Asics Superblast vs Hoka Mach X: Which Super Trainer Deserves Your Money?

Introduction

Super trainers are the shoes everyone wants right now: maximum cushioning, enough snap for faster sessions, and enough comfort for daily miles. Two names keep coming up in this category, the Asics Superblast and the Hoka Mach X, and they take noticeably different approaches.

The Superblast skips the plate but stacks Asics’ best foam extremely high. The Mach X adds a plate and rocker geometry but runs a lower stack. Both sit in the super trainer price bracket, so the question is which one actually earns the extra money over a regular daily trainer. After running extensively in both, we came away with a clear preference.

Quick Comparison Overview

On paper the differences are easy to see. The Superblast is the more expensive shoe at around £195 or $200, while the Mach X comes in at £160 or $180. The Superblast is also lighter in the same UK size 9, weighing 251 grams or 8.8 ounces, against 265 grams or 9.3 ounces for the Mach X.

Stack heights differ too. The Superblast tops out at 45.5 millimetres at the heel with an 8 millimetre drop. The Mach X has a 5 millimetre drop and a heel stack of 39 millimetres in the men’s shoe and 37 millimetres in the women’s shoe. Both are big, cushioned shoes designed to stay stable despite all that foam.

Asics Superblast: The Exciting All-Rounder

The Superblast is built around a dual-density midsole with a very thick layer of Asics’ FF Turbo foam, the same bouncy material used in the Meta Speed racing series, sitting above a thinner layer of FF Blast Plus foam. Sidewalls of foam, an internal heel counter and a fairly wide platform all work to keep the high stack stable. The outsole is rubber with fairly minimal coverage, but all the key impact areas are covered. Up top you get a lightweight mesh upper with a touch of heel padding.

On the run it does not feel like many other shoes. It is remarkably versatile: bouncy and engaging on tempo runs, genuinely comfortable on easy miles, and excellent for long runs, whether progressive or relaxed. It even handled fast 800-metre reps on the track, though ground feel is minimal and that is not where it shines best. Despite having no plate, there is a nice rigidity and pop in the midsole that makes it feel like there should be one.

Fit is plush and roomy, with more toe space than its rival, and both testers were happy in their normal UK sizes. The trade-off is price. At £195 or $200 it is a serious investment for what is, ultimately, a daily trainer. But it is hard wearing and versatile enough to replace two shoes in a rotation, which goes some way to justifying the cost.

Hoka Mach X: A Solid Cruiser With Less Spark

The Mach X uses a Creel Jacquard mesh upper with padding around the back of the shoe for daily training comfort. Its ProFly X dual-density midsole pairs a top layer of HUB foam over EVA, with an IPS plate running through the middle and Hoka’s usual MetaRocker design. Like the Superblast, it has foam sidewalls and a reasonably wide base for stability. Notably, the rubber outsole has pretty good coverage, an improvement on earlier Max series shoes that used rubberised EVA.

On the run it is a comfortable, stable cruiser that does the job without excelling anywhere in particular. It felt decent at easy and steady paces, and it is probably better suited to long, relaxed miles than to genuinely fast running. The foams and plate underfoot do not feel especially soft or bouncy, and it did not feel dramatically different from a normal trainer, which is a problem in a category where you are paying extra for something better.

Fit is slightly narrower and more cramped than the Superblast, which suited one tester fine, and testers stayed in their usual UK sizes. It has risen in estimation after comparisons with weaker super trainers, and it is a more enjoyable ride than some rivals in this space. It just lacks the wow factor, and at super trainer prices that matters.

Verdict: Which One Should You Buy?

The Superblast earns its price. It is versatile, genuinely fun to run in, and the FF Turbo foam delivers a soft but not overly soft ride with a nicely snappy bounce back. It is the shoe that pulls you in for an easy run, and it keeps pace well enough on faster days that the Mach X’s plate does not buy you anything meaningful. Runners who loved the earlier NovaBlast will likely find this is what they wanted that shoe to be.

The Mach X is not a bad shoe. You would be happy with a pair, just not thrilled. If price is the deciding factor, there are other options at similar money worth considering first. If you can stretch the budget, the Superblast is worth the extra, and it is a shoe many runners would love to see appear in sales.

Conclusion

Both are capable high-stack trainers, but only one creates a memorable experience. The Asics Superblast is the more versatile, more enjoyable shoe and justifies its premium. The Hoka Mach X is a comfortable, competent cruiser that never quite escapes the shadow of ordinary daily trainers.