ASICS DynaBlast 2 Review: A $100 Daily Trainer Worth a Look

Introduction

The ASICS DynaBlast 2 positions itself as the little brother or sister to the Novablast: a neutral road running shoe aimed squarely at the daily trainer category. After around 50 miles of testing, the picture is fairly clear. This is a solid, comfortable trainer with an appealing price point, and one notable compromise in the upper that shapes the whole package.

The headline numbers are a 33 mm heel, a 25 mm forefoot, and an 8 mm drop, the lower drop giving the shoe a slightly more responsive feel through foot strike than its predecessor. Weighing in at 232 g, roughly 8.1 to 8.2 oz in a men’s size 9, it is a reasonable weight for a daily trainer.

Fit and Upper

The upper uses a circular knit rather than an engineered mesh, and it is the least modern part of this shoe. It feels a little thick and a little heavy, and breathability sits toward the lower end of the scale. On hot, humid days, this is the element that would hold the shoe back.

There are genuine bright spots, though. The tongue is unusually wide on top and shorter than many recent shoes, and it turned out to be one of the most comfortable parts of the whole package. Lockdown is solid rather than great, scoring eight out of 10, with a solid heel pocket to match. Fit is true to size, though perhaps a touch narrow through the toe box, so keep that in mind if you have wider feet.

Midsole and Ride

The Flight Foam Blast midsole drops to 8 mm and delivers a durometer that hits a pleasing middle ground: not too soft, but not as bouncy as the Novablast either. Ride and energy return land at 6.75 out of 10, a shade below the sevens.

Where the shoe earns back its overall score is durability. The midsole looks built to last, with a life expectancy of at least 400 to 500 miles, and the outsole should hold up alongside it.

Outsole and Durability

The outsole echoes the Novablast’s design with a small decoupled groove under the forefoot, just less accentuated. It is a solid, well-put-together outsole, and combined with the resilient midsole it supports an overall durability prediction of around 500 miles for the shoe.

That kind of longevity at this price point is a big part of why the DynaBlast 2 earns an overall score of 7.4 out of 10 after 50 miles. It is not a shoe that does backflips, but it is dependable in exactly the way a daily trainer should be.

Who the DynaBlast 2 Is Best For

This is a classic daily trainer for runners pinching pennies. At $100, getting a shoe that should comfortably last 400 to 500 miles is a strong deal. The main trade-off is the knit upper, which makes the shoe a poor choice for very hot or humid climates, and a slightly narrow toe box for wider feet.

If you value a comfortable tongue, a durable midsole, and a responsive-enough 8 mm ride over premium breathability, the DynaBlast 2 is an easy recommendation. Runners wanting a softer, bouncier ride might look at the Hoka Rincon 2, currently on sale, though it offers a noticeably different feel.

Conclusion

The ASICS DynaBlast 2 is a solid 7.4 out of 10: a durable, reasonably light, true-to-size daily trainer at $100, let down only by its somewhat antiquated circular knit upper. For budget-conscious runners logging everyday miles, it is a pleasingly practical choice.