The Asics Superblast and Hoka Skyward X are both super-trainers with huge stacks of foam underfoot, and huge price tags.. The Superblast is the lighter, more versatile shoe, while the Skyward X is more focused on cruising through long runs. Nick has done a a lot of miles in both shoes and gives his verdict on the pros and cons of both here.
Check out our reviews of both shoes:
Hoka Skyward X Review:
Asics Superblast Review:
JUMP STRAIGHT IN:
00:00 – Intro
01:24 – Design & Key Stats
02:47 – How’s The Fit
03:24 – The Run Test
06:37 – Verdict
Subscribe to The Run Testers for more running gear reviews:
https://www.youtube.com/c/TheRunTesters?sub_confirmation=1
Saucony Endorphin Speed 4 Review:
Adidas Boston 12 Review:
Asics Magic Speed 2 Multi-Tester Review:
Puma Deviate Nitro 2 Review:
Tracksmith Eliot Runner First Run Review:
Kiprun KD900X First Run Review:
Reebok Floatride Energy X Review:
Hello and welcome to run testers my Name's Nick and in this video we're Going to be comparing the Hocus skyex And the aex super [Music] Blast so scalex and the superlast are Two big high stack kind of super Trainers I guess it's fair to say from Their respective Brands they have very Expensive price tags big stacks of foam That contain bit of tech some of the Best Foams from their brands that are Designed to be daily training that offer A good amount of Versatility which is What you would expect for the prices Which like I say are very high the super Blast cost £195 in UK and $200 in the US The skyex is a bit cheaper than that in The UK at £185 but it's more expensive Than the superlast in the US at $225 superlast is a lot lighter it's 251 G or 8.8 o in a uk9 whereas the hoker is 320 G or 11.3 o in a uk9 uh the skyex Has a drop of 5 mm the superar drop is 8 Mm superar stack heite is 45.5 mm at the Heel and then 37.5 at the 4 foot scalex In the men's shoe is 48 at the heel and 43 mm at the 4 foot and in the women's It's 46 at the heel and 41 mm at the for Foot so with the AXS youve got a dual Density midsole with FF turbo foam on The top and then FF blast Plus on the Bottom FF turbo was the Brand's best Phone the stuff used in the metas speed
Sky Plus and Edge Plus they've obviously Now got the sky Paris and Edge Paris That has the FF turbo Plus in it but It's still a very good foam lightweight And bouncy you have side walls of foam On that midsole to try and add some Stability and an internal heel counter And a wide base again all trying to make Sure the shoe is stable given the high Stack you have a mesh upper with a Little bit of padding around the heel Not much on the tongue it's a pretty Lightweight upper all round and you've Got an A plus rubber out sole pretty Good coverage there with some exposed Foam but most of the key impact areas Are covered not any problems of grip or Durability with the super blast myself The Skyward X you've got a peber midell Foam from Hoka with a super critical Eva Frame to basically surround that PE foam And make it a little a bit more stable There's a lot of stability concerns with The skull deex you sit right within the Foam at the back of the shoe you've got A big external heel counter here big old Plastic clip on it pretty wide base Again all designed to make sure the shoe Isn't too wobbly given the high stack Here we have a convex carbon plate Running through the scard deex whereas The suit blast doesn't have any kind of Plate convex plate kind of bows in the Middle and then comes down again hus
Says this is to create a suspended Feeling uh interestingly the plate is Not a full plate SS of gaps in it which Reduces the stiffness a little bit in What is a shoe that's going to be used For training mainly rather than racing You have a flat knit upper quite a lot Of padding on the tongue and collar more So than on the soup blast this quite High heel tab at the back of the shoe as Well and then you've got good rubber Coverage on the outsole quite a thick Layer as well obviously there's a big Cutout and a little bit of exposed foam In the middle but in general you've got Really good rubber coverage on the Outsole of the scar [Music] Deex comes to the fit both of these Shoes have been a good fit for me in my Normal running shoe size that's a uk9 With the aex that's a US 10 and it's a US 9.5 with the skyex so the ax is the Slightly longer shoe and it actually Isn't the smallest shoe I could Potentially look at going half size down Myself as I am quite small for my size But I was very happy with both shoes in My normal running shoe size good hold Around the midfoot and the toe box has Been comfortable even on longer runs Don't love how high the tab goes on the Back of the sky X which does annoy my Achilles very slightly or I've got no
Such concerns with the ax but in general I would stick to your normal size the Fit has been pretty good for both of These [Music] Shoes so I've run around 60 65k in both Of these shoes and I've enjoyed using Them both the soup blast was the shoe we Had in first of the two obviously it Came out last year and it really has set The standard for what you want to expect From these big high stack super trainer Shoes that are designed to do a bit of Everything and have loads of cushioning In them it's really very light for its Size it's bouncy it's fun to run in you Can go and do fast reps I've done fast Reps of the track in the shoe I've done A really hard Road workout as well Running I think five minute reps and in General it does deliver for pretty much Everything you want to run in it it's Also comfortable enough for cruising Through easy runs of any length feels Particularly good over long runs say you Get move for your footstrike quite Quickly it's not the softest plushest Most flexible shoe especially given that It has no plate in it it is still very Stiff shoe which does help push you on When you're going to run fast but does Take away some of the relaxed comfort You might have on an easy day shoe but In general it is a really verse style
