 This Product
Asics Novablast 5 - Women's | |||||
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| Awards |  Best Overall Running Shoe |  Best Bang for your Buck | |||
| Price | $140 List | $120.00 at REI Compare at 2 sellers | $70 List $54.95 at Amazon | $70 List $69.99 at Amazon | $75 List $56.99 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | Even with a few minor updates, this shoe shines as one for runners seeking a do-it-all road running companion | Affordable and minimally-minded, the updated Kinvara is a great everyday shoe that is suitable for a myriad of running situations | This affordable, low-profile running shoe is a good choice for beginners, offering a moderate stack, traditional drop, and a touch of bounce | While not suited for specified running, this shoe offers versatility and reliability for daily activities and moderate workouts | With its firm cushioning and 8 mm drop, this shoe is best suited as a dependable option for road runs and gym sessions |
| Rating Categories | Asics Novablast 5 -... | Saucony Kinvara 15... | Asics Gel-Contend 9... | New Balance Fresh F... | Under Armour Charge... |
| Landing Comfort (30%) | |||||
| Responsiveness (20%) | |||||
| Stability (15%) | |||||
| Upper Comfort (15%) | |||||
| Weight (15%) | |||||
| Traction (5%) | |||||
| Specs | Asics Novablast 5 -... | Saucony Kinvara 15... | Asics Gel-Contend 9... | New Balance Fresh F... | Under Armour Charge... |
| Sizes Available | 5 - 12 US regular, wide |
5 - 12 US, regular |
5 - 12 US, regular | 5 - 12 US, regular & wide | 5 - 12 US |
| Style | Daily trainer | Daily Trainer | Daily Trainer | Daily Trainer | Daily trainer |
| Measured Heel Stack Height | 40 mm | 27 mm | 30 mm | 26 mm | 30 mm |
| Measured Heel-to-Toe Drop | 9 mm | 3 mm | 9 mm | 8 mm | 8 mm |
| Plate Type | None | None | None | None | None |
| Rocker Angle | 26.5 deg | 25.0 deg | 28.0 deg | 26.5 deg | 25.0 deg |
| Rocker Apex Location | 61.9% | 64.7% | 58.7% | 54.5% | 62.4% |
| Measured Weight | 7.30 oz | 5.44 oz | 7.26 oz | 6.90 oz | 8.14 oz |
| Upper | Jacquard mesh | Mesh | Jacquard mesh | Mesh | Mesh |
| Midsole | FF BLAST MAX | PWRRUN | AMPLIFOAM+ | Fresh Foam | Charged Cushioning |
| Outsole | AHAR LO | Rubber | Rubber | Rubber | Rubber |
| Heel Tab Type | Finger loop | None | Finger loop | None | Finger loop |
The new Asics Novablast 5 has an additional 2 mm of stack underfoot, which changes how this shoe rides as a whole. Its 9 mm drop offers a traditional ride with ample stability, while its updated forefoot fit may suit a variety array of foot shapes.
Even before Asics added extra height to the Novablast, it was already impressively comfortable underfoot. Now, with a towering 40 mm heel, it provides a serious crash pad that's a dream come true for heel strikers.
The forefoot, sitting at 31 mm off the ground thanks to the 9 mm drop, adds to the plush experience without compromising a natural feel. The FF Blast Max midsole strikes a sweet spot—it's resilient without being mushy, offering cushioning that's both protective and subtly springy. As with its predecessor, the true magic of this version of the Novablast lies in its seamless balance of features. Despite the generous stack height, the shoe never feels bulky or weighed down, encouraging smooth and efficient leg turnover. With every stride, the midsole compresses just enough to provide a gentle sink before springing you forward. I love this sensation because it lends itself so well to shorter, speedier efforts and long distance training.
All gushing aside, the new Novablast is a bit less responsive than its predecessor. Let me explain…
The added underfoot stack softens the underfoot feel of the Novablast. This design shift emphasizes comfort; from a performance standpoint, Asics made a thoughtful decision here, catering to athletes logging long miles or prioritizing underfoot cushion. This added softness might not appeal to those accustomed to the firmer, snappier feel of a dedicated speed shoe. Runners who favor a responsive launchpad for speedwork may find the midsole of the new Novablast a touch too yielding underfoot.
Amid a sea of highly stacked, stiff super shoes, the Novablast carves out a unique identity as a versatile trainer. While it may not be the first choice for runners who want a speed-only shoe, it remains perfectly capable of handling speedwork. At the same time, its comfort and adaptability ensure it's not pigeonholed as a single-purpose shoe, offering everyday utility for a broad range of training scenarios.
Despite its notably towering stack height, the Novablast maintains its stability. Though it is a neutral shoe atop a stack of foam, this shoe is well-suited for runners who want some stability for their pavement pounding endeavors.
The Novablast features rear side walls that comfortably secure the heel without being imposingly rigid. Its 4.5-inch outsole width provides just the right amount of build-up to promote smooth, stable transitions between strides. While it's not designed as a motion-control shoe for correcting overpronation, the Novablast hits a sweet spot in the stability spectrum—it offers enough support to keep tired legs steady during long runs without ever feeling stiff or restrictive. The forefoot of this shoe has a lateral flare that balances well with its smooth, unimposing upper. This structure is especially beneficial for runners who have a tendency to land too far on the outer edge of their feet.
To our testers, the jacquard mesh upper of the Novablast 5 feels remarkably similar to that of the previous version. While Asics claims the redesign makes the upper lighter and more breathable, even after logging 50+ miles, wearing the shoes daily, and conducting side-by-side comparisons, the textile differences are nearly imperceptible.
What does stand out, however, is the slightly wider toe box on the Novablast 5. This roomier forefoot creates a higher-volume fit that runners with narrow feet might find a bit baggy. That said, our average-footed lead tester reported that the additional space didn't significantly affect the fit or performance of the shoe, keeping it just as reliable and functional as ever. The bilateral tongue gussets are stretchy, which further allows the Novablast to accommodate a wide variety of foot shapes. The tongue design is nearly identical to 4th generation shoe, sans one thoughtful touch. Asics included a vertical lace loop along the tongue to ensure that the tongue stays flat and centered during movement.
At 7.30 ounces per women's size 6.5 shoe, the Novablast sits firmly in the middle of the pack.
As mentioned, the visually chunky outsole of the Novablast 5 feels lightweight in action, almost giving off an air-like feeling underfoot. I remain impressed by how lightweight a 40 mm stack can feel when designed with levity in mind. This middle-of-the-pack shoe provides exceptional versatility in that it is light enough for fast leg turnover but beefy enough for joint protective cushion.
The AHAR LO outsole of the Novablast 5 is comprised of the same rubbery compound as the 4th generation shoe. The traction pattern has been updated slightly and provides a mild amount of additional grip.
The Novablast offers solid security underfoot, though it's not exactly a standout in the grip department. During testing, the outsole performed well on dry surfaces, as well as damp and wet pavement. However, many of our training runs take place in coastal climates, where fog can turn running surfaces into slip-and-slide territory. On slick wooden boardwalks, a notorious and specific challenge for many outsoles, the Novablast was no exception. While it wasn't alarmingly slippery, it didn't inspire the same confidence as it did on more typical surfaces. The tradition of the Novablast is what I expect from a do-it-all road shoe, allowing it to score well in this metric.
When viewed through the lens of versatility and value, the Novablast 5 is almost a no-brainer to purchase. While it isn't quite as glorious as the version that came before, this shoe is a one-stop-shop for runners who want speed, distance, comfort, or a mix of all three. The price of this shoe is right, as is its unending comfort, durable materials, and marathon-training prowess.
