Last updated at 09/21/2025 05:11:33
originally posted on asics.com
As soon as I slipped these running shoes on, they feel comfortable, INSTANTLY! I could not help but start jumping up and down on the spot to test out the bounce of the shoe- almost like being on a trampoline. The breathable woven upper wraps the foot securely and the thin but lightly padded tongue sits comfortably across the top of the foot- which I absolutely love because I hate it when the tongue pushes or rubs against the top of my foot or ankle. They fit true to size with enough room in the toebox.I have been running with the Novablast 4s for over 5 months now (on rotation ofcourse) and I have covered approximately 100kms in them, with 21km being my longest run in them. The Novablast 4s were one of my staple rotation shoes when training for the Comrades ...Ā MoreAs soon as I slipped these running shoes on, they feel comfortable, INSTANTLY! I could not help but start jumping up and down on the spot to test out the bounce of the shoe- almost like being on a trampoline. The breathable woven upper wraps the foot securely and the thin but lightly padded tongue sits comfortably across the top of the foot- which I absolutely love because I hate it when the tongue pushes or rubs against the top of my foot or ankle. They fit true to size with enough room in the toebox.I have been running with the Novablast 4s for over 5 months now (on rotation ofcourse) and I have covered approximately 100kms in them, with 21km being my longest run in them. The Novablast 4s were one of my staple rotation shoes when training for the Comrades Marathon, more specifically for those "fast" training sessions.I ran BUFFS Marathon and Total Sports Two Oceans Ultra Marathon with the Novablast 2s. Cape Town Sanlam Marathon with the Novablast 3s. and I cannot wait to unlock the marathon and marathon potential in the Novablast 4s
originally posted on asics.com
Absolutely fell inlove from the Novablast 3 so I was quite excited to run in the Novablast 4. Incredibly great for longer tempo and track sessionsā¦Responsive, light, and comfortable cushioning. I am not a shoe expert so I donāt normally focus on technical things such as hill drop etc but I do know what a good shoe feels like so Iām gonna explain it in dummy terms š¤© also because I am more focused on protecting my feet and not getting injured while putting in quality sessionsā¦What I did do and got phenomenal feedback for is recommend this shoe ALOT for guys who were training for marathons and ultra marathons especially when doing their tempo and longish run that this is their safest bet! Some went as far as racing in them which is great!Carbon plated shoes are ...Ā MoreAbsolutely fell inlove from the Novablast 3 so I was quite excited to run in the Novablast 4. Incredibly great for longer tempo and track sessionsā¦Responsive, light, and comfortable cushioning. I am not a shoe expert so I donāt normally focus on technical things such as hill drop etc but I do know what a good shoe feels like so Iām gonna explain it in dummy terms š¤© also because I am more focused on protecting my feet and not getting injured while putting in quality sessionsā¦What I did do and got phenomenal feedback for is recommend this shoe ALOT for guys who were training for marathons and ultra marathons especially when doing their tempo and longish run that this is their safest bet! Some went as far as racing in them which is great!Carbon plated shoes are definitely the āin thingā but what people donāt know is how dangerous it is to train in them especially because some of us are not fast enough to pull that offā¦.The Novablast 4 provided me with exactly what I need needā¦in my books it definitely gives the effect of plated shoes as it should because we canāt ignore the FF blast š„
originally posted on asics.com
Shoe delivers all that the influencers and shoe reviewers had mentioned on social media. Less bounce / boundless energy than previous versions (I had last used the NovaBlast 2 and absolutely loved it).This shoe is firmer than expected and took me a good 30km's to "soften" it up for it to start feeling a bit more like the older versions. Bounce is there for sure, just not as "wild" as before.Traction for sure has improved positively and the shoe is not shy to pick up the pace, coping easily with faster threshold style paces (< 4:30min/km for me) and even managed to complete set of 9 x 90s intervals on slight incline with paces in range of 4:15min/km avg. I currently have the Nimbus 25 as well, and prefer the Novablast well above Nimus. I am UK size 8 and the ...Ā MoreShoe delivers all that the influencers and shoe reviewers had mentioned on social media. Less bounce / boundless energy than previous versions (I had last used the NovaBlast 2 and absolutely loved it).This shoe is firmer than expected and took me a good 30km's to "soften" it up for it to start feeling a bit more like the older versions. Bounce is there for sure, just not as "wild" as before.Traction for sure has improved positively and the shoe is not shy to pick up the pace, coping easily with faster threshold style paces (< 4:30min/km for me) and even managed to complete set of 9 x 90s intervals on slight incline with paces in range of 4:15min/km avg. I currently have the Nimbus 25 as well, and prefer the Novablast well above Nimus. I am UK size 8 and the Nimus comes up a bit short in length for me, is a heavier shoe, and while much softer, prefer the slightly firmer ride of the Novablast over the Nimbus. I know they are different types of shoes, but since both use the same FFBlast echo foam, worth a mention. For the price, feel and performance, love this shoe and would highly recommend. If ASICS could add a bit more of that FFBlast experience from the Ver 3 / 2 back into the next release would have given it a full real 5 out of 5, but still the shoe is well worth an "excellent" rating
