The Novablast and I have a long, troubled history. Who’s at fault? As often happens in toxic relationships, it’s a blame game. I blame it on the shoe, and, I’m sure if you could ask an inanimate object something, it’d blame it on me and my running form. Well, I ran in editions 1-3 and each seemed to make running more difficult. I couldn’t understand the widespread praise I’d consistently see for the shoe from other (inferior) shoe reviewers and on Reddit. It was billed as a fun, energetic daily trainer—but for me, it felt dull and lifeless. I skipped the 4th version, but did the 5th win me over? Find out, in this ASICS Novablast 5 review.
ASICS Novablast 5 Review
| STACK HEIGHT | WEIGHT | PRICE |
|---|---|---|
| 41.5/33.5 mm (8 mm drop) | M9: 9 oz/255g W8: 7.9 oz/225g | $140 |
Midsole
I’ll start by saying, this is one of the softer shoes I’ve tested over the past year—a big positive for me. Previous editions of the shoe never felt this soft. ASICS swaps out FF BLAST+ Eco for the new FF BLAST™ MAX midsole foam. Yes, I know what you’re thinking: why did they have to use the word “max” in their midsole name? That word is grossly overused by every running brand and their mother.
The Novablast 5 is just the second ASICS shoe to receive this new foam, after the EVA-plated Glideride Max. I love the soft underfoot landings provided by this lightweight foam. However, I don’t experience the same high level of energy return as I do in the Glideride Max. But that’s not surprising: the Novablast doesn’t have a plate to make it feel as propulsive. That’d be like expecting Sour Skittles to taste chocolatey—or something like that. I’ve really got to work on my analogies.
All plates aside, I was still expecting a bouncy ride, especially because ASICS positions FF BLAST MAX as their most responsive daily training foam. And with such a tall stack, there’s plenty of it. Although, for some reason, it doesn’t feel as tall underfoot as other shoes with more than 40 mm in the heel.
Ride
Frankly, this shoe doesn’t feel very lively. I position the Novablast 5 as more of a “cruiser” than a “speedster.” While it’s got a comfortable ride, it’s not a very exciting one; it can feel a bit mushy at times. I think the shoe would benefit from more a pronounced rocker geometry. There just isn’t the energy return I’d expect from a pair marketed the way the Novablast is. Hell, the ride of ASICS’ max-cushioned Gel-Nimbus 27 ($165) is more responsive, in my opinion.
ASICS positions the shoe as a versatile daily trainer, but I feel the Novablast’s light weight (9 oz/men | 7.9 oz/women) is a bit wasted on a shoe that doesn’t encourage me to pick up the pace whatsoever. After one attempt at a mini speed workout in the pair, I resigned it to the daily training category.
It’s also not a shoe I’ll take out for long runs. Despite weighing an ounce more, I’ve found the Glideride Max is a much more well-rounded, fun pair perfect for long runs. Of course, it is $30 more expensive, at $170.
For comparison, ASICS’ other $140 pair, the Gel-Cumulus 27, is much more firm underfoot, a tad bit heavier, and isn’t nearly as enjoyable to run in.
Upper
Up top, there’s a lightweight engineered jacquard mesh upper that breathes very well. I appreciate the minimal nature of the upper, which undoubtedly contributes to the shoe’s lighter weigh without sacrificing comfort or support. There’s ample room in the toebox and the shoe runs a tad bit long so I had to tie my laces tight to ensure a secure lockdown. Fortunately, the padded heel collar and the flexible gusseted tongue provide additional support for the feet.
Outsole
The outsole is equipped with AHAR LO rubber, a lower-hardness version of ASICS High Abrasion Resistant rubber. Previous versions of the Novablast had issues with traction in wet conditions but this outsole fixes that.
ASICS claims the Novablast has a “trampoline-inspired outsole, delivering increased bounce in every step.” I’ll be honest, I have no idea what they’re talking about, for a couple reasons. 1: a trampoline is the last object I would use to associate with the ride of this shoe—I feel no bounce. 2: I see no elements of a trampoline. And even if I did, I’m not so sure running on a trampoline is safe. It sounds like a surefire way to suffer a stress fracture!
If you want absolutely no stability for your ankles and extremely harsh landings for your feet, a trampoline works perfectly. Just don’t be surprised when your trampoline runs “land” you in the hospital.
Weight
With the high level of comfort and support in the upper, the giant stack of cushioning (41.5/33.5 mm), and decent amount of outsole rubber, I’m amazed ASICS can get this plush shoe down to 9 ounces for a men’s size 9 and 7.9 oz for a women’s size 8. It doesn’t get much better than that for a max cushioned daily trainer. The shoe does, indeed, feel very light on the run and is a nice contrast from the vast majority of pairs that sit in the 10-11 ounce range for the men’s model.
Price
$140 for this shoe is not a bad price, especially when you factor in the glut of $160-$170 max cushion trainers with similar stack heights. This is one of the best prices you’ll find for premium running shoes, alongside the $140 Saucony Ride and New Balance FuelCell Rebel. It’s worth noting the Novablast is my least favorite out of this trio, as I find it to be the least responsive. But the Novablast still offers a quality ride at the cost of a lesser quality shoe. Of course, I won’t be surprised when ASICS raises the price $10 in the Novablast 6, like every other brand. At $30 more, I far prefer the ride of the ASICS Glideride Max.
Conclusion
While the ride leaves something to be desired, the fifth edition of the fan-favorite Novablast is the first one to work well for me. It’s one of the best “bang-for-your buck” running shoes but you might have to temper your expectations when it comes to energy return. Still, it’s a pair that offers great comfort and cushioning with a dependable, lightweight ride at a fraction of the cost of other max cushion shoes.
The Novablast 5 is available on the ASICS website or wherever you prefer to empty your wallet on shoes.
ASICS graciously provided this pair to me for wear testing. ASICS did not compensate me for this ASICS Novablast 5 review and they didn’t get an opportunity to see this review before I published.
