The Asics Superblast 2 and the Puma MagMax Nitro are max stacked shoes that promise to help you effortlessly tick off that big running mileage. But, if we had to pick just one, which would we go for?
Testers Nick, Mike and Tom have spent plenty of running time in both and tell you where the shoes shine and let you know whether you should go Superblast 2 or MagMax Nitro.
CHAPTERS:
00:00 – Intro
00:25 – Price and key differences
01:10 – How do they fit?
04:33 – The Run Test
15:08 – Verdict
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Hey this is M from the r testers this is The Puma magmax Nitro and this is the As6 super Blast 2 two Max cushion shoes That definitely have a more uptempo Edge To them but if you had to pick one or if We had to pick one which one would we go For this is our multitest to take Whether you should go for the P magmax Nitro or the aex super Blast [Music] 2 so here's the key things you need to Know about the ax super Blast 2 and the Puma magmax Nitro so these are two Max Stacked plateless shoes with the magmax Coming in cheaper than the super Blast 2 Though both aren't super cheap options Weightwise the super Blast 2 is the Lighter of the two with both offering The same drop and similar stack Heights There's mesh at the upper for both with Aex using combination of cushioning Technologies while pummer opts for a big Stack of its Nitro foam to promise a Bouncy and Lively ride at the outs salt Pum uses one of its Puma grip outsole Designs with aex employing its ahar plus Hybrid one to make sure it grips strong And gives you good life for longer [Music] Runs so I haven't actually got the super Blast 2 on me at the moment uh Mike's Borrowed mine a long time ago and I've Still not got it back so I won't be Holding that up here but um the fit for
Me in the uh pum magmax Nitro very Comfortable plenty of space for me in The four foot and around the sides of The 4 foot um I think there's plenty of Padding on here as well the only bit I'm Not too keen on is the uh tongue section It's a little bit stretchy and I do find It a little bit harder to get a lockdown Fit in it but it's it's fine once I've Worked it out it's absolutely fine so It's it's a small problem to bring up I Think it's a very comfortable shoe Overall and I've had no major issues With this shoe so I definitely stick to My uh size eight in the UK uh and the Superl 2 equally very very comfortable Shoe quite a long shoe uh so there's Definitely plenty of space in the for Foot of that shoe I've had no issues at All with uh the fit for me I found it's Very comfortable very easy to get a good Lock down fit in and would definitely Stay to my size in the superlast 2 in Terms of fit I would say it has been Very good overall in both of these shoes I've had no real issues to report here In terms of my running time I've got Them both in the UK size8 that is my Typical running shoe size now with Puma Shoes I can be a bit indifferent in Terms of sizing particularly with its Newer shoes but with the magmax night Show it's fit absolutely fine for me aex Is a bit more consistent and yeah I
Would say going through the size and Both these shoes you know for me based On my experience should be good for most People what I would say is in terms of Those fits I would say the magmax Nitro Is definitely the roomier of the two Shoes definitely feels a little bit Broader whereas the super Blast 2 is Definitely more on the narrow side but They're both kind of well padded in General very roomy in those toe boxes Giving you ample amount of space if you Want to do long runs in these shoes I Would say the midfoot hold is a little Bit more narrow on the super Blast 2 it Just kind of locks in a little bit more Than the magmax Nitro but it's not an Issue on the magmax Nitro and when you Get back further kind of the tongue and The laces you're getting more padding in General in the magmax Nitro kind of Lacing and tongue which is a little bit On the stretchier side whereas you're Getting a skinnier one on the superlast 2 and more traditional lacing on the Superlast 2 as well too terms of Hill Colors know similar level of padding It's a similar formation in terms of Those Hill counters as well too it's a Little bit flatter on the magmax Nitro Slightly on the super blasty but it's Not a huge amount in it so yeah for me You know my experience going through the Size has been absolutely fine I would
Say the magmax nitrate is the more Broader kind of wider fitting shoe Whereas the super 2 is a little bit more On the narrow side so that's maybe Something to factor in when choosing Between the two so it comes to the fit Of the two shoes I've got a uk9 for both Which is a US 10 with both of these Brands that is the size I generally go For with aex and puma and they both fit Me very well in terms of length got Nothing room in the toebox not too much Room good hold around the midfoot no Turns at all with the fit of the AXS I Would say in general the magmax I have Had a problem with it irritating my Achilles I don't think this is going to Be a widespread problem I think it's Quite peculiar to my particular achilles Tendonitis some kind of nodule that I Think gets rubbed I don't really know Why normally I can tell with shoes that Do it there's like a little bit of foam That some uh some Brands put cushioning On the inside and I think you can feel It a little bit in the magmax but in General it's quite a flexible heel Counter but yeah it does irritate my Achilles something I noticed throughout Testing but overall in terms of sizing I Would say that both of these shoes fit Well in my normal size size and I would Stick to your normal running shoe [Music]