As soon as I slipped these running shoes on, they feel comfortable, INSTANTLY! I could not help but start jumping up and down on the spot to test out the bounce of the shoe- almost like being on a trampoline. The breathable woven upper wraps the foot securely and the thin but lightly padded tongue sits comfortably across the top of the foot- which I absolutely love because I hate it when the tongue pushes or rubs against the top of my foot or ankle. They fit true to size with enough room in the toebox.I have been running with the Novablast 4s for over 5 months now (on rotation ofcourse) and I have covered approximately 100kms in them, with 21km being my longest run in them. The Novablast 4s were one of my staple rotation shoes when training for the Comrades ...Ā MoreAs soon as I slipped these running shoes on, they feel comfortable, INSTANTLY! I could not help but start jumping up and down on the spot to test out the bounce of the shoe- almost like being on a trampoline. The breathable woven upper wraps the foot securely and the thin but lightly padded tongue sits comfortably across the top of the foot- which I absolutely love because I hate it when the tongue pushes or rubs against the top of my foot or ankle. They fit true to size with enough room in the toebox.I have been running with the Novablast 4s for over 5 months now (on rotation ofcourse) and I have covered approximately 100kms in them, with 21km being my longest run in them. The Novablast 4s were one of my staple rotation shoes when training for the Comrades Marathon, more specifically for those "fast" training sessions.I ran BUFFS Marathon and Total Sports Two Oceans Ultra Marathon with the Novablast 2s. Cape Town Sanlam Marathon with the Novablast 3s. and I cannot wait to unlock the marathon and marathon potential in the Novablast 4s
Absolutely fell inlove from the Novablast 3 so I was quite excited to run in the Novablast 4. Incredibly great for longer tempo and track sessionsā¦Responsive, light, and comfortable cushioning. I am not a shoe expert so I donāt normally focus on technical things such as hill drop etc but I do know what a good shoe feels like so Iām gonna explain it in dummy terms š¤© also because I am more focused on protecting my feet and not getting injured while putting in quality sessionsā¦What I did do and got phenomenal feedback for is recommend this shoe ALOT for guys who were training for marathons and ultra marathons especially when doing their tempo and longish run that this is their safest bet! Some went as far as racing in them which is great!Carbon plated shoes are ...Ā MoreAbsolutely fell inlove from the Novablast 3 so I was quite excited to run in the Novablast 4. Incredibly great for longer tempo and track sessionsā¦Responsive, light, and comfortable cushioning. I am not a shoe expert so I donāt normally focus on technical things such as hill drop etc but I do know what a good shoe feels like so Iām gonna explain it in dummy terms š¤© also because I am more focused on protecting my feet and not getting injured while putting in quality sessionsā¦What I did do and got phenomenal feedback for is recommend this shoe ALOT for guys who were training for marathons and ultra marathons especially when doing their tempo and longish run that this is their safest bet! Some went as far as racing in them which is great!Carbon plated shoes are definitely the āin thingā but what people donāt know is how dangerous it is to train in them especially because some of us are not fast enough to pull that offā¦.The Novablast 4 provided me with exactly what I need needā¦in my books it definitely gives the effect of plated shoes as it should because we canāt ignore the FF blast š„
Shoe delivers all that the influencers and shoe reviewers had mentioned on social media. Less bounce / boundless energy than previous versions (I had last used the NovaBlast 2 and absolutely loved it).This shoe is firmer than expected and took me a good 30km's to "soften" it up for it to start feeling a bit more like the older versions. Bounce is there for sure, just not as "wild" as before.Traction for sure has improved positively and the shoe is not shy to pick up the pace, coping easily with faster threshold style paces (< 4:30min/km for me) and even managed to complete set of 9 x 90s intervals on slight incline with paces in range of 4:15min/km avg. I currently have the Nimbus 25 as well, and prefer the Novablast well above Nimus. I am UK size 8 and the ...