Shoe like I said set the standard for These big stack shoes and now all of Them got to try and live up to it and It's to say most of them are struggling To live up to it the hogo is a bit Different to the super blast I'd say This feels much more geared for slower Running that's not just down to the Larger weight you have here in general The geometry just feels a lot more Relaxed actually feels more flexible to Me than the superl last despite the fact It's obviously got a plate running Through it and a big stack of foam it Feels much more relax you on the foot It's a bit softer it's a bit bouncier The upper a bit more plush as well and It's really feels like a shoe that's Really good for cruising through relaxed Runs did a very enjoyable long run in The shoe in general you're always moving A bit quicker than you think you are When you're in the Skyward X because it Is still giving you some efficiency Benefits there but it's not really one That I then enjoyed going to faster Paces in like when I push the pace in The shoe on a progression run down Towards my marathon pace it felt okay in It but it doesn't feel great for faster Paces it feels like a trainer that's Geared much more towards hoovering up a Lot of high mileage daily training runs Without necessarily ticking off your
Speed sessions as well as a super L Certainly has the extra versatility I Think when it comes to those faster runs So I did a short run in both shoes at The same time and it really accentuates Those differences between them the hoker Feels higher bouncier more cushioned More relaxed super is stiffer firmer got Certainly plenty of Bounce in it just Not as much as the hoker and pushes you Onto your toes bit more feels a bit more Direct and you get the slightly higher Drop feeling as well that Snappy feeling Through whereas the hooker is a bit more Smooth and Rocket I would say overall I Think the super blast Stills a lot Lighter as well when you're running them At the same time or when you're running Them full stop it's just obvious how Much more light the super blast are and They feel more Nimble despite the fact They are a big shoe they still not very Nimble it still doesn't feel like you Know when it comes to speed sessions I Still prefer probably a smaller nimbler Shoe than the super blast but it is Unbelievably light and it certainly has The speed for those speed sessions hoker Feels much bigger chunkier and just is Much bigger and chunkier and certainly Feel that when you run in the shoe it Definitely feels much more like a Cruiser to me whereas superl does have That versatility I would also say that
Both the shoes were pretty stable for me During my testing the hooker is very big And it's got a soft phone but I really Didn't have any stability concerns it Wasn't really something that entered my Mind at all with the shoe so you maybe Other people will I am a neutral runner In general but I do think it's been set Up pretty well to make sure that it does Have a stable Feld despite the fact it's Got you know big stack off soft foam Super L similar it's got that wide base And that's really almost all you need of A shoe like this I think to make it feel Quite stable so hav't any problems with Those been running on mix of terrains I Still don't love how big a shoe is Sometimes when you're on cambered Pavements and that kind of thing but They've both been [Music] Okay so these are both good shoes super Blast in particular I think I'd pick up The super blast ahead of the hookus SC If you are looking for an allrounder if You are looking for train it's going to Handle everything even racing if you Don't mind racing in a very high stack Shoe like this that's above the legal Limit set by World Athletics SC X feels Much more like a cushioned Cruiser it Does have a more enjoyable feel than the Super blast for easy run I think it is a More relaxed shoe but same time these
Are very expensive shoes I think you Really got to ask a lot of them and I Think when it comes to delivering on That price tag it's the super blast that Does the most to do that because it is a Pretty exceptional shoe I still not Really come across anything that's as Good as it as a unplated super trainer It's very versatile it's comfortable It's fast it does everything really well It's really very light for its size it's You really impressive and when you're Looking at spending 200 quid on a shoe It needs to be pretty impressive all Around still say you could probably find Better value shoes that do pretty much Everything the sou blast does almost as Well like the you know new balanc Rebel V4 or the hoko ma 6 but it is an Outstanding shoe for sure whereas the Skyex you know is really enjoyable shoe I like running easy runs in the shoe but I feel like you can get cushion shoes That do the job of the shoe for a lot Less like it's going to feel bouncier It's a bit more impressive with the Plate in there than I shoe like the Glycerin or the soy ride and stuff like That those are just normal cushion shoes But do you need that extra efficiency Benefit for relax running I don't feel Like I do so I'd probably be happier Just buying a cheaper shoe and you can Also get much more verstyle ones than SC
Deck as well for a lot less things like Like I say like you can get a plated Super Shoe like the Endorphin speed or The hok Max 6 even as an unplated shoe That I think is a bit more versatile all Around than the sky X does have a very Enjoyable feel for easy runs I think it Delivers on the idea of that you are Going to get something pretty impressive Here and it does feel a little bit Different to most cushion shoes but You're paying a lot for that I wouldn't Pay that much for a shoe that just feels Great on easy runs I want if I'm paying That much I want a super trainer that's Going to be really verstile and can do a Lot of stuff and maybe replace Two Shoes In my rotation I think that's where the Super Price can be deemed a bit more okay like If you pick up the superlast you might Then if you do have a running shoe Rotation normally of three shoes and you Pick up the superlast maybe you only Have to have a two shoe rotation with One carbon plate racing shoe or that Kind of thing and then it price seems a Bit more normalized you bought the sky X I still still think you're going to need To buy a fast trainer and a racing shoe As well because I just don't think it's That great for fast training brilliant Shoe for easy runs in high mileage weeks And long runs but like I say I think you
Can get that shoe for a lot less with a More normal feel and probably a more Stable feel as well so picking between The mild get super blast as the more Versatile shoe if you do just want an Easy run shoe and you really aren't Concerned about price the scy deex is a Very good shoe for that it is you know It's more versatile than most cushion Shoes it's just not as versatile as a You know a regular daily trainer I'd say And it is great fun for cruising through Long [Music] Runs that's our comparison of the super Blast and the Hocus skyex let us know What you think in the comments below Please do like and subscribe ring the Little bell and we'll see you next time