ASICS Novablast Review
Soft, Bouncy, and So Much Fun
Likes
- Incredible cushioning
- Springy ride
- Lightweight design
- Comfortable fit
Dislikes
- Unstable heel
What's New
As a brand that many thought was becoming stagnant in their innovation for the last few years, ASICS has truly made a comeback with both the creation of the Metaride line and now with the Novablast. Although the shoe may look like a sleeker version of older models from the brand, don't be fooled. The new Novablast features an amazing new foam called FLYTEFOAM Blast that has an incredibly soft yet energetic ride, and despite the shoe's very generous stack height, the bouncy cushioning keeps the shoe feeling lightweight and fast on foot. A soft engineered mesh upper offers a secure yet plush hold that accommodates a wide variety of feet, and the lightly padded tongue and minimal overlays help to eliminate areas of rubbing or irritation in the shoe. Finally, on the outsole, the AHAR rubber is strategically placed to help minimize weight while maximizing the durability and grip.
The Bottom Line
The Novablast offers soft and bouncy cushioning that is a joy to run in. Our tester appreciated the generous underfoot protection on anything from everyday training to recovery days, and the springy Flytefoam Blast cushioning has a responsive ride that felt good even during uptempo efforts. Although the shoe offers a very smooth ride, our tester found that the high stack height and flexibility of the shoe led to some instability especially when heel striking, but he found that the shoe felt more stable as it broke in. Overall, our tester loved the fun and bouncy midsole and comfortable upper that the Novablast offers. It could be a great training option for elite racers or a do-it-all workhorse for those looking for a shoe that can handle everything from everyday running to marathon racing.
Shoe Performance
Softness i
Ride/Energy Return i
Underfoot Protection i
Flexibility i
Upper Support i
Specifications & Fit
How It Fits
| Toe Box | Width: Medium to narrow | Height: Medium | |
| Midfoot Volume | Medium | |
| Heel Width | Medium to Narrow | |
| Arch Height | Medium to High |
Shoe Specs
| Weight | Men's: 9.5 oz (size 9) | Women's: 8.3 oz (size 8) | |
| Stack Height | 37mm (Heel), 27mm (Forefoot) | 10 mm Heel-Toe Offset | |
| Terrain | Road | |
| Stability | Neutral | |
| Sizing | True to Size |
Our In-Depth Look
Shoe Softness i
David: "With a high stack height and new Flytefoam Blast midsole, this shoe feels extra soft and bouncy. I found the softness to be very beneficial for impact absorption whether I was heel or midfoot striking."
Ride/Energy Return i
David: "Not only is the new midsole soft, but it is also springy and reminiscent of a lighter Boost cushioning. This has to be one of my favorite midsoles in testing so far because it remains lightweight, cushioned, and bouncy. That’s a winning combination in my book."
Underfoot Protection i
David: "The extra high stack height and durable AHARPLUS rubber outsole offer plenty of protection when running on the road or other hard surfaces. The stacked midsole absorbs most of the impact while the grippy outsole keeps you sure-footed."
Underfoot Flexibility i
David: "There isn’t a noticeable amount of flexibility with this shoe, but the overall ride feels very fluid. The midsole's rockered design and forefoot flex give the shoe a smooth transition no matter where you footstrike."
Upper Feel i
David: "The upper felt comfortable and breathable throughout my runs. I have larger feet with a wider forefoot, and the shoes still fit great. I noticed the insole has a deep heel cup to provide a secure fit, but there needed to be a little more structure around the heel for more stability while heel striking. The padded tongue was comfortable, and the forefoot felt structured yet adaptive while conforming comfortably to my feet."
Individual Thoughts
The Novablast has quickly exceeded all of my expectations. From its comfortable fit to the springy and fluid ride, I’ve looked forward to putting the majority of my weekly miles on this shoe. There were only a couple of things that I thought could be improved, namely, focusing around the heel stability. With such a high stack height and bouncy cushioning, I experienced some lateral instability when heel striking. This was mostly on my first couple of runs, but it got better as the shoes broke in so don’t give up on it if you don’t immediately fall in love. I think some more structure around the heel would help correct this. Other than that, this shoe was a fun ride.
I’ve been using the Novablast for most of my daily miles, and I think that is the sweet spot for this model. Thanks to its bouncy Flytefoam Blast midsole, it does have some hustle to it when you are ready to pick up the pace, but you can also cruise comfortably at almost any speed. I would recommend this shoe for the neutral runner looking for a reliable daily trainer that is enjoyable to run in, and I will continue to use this shoe in my regular rotation.