ASICS NOVABLAST 6 Review | First Impressions & New Grip

The long-awaited ASICS NOVABLAST 6 is finally here. I’ve run in every generation of this series — the NOVABLAST 3, 4, and 5 — so I picked mine up the moment it launched.

I started writing this review based on my first impressions after a handful of runs right after buying it, and I’ll keep updating it as I log more mileage. Long-term durability will come once I’ve put more distance on the shoe.

In this review, I cover what’s changed from the NOVABLAST 5, how it feels straight out of the box, weight, and sizing. I’ll keep the official spec details brief — the stuff you can already find on ASICS’ site — and focus mainly on what it’s actually like to run in.

Here’s the short version: the midsole update is barely noticeable on the road, so I wouldn’t call this a major upgrade. But the outsole — the one weak point across every NOVABLAST generation — finally got the grip it needed, and that alone makes me very happy with this shoe.

Product Specs

Item	Details
Model	NOVABLAST 6
Brand	ASICS
Retail Price	$155
Midsole	FF BLAST MAX + FF TURBO SQUARED (dual-layer)
Outsole	ASICSGRIP (forefoot)
Upper	Engineered Woven
Max Stack Height	~41.5mm
Width/Last	STANDARD (WIDE also available)
Weight	252g (US 9.5, measured)

Why I Bought the NOVABLAST 6

I’ve run in every generation of the NOVABLAST series — the 3, 4, and 5. The NOVABLAST 5 in particular was, in my opinion, the best shoe the series has ever produced.

But the NOVABLAST 5 had one weak spot: outsole traction. The AHAR LO rubber held up well over time, but grip on wet roads left something to be desired.

Honestly, every generation of the NOVABLAST has had this same issue with outsole grip. When traction is mediocre, you slip the moment you pick up the pace — like doing strides on a road that’s still wet from rain.

For the NOVABLAST 6, ASICS officially announced a new ASICSGRIP compound on the forefoot outsole. I wanted to find out whether this finally fixed the problem, so I bought it as soon as it launched.

Running Feel: First Impressions

I tested it across a range of paces, from slow easy jogging up to strides around 4:50/mile (3:00/km).

The first thing that surprised me was the traction. With ASICSGRIP, the one persistent weakness of the NOVABLAST series has finally been addressed — I didn’t feel any slipping at all, even on wet pavement.

The bounce feels stronger than on the NOVABLAST 4 or 5. That said, it’s roughly on par with the NOVABLAST 3, which had the springiest ride of the series — so nothing genuinely new here.

The step-in feel, lockdown, and landing stability are all excellent. But compared to the NOVABLAST 5, I wouldn’t say there’s a dramatic difference.

Overall, the midsole update is barely noticeable, so I wouldn’t call this a major upgrade. But the outsole improvement is significant, and that alone has me very satisfied.

So far I’ve only tested it from easy jogging up to strides. I’ll add my thoughts on faster pace-run efforts once I’ve logged more runs.

3 Changes from the NOVABLAST 5

ASICS highlights three main changes on the official NOVABLAST 6 product page. Here’s a spec comparison table to get the full picture first.

Item	NOVABLAST 5	NOVABLAST 6
Release	March 2025	July 2026
Retail Price	$140	$155
Midsole	FF BLAST MAX only	FF BLAST MAX + FF TURBO SQUARED (dual-layer)
Outsole	AHAR LO	ASICSGRIP (forefoot)
Weight	252g (wide, US 9.5, measured)	252g (standard, US 9.5, measured)
Traction (feel)	Slightly slippery when wet — the one weak point	Dramatically improved — grips even on wet roads
Bounce (feel)	High	Even more than the 5

Dual-Layer Midsole: New FF TURBO SQUARED

Through the NOVABLAST 5, the midsole was built entirely from FF BLAST MAX. On the NOVABLAST 6, ASICS added a new high-rebound material called FF TURBO SQUARED to the forefoot, turning the midsole into a dual-layer construction.

You can actually see the “FF Turbo²” marking molded into the side of the midsole.

According to ASICS, this pairs with a trampoline-inspired forefoot structure to deliver both a soft landing feel and strong rebound.

New ASICSGRIP Outsole

Through the NOVABLAST 5, the outsole used a rubber called AHAR LO. On the NOVABLAST 6, ASICS switched to a new compound called ASICSGRIP on the forefoot.

As I’ll get into below, this is the single change that made the biggest difference in my first impressions.

New Engineered Woven Upper

The upper material has been updated to a new fabric called Engineered Woven. ASICS says it improves weight, breathability, and overall look.

In hand and on foot, though, I didn’t notice much difference in texture or lockdown. The soft upper feel that defines the NOVABLAST series carries over unchanged.

Weight

The NOVABLAST 6 weighed in at 252g (measured) in US 9.5. That’s identical to the measured weight of my NOVABLAST 5 — though that one was the wide model.

Sizing

I normally wear US 9.5, and that’s what I ran in for both the NOVABLAST 4 and 5. The NOVABLAST 6 in US 9.5 is a perfect fit as well.

Sizing itself doesn’t feel any different from the NOVABLAST 5. Stick with whatever size you normally wear and you should be fine.

Traction (Grip)

The outsole is, without question, the biggest update on the NOVABLAST 6. With ASICSGRIP now on the forefoot, it no longer slips on wet roads.

Personally, this is an update I’ve been waiting for.

If You Just Need One Pair

With better outsole traction, this shoe no longer has a weather-dependent weakness. If you need just one pair to cover everything, the NOVABLAST 6 is a strong pick.

I haven’t logged a lot of miles yet, but based on my first impressions, here’s who I’d recommend the NOVABLAST 6 for — and who it’s not for.

If you can still find the NOVABLAST 5 on sale for a good price, you don’t necessarily need to upgrade. That said, outsole traction matters a lot to me personally, so the NOVABLAST 6 is the clear choice in my book.

FAQ

NOVABLAST 6 vs. NOVABLAST 5: Which Should You Buy?

If you already own the NOVABLAST 5 and you’re happy with it, there’s no need to rush out and replace it — the midsole change is barely noticeable on the road.

But if wet-road traction has been a pain point for you, I’d recommend making the switch to the NOVABLAST 6.

Is the Grip Really Better?

Based on a single run, yes — clearly. I didn’t feel any slipping at all, even on wet roads. I’ll update this once I know how well that grip holds up over the long term.

Standard or Wide: Which Should You Choose?

If you have wide feet, the NOVABLAST 6 WIDE is worth considering. I ran in the STANDARD width at US 9.5, and it was a perfect fit for me.

Summary

The NOVABLAST 6 is a shoe where the midsole update barely registers, but the one true weak spot of the series — outsole traction — has finally been fixed.

This review is based on first impressions only. As I log more mileage, I’ll update it with thoughts on durability and how it handles faster, pace-run-level efforts.

Where to Buy the ASICS NOVABLAST 6

The ASICS NOVABLAST 6 is currently available through Amazon. Pricing and stock can change, so check the box below for the latest availability.