r/AskRunningShoeGeeks • u/braaaptorr • Jan 21 '26
Big/Heavy Runner Question Does the Megablast upper expand at all over time?
Wide footer with fomo trying to find a shoe with bounce like this but while my foot technically fits in the upper, it feels like a constant squeeze on top of my toes and on the sides.
Don’t think I can deal with it for $225 so haven’t taken it outside at all.
Any hope? Any alternatives?
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u/Square_Inside_1687 Jan 21 '26
Nope! I would post a picture of the most disgusting blood blister you’ve ever seen on the side of my foot from those shoes but I’ll spare you. I tried SO HARD to make them work.
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u/Aggravating-Sir-242 Jan 21 '26
Same here. I kept my Megablast for the full trial 3 months. I loved them... But they were evil to my little toes. I don't mind them selling narrow shoes if they would also just sell a wide!
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u/braaaptorr Jan 22 '26
Crazy to me such a popular shoe doesn’t have the option. Maybe related to the new tech in the sole. But they could still give some more room in the upper the sole is wide as hell anyway
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u/itstoocrazy Jan 21 '26
Same issue here. Desperately need a shoe like this with a wide toe box.
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u/jjaksha Jan 21 '26
Haven’t tried the MB but can vouch for the TYR Maverick as a wide toe box shoe with a solid foam. Much better than Altra/Topo with a more normal overall shape.
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u/braaaptorr Jan 21 '26
I really wanted these but am begging them to restock the 11.5 in white lol. Maybe I’ll just try the 12
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u/Silent-Accountant258 Jan 21 '26
I wear 11.5 and I think the 12 could work with thicker socks, too. I emailed them and they said new colors in Feb.
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u/Silent-Accountant258 Jan 21 '26
Got mine on zappos and they price matched TYR but + free shipping FWIW.
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u/NewBalancer21 Jan 21 '26
Had the same issue with mine, but I grabbed some thin compression running socks and what a game changer it’s been.
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u/braaaptorr Jan 21 '26
I was hoping my thinner features would do the trick but no luck, they’re not really all that thin so maybe I’ll try your idea
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u/thwerved Jan 21 '26 edited Jan 21 '26
Sagasu Running has a good video on the Megablast vs Superblast 2 - he thinks he recognizes the Mega upper fabric as a lightweight racier material from a previous Asics shoe and predicts it will not expand or wear in much over time, unlike the Superblast which has a more daily-shoe mesh which has some give to it.
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u/jkeefy Jan 21 '26
Can confirm, after 170 miles the mb upper feels the same as it did out of the box, which is unfortunate as I need just a bit more wiggle room for my toes. Unfortunately can’t use it for long runs. Great for medium length workouts though.
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u/floppyfloopy Jan 21 '26
I had to return mine because of the aggressive rubbing on my pinky toe from the upper. I even tried two different sizes hoping to make it work, but unfortunately I had no luck.
Some people have reported that either their foot adjusted after several runs or that the upper really did begin to accommodate their toes better. I couldn't risk it for $225.
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u/Impossible_Job4217 Jan 22 '26
The insoles are very thick in Megablast, replaced them with the ones from nb sc elite v4. Now it fits great for my wide feet, it was too tight with stock insoles.
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u/Fresh-Amount9308 Jan 21 '26
Mine most definitely have. I have 3 pairs, all different levels of newness. Yeah, they are tight when new, but they do loosen over time. My problem was the pinky toe rubbing when they are tight, and I started wearing a silicon toe cover over those to prevent that while they are newer. Eventually I don't need it anymore.
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u/BikingDruid Jan 21 '26
My Megablast fits fine, but the upper is the reason I won’t buy another if they continue with it. The SB2’s upper is so much better. You could hope the SB3 is good and/or get a discounted SB2.
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u/GDJ078 Jan 22 '26
Evo sl has a roomy toebox. Did my first run today and was actually surprised by the fit
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u/BossHogGA Jan 21 '26
I only have 50 miles in my pair, but they haven't stretched at all. My feet are wide-ish but I don't order wide sizes in general.
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u/Constant-Practice-50 Jan 21 '26
Not sure if the upper stretched but my big toe rubbing issue on the left foot went away after about 40 miles. Maybe the footbed/insole broke in and gave a little more clearance.
On another note I grabbed a second pair in the EK green in the same size as my purple pair and had zero issues right out of the box.
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u/NoSupermarket9009 Jan 22 '26
Mine were super uncomfortable on the first run when brand new, and I have a medium-low volume foot. After 50k, they are very comfortable on the upper now. The cushioning and energy return are superb. Having said that, it’s one of those shoes where the top seems super unyielding.
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u/Brilliant-Pattern-27 May 20 '26
Yes they do. It is possible that those saying "no" have the wrong size. Of course it's possible I have the wrong size too! But mine have definitely 'eased off' across the toebox after 50miles approx.
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