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 11–15 of 19 written reviews

Expensive and not very good to look at.

Anilkk · Mar 23, 2024

5/5

Overall

But I love the cushion and comfort

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

Excellent Daily Trainer

Anonymous runner · Mar 10, 2024

5/5

Overall

Comfortable shoe, fits true to size, and really pops off the ground.  It's not plush, but good, medium plush that feels fast.  For runs up to 12 miles or so, it's a joy to run in.  Anything longer than 12, I prefer the SuperBlast.

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

Reader review

0 · Feb 29, 2024

5/5

Overall

I run around 20-30 miles a week and as a high school runner, I use multiple pairs of shoes but this one is the best. It is so versatile and the comfort is just there. I feel like I can push the 4s to around 500 miles maybe even more but they really need to make more colorways. 

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

Comfortable training shoe

daveroesener · Feb 13, 2024

4/5

Overall

I love Hoka's but wanted to try a different brand mainly to mix things up. I needed a new training shoe for my upcoming marathon. I decided to try Asics because i've never owned a pair before. They felt comfortable in the store and have continued to feel comfortable.

The shoe store sales guy convinced me to get insoles so i do have theses added, but they felt good without them as well. 

So far so good, i can see myself logging alot of training miles in them. Not sure if they will be my go to for raceday or not yet. 

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

Solid performance with an affordable price

RG · Feb 12, 2024

5/5

Overall

I'm not saying these shoes are cheap but they are a good price in my eyes for $140 MSRP. They have a distinct bounce with each step that helps my cadence be higher. I love the rocker in the shoe that makes the transitions mindless (in a good way). These run narrow, my direct foot size is 11.2 on one foot and 11 on the other. If you have wide toes your toes might be a little cramped.

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

Where to buy

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Alternatives

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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

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