Ā MoreShoe delivers all that the influencers and shoe reviewers had mentioned on social media. Less bounce / boundless energy than previous versions (I had last used the NovaBlast 2 and absolutely loved it).This shoe is firmer than expected and took me a good 30km's to "soften" it up for it to start feeling a bit more like the older versions. Bounce is there for sure, just not as "wild" as before.Traction for sure has improved positively and the shoe is not shy to pick up the pace, coping easily with faster threshold style paces (< 4:30min/km for me) and even managed to complete set of 9 x 90s intervals on slight incline with paces in range of 4:15min/km avg. I currently have the Nimbus 25 as well, and prefer the Novablast well above Nimus. I am UK size 8 and the Nimus comes up a bit short in length for me, is a heavier shoe, and while much softer, prefer the slightly firmer ride of the Novablast over the Nimbus. I know they are different types of shoes, but since both use the same FFBlast echo foam, worth a mention. For the price, feel and performance, love this shoe and would highly recommend. If ASICS could add a bit more of that FFBlast experience from the Ver 3 / 2 back into the next release would have given it a full real 5 out of 5, but still the shoe is well worth an "excellent" rating
I bought these shoes as a comparison to see how they matched up to the super comfort of the Gel Nimbus 26 and I ended up keeping both. Yeah I know it sounds like an excuse to own ALL the shoes but after just one run I knew theyād be my go to for any distance up to a half marathon.Iām not a fast runner but I am a long runner and so comfort over pace is definitely my thing. Whilst I love the plushy goodness of the GN26 for really long slow runs wanted something a little more energetic for other distances and the Novablast 4 didnāt let me down. Without feeling rigid or stiff they provide a lovely bounce whilst still giving that reassuring squish that I really need to keep the miles ticking over. I had a really steady ten mile run over a variety of surface from rough ...Ā MoreI bought these shoes as a comparison to see how they matched up to the super comfort of the Gel Nimbus 26 and I ended up keeping both. Yeah I know it sounds like an excuse to own ALL the shoes but after just one run I knew theyād be my go to for any distance up to a half marathon.Iām not a fast runner but I am a long runner and so comfort over pace is definitely my thing. Whilst I love the plushy goodness of the GN26 for really long slow runs wanted something a little more energetic for other distances and the Novablast 4 didnāt let me down. Without feeling rigid or stiff they provide a lovely bounce whilst still giving that reassuring squish that I really need to keep the miles ticking over. I had a really steady ten mile run over a variety of surface from rough trail to road and had very happy feet throughout. The Novablast 4 really seems to have hit a sweet spot in giving max comfort without mega chonkiness. Yes my foot still felt super cushioned but it retained a level of responsiveness that allowed me to pick up the pace when I wanted to.The upper of the shoe sits really comfortably over the foot and felt locked down without any hot spots or slips. The laces stay firmly put and the whole shoe looks great on without the foot juggernaut look that comes with a lot of maximalist shoes. The āsafety yellowā colour way is true to its name, I suspect you could see me from space but that fine by me, I love a bit of high vis. I found them to be pretty true to my shoe size with a thin sock but Iāve decided to go up a half size to accommodate a waterproof sock for splashy runs.Iām a recent convert to ASICS after 10+ years with another brand (their newest version just wasnāt working for me) and Iāve been really blown away by not only the high quality and accuracy in description vs suitability of the shoes but also the 90 day trial and slick service.
Love them! I have been loyal to Brooks Ghost & Glycerin since they available in 2E & durable for a little heavier heal striker. I've had not pain for several years so no need to switch. Very disappointed in the Ghost 14 & 15 & Glycerin 20 just OK (Ghost 12 were my favorites). After a lot of research I tried the Novablast 4 in size 10 2E that fit true to size. Big choice for me to switch from a know brand & reliable sizing. Novablast is a neutral shoe with some built in stability IMO. FAR MORE RESPONSIVE than either Brooks model I mentioned. Feels every bit as cushioned as the Glycerin but far more bounce & responsiveness. Ghost is far less cushioned & far less responsive. Ghost has a firmer ride so expect more energy returen but not the case in the 14 & 15 which ...Ā MoreLove them! I have been loyal to Brooks Ghost & Glycerin since they available in 2E & durable for a little heavier heal striker. I've had not pain for several years so no need to switch. Very disappointed in the Ghost 14 & 15 & Glycerin 20 just OK (Ghost 12 were my favorites). After a lot of research I tried the Novablast 4 in size 10 2E that fit true to size. Big choice for me to switch from a know brand & reliable sizing. Novablast is a neutral shoe with some built in stability IMO. FAR MORE RESPONSIVE than either Brooks model I mentioned. Feels every bit as cushioned as the Glycerin but far more bounce & responsiveness. Ghost is far less cushioned & far less responsive. Ghost has a firmer ride so expect more energy returen but not the case in the 14 & 15 which feel more dead to me. With the same effort I run faster in the Novablast. Only about 40 miles in but haven't noticed premature tread wear & I typically expect 400 miles out of a pair of trainers. Definitely recommend.
