Asics is adding a new member to its “Blast” family this August. And this one is specifically designed to take down mileage on the trails. We’re not talking about the Novablast with a modified outsole for better traction in road to trail conditions, this is a whole new shoe; The Blazeblast. 

Built with the same responsive cushioning, comfortable fit, and trampoline-inspired ride of the rest of the Blast line, the Blazeblast will serve as an accessible entry point into trail running for the trail-curious runner.


Let’s take a Quick Look at what Asics has in store for us!

Asics Blazeblast Specs:

  • Heel-to-toe drop: 8 mm
  • Weight: 8.9 oz men’s, 7.8 oz women’s
  • Stack: 40mm
  • Colorways: 3 colorways available
  • Available in wide sizes? No
  • Price: $150, available on Asics.com

The 2.5mm lugs made this an option for road to trail and very clearly stamps it as not for the super technical trail runners.

What will make the Blazeblast special?

Based on the look and geometry, we do think this will have a similar feel to the Novablast 6. But amazingly the current reported weight is LESS! So it’s possible we’re looking at less cushion, which is pretty normal for a trail shoe where you want a little more ground feel.

The Asics Blazeblast will bring that winning feel to the trails with responsive cushioning the Blast series is known for, combined with trail-ready grip for a fun and dynamic ride whether you’re digging in to climb hills or bombing down a big decline.

Built on a bed of Flytefoam Blast Max (FF Blast Max), the Blazeblast will bring the bouncy, dynamic, and fun ride the Blast series is known for, to the trails. The trampoline pod in the forefoot will remain, giving trail runners are more explosive toe-off sensation.

A comfortable engineered woven upper will provide structure and breathability out on the trail. The upper on the Blazeblast appears to have a sturdier build than its road siblings. The structural toe cap overlay extends nearly the entire perimeter of the shoe. You can see breathable zones above the overlay for a varied level of foot hold.

The lacing system will feature traditional eyelets, along with two strategically-placed loop eyelets that extend farther down the foot for extra hold.

The outsole will feature a hybrid ASICSGRIP rubber with 2.5 millimeter lugs for a sure-footed feel on the trails. The rubber coverage is just about as close to full coverage as you can get without straying too far from the Blast outsole look. You can see they kept the trusty old forefoot trampoline pod.

Who is the Asics Blazeblast for?

  • Wide Feet: It is not available in wide sizes, but past experience with the blast line leads me to believe really wide feet won’t fit great.
  • Technical Trails: Not designed for the CO outbacks, but a great moderate trail or road to trail we believe
  • Long runs: It should be long run-ready like the rest of the line
  • Front of the pack: I’m sure there are better trail race options for the truly dedicated trail runners, but based on the rest of the lineup it can serve as a relaxed easy run shoe.

Where will the Blazeblast Fit in Asics’ Lineup?

First and foremost the Blazeblast will be the trail option amongst the Blast lineup, adding to the Dynablast, Novablast, Superblast, Megablast, and Sonicblast.

Amongst its trail siblings it will sit just above the road to trail shoes like the Gel Pulse TR, Gel Nimbus 28, and the GT-2000. Like I said before, it should serve as the entry level trail shoe for the trail-curious and below shoes like the Trabuco, Trabuco Max, and the Fuji Lite.

While trail running is not quite exploding in popularity in the same manner as road running, there is a steady growth in the size of trail races and the general interest in road runners transitioning to trail running.

The Blazeblast does not look to have the chunky lugs and overall build needed to tackle some of the more technical trails and bigger trail ultramarathons. The goal here is to create a shoe for tackling the easier, more well-traveled beginner trails and leave the ankle-testing technical trails to others on the roster.

What to read next?

 

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