Lebron 20. They used a tighter weaved textile along the upper that improves lockdown and added some fuse overlays on the lateral side of the forefoot to boost lateral containment.

Support

Support on the Air Max Impact 4 is also on point. You have 4 rubber lateral containment pieces: 2 in the heel and 2 in the forefoot. Also, you have an internal web (that is visible through the outer mesh of the shoe on the more colorful colorways) that keeps your foot securely on the footbed. For a little added support and containment there are two lace cables, as well as two outriggers.

Everything about the support is enhanced by the use and placement of the materials as well as the fit.

Fit

This is one of the better-fitting shoes I have tested recently. The Nike Air Max Impact 4 offers a great 1-to-1 fit and requires little to no break-in time.

Overall

The Nike Air Max Impact 4 is just a great performance basketball shoe, and it improves on an already great shoe, the Nike Air Max 3. It’s definitely my favorite budget basketball shoe so far this season as well as my go-to outdoor option. I’m having a hard time at the moment keeping it out of my current top 5.

I personally enjoy the fact that the shoe is so plain and “under the radar” and packs such a performance punch, and it does have the “what are those?” factor.

If you are looking for a great performance basketball shoe that won’t break the bank, there’s no better option.

Mizuno Wave Rider 26 Performance Review

The Mizuno Wave Rider 26 is the latest entry in Mizuno’s flagship running line. In recent years it’s been a little light on the cushioning but this year’s version is the softest Wave Rider ever. How does it perform out on the mean streets of marathon training? Keep reading…

Mizuno Wave Rider 26

Release Date: October 2022

Price: $140

Weight: M 10 oz, W 8.3oz

Drop: 12mm

Sizing: True to size

• Rundown: The Mizuno Wave Rider 26 is a solid daily running shoe with some nuances to be aware of before purchasing.

Pros

• Cushion Softness
• Upper Comfort
• Smooth Ride
• Traction

Cons

• Outsole Durability
• Cushion Thickness

Pros

Cushion Softness

Drew: We mentioned above that this is the softest Wave Rider ever and it’s true. The addition of Mizuno Enerzy takes the cushion from meh to solid. Now, it’s not near as soft as the majority of supercritical or Pebax foams available today, but it feels great underfoot, especially compared to previous Wave Rider midsoles. You can now tackle 8-10 miles in the Wave Rider whereas before I’d have advocated a maximum of 5-6 mile runs.

Tyler: I grew to enjoy the cushion of the Wave Rider 26 the more I wore it. Out of the box, I was a little concerned with the amount of cushion under the forefoot, but I credit the Wave plate for such a nice transition across the entire foot that any concerns I had were quickly forgotten.

Upper Comfort

Drew: The Mizuno Wave Rider 26 upper is a simple multi-layer engineered mesh with plenty of ankle collar and tongue padding. Nothing special but it does the job well. There are no potential hotspots, and it molded to my foot well.

Smooth Ride

Drew: The Mizuno Wave Rider 26 doesn’t feel as slappy as some other Mizuno shoes. It hits the ground and rolls nicely through the transition from heel to toe. The Wave Rider 26 doesn’t look like it has much of a rocker, so my guess is the Enerzy foam combined with the curvature of the TPU Mizuno Wave plate is doing the majority of the work here. Whatever the reason, the shoe felt very smooth no matter what speed I was running.

Tyler: As I hinted at above, the Wave plate really drives home a sweet ride when you’re running. To Drew’s point, there isn’t so much a rocker sensation as there is just the slightest bit of arch support, most likely just the curvature of the plate, that helps on toe-off. While it’s not enough to be put in the con section, this sensation doesn’t feel as good when you’re just walking around, so these will strictly be a running shoe for me.

Traction

Drew: The outsole of the Mizuno Wave Rider 26 is the source of one pro and one con. The Pro is that it grips well on any surface. I didn’t have trouble making quick turns and never felt slippage. So the rubber compound used is A+. The durability, however…

Tyler: Like every Mizuno we’ve tested this year, traction is fantastic on the Wave Rider. With leaves falling and more early-morning runs on my calendar, it’s much appreciated this time of year.

Cons

Outsole Durability

Drew: Despite the outsole of the Mizuno Wave Rider 26 gripping like crazy, the toe is wearing down quickly. The forefoot and heel seem to be doing ok, but the toe wear is happening too fast for my liking. Just be aware that the outsole may not last as long as typical Mizuno outsoles (which basically never show any wear during our test periods).

Tyler: Currently at 32 miles on my pair, I have some slight wear on the outsole, but not as much as Drew. Your mileage may vary, so keep it as a consideration when you think about how long you need your pair to last.

Cushion Thickness

Drew: The Mizuno Wave Rider 26’s stack height just isn’t very big, so there’s not a ton of foam underfoot. I felt much lower to the ground than in most shoes I’ve tested recently. So while the cushion is soft, I don’t think it will be particularly long-lasting nor is the Lebron 20 fit to be a long run shoe. The 12mm heel-to-toe drop also seems excessive. I’d much prefer a typical 8mm drop with 4mm more foam in the forefoot. That extra foam is appreciated when your legs and feet are tired from lots of running.

Tyler: Totally agree with Drew on this one. My current rotation was in need of a more straightforward, everyday runner (first-world problems, I know), but the 12mm drop in addition to the arch sensation of the plate I noted above didn’t bode well for runs longer than about 10K from my experience. But, if you just want a reliable shoe to hammer out those quick after-work miles, it performs great.

Mizuno Wave Rider 26 Summary

Drew: The Mizuno Wave Rider 26 is a solid daily running shoe. It can handle most runs, can go fast if needed, and most of all, it’s comfortable and smooth. It’s the type of shoe where, if you like the amount of cushion and the fit, you won’t ever have to think about it when it’s on foot. I like shoes like this because it allows me to focus more on pace and podcasts (lol).

Tyler: Another great shoe from Mizuno, with some nuances to be aware of before purchasing. I love how straightforward the shoe is: from fit to feel. But I could see the Wave plate causing raised eyebrows from some runners. At the end of the day, it’s a well-priced shoe for what it does and would be a great addition to most rotations looking for a straightforward, no-frills shoe.