Superblast 2 First Run Impressions

About me: 30yo Male 177cm 81kg Heel/mid-foot striker 100 KMs per week Cadence ~165-175 US9 Max HR: 197

Easy pace: 5:25-6:25/km Marathon pace: 4:45/km HMP: 4:30/km 10km: 4:22/km 5km: 3:59/km

First Run: I'm in a deload week right now. Took these for a 12km long run, and did a 5km progression to see if these will be suitable for long runs with MP blocks. I was running on a dead straight path, with some very minor inclines and a mostly downhill return. The shoes, while huge and obvious on foot, move through the paces very comfortable. While my HR was creeping into tempo and thresh ranges, it still felt sustainable and efficient.

Sizing: These fit true to size. They are more narrow than the Novablast 5, but still plenty of room in the toebox. They feel slightly more dialled in than the original SB.

Upper: Didn't have any issues with breathability. It was 31°c where I'm from in Aus today. The ventilation in the mesh is welcome, and overall the structure feels more natural than the plqsticy upper of the first SB.

Outsole: I really like that they have indented the exposed foam sections on the outsole, because on the SB1, I tore that up. Now it seems like the rubber outsole is the only part contacting the ground, which should be even better for durability. I ran on a fully paved path so there was no test for the grip.

Midsole: Genuinely surprised here. I fully expected a near identical feeling to the original. BUT, there is a very obvious plushness and bounce that wasn't present in the first. I put that down to the superior foam. The heel toe transition feels smoother and the midsole is bouncy and responsive straight out of the box. Otherwise, it is a very, very similar ride to the original. I don't think you need to upgrade from the first, but it definitely feels better at my faster paces.