Read This Before Buying the Asics Novablast 6

The ASICS Novablast 6 is a completely redesigned daily trainer with a new midsole foam and a noticeably different ride than previous versions. While it remains one of ASICS’ flagship training shoes, longtime Novablast fans should know this isn’t simply a small update.

The Novablast has consistently been at top our best daily trainer running shoes and so many other lists, but they’ve made some big updates to the midsole and overall geometry. It sounds like an incredible update with the new super foam, but it changed the feel of the shoe.

The Novablast 5 and I have been best buddies. It’s one of the shoes that made it in to my go to weekly rotation, which had me clamoring to get my feet into this update. And I feel like I might be a little contrary to other reviews because I wasn’t immediately enamored with the update.

Overall the Novablast remains a max cushioned daily trainer that is versatile enough for many runners to use it for long train days right through that 4+ hour marathon. The name and design can make you expect more from this shoe than you should. It’s a daily trainer and a good one, but not meant to be a super fast shoe.

Asics Novablast 6 Overview

The truth is that I’ll have to update this review after another 50 miles of running because right now I’m just really torn. I want to love the shoe, but it hasn’t been an immediate connection. If you’ve ever had a shoe model you adore change, then you get it.

My expectations are from the 5 and it’s not that.

It’s a great daily trainer that gives you plenty of cushion and stability for a max stack. It’s got features to help a shoe of this size feel easy to run in and never like dead weight, which is definitely part of what keeps us all coming back to the Novablast.The forefoot now has a trampoline pod of their light fast foam from the Megablast the FF Turbo Squared. The Megablast is very light and a faster shoe, but also firmer and this is noticeable. I’m also not sure I love the difference in feeling from the forefoot to midfoot and heel.

The FF Blast Max ran through the entire 5, which provided a really soft, consistent feel underfoot.

Now there is the pod under the forefoot (spreading across the ball of the foot) to give even more of a trampoline effect. The idea here of course is to help make your daily trainer feel a bit faster, especially at this weight and max cushion.

The 6 feels a bit firmer and to me like just MORE shoe underfoot. Is this because my 5 is really broken in? Again I’m not sure and want to put in some additional miles.The overall base of the Novablast remains wide and provides good stability for a shoe with such a big stack height. But I found that compared to the 5 there was a bit more tendency for my foot to roll inward. I can only attribute this to the change in the geometry to add in that forefoot pod and that changes the way the foot is landing.

Where the Novablast fits the Line Up?

We find the Novablast to be an extremely versatile shoe and a lot more fun of a run than the Cumulus or Nimbus. However, some find it isn’t as durable.

GEL Cumulus: More traditional, straightforward daily trainer, very well cushioned
GEL Nimbus: Softer and more focused on plush comfort, max cushion
Novablast 6: Bouncy, versatile daily trainer for easy runs, long runs and some faster miles
Superblast 3: Lighter, faster and better suited to runners who want one shoe to handle workouts and long runs (but pricier)
Megablast: Even more performance focused and energetic, high stack and very light, but bouncy

ASICS Novablast 5 vs Novablast 6

I’ve mentioned it a hundred times now, so let’s just put things side by side. I quite literally put on a shoe from each pair for a few different runs trying to figure out how to explain the differences.

While I am still happily putting miles in on my Novablast 5, I’ve heard from our heavier runners that the shoe seemed to fall flat for them by 300 miles or earlier. So there is some hope that this slightly firmer FF Squared the forefoot will help with that.

Novablast 6 Vs Superblast 3

The next question I usually get is how do the Novablast and Superblast compare? I just wore the Superblast 3 for a half marathon and would say I greatly prefer it to the Novablast 6. They do have a different feel and ride.

While both are large chunky shoes, the Superblast really does feel like you can pick up the pace a lot more and again the geometry underfoot feels closer to the Novablast 5. Initially I quibbled with the Superblast being a Unisex fit, I really prefer a women’s fit, but again it’s now become a weekly got to shoe for long runs.

There’s obviously a big price jump here, which is why I’ve generally told folks to go with the Novablast for daily training. But I think the 6 has changed my tune and I’d recommend shelling out more for the great ride of the Superblast.

Thus far I’m still putting miles in on the Superblast 2, so I think it’s been a very durable shoe.

Asics Novablast 6 Fit

Length: True to Size 
Width: Average 
Toe Box: Average
Arch: Average
Volume: Average

Nothing too much changed in the overall fit. You’ve got the well padded heel collar, thin tongue, mesh upper, and a good heel cup to keep you locked in. They did remove the heel loop that some folks use to pull on the shoe. I never bother untying mine, so no issues here.

In general, Asics running shoes are a pretty standard width, this one has a slightly bigger fit through the midfoot. That’s going to be great if you have a wider foot or even a high arch that needs more space. I still had no issue lacing and feeling locked in to the shoe.

I wore my normal running shoe size in these and they fit as expected in length.

The tongue is thin, and just slightly redesigned so it comes up higher on the ankle. I like the 5 version better, but honestly no issues with this one. The tongue is also connected about mid-way to create that sock like fit where it doesn’t slide all over your foot, but also isn’t restrictive around the ankle (aka a gusseted winged tongue if you want to be technical). The laces do go through the tongue as well, helping with lock down and keeping it in place.

The heel collar does have slightly more padding, but nothing that for me changes the overall fit of the shoe. Though others have said the padding made the shoe feel shorter to them is worth noting! I did not have that experience.

It’s breathable as you’d expect from pretty much all of our running shoes at this point.

All right there you have it, a run down of the Asics Novablast 6! Have you tried it?

Do you like the Novablast line up, the Superblast??

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