Asics is giving its performance running lineup another energetic update with the debut of the new Sonicblast 2. Arriving as part of the brand’s Rise & Shine collection, the shoe builds on last year’s Sonicblast while making targeted changes to its plate, cushioning, upper, and overall weight. The result is a super trainer designed to feel lighter, bouncier, and more responsive underfoot.
Rather than completely overhaul what made the original model stand out, Asics has focused on refining its formula. The Asics Sonicblast 2 keeps the high-energy character of the first shoe while introducing a redesigned Astroplate and a revised midsole setup that allows more of the brand’s most energetic foam to work through the forefoot. For runners who want speed without sacrificing cushioning, the update could make an already lively shoe even more appealing.
A Lighter, Faster Sonicblast
Last year, Asics simultaneously expanded its Blast family with the Sonicblast and Megablast. While both shoes were designed around energetic cushioning, the Sonicblast took a more speed-focused approach, thanks in part to its Pebax plate. Now, that key component is getting a significant rethink for the second generation.
The new model replaces the original Astroplate geometry with a fork-shaped design. The adjustment helps reduce weight while creating additional room for FF Turbo Squared, the supercritical ATPU foam introduced with the first Sonicblast and Megablast.
The change is not simply about making the shoe lighter. By allowing FF Turbo Squared to extend farther through the midsole and into the forefoot trampoline pod, Asics is aiming to create a stronger sense of propulsion at toe-off. That combination gives the Asics Sonicblast 2 its distinctive mix of cushioning and mechanical response.
More Bounce Through the Midsole
The midsole is where much of the shoe’s personality comes to life. The Sonicblast 2 combines FF Turbo Squared with FF Blast Max foam to create a dual-foam construction designed to balance bounce, cushioning, and responsiveness.
FF Turbo Squared is particularly important to the updated design. Asics positions it as its bounciest foam, and the company has expanded its role in the new shoe. The forefoot trampoline pod allows that energetic cushioning to work more directly with the redesigned plate, helping create a livelier transition through each stride.
That setup could make the Asics Sonicblast 2 particularly appealing to runners who want a shoe that can move quickly without feeling overly firm or stripped down. It is built to occupy that increasingly popular space between a traditional daily trainer and an aggressive race-day shoe.
A Breathier Upper Cuts Weight
Asics has also made a notable change to the upper. The jacquard material used on the previous model has been replaced with engineered mesh, with the goal of improving both breathability and comfort.
For runners who train in warm weather, that change could prove especially useful. Better airflow can make a shoe feel more comfortable as miles accumulate, particularly during longer runs or faster sessions when heat and moisture become more noticeable.
The new upper also contributes to the overall weight reduction. The Sonicblast 2 comes in at approximately 242 grams for a men’s size 9, making it about 14 grams lighter than its predecessor.
Fourteen grams may not sound dramatic on its own, but trimming weight while maintaining the shoe’s cushioning and propulsion systems is a meaningful adjustment. Combined with the redesigned Astroplate, the lighter construction is intended to produce a ride that feels smoother and less demanding.
Part of the Rise & Shine Collection
The Sonicblast 2 is making its debut as part of Asics’ new Rise & Shine collection, a range inspired by the energy, optimism, and mental uplift associated with early-morning movement.
The collection brings together eight of Asics’ running shoes in vibrant, sunrise-inspired colorways. Its broader message centers on the idea that movement can have a positive impact on both physical and mental well-being.
The Sonicblast 2 fits naturally into that concept. Its energetic ride is designed to make running feel more engaging, whether that means starting the day with an easy jog, pushing through a workout, or adding some faster miles to a training schedule.
It also becomes the third Blast-family launch from Asics this year, following the Novablast 6 and Superblast 3. The latter has attracted considerable attention as a highly regarded non-plated super trainer, while the Sonicblast continues to occupy a more propulsion-focused position within the lineup.
Release Date and Price
The Asics Sonicblast 2 is set to release on September 1 through Asics and specialty running stores. The shoe will retail for $190.
For its second-generation Sonicblast, Asics has chosen evolution over reinvention. The redesigned forked Astroplate, expanded use of FF Turbo Squared, dual-foam midsole, engineered mesh upper, and lighter construction all work toward the same goal: creating a more energetic running experience without losing the qualities that made the original model distinctive.
For runners looking for a versatile super trainer with plenty of bounce and a more responsive feel, the Asics Sonicblast 2 could be one of the more interesting additions to the brand’s 2026 running lineup.
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Featured image: Asics
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