ASICS NOVABLAST 5 Review | Long-Term Ride & Durability Test

The NOVABLAST 5 is the best shoe in the series — and after 700km, I still mean it.

In this review, I cover the ride feel, rebound, propulsion, ground feel, sizing, and durability of the ASICS NOVABLAST 5 — everything you actually need to know before buying.

I skip the official spec sheet and focus instead on what it actually feels like to run in this shoe, from easy jogging to sub-3:00/mile strides.

The NOVABLAST 5 is a significant step forward from the NOVABLAST 4 — closer in feel to the NOVABLAST 3, but with better stability. If you’ve been on the fence about this one, this review is for you.

Product Specs

Item	Details
Model	NOVABLAST 5
Brand	ASICS
Retail Price	$140
Stack Height	Forefoot: 33.5mm / Heel: 41.5mm / Drop: 8mm
Weight	252g / 8.9oz (US 9.5, wide model, measured)

Why I Chose the NOVABLAST 5

Up until recently, I used the adidas Adizero SL2 for easy-effort jogging. My goal is always to find a shoe that lets me run comfortably at easy effort without beating up my legs — and the SL2 did that job well.

After logging around 800km on the SL2, I started looking for its replacement. The NOVABLAST series was the natural next step — I’ve run in the NOVABLAST 3 and NOVABLAST 4, and both worked well for me.

Compared to the ASICS Gel-Kayano and Gel-Nimbus, the NOVABLAST series is lighter and easier to turn over at a comfortable pace. It’s been popular among recreational runners for good reason.

With that track record, picking the NOVABLAST 5 was a no-brainer.

One note: I accidentally ordered the wide model — I missed the “wide” label on the product page. My foot width fits standard sizing just fine, but it turned out the wide model actually gave my feet a bit more room, which worked in my favor for easy-effort runs.

Running Feel: How It Performs on the Road

I tested the NOVABLAST 5 across a range of paces — from a slow easy jog all the way up to around 5:38/mile (3:30/km), and even threw in some strides at sub-4:50/mile (3:00/km).

The first thing I noticed was the ground feel — comfortable and plush, with good flex through the forefoot.

The NOVABLAST 3 was known for its soft, forgiving ground feel. The NOVABLAST 4 dialed that back a bit, making the ride feel firmer. With the NOVABLAST 5, that softness is back — it’s closer to the NOVABLAST 3 in that regard.

Stability is on par with the NOVABLAST 4. You can land confidently even at easy effort, and it has all the stability you’d want in a daily trainer.

It’s like ASICS took the bounce of the NOVABLAST 3 and the stability of the NOVABLAST 4 and combined them. At that point, I was already convinced this was the best shoe in the NOVABLAST lineup.

Weight-wise, it’s impressively light for such a cushioned shoe — around 250g at US 9.5. Turnover felt easy and natural. I’d say it’s easier to turn over than the ASICS SUPERBLAST 2.

The flex through the forefoot lets you feel the ground and time your stride naturally. You’re not being pushed along by the shoe — it moves with you.

The midsole is firm enough to avoid any hot spots on the sole, which I sometimes get in stiffer carbon-plated shoes. No issues at all with the NOVABLAST 5.

At paces faster than around 6:26/mile (4:00/km) — marathon pace for me — it starts to feel like genuine effort. I’d say the NOVABLAST 5’s ideal pace range tops out at moderate effort.

For strides, there’s a slight lag in responsiveness, but I had no problem hitting sub-4:50/mile (3:00/km). That said, at stride pace, I prefer something firmer — like the Adizero SL2.

Bounce, Propulsion, Stability & Fit

Rebound and propulsion are noticeably better than the NOVABLAST 4. When the NOVABLAST 4 launched, I felt both had taken a step back from the NOVABLAST 3 — the NOVABLAST 5 more than makes up for that.

What makes this shoe stand out is that it delivers propulsion and stability at the same time. I have no financial relationship with ASICS, but I’m hard-pressed to find a real flaw here.

The fit is excellent — a hallmark of the NOVABLAST series. The upper is soft and wraps the foot well without any stiff or abrasive feel. It’s a great fit for a jogging shoe.

The heel collar is well-padded, as you’d expect from a cushioned trainer. The tongue is thinner, which keeps it from feeling bulky when laced up.

For workouts that require real effort — pace runs or anything faster — I’d reach for a carbon-plated shoe or something lighter. The NOVABLAST 5 is built for easy-to-moderate effort, and that’s where it shines.

One downside worth noting: traction. The AHAR LO rubber on the outsole is durable, but grip on wet surfaces isn’t great — more on that in the Traction section.

The thick-cushioned bounce is noticeable and enjoyable. If you like that springy, bouncy sensation underfoot, this shoe delivers it.

Not a Fan of the Bouncy Feel? Try These Instead

The NOVABLAST 5 suits a wide range of runners, but it does have a distinct bouncy, springy feel. If that’s not your thing, this probably isn’t the right shoe.

For runners who prefer more ground stability and less bounce, I’d look at the ASICS Hyperspeed 4 or the Gel-Kayano 31 — both offer more stability and a calmer ride.

Sizing

Here’s how sizing worked for me on the wide model.

I normally wear US 9.5, and that’s what I ran in the NOVABLAST 4. The NOVABLAST 5 wide model in US 9.5 is a solid fit — no need to size up or down.

Compared to other shoes I’ve worn at US 9.5, this one runs slightly long — there’s a bit more room toward the toe. It’s still a true fit, not loose enough to size down.

Since I’m reviewing the wide model, I can’t give a direct comparison on width, but for reference: my foot fits standard width shoes fine, and the wide model gives me a comfortable amount of extra room.

If you have questions about sizing, feel free to reach out via the blog contact form or DM me on Instagram.

Best Use Cases

Here’s how I use the NOVABLAST 5 in my own training.

About 70–80% of my training is at easy effort or below. With that much volume in the easy zone, the NOVABLAST 5 is naturally going to see a lot of mileage in my rotation.

As of early 2025, I was still using the Adizero SL2 for easy runs, with the plan to transition fully to the NOVABLAST 5 once the SL2 retired.

For recreational runners targeting a sub-3-hour marathon or slower, this shoe has enough spec to race in as well.

Weight

The NOVABLAST 5 wide model came in at 252g / 8.9oz at US 9.5 (measured). That’s more than 10g lighter than the NOVABLAST 4 — and the standard model would be lighter still.

The NOVABLAST 3 was 248g, so the NOVABLAST 5 returns to nearly the same weight. A welcome improvement.

Traction

The outsole pattern changed between the NOVABLAST 4 and NOVABLAST 5, but the rubber compound is the same — AHAR LO. In terms of grip, don’t expect much of a difference.

I haven’t had a chance to test it extensively on wet pavement, but based on experience with AHAR LO, traction in wet conditions is only average. I’ll update this section once I’ve tested it in the rain.

Durability: Tested to 700km

Durability on the NOVABLAST 5 is excellent. At 700km, the midsole cushioning was still very much intact — the bounce was there.

The outsole showed some wear, but since traction was never the strong suit of this shoe from day one, I didn’t notice any meaningful drop in grip after 700km.

Condition After First Use

Midsole condition:

Outsole condition:

Condition at 700km

After 700km, the midsole cushioning is still going strong — the bounce and rebound feel intact. The upper has a small scuff from a fall during a run, but that’s user error, not a durability issue.

The outsole has worn down noticeably, but the shoe still has life in it.

That said, I retired the NOVABLAST 5 at this point. It had done its job.