Comparing Five Running Shoes on the Same Route

I have just completed five consecutive days of running a 3.5-mile route in the Butler Farms neighborhood of South Burlington, Vermont. I used a different pair of running shoes each day.

Sunday, August 9, 2026 - Asics Glideride Max 2 - 72 °F - 9:11/mile - 31:52

Monday, August 10, 2026 - Nike Vomero Plus - 76 °F - 8:51/mile - 31:03

Tuesday, August 11, 2026 - Asics Superblast 3 - 63 °F - 8:26/mile - 29:34

Wednesday, August 12, 2026 - Asics Megablast - 64 °F - 8:37/mile - 30:16

Thursday, August 13, 2026 - Nike Zoom Fly 6 - 62 °F - 8:44/mile - 30:40

Why Superblast 3 Won

The Superblast 3 was the fastest because of energy return from the heel. I was taking it easy on my legs trying to avoid injury and just going with what the shoes made comfortable.

The Superblast 3 seemed to have the best shock absorption and energy return in the heel. I didn't have to expend energy trying to make the landings soft. I could slam into the heel as hard as possible over and over again, no problem. 

Megablast in Second Place

The Megablasts felt good. A heel strike in those is pretty much the same thing as a midfoot strike - there's no squish. They make me feel like my running form is good.

Too Firm for the Road, Better for the Peloton Treadmill

We have a treadmill made by Peloton that has good shock absorption. Firmer shoes work great on the treadmill, and the Asics Gliderides and Nike Zoom Flys are going to be treadmill shoes. They felt firmer and less shock absorbing than the other three. 

The Megablasts feel good for anything. The Superblasts and Vomero Pluses feel better outside than on the treadmill. 

I have done a couple head-to-head comparisons now between Glideride Max 2 and Vomero+. On the treadmill, the Gliderides feel much faster and lighter, whereas the Vomero+'s feel heavy on the treadmill and they hurt the bottom of my right foot after a mile. Outside, the Vomero+s were suddenly better. The Glideride Max's felt comparatively stiff and unforgiving outside. The Vomero+ cushioning finally had purpose on pavement.

Self-Designed Running Challenges 

This five-day running challenge was good fun. On par with an organized event, which is saying something. 

I want to try it again with a 5-mile route. 5 days in a row. I can bring out the Alpha Fly 3s and the Metaspeed Sky Tokyo’s. 

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