New Balance Balos vs Asics Superblast 2: Two Premium Plateless Super Trainers Compared

Introduction

The New Balance Balos and the Asics Superblast 2 are two of the most talked-about plateless super trainers in a strong year for running shoes. Both sit at the top of their brands’ ranges alongside plated options like the New Balance FC Trainer V3 and the Asics Magic Speed 4, and both carry a £200/$200 price tag.

They are also remarkably close on weight. In a UK size 9, the Balos comes in at 251g (8.8oz) and the Superblast 2 at 252g (8.9oz), despite the Superblast 2 having a noticeably bigger stack height: 45mm at the heel and 37mm at the forefoot for an 8mm drop, versus 38.5mm and 32.5mm for a 6mm drop on the Balos.

The interesting part is that two shoes with so much in common deliver very different rides. Here is how they compare.

New Balance Balos

The Balos uses a Fresh Foam X midsole, a bouncy PEBA and EVA blend, paired with one of the most pronounced rockers you will see on a trainer. The upper is a creel mesh design, fairly lightweight with modest padding at the heel and an internal heel counter, and not much else to note. The outsole is minimal: EVA foam with firmer, more durable sections in black at the heel and toe-off points, which does leave some exposed softer foam underneath.

On the run, the Balos is soft, but not a softness that simply gives way underfoot. It bounces back, and that bounce holds up over long runs. The rocker looks aggressive on the shelf but feels smooth in motion rather than exaggerated. It is comfortable, fun and nimble at easy paces, and testers have even taken it to track sessions at around 3:50 per kilometre pace and enjoyed it.

Its limitation shows up in sustained fast efforts. At the end of a few consecutive hard reps, the midsole can feel like it has gone a little soft and stops bouncing back the same way. It is also a very soft shoe with a modest stack, so heavier runners may prefer something more resilient.

Asics Superblast 2

The Superblast 2 uses a dual-density midsole: the bulk is FF Turbo Plus, the bouncy foam Asics uses in its Metaspeed Sky and Paris Racing shoes, with FF Blast Plus Eco underneath. There is a rocker too, just less pronounced than the Balos, and side walls of foam add a bit of stability. The engineered mesh upper is simple, with some heel padding, a thin tongue and a small internal heel counter, and the AH Plus rubber outsole has sparing coverage focused around the heel and forefoot.

The Superblast 2 feels firmer and stiffer than the Balos, but it is still bouncy in a responsive rather than a sink-in way. Crucially, that feeling stays consistent. A big wedge of foam that barely compresses means the shoe feels the same at the end of a hard long run as it did at the start, which is what makes it so effective for marathon-paced efforts, long tempos and long track reps.

It does more than just speed, though. It remains a capable easy-run shoe, and many testers found the original Superblast to be one of their favourite shoes of all time. This version delivers on that formula with the updated midsole foam improving it further.

View more details for Asics Superblast 2

Fit and Sizing

Both shoes run true in the testers’ usual sizes across these brands, with no heel concerns. The Balos is a somewhat shallow shoe in the forefoot: not a problem on long runs for most testers, but some runners with larger toes might want to go up half a size. The length is right, and stacked toes caused no issues. The Superblast 2 is roomier and comfortable with no problems reported.

Worth knowing: a UK 9 corresponds to a US 9.5 in New Balance and a US 10 in Asics, so check conversions if ordering between the two brands.

How They Differ on the Run

Both are versatile generalists, but they lean in slightly different directions. For 15 miles of pure easy running, the Balos is the more fun, bouncier and softer choice, and it can genuinely lift the mood on an early, wet and hilly 10-miler. For anything that drifts from easy into steady or faster over the course of a long run, the Superblast 2 retains its response the whole way, which the Balos may not match at the end.

The Superblast 2 also looks likely to hold up better over time. The Balos has a very soft midsole with more exposed and softer outsole foam, so durability is a fair consideration at a £200/$200 price point. Another practical note: some runners bought the Balos because the Superblast 2 was hard to find, but the two are not like-for-like substitutes. If you specifically want what the Superblast 2 does, the Balos will probably disappoint.

Which One Should You Buy?

If you want one shoe to do it all, the Superblast 2 is the more effective all-rounder and the easier shoe to recommend, particularly for runners who tackle hard long runs, long tempo efforts and sustained faster work. For those sessions it is among the best options on the market, though some runners would rather pair a lighter plated shoe for the hardest work and use the Balos for everything else.

The Balos, meanwhile, is an experience: soft, bouncy, comfortable and genuinely enjoyable at easy paces, arguably more so than the Superblast 2. If most of your running sits in that comfortable-but-not-slow zone, it may be the better fit for your rotation, and one tester chose it for exactly that reason. The honest answer is that many runners would love both, but at £200/$200 each, that is a luxury.

Conclusion

These are two excellent plateless super trainers with the same price and nearly the same weight but different personalities. The Balos is the softer, bouncier, more comfortable shoe for easy and relaxed running. The Superblast 2 is the more resilient, more versatile all-rounder that keeps its pace even over hard, long efforts. Choose based on where your miles actually fall.