Last updated at 09/20/2025 15:41:17
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 ... 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
originally posted on asics.com
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 they’d be my go to for any distance up to a half marathon.I’m 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 didn’t 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 ... 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 they’d be my go to for any distance up to a half marathon.I’m 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 didn’t 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 ‘safety yellow’ 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 I’ve decided to go up a half size to accommodate a waterproof sock for splashy runs.I’m a recent convert to ASICS after 10+ years with another brand (their newest version just wasn’t working for me) and I’ve 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.
originally posted on asics.com
I was excited to get these because I really liked the color way. I’m 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, I’d 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 ... MoreI was excited to get these because I really liked the color way. I’m 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, I’d 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, I’d 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, they’re decent shoes, but they don’t feel as fast. They feel more like the ASICS Nimbus 25 just not as heavy and stable. Personally, I’m going to buy another pair of Novablast 3 before they’re gone.
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 ... 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 they’d be my go to for any distance up to a half marathon.I’m 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 didn’t 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 ... 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 they’d be my go to for any distance up to a half marathon.I’m 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 didn’t 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 ‘safety yellow’ 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 I’ve decided to go up a half size to accommodate a waterproof sock for splashy runs.I’m a recent convert to ASICS after 10+ years with another brand (their newest version just wasn’t working for me) and I’ve 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.
I was excited to get these because I really liked the color way. I’m 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, I’d 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 ... MoreI was excited to get these because I really liked the color way. I’m 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, I’d 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, I’d 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, they’re decent shoes, but they don’t feel as fast. They feel more like the ASICS Nimbus 25 just not as heavy and stable. Personally, I’m going to buy another pair of Novablast 3 before they’re gone.
Asics Novablast has been my favorite shoes since day one of running and since then i've bought them all, Novablast 1, 2, 3 and now I got my self a pair of Novablast 4. So if I only could pick one shoe for almost all our runs, this would be it.ASICS Novablast 4 continues to be the versatile, fun, lively, fast, and yet well-cushioned running shoe it has been for a long time. With each generation, the Novablast becomes a bit more versatile and a bit less extreme. I also find it to be even more stable and comfortable to run in, while also taking important steps towards sustainability and the environment.Pros:Soft and comfortable upper, versatile fit, good cushioning, stable, durable outsoleCons:Outsole still lacks grip in wet conditions, minor weight increase, ... MoreAsics Novablast has been my favorite shoes since day one of running and since then i've bought them all, Novablast 1, 2, 3 and now I got my self a pair of Novablast 4. So if I only could pick one shoe for almost all our runs, this would be it.ASICS Novablast 4 continues to be the versatile, fun, lively, fast, and yet well-cushioned running shoe it has been for a long time. With each generation, the Novablast becomes a bit more versatile and a bit less extreme. I also find it to be even more stable and comfortable to run in, while also taking important steps towards sustainability and the environment.Pros:Soft and comfortable upper, versatile fit, good cushioning, stable, durable outsoleCons:Outsole still lacks grip in wet conditions, minor weight increase, may feel too hot on hot summer runs.
I'm a big fan of the Novablast line as my daily trainer - these have changed slightly from the previous model. The outsole feels a bit wider and a tad more stiff to me - don't get as much "bounce" but do feel a bit more "snap" if that makes sense. The outsole is more grippy than the NB3 and a bit better to run on wet surfaces, that being said still a bit slick.The shoe in general feels a bit wider and more stable which makes it a bit more tame.The colour of these are WHITE - in the picture it looked like an off white but they are snowflake white. I run in early morning when its dark outside so the fact that they are a bright white don't bother me but I know some people don't like that colourway. There is now a pull tab on the back which is welcome and the tongue ... MoreI'm a big fan of the Novablast line as my daily trainer - these have changed slightly from the previous model. The outsole feels a bit wider and a tad more stiff to me - don't get as much "bounce" but do feel a bit more "snap" if that makes sense. The outsole is more grippy than the NB3 and a bit better to run on wet surfaces, that being said still a bit slick.The shoe in general feels a bit wider and more stable which makes it a bit more tame.The colour of these are WHITE - in the picture it looked like an off white but they are snowflake white. I run in early morning when its dark outside so the fact that they are a bright white don't bother me but I know some people don't like that colourway. There is now a pull tab on the back which is welcome and the tongue doesn't have the elasticity of the previous model albeit still very comfortable - lacing holes (system) are good and solid and I get a really good heel lockdown when using a runners knot.Only have 4 runs in these so far, but like the previous model I feel I'll be getting a lot of km's out of them.Always recommend the Novablast - ASICS has created a staple with this shoe.
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 wouldn’t 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. I’ve 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 ... 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 wouldn’t 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. I’ve 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 won’t be necessary, I’ll 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 ... 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 ... 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: ... 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...