Size so moving on to the run test you've Got two big shoes here with big stacks Of cushioning but you've got two very Different shoes with very different Rides I would say the ax super plast has Kind of set the tone with what these Max Stack plateless trainers can be it's got That incredible ride that's very Versatile you know it's comfortable for Easy runs but it's quite stiff and Bouncy and responsive and fast when you Do want to move at faster Paces it's a Shoot that's now very well established As one of the ultimate rounders and I Think brands are trying to get in on That act but I would say that none of Them have really nailed it in the way That aex has with this shoe so used it For a variety of rhs I think I enjoy it Most for kind of long runs Tempo runs Longer sessions with kind of extended Reps rather than anything too flat out Fast I think when it comes to really Fast Paces I'd rather be in a more Nimble shoe myself because although it Is a light shoe it is quite a big shoe And I do feel like it's better at kind Of cruising Paces kind of moving through The gears know soaking up a lot of miles It feels very good you can go and do all Out stuff in it as well but it doesn't Feel so good for that for me and at the Other end of the scale it comes to easy Runs I think it's a pretty good easy run
Shoe I quite like doing them in it but Some people might find it a little bit Stiff for that I think it really has a Sweet spot for me of those kind of long Runs with faster sections longer Sessions Tempo runs that kind of thing Where it just really you know comes into Its own it feels very good underf foot Whilst also being very versatile so the Magmax is I don't know if it is Puma's Attempt at a super blast not exactly Sure how I'd place this shoe for me it's A shoe that I've really only found Useful for easy runs it's not a shoe That I would really consider one that's Particularly versatile like I found it Only really good at easy Paces I found a Bit too heavy and sluggish to move Through the gears in and it's got a ride That I can feel is bouncy but I don't Really unlock a lot of the bounce and I Think it's is a shoe that in general Just doesn't really get on with my gate Pattern I think maybe if you are Bounding more you're heavier running You're putting a bit more force in you Might get a bit more out of this phone But as a high Cadence Runner I'm not That lightweight but I'm reasonably Lightweight I don't think I'm Necessarily putting enough into this Midell to get a load out of it so I kind Of just end up with a really big shoe on My foot that's quite heavy and this
Doesn't really turn over that well for Me and that's the other thing with it The ride just hasn't really clicked for Me at all like I just always feel a bit Sluggish in the shoe and that's on easy Runs and then I certainly find that if I'm going to try and move to faster Paces in it so yeah all around it's not A shoe that I found particularly Versatile I think it could be quite a Fun shoe if you do get more bounce out Of this foam and that might make it a Bit more versatile as well but for me Yeah it wasn't a shoe that really Clicked for me and I would firmly Position it as a shoe that's just there For eating up easy mileage whereas the Super blast is certainly a more Versatile option it can do all those Easy miles plus also having you know a Lot more response and a lighter faster Feeling if you are going to try and do Faster runs okay so these are two shoes That are both High stack shoes uh they're both Designed seemingly for a very similar Purpose but in reality I think there's There's a big difference between the Super Blast 2 and the magmax Nitro uh There are a lot of Max shoes coming out At the moment and uh for most people They probably look like they trying to Do the same thing I think that's the Difference really comes down to the
Foams and the Rockers and all those Sorts of things where there's some Max Stack shoes which are really just Designed for easy days and you're only Going to use them for comfort and um Just ticking off the miles and may be Consistent um longer longer efforts Where you just want something really Solid and comfortable and just uh has a Nice smooth ride to it um so I think That is what the magmax Nitro is it's Clearly got a big stack of cushioning in It um it's a very comfortable shoe to Wear I think there's a little bit of eny Return in this shoe not loads um but It's definitely sort of eny return which Makes a run more enjoyable um but I Wouldn't say it's a shoe that's Massively designed to be versatile I Think it's definitely a shoe that is a Little bit more versatile than some of The maxda shoes out there at the moment But for me it's a shoe that still sits Firmly in that world of easier days Recovery days and just ticking up the Miles so I've done uh about 70k in the Shoe so far that has varied across uh Recovery runs of 7 to 10K um it has Included long longer efforts are over 20k and has included an interval session As well so the recovery runs fantastic Really really enjoyable easy runs just Very comfortable nice little bit of Bounce in it the sort of shoe that if
You got to go and tick off some miles And you just want to stick a podcast on And just enjoy your run really really Good for that really really does the job And just makes you feel like you're Minimizing any impact and it just rolls You along nice and gives you a little Bit of Bounce um when you're doing Longer sessions in it equally very good Very good uh if you're doing it at nice Comfortable pace so for me a comfortable Paces 5 to 5 minute 20 uh minute kilm uh And for those absolutely great great I I Think it's a lovely shoe for that you Could definitely just clock along Enjoying it and you get home and you Feel like you legs are nice and fresh um Interval sessions it's a bit of a clunky Shoe it's it's not a shoe that I would Pick up for running fast if I'm running At my 5K Pace or 10K Pace I would Struggling the shoe uh it's not the Worst shoe worst Max stack shoe for Doing that but it's definitely not a Shoe that is designed for that it's Definitely designed more for that sort Of slower cruising um uh those slow Cruising runs as opposed to trying to Pick up the pace and slow down and and Um run as fast as you can uh the super Blast 2 I think is a shoe that actually Veers more towards the speed side of Things so despite the fact that it's got A really big stack I think the mid cell