I was excited to get these because I really liked the color way. Iām very fond of the Novablast 3 and have gone through 3 pairs of them.When I ran in the Novablast 4, I noticed several differences. First, the foam is denser and heavier. If I were to characterize the difference in the foam between the Novablast 3 and 4, Iād say the 3 is like silken tofu (soft and pillow like) and the 4 is like firm tofu (denser and heavier). I know the foam is different, because the Novablast 3 uses FF Blast+ and the Novablast 4 uses FF Blast+ Eco.The second thing I noticed was the tongue. The material was is different on the Novablast 3. No complaints. The Novablast 4 has a leather tongue that bunches up when you put them on. I never had that problem on the older ...Ā MoreI was excited to get these because I really liked the color way. Iām very fond of the Novablast 3 and have gone through 3 pairs of them.When I ran in the Novablast 4, I noticed several differences. First, the foam is denser and heavier. If I were to characterize the difference in the foam between the Novablast 3 and 4, Iād say the 3 is like silken tofu (soft and pillow like) and the 4 is like firm tofu (denser and heavier). I know the foam is different, because the Novablast 3 uses FF Blast+ and the Novablast 4 uses FF Blast+ Eco.The second thing I noticed was the tongue. The material was is different on the Novablast 3. No complaints. The Novablast 4 has a leather tongue that bunches up when you put them on. I never had that problem on the older model.Finally, the toe box on the Novablast 4 seems more narrow. ASICS offers a wide version on the Novablast 4 and if you have wider feet, Iād recommend them. I was able to go up a half size on the Novablast 3 with no issues, but not on the Novablast 4. Overall, theyāre decent shoes, but they donāt feel as fast. They feel more like the ASICS Nimbus 25 just not as heavy and stable. Personally, Iām going to buy another pair of Novablast 3 before theyāre gone.
I originally wanted to exchange these shoes when I realized the next day that I selected the wrong color. I called ASICS customer support, and the condescending support rep scoffed at me and told me he wouldnāt assist in an exchange, and that I would have to return them.I decided to just keep the shoes in the highlighter green color to avoid the $5 return fee. The shoes felt okay walking around my living room, and for the first few miles of my run. After 3 miles I had an awful pain in the ball of my foot. Iāve been doing this long enough to know the pain, the shoes are too narrow for my foot.I reached out to customer service to see if there was anything that could be done. Nike, adidas, saucony, most other manufacturers would work with you and either get you a ...Ā MoreI originally wanted to exchange these shoes when I realized the next day that I selected the wrong color. I called ASICS customer support, and the condescending support rep scoffed at me and told me he wouldnāt assist in an exchange, and that I would have to return them.I decided to just keep the shoes in the highlighter green color to avoid the $5 return fee. The shoes felt okay walking around my living room, and for the first few miles of my run. After 3 miles I had an awful pain in the ball of my foot. Iāve been doing this long enough to know the pain, the shoes are too narrow for my foot.I reached out to customer service to see if there was anything that could be done. Nike, adidas, saucony, most other manufacturers would work with you and either get you a credit or something that would be a better fit. ASICS, in contrast, sent me another condescending response and an article on pronation for me to review before buying another pair from them.That wonāt be necessary, Iāll be pursuing all future purchases through a more supportive brand.
