Asics Novablast 5 Introduction
There used to be a time when if a beginner runner asked you to recommend a daily trainer for them, the default answer would be the Nike Pegasus. But over the years, the Pegasus has become boring: firm, flat and heavy. It’s also increased in price by $20 over the past 3 years.
The new default, mid-range, neutral daily trainer is the ASICS Novablast and it has become one of the biggest running shoe launches of the year.
Both the Novablast and the Pegasus are the same price but the main differences between the Novablast and the Pegasus are that the Novablast weighs much less and it has a more energetic midsole. These differences result in a much more versatile trainer which can handle uptempo runs better.
The Novablast 4 of 2023 was a good trainer, not a great one. I found its midsole to be a bit too firm and I found it lacking a bit of energy return but it was still miles better than the Pegasus 40. I still use the Novablast 4 for gym and the occasional easy run.
The Novablast 5 looks similar to the Novablast 4 but under the hood, it gets some significant upgrades. It gets a new upper, outsole and a brand new midsole foam which completely changes its ride.
On the ASICS website, they’ve listed the Novablast 5’s weight at 9 oz (255 g) but my pair weighs 8.8 oz (250 g). This is 0.4 oz (10 g) lighter than the Novablast 4. The Novablast 5 maintains its $140 price this year and its stack height.
Asics Novablast 5 First Impressions
During my first run, I was amazed at how different the Novablast 5 felt compared to the previous 2 versions. The midsole felt significantly squishier and more lively.
The ride transitions also felt less slappy than the Novablast 4 due to the softer midsole foam. The upper fit me really well and was more accommodating than the 4, especially in the toe-box.
The shoe that it reminded me of most was the Novablast 2. They felt similar in terms of softness by the main difference is that the Novablast 5 has more cushioning depth.
Asics Novablast 5 Upper
Although the Novablast 4 was fine for me, there were some Running Shoes Guru readers who complained that the Novablast 4 toe-box was too narrow and that it caused them blisters. The good news is that the Novablast 5 has an improved fit with a roomier toe-box.
The new upper is made from a rough, technical mesh which feels thinner and more breathable than the furry, knit-like upper of the Novablast 4. The thin, gusseted tongue has been improved with a new loop on it for the laces to go through- this prevents tongue slide. I’m not a fan of the long, scratchy label on the tongue because it makes it feel cheap.
The upper is more spacious than your average running shoe, especially in the forefoot and toe-box but I still recommend buying true to size. If you like a snug fit, or you have very narrow feet, you can go down a half size. Foot lockdown is superb.
Unfortunately, there are no reflectors on the Novablast 5, so you’ll have to buy the Light-Show version next year if you need low-light visibility.
Asics Novablast 5 Sole Unit
After I reviewed the Novablast 4, a lot of readers disagreed with me. I felt that it had a relatively firm and flat ride compared to other daily trainers. It had changed too much from the wild, fun, squishy rides of the first 2 versions. The Novablast 4 felt more like a speed trainer than a do-it-all, daily trainer.
The Novablast 5 midsole is now FF Blast Max. It’s made from POE (polyolefin elastomer) and it has no EVA in it. The ride is a very big improvement as it’s significantly softer and more lively than the FF Blast+ Eco in the Novablast 4. Overall, the ride feels more modern.
Easy runs are a lot more enjoyable now because of the softer ride. Runs above 21 kilometres are also more comfortable thanks to the increase in long-distance comfort. The longest run I did in it was 25 kilometres and my legs felt great the next day.
Stability is not as good as in version 4. Not only is the midsole softer but the heel and the forefoot are also 5 mm narrower. If you’re a slight overpronator, you should still be OK in the Novablast 5 as it doesn’t feel unstable (unlike the original Novablast).
The Novablast 5 has a wide pace range, from slow runs which are 7 minutes per km/11:14 per mile (or slower) down to up tempo runs in the 4:30 per kilometre/7:15 per mile region. Even though the ride is softer, there’s more energy return which makes it much easier to pick up the pace or hold a fast pace.
The only runs it doesn’t excel in are threshold and V02 Max workouts. Its midsole is not stiff because it doesn’t have a shank/plate in its midsole so it doesn’t feel comfortable at those all-out efforts. It feels most comfortable at easy and steady paces.
Coming in at 41.5 mm in the heel, the Novablast 5 is technically illegal to use in a World Athletics race but if you’re not competing for prize money, nobody will have an issue with you racing in it. It has plenty of cushioning depth for a marathon and it’s suitable if you’re aiming to complete it in 3 hours 30 minutes or slower.
The outsole is made of AHAR LO rubber and has a similar design to the Novablast 4. There is a little bit more rubber coverage on the edges of the outsole and there are now holes in the rubber to shed some weight. I noticed that the holes pick up small stones now.
Outsole durability is excellent; the rubber on my pair hasn’t worn down much after 83 kilometres. Traction is good on dry surfaces but average on wet surfaces. The rubber is flat so it doesn’t bite into surfaces that well.
Asics Novablast 5 Conclusions
The previous 2 versions of the Novablast were only lukewarm. They lacked excitement and innovation. The Novablast 5 takes the best features from each previous version and combines them: it has the squish and energy return of the first 2 versions, the stability of versions 4 & 5, and it has the comfortable upper of version 4. The Novablast 5 is certainly the best Novablast version to date.
If you have the Novablast 4 or an earlier version, it’s worth upgrading to the 5. Version 5 has the smoothest ride, the most long-distance comfort and it feels the most polished. It will be staying in my rotation as the core workhorse as I enter the 150 km-a-week depths of my marathon training block.
The Novablast 5’s weight is what sets it apart from the other mid-range daily trainers. It’s 0.7 oz less than the Brooks Ghost 16, 1 oz lighter than the Adidas Supernova Rise, and 1.1 oz lighter than the Saucony Ride 17. Only the Hoka Clifton 9 comes in lighter than the Novablast 5 at 8.7 oz but the Novablast has superior energy return as the Clifton is still using EVA.
Version 5 cements the Novablast as the default trainer for all kinds of runners. It’s one of the most balanced trainers on the market, it’s a decent price point for such a polished and well-built trainer, and it’s never completely sold out.