Foam in that is a little bit more Responsive it's not as soft as you what You get in the magmax Nitro um and the Way that the transition Works in Superlast 2 is just really conducive to Running at a faster pace for a longer Time I don't think it's a shoe that You'd use for really fast interval Sessions but for me when I'm doing Marathon training plans and I am doing a Lot of tempo blocks within my long runs So tomorrow I've got a uh 2 and a half Hour run and the bulk of that is going To be running at a nice consistent pace Which should be about 5 minute kmers Then I've got to break it down to my Marathon pace which should be about 4 Minute 10 Formula 5 km for a run like That the super Blast 2 works really well Because very it just does the job on an Easy run but when you need to pick up The pace and run that consistent Speedier Pace it's a really good shoe For that it just sort of clock you along Nicely it just feels really smooth There's a nice bit of responsiveness in It and there a nice bit of turnover in It as well it's not bad in the magmax Nitro but it's just not picking getting Up to that speed and maintaining it Isn't as nice in the magmax Nitro just It just feels like there's more on your Foot and it's it's a little bit um more Sluggish than what I'd want for a shoe
That I'm going to be running my marathon Pace in um other things I would say About both of the shoes is that they Have uh there's a really good outsole on The um magmax I should say it's far Superior of outso on the magmax Nitro to What's on the super Blast 2 um it's Puma That outso is always fantastic I've used This on a lot of uh traily areas I've Been running a lot around public foot Paths and things it's quite muddy it's Quite dirty at the moment on the on the Ground there's a lot of um leaves and Stuff on there so this outside is Fantastic it's brilliant grip on it um And I mean the shoe's getting quite Dirty now anyway because I've been doing It quite a lot on those public foot Paths but it's a great shoe for that It's a really soft outsole super blast Outsole is fine um but I wouldn't say It's as hard wearing and as grippy as The outsole on the magmax Nitro so in Terms of my running time with these two Shoes what I would say first and Foremost is that these are shoes that Are very easy to kind of very quickly Clock up mileage in I think that's you Know what I've kind of found in my time I've done kind of over 50 miles in the Magmax Nitro I've done kind of 60 miles In the super blast two so far you know Given that we've got so many other shoes To test these are shoes I've managed to
Do that with and I think you know Ultimately these do really fit in that Kind of Max cushion super trainer Category in terms of how they do it all I think they do do it slightly Differently I think one of the crucial Areas for me here is the difference in The weights now you super plus to is the Lighter of the two shoes this is kind of More kind of daily trainer style weights Where the um P magmax Nitro is a bit More in keeping with the max cushion Shoes that we've seen now while it is The heavier it doesn't you know feel Overly heavy doesn't you know run heavy As well so you know you know while it Has had that added weight over the super Blast 2 I don't think it really shows it But ultimately this doesn't does feel Like the lighter shoe ultimate what that Does and slightly enables it a bit more And it's not just that weight is its Ability to handle kind of faster Paces Now that's kind of my been my experience Now it's not just the way as I said you Know it's a little you know it's a lot To do with the Mido as well that you'll Getting on the super Blast 2 it's got That kind of you know midsole um kind of Influence from asset is kind of faster Kind of racing shoes and obviously That's kind of kind of counted by the Kind of cushioning that we've seen it's Kind of more kind of easy recovery style
Shoes and the combination just works Very nicely for when you want to run a Little bit quicker what I found is when I've run close to my kind of allout Paces you know just below that try to do Intervals things like that it's felt More comfortable to do it in the super Blast too now I think you can do some of That in the magmax Nitro I think for me It's going of easy moderate uptempo Paces when you get Beyond that I think That weight does become a factor and the Midol is very good for running a little Bit quicker and a bit like the super Blas 2 I think you know it's doing a lot Of the work for you kind of rolling you Through you know in a relatively kind of Quick fashion from Hill to toe and That's kind of what you want or if you Want that in a Max cush super trainer Which is you know helping you tick your Legs over when maybe they're not feeling Out their best and these are shoes that Can ultimately do that and I think the Magmax Nitro does things slightly Differently for me but that doesn't mean It's no less effective as a training Shoe I still think it is a shoe that can Work for similar types of runs I just Think when it comes to that kind of Faster paces and using for faster Paces Super plus 2 feels more capable and I Talked about the ales as well here in Terms of what they deliver in terms of