I did not realize how spoiled I was when I happened to buy this as my first "real" running shoe. The stack height of the cushion rivals, if not exceeds, many other max cushion shoes, they are lightweight, and the bounce allows you to speed up if desired. When they say this shoe "can do it all", this shoe actually excels in it all. It's a jack of all trades master of all. Would definitely recommend as a good beginner shoe or even as a racing shoe for those who can't afford the super trainers and/or aren't ready for the carbon-plated shoesDurability: The ASICS website recommends their shoes be replaced every 300-500 miles. The foam in this shoe goes dead around 350 if not 300. After that, I started feeling upper knee and hamstring pain which I later realized was due ...Ā MoreI did not realize how spoiled I was when I happened to buy this as my first "real" running shoe. The stack height of the cushion rivals, if not exceeds, many other max cushion shoes, they are lightweight, and the bounce allows you to speed up if desired. When they say this shoe "can do it all", this shoe actually excels in it all. It's a jack of all trades master of all. Would definitely recommend as a good beginner shoe or even as a racing shoe for those who can't afford the super trainers and/or aren't ready for the carbon-plated shoesDurability: The ASICS website recommends their shoes be replaced every 300-500 miles. The foam in this shoe goes dead around 350 if not 300. After that, I started feeling upper knee and hamstring pain which I later realized was due to the fact that the foam had compressed. I did not realize it was the shoe until I replaced themSizing: I got size 8 (26.0 cm), but they run just slightly too long. I've been able to visit stores in person and have tried the 7.5s (25.5 cm) and find that they may run slightly too small. However, the solution for those who are the same size as me is to buy the Women's size 9D (wide) which run in between the two sizes at 25.75 cm. No really, look up the size chart on the ASICS website.
I love the Asics brand and have owned many pairs of running shoes over the years. I ran through three pairs of Asics Novablast 3s and absolutely loved them as daily trainers. My son is a top tier runner and also loved the Novablast 3s as daily trainers. My girlfriend also jumped on board and loved the 3s with a couple pair of her own. We all recently bought a pair of Novablast 4s and are utterly disappointed. They are much firmer than the 3s. I guess Asics replaced the foam with a newer and "improved" foam which unfortunately does not feel like an improvement. None of us will buy another pair of 4s. With that being said, I still gave it a 3 star rating because it is a solid shoe. I think the 4s upper was improved over the 3s but I hope Asics is listening and goes ...Ā MoreI love the Asics brand and have owned many pairs of running shoes over the years. I ran through three pairs of Asics Novablast 3s and absolutely loved them as daily trainers. My son is a top tier runner and also loved the Novablast 3s as daily trainers. My girlfriend also jumped on board and loved the 3s with a couple pair of her own. We all recently bought a pair of Novablast 4s and are utterly disappointed. They are much firmer than the 3s. I guess Asics replaced the foam with a newer and "improved" foam which unfortunately does not feel like an improvement. None of us will buy another pair of 4s. With that being said, I still gave it a 3 star rating because it is a solid shoe. I think the 4s upper was improved over the 3s but I hope Asics is listening and goes back to the softer feel of the 3s. I have seen numerous similar reviews stating the same thing. Bring back the Novablast 3 foam PLEASE!
After many years running mostly Saucony or Nike shoes I wanted to try something new and choose Novablast 4 this time. That was a wrong decision. Positives: shoes are light and quite comfy out of the box. Negatives: these are huge shoes! Almost feels like clown shoes in my size (48). Most important: these shoes are extremely slippery! Good on a dry, but even when there is only a bit of morning moisture on the tarmac, it lose it's grip immediately! In puddles or in rain, these are simply dangerous to run! In 18-21C degrees my feet were boiling (despite good and proven socks)- shoe upper is not breathing well. Shoe feels best at a speed of around 5:00 - 4:00 min/km. Below 4:00min/km lacks some speed and starts to feel sluggish. Also one impression surprised me somehow: ...Ā MoreAfter many years running mostly Saucony or Nike shoes I wanted to try something new and choose Novablast 4 this time. That was a wrong decision. Positives: shoes are light and quite comfy out of the box. Negatives: these are huge shoes! Almost feels like clown shoes in my size (48). Most important: these shoes are extremely slippery! Good on a dry, but even when there is only a bit of morning moisture on the tarmac, it lose it's grip immediately! In puddles or in rain, these are simply dangerous to run! In 18-21C degrees my feet were boiling (despite good and proven socks)- shoe upper is not breathing well. Shoe feels best at a speed of around 5:00 - 4:00 min/km. Below 4:00min/km lacks some speed and starts to feel sluggish. Also one impression surprised me somehow: shoe feels very different running downhill (quite ok, especially for heel strikers) but uphill's feels slow and "heavy". Probably it is something in shoe construction (very wide front sole?). I will send them back and stick to Endorphin Speed...
