ASICS Novablast 3

Daily trainer · Neutral · Road · 8.7 oz · 8mm drop · 41/33mm stack

Discontinued — we no longer see this shoe in stock. The ASICS Novablast 4 replaced it

How it ranks

The ASICS Novablast 3 rates in the 99th percentile overall among daily trainers. Its strongest dimension is cushioning (99th percentile); its weakest is durability (69th). Of 31 runners who came to it from another shoe, 31 preferred it to what they ran before.

Based on 49 runner reviews.

ASICS Novablast 3

/ 5

Exceptional

Overall rating

We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.

Better Shoes Rating

Exceptional (99/100)

Compared To Other Shoes

Scores better than 99% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

The shaded band shows the rating range we think is most likely.

99/100
Overall

Overall rating

We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.

Better Shoes Rating

Exceptional (99/100)

Compared To Other Shoes

Scores better than 99% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

The shaded band shows the rating range we think is most likely.

99
Cushioning

Cushioning rating

We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.

Better Shoes Rating

Exceptional (99/100)

Compared To Other Shoes

Scores better than 99% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

The shaded band shows the rating range we think is most likely.

99
Value

Value rating

We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.

Better Shoes Rating

Exceptional (98/100)

Compared To Other Shoes

Scores better than 98% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

The shaded band shows the rating range we think is most likely.

98
Comfort

Comfort rating

We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.

Better Shoes Rating

Exceptional (97/100)

Compared To Other Shoes

Scores better than 97% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

The shaded band shows the rating range we think is most likely.

97
Appearance

Appearance rating

We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.

Better Shoes Rating

Excellent (91/100)

Compared To Other Shoes

Scores better than 92% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

The shaded band shows the rating range we think is most likely.

91
Durability

Durability rating

We estimate how this shoe ranks by combining runner ratings, whether reviewers say they'd buy a shoe again, and direct comparisons to other shoes they've run in. We also consider related product-line performance and trusted external ratings. More review data helps narrow the likely rating range.

Better Shoes Rating

Good (79/100)

Compared To Other Shoes

Scores better than 69% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

The shaded band shows the rating range we think is most likely.

79

What runners say

“I have 800 miles on mine and they are still in good shape.”
5/5 Full review
“When you get this shoe out of the box, you can tell it's a very bouncy and energetic shoe.”
SupahSlowSub5 5/5 Full review
“At 304 miles, the exposed midsole in the forefoot is completely shredded.”
SupahSlowSub5 5/5 Full review
“The shoe lasts at least 500 miles with minimal loss of midsole integrity.”
Nate Tagg 4/5 Full review
“After 75 miles, I lost this bouncy feeling. I felt the foam compress more and not rebound as much.”
SupahSlowSub5 5/5 Full review
“It does not have great grip. It's not noticeable in summer with dry weather, but in winter with damp conditions you can feel some sliding on wet surfaces.”
Ovaltime 4/5 Full review
“The comfort is impeccable. It feels like you're running without shoes.”
Tina Eileen Muhs 5/5 Full review
“Light and fast enough for threshold/MP type workouts, but durable and cushioned enough for long runs and daily training.”
5/5 Full review
“Over 500 miles, foam still protects well and upper still in good condition.”
3/5 Full review
“I got 1000k out of them, which is great.”
5/5 Full review

Prefer this shoe over another

80% 36/45

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • A majority of reviewers like this shoe more than their last shoe.
  • Reviewers rate this shoe better than the Novablast 2.
  • One of the most popular shoes among LetsRun.com readers.
  • Rated among the top 5% of shoes overall.
  • Rated among the top 5% of shoes on comfort.

Cons

  • Complaints about traction in bad weather.
  • Rated below average on durability.

Reader Ratings

87 reader ratings
5/5
53
4/5
33
3/5
1
2/5
0
1/5
0

Runner reviews

Write a review

Showing 31–35 of 49 written reviews

Love the feel of the shoe and the look (with a catch)

Anonymous runner · Aug 15, 2023

4/5

Overall

These shoes are great.  They're light and bouncy.  They have a great rocker.  The colorways are fantastic.  They are great to run in.  My only gripe is that they are like running in very light but large foam bricks.  That sounds good, but when I look down when running you see form sticking out everywhere (because it is) and that drives me insane.  They're also a bit long.  They fit true to size but there's extra foam sticking out as a tail on the back.  I wish it was a little more tapered.  Other than that I love the shoe.

Comfort
5/5
Cushioning
5/5
Durability
4/5
Appearance
5/5
Value
5/5

Hoka

Anonymous runner · Aug 14, 2023

4/5

Overall

Ueueu

Comfort
4/5
Cushioning
4/5
Durability
3/5
Appearance
3/5
Value
4/5

Great daily shoe, needs one easy fix in the next version

Ovaltime · Aug 14, 2023

4/5

Overall

The asics novablast 3 is a huge upgrade in the daily trainer space. Its comfortable, fits well and the miles just flow with this shoe. 

One issue is the outsole, it does not have great grip. Its not a noticeable issue in summer with dry weather but in the winter with damp conditions then a person can feel some sliding on damp or wet surfaces.

Let that not take away from what is a great shoe, there is little else at fault here. I have ran over 600miles on these so far and they still feel good and I think I can manage another 100 to 150. They have nice colours, stylist, fit true to size.  

Its an ideal trainer for a new runner. If someone is thinking about a new daily trainer then I doubt you can go wrong with trying this one.

Comfort
5/5
Cushioning
5/5
Durability
3/5
Appearance
4/5
Value
4/5

Reader review

garrett_mell · Aug 10, 2023

5/5

Overall

Comfort
5/5
Cushioning
5/5
Durability
4/5
Appearance
4/5
Value
4/5

Awesome shoe

Jaco Mike · Aug 2, 2023

5/5

Overall

Best shoe since the old Tiger ExCalibur GT !  Response, fast, light, not crazy expensive.

Comfort
5/5
Cushioning
5/5
Durability
5/5
Appearance
5/5
Value
5/5

Where to buy

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Compared to other shoes

See how this shoe compares to others like it.

ASICS Novablast 3
ASICS Novablast 6
ASICS SUPERBLAST 2
Novablast 3
Novablast 6
SUPERBLAST 2
Current shoe
Choose a model
Best value
Newest
Lowest price / Best overall / Best comfort
Shoe properties
Type
Daily trainer
Daily trainer
Daily trainer
Pronation
Neutral
Neutral
Neutral
Weight
8.7 oz M
—
—
Stack
41/33mm
—
—
Drop
8mm
—
7mm
Release
2022 Q3
2026 Newest
2024 Q2
MSRP
$140
—
$200
Best price
—
$154.95
$149.99 Lowest price
Ratings
Overall
Exceptional (99%)
Very good (84%)
Exceptional (>99%) Best overall
Comfort
Excellent (97%)
Good (71%)
Exceptional (99%) Best comfort
Cushioning
Exceptional (99%)
Very good (90%)
Exceptional (99%) Best cushioning
Durability
Above average (69%)
Below average (32%)
Exceptional (99%) Best durability
Appearance
Excellent (92%)
Bottom tier (10%)
Exceptional (97%) Best appearance
Value
Exceptional (98%) Best value
Above average (69%)
Very good (87%)
Specific shoe

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Where the ASICS Novablast 3 sits

The Novablast line

Compare every Novablast version

Reviewers came to it from

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