The experience I think obviously from a Traction and gripping point of view Puma Has you know made some of the best Outsoles it's a great one on the magmax Nitro and I think that's something that You really kind of value in your shoe Then I think you're getting a little bit More in terms of that you know kind of Grip and traction over you know it's Been fine for me in super Blast 2 and I've run in kind of Rainer conditions With both of them but I think ultimately You're getting a little bit more from The pummer outso and I think ultimately What those particularly on the pumis Shue that outso enables is to give it That kind of more stable kind of Controlled feel and you know that's Coupled with a kind of wider kind of Roomier kind of General design you're Getting with the magmax Nitro as well Too so for me too kind of Max super Trainers that I've really enjoyed Running I definitely do think there are Some key differences but I do think There very good options overall which One should you get which one would I go For I'll get into that in my [Music] Verdict so my verdict between these two Shoes I would say that they're they're Shoes that are designed for different Purposes and it it's quite easy to Decide which one you go for based on the
Type of Runner that you are if you're Looking for a really nice allrounder Shoe that you really want to use for Those faster sessions as well as the Easier runs super Blast 2 is a far Superior shoe it's definitely a shoe if You're a runner that skews more towards The faster training sessions the longer Distance training sessions if you're Trading for a marathon or half marathon You're looking for a shoe that can do a Lot of stuff Su Blast 2 is far superior Shoe to the magmax Nitro uh if you're Looking for an easy shoe and most of Your runs are going to be easy and you Occasionally might be picking up the Pace for a longer run or anything like That I think the magma nro is better Because it's just a bit more comfortable It's got a little bit more um little bit More injury turn a bit more softness in That midell foam and just makes easier Easier sessions just feel really really Nice and comfortable um but it's not Great at picking up the pace especially For those consistent um faster sessions Like I'm going to be doing tomorrow uh I Wouldn't pick up this shoe for that so I Think it really comes down to what sort Of runs you're more likely to be doing Uh if you're if you're training fast for A marathon or something super plus 2 is Definitely the shoe to go for if you Focus more on more on an easy day shoe
Uh which you just want to clock off the Miles in whether that's a easy 10K or Whether that's a 25k 30k I think the Magmax Nitro is probably the best option For that and it's a bit cheaper as well Here comes to the verdict for me the Asex superlast 2 is a clear winner it's You know it's a little bit more Expensive than the Puma in both the UK And the us but I think the pum is also Really expensive and for the money with The ax you are getting a pretty special Shoe you are getting one that still Stands out on the market I don't really Think another brand has really nailed This kind of high stack all around Without a plate like aex has and the Super is an exceptional shoe so you can Kind of justify paying that exceptional Price tag or if not you can look at Other shoes but the P magmax for me just Feels like you know an easy day issue so It's got a bit of Bounce there I think It's probably aiming more at something Like the hoker Skyward X than the ax Super blast I don't think it's really Going for versatility so much but I just Find the ride a bit too sluggish and not That enjoyable even at easy Paces so I Think it is issue that will appeal to Other people a lot more than me though So so there might well be some you know Different opinions from Mike and Tom in This review this is issue that I just
Didn't really find I could click with at All on the run so yeah i' certainly pick The aex super blast out of these two Even at the extra cost so my telling Whether you should go for the AET super Blast 2 or the pub mag Max Nitro now the Way I look at it is if you want the very Best Max cushion super Trainer shoe then Absolutely go for the super blast to It's the light of the shoe it's the more Agile of the two shoes as well so if you Want something that you know can handle Faster Paces uh more Up Tempo Paces then Super blos 2 is going to give you that Ultimately now the Puma magmax Nitro is Going to give you some of that Ultimately I don't think it's going to Be the shoe that's going to hold up for Those faster Paces just cuz it's a Slightly heavier shoe and it doesn't Feel as aggressive at those kind of Quicker Paces but it definitely can Handle those kind of easy to modit Up Tempo paces and does probably feel a Little bit more comfortable at those Recovery style runs compared to the Super Blast 2 but ultimately if it was Me I'd be going for this but to say that This is cheaper it will give you some of That experience of the super Blast 2 Ultimately and do it I think ultimately From a more accommodating shoe and one That has a you know if you really care About durability outsole grip then those
Are things that kind of stand the Puma Magmax Nitro out from the super Blast 2 But if it was for me I'd be going for This okay so there you have it that is Our take on how the pummer magmatic Nitro compares the AIC super Blast 2 now If you got any questions about this Video or either of these shoes or there Are other comparison videos you want to See with either the magmax Nitro or the Super L 2 do let us know in the comments As always like And subscribe hit that Little bell to find out about lest Videos and yeah see you for next R Test's video [Music]
