Rating the Most Popular Elevated Daily Trainers on Comfort, Speed, Durability, Traction, Bounce, Weight, Fun Factor and Value - Part 1
Here we will break down the comfort, speed, stability, durability, traction, bounce, weight, fun factor, and overall value of four elevated daily trainers currently on the market—the Nike Vomero Plus, ASICS Superblast 2, ASICS Megablast, and Adidas EVO SL.
Welcome back to Choose Your Player. In this series, we’re giving running shoes an overall score based on 10 key categories—ranging from pure speed to all-day comfort—each rated from 1 to 100. This time, we’re breaking down the stats on 4 popular elevated daily trainers on the market right now, including the new ASICS Megablast, Nike Vomero Plus, ASICS Superblast 2, and Adidas EVO SL.
ASICS Megablast - Overall Score of 90
ASICS Megablast
The Megablast is the newest addition to the Blast line-up from ASICS and it has made a huge splash in the running sicko community. With ASICS’ new ATPU foam, called FF TURBO2, the Megablast provides a unique experience that is rare to find in a running shoe. This shoe had us smiling and laughing on our first run and we have found ourselves reaching for it again and again. It is a true rotation killer. It is extremely lightweight (similar to the EVO SL with much more foam underfoot) and delivers a smooth and comfortable ride at easy, relaxed paces, which is something we can’t say about the Superblast 2 or EVO SL. The bounce and fun factor are top-tier and it held up really well on longer runs—providing plenty of protection and responsiveness after a long time on feet. It is a lightweight, max-cushioned trainer with the speed capabilities of a carbon-fiber race shoe—the epitome of an elevated daily trainer. We foresee many people using the Megablast for their half marathons and marathons. Even though it retails at $225, well above the others on this list, we think it is worth the higher price due to its versatility, range, and ability to provide a new experience. This one is up for shoe of the year!
Adidas EVO SL - Overall Score of 82
Adidas Evo SL
The EVO SL definitely takes the hype king crown. Runners and shoe-enthusiasts, alike, were clamoring to get it when Adidas first released it in limited drops, and the hype is still going strong almost a year later. While we find this shoe to have a limited range due to the fact that it rewards forefoot striking and encourages us to go faster than we’d like on easy days and recovery runs, many people do like it for their daily miles and as an uptempo trainer. We also can’t deny its durability and value. Many people have reported taking this shoe well over 300 or 400 miles without any signs of wear on the outsole or feeling like the foam is losing its pop. In fact, the full slab of Lightstrike Pro foam does take a little while to break in and just seems to get better over time. The upper could be improved, and the QA has been all over the place, but it seems to be a well-loved shoe for runners of all shapes, sizes, and capabilities. While it is not the most stable, it is wide-foot friendly. Adidas has been smart to release some really banger colorways along the way, and at $150 it is a tremendous value.
Nike Vomero Plus - Overall Score of 85
Nike Vomero Plus
The hype for the Vomero Plus hasn’t reached EVO SL levels, but Nike delivered a solid max cushion contender with 43mm of foam in the heel. This version of ZoomX foam is in the Goldilocks zone—not too soft and not too firm—the ride is peppy, and the 10mm drop platform manages to be both protective and aggressive. While it isn’t our favorite for high mileage runners looking for a stable recovery or relaxed cruising shoe (the MagMax, Gel-Nimbus 27, and Neo Vista 2 are better options), but it's a good option for longer runs with some pace. It rides smoother and more natural than the Superblast and delivers more comfort and padding than the Megablast. At $180, it is priced well—providing comfort, bounce, and a smooth ride in a reasonably lightweight package.
ASICS Superblast 2 - Overall Score of 79
Asics Superblast 2
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The Superblast 2 is built like a 4Runner. It’s firm and the ride is not smooth, but it also has unmatched durability and heft. It’s no secret that we haven’t loved the Superblast 2—we find the geometry to be clunky and choppy, especially at our more relaxed paces and we have a hard time getting the bounce and responsiveness that some people report, but we can’t deny that it is a hobby jogger cult favorite. It won’t go flat over the course of a long run, and it can even be a marathon race shoe for runners who prefer a firmer, more structured bounce to their ride. It feels like it has the widest base of all of these shoes, which is great if you have any stability needs. The Superblast 2 is a good alternative for bigger runners or those who put a lot of power down into their stride and who want a reliable, high-cushioned workhorse.
Check out our Choose Your Player Marathon Racing Shoes - Part 1, Choose Your Player Marathon Racing Shoes - Part 2, Choose Your Player Marathon Racing shoes - Part 3, Choose Your Player Max Cushion Shoes, Choose Your Player Long Run Shoes or Choose Your Player Speed Training Shoes editions if you've enjoyed this format.
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