ASICS Novablast 4

Daily trainer · Neutral · Road · 9 oz · 8mm drop · 42/34mm stack

Discontinued — we no longer see this shoe in stock. The ASICS Novablast 5 replaced it

How it ranks

The ASICS Novablast 4 rates in the 99th percentile overall among daily trainers. Its strongest dimension is value (98th percentile); its weakest is looks (67th). Of 11 runners who came to it from another shoe, 11 preferred it to what they ran before.

Based on 19 runner reviews.

ASICS Novablast 4

/ 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
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
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 (98/100)

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.

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 96% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

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

97
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

Excellent (91/100)

Compared To Other Shoes

Scores better than 90% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

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

91
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

Very good (81/100)

Compared To Other Shoes

Scores better than 67% of shoes

Compared with all shoes

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

81

What runners say

“These run narrow. If you have wide toes your toes might be a little cramped.”
RG 5/5 Full review
“It is bouncy but stable, durable enough for slow work, and quick enough for fast work.”
5/5 Full review
“They have a distinct bounce with each step that helps my cadence be higher.”
RG 5/5 Full review
“Way more stable than the previous ones—that was my biggest complaint with the first two.”
5/5 Full review
“I love the rocker in the shoe that makes the transitions mindless (in a good way).”
RG 5/5 Full review
“I feel like I can push the 4s to around 500 miles maybe even more.”
0 5/5 Full review
“Great shoe—very cushioned and comfortable but not really for anything else except easy days and hills.”
Indiana Owings 5/5 Full review
“Responsive enough to use for some workouts and cushioned enough for easy too.”
5/5 Full review
“It's not plush, but good, medium plush that feels fast.”
5/5 Full review
“Pressure on middle forefoot the first run—then never came back.”
5/5 Full review

Prefer this shoe over another

63% 12/19

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • A majority of reviewers like this shoe more than their last shoe.
  • One of the most popular shoes among LetsRun.com readers.
  • Rated among the top 5% of shoes overall.
  • Rated among the top 10% of shoes on comfort.
  • Rated among the top 10% of shoes on cushioning.

Cons

Reader Ratings

47 reader ratings
5/5
34
4/5
11
3/5
1
2/5
0
1/5
1

Runner reviews

Write a review

Showing 6–10 of 19 written reviews

Reader review

Anonymous runner · Nov 8, 2024

5/5

Overall

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

Great everyday trainer

Anonymous runner · Oct 29, 2024

5/5

Overall

A shoe I can use for long runs, easy recovery days and some uptempo days.

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

Reader review

Anonymous runner · Jul 26, 2024

5/5

Overall

Great so far. I had the 1 and 2 so it’s been awhile. 90 degrees yesterday and they were filled with sweat…summertime in Nebraska between the corn fields is no joke! Way more stable than the previous ones which is great because that was my biggest hit on the first two Novablasts. 50 miles so far and all between 3 and 7 miles. Great lockdown and the tongue is quite comfortable. Traction good with surfaces ranging from concrete to gravel and mud. Kind of a bright light green color which actually makes me feel excited to take them out! Looks good and well designed. The first run I had pressure on the middle forefoot on the bottom…that never came back and they feel broken in already. At $140 the price was right and I am happy with these shoes…I’ll probably buy again.

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

Great daily trainer

Anonymous runner · Jun 17, 2024

4/5

Overall

You can do pretty much everything in this shoe. You daily miles, tempo runs, even your speed sessions too. Great value for such an amazing shoe 

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

Amazing shoe

Anonymous runner · Jun 16, 2024

5/5

Overall

I tried a lot of daily trainers none of them are as good as the novablast it is a great shoe

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 4
ASICS Novablast 6
ASICS SUPERBLAST 2
Novablast 4
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
9 oz M
—
—
Stack
42/34mm
—
—
Drop
8mm
—
7mm
Release
2023 Q4
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 (97%)
Very good (90%)
Exceptional (99%) Best cushioning
Durability
Very good (90%)
Below average (32%)
Exceptional (99%) Best durability
Appearance
Above average (67%)
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 4 sits

The Novablast line

Compare every Novablast version

Reviewers came to it from

More from ASICS

All ASICS running shoes, rated