is a young spirit with a good reputation. This young spirit has been on a small educational journey over the recent seasons, where the shoe has tried to tame its sometimes fiery temperament. My personal experience of Novablast 4 was a bit mixed, the design was 10/10, but I felt a bit lukewarm about midsole material and rocker geometry, which didn’t really rock for me, but was a bit more clunky. However, I was completely wild about the broad platform the shoe was built on, and the upper felt very comfortable as a whole. Therefore, I was very encouraged when I read that had replaced FF Blast ECO midsole material with the brand new FF Blast Max, which had only been used in Asics Glideride Max. Could this be the way back to my heart for Novablast? Read on in the article.
Novablast places itself right in the middle of Asics lineup of running shoes. It's your daily workhorse of a running shoe. It stands in the same category as , Glideride, Superblast and , but as you might imagine, they all have their little quirks, just like when I sit here at the office and look around at my colleagues. Novablast represents youth, but is definitely not only for the young. Novablast can be used by EVERYONE, and I really mean everyone. It is a very inclusive running shoe, more so than some of the aforementioned running shoes, maybe just except for Nimbus. Novablast is also inclusive in its price range, yes, it is not a cheap running shoe, but they are also a disappearing species. So compared to what else you find on the market at the same price, Novablast is a downright scoop in my view.
Asics Novablast 5 specs:
Type: Neutral volume training shoe
Heel drop: 8mm
Stack-height: Men: 41.5mm – 33.5 mm Women: 40.5mm – 32.5mm
Midsole material: FF Blast Max
Carbon: No
Weight: 250g US 9
Asics Novablast 5 – FF Blast Max midsole?
We get straight to the point. Novablast is soft, it is bouncy, it is comfortable, it is everything, Novablast was, when it hit the market in its first version - now just much more balanced in its expression. It has gone through a maturation process. I love, that Asics has chosen to experiment with FF Blast Max material in this shoe, it is also what, Novablast has created its justification on - being a bit the youngster in the group, that can try out things. Asics just hits the mark here with FF Blast Max, it is shock absorbing, but not so much that you never get off the couch again. You do, again and again. And nothing's been spared, 41.5mm in the heel and 33.5 in the forefoot (1mm less for women), in other words, an 8mm heel drop. I love it, I think, it suits a volume training shoe with a high drop. Compared to the previous version of Novablast, you get a significantly softer and more comfortable shoe underfoot here.
Asics Novablast 5 – Light and airy Jacquard mesh upper
Asics Novablast 5 is mainly a midsole update, but there are also changes in the upper. You now find a Jacquard Mesh upper, which is a light, knitted material with good breathability. Regarding fitting, I think, Novablast 5 fits on the wider side, not very wide, but in that direction. Overall, the shoe's upper is extremely comfortable, more than I recall from earlier models, which is a general trend for the development of this shoe.
Asics Novablast 5 – An excellent update underfoot
Historically, Novablast has been a versatile daily trainer, a shoe you could pull out on days when legs felt light and your jog might turn into a day where the pace could be upped a bit. It still can, Novablast 5 just offers a more comfortable feel than before, where some of the earlier models, perhaps mainly 1-2-3, had a more responsive and bouncy feel. This is primarily due to the FF Blast Max midsole, which really provides cushioning. I think Asics has also improved the shoe's geometry better than version 4, where I experienced a somewhat "clunky" feel, where the back and forefoot didn't unite in a smooth way. I may not express my enthusiasm for Novablast 5 clearly enough, because I am very fond of it.
If you turn the shoe over, you can see that Novablast is built on a relatively wide platform, which it has carried over from the 4th version, it works excellently, and helps create balance with the soft FF Blast Max. Whether you land on your heel or forefoot, there is plenty of comfort present. Novablast 5 has no plate, and the sole isn't very stiff, so your foot has to work a bit more to propel you forward. This type of shoe is not something the market is being overwhelmed with anymore, even though in category terms it is the most neutral type, the development of running shoes has moved in a slightly different direction in recent years.
Asics Novablast 5 - conclusion
Novablast 5 is a big hit. A shoe that ranks at the top of running shoe releases in 2024. I'm sure that if you find articles with Top-5 daily trainers from 2024, published by various sources, Novablast 5 will be on almost everyone's list. Novablast 5 is for your easy runs, zone-2 runs, and long runs, where focus is more on comfort than beating your PR.
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