Expensive and not very good to look at.
5/5
Overall
But I love the cushion and comfort
Anilkk · Mar 23, 2024
20 mpw training for a half marathon came from the adidas Ultraboost DNA
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 4/5
- Appearance
- 4/5
- Value
- 5/5
ASICS Novablast 4
Daily trainer · Neutral · Road · 8.6 oz · Men's 42/34mm · women's 41/33mm stack · 8mm drop
Discontinued — we no longer see this shoe in stock. The ASICS Novablast 5 replaced it
How it ranks
The ASICS Novablast 4 is one of the strongest daily trainers in our data. Value and comfort are its strongest sub-ratings. Looks scores well below its other sub-ratings. The rating is based on 47 runner reviews and 5 other rated shoes in the Novablast product line.
Exceptional
Confidence
How settled the rating is against every other rated shoe. A shoe can rate high on confidence with relatively few reviews of its own when its product line has a long record and external ratings from retailer sites agree. Confidence is low when we have few ratings or when runners disagree.
Confidence
96 Very high
External retailer ratings
We break apart ratings from mass-market retailers and specialty running shops since they serve different audiences.
The middle of the bar marks the typical shoe at each type of retailer. The dot shows where this shoe ranks in comparison.
Based on
The bars show roughly how much each source contributes to this shoe’s rating. Their influence depends on how many reviews we’ve collected, how many earlier versions are in the product line, and the external ratings available.
- Our ratings
- Product line track record
- External ratings
What runners say
“These run narrow. If you have wide toes your toes might be a little cramped.”
“It is bouncy but stable, durable enough for slow work, and quick enough for fast work.”
“They have a distinct bounce with each step that helps my cadence be higher.”
“Way more stable than the previous ones—that was my biggest complaint with the first two.”
“I love the rocker in the shoe that makes the transitions mindless (in a good way).”
“I feel like I can push the 4s to around 500 miles maybe even more.”
“Great shoe—very cushioned and comfortable but not really for anything else except easy days and hills.”
“Responsive enough to use for some workouts and cushioned enough for easy too.”
“It's not plush, but good, medium plush that feels fast.”
“Pressure on middle forefoot the first run—then never came back.”
“Narrower than average in width, average in volume.”
“The cush isn't dead—it just doesn't give you any pop/spring.”
“Comfortable shoe, fits true to size, and really pops off the ground.”
“Traction good with surfaces ranging from concrete to gravel and mud.”
“The foam is a bit firm but it works decent.”
“Cushion is firmer and responsive than average.”
Prefer this shoe over another
63% 12/19
Where to buy
No offers available
Affiliate links included. They never affect our ratings.
Prices updated daily. Last checked Oct 22.
Pros
- Reviewers use it for easy days, long runs and tempo work alike.
- Reviewers call it a workhorse, bouncy but stable, and two have owned three pairs.
- One reviewer finds it noticeably more stable than the first two Novablasts.
Cons
- Two reviewers find it narrower than average through the forefoot.
- Four reviewers find the foam firm rather than springy.
- Appearance draws the lowest ratings of any dimension at 4.2 out of 5, and reviewers ask for more colorways.
Rating & Confidence vs. other shoes for sale
Each dot is one rated shoe for sale, placed by its rating and by how much evidence sits behind it. Shoes toward the top right are both well rated and well established.
Better Shoes Rating
Better Shoes Rating of prior versions of the ASICS Novablast
Each dot is one version of the Novablast, placed by its rating and release year. The gold dot is this shoe.
Release year
-
2026 · 5 reviews
89 Good
73 Confidence
-
2025 · 19 reviews
98 Exceptional
89 Confidence
-
Novablast 4 This shoe
2023 · 47 reviews
98 Exceptional
96 Confidence
-
2022 · 88 reviews
98 Exceptional
99 Confidence
-
2021 · 7 reviews
75 Decent
85 Confidence
-
2020 · 5 reviews
80 Good
78 Confidence
Specs & fit
Sizing and ride details at a glance.
- Weight
- 8.6 oz
- Men's / women's
- Men's 9.2 oz · Women's 7.9 oz
- Release
- 2023 Q4
- MSRP
- $140
- Stack
- Men's 42/34mm · women's 41/33mm
- Drop
- 8mm
Runner reviews
Excellent Daily Trainer
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.
Anonymous runner · Mar 10, 2024
45 mpw training for a half marathon came from the ASICS Superblast
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 5/5
- Appearance
- 5/5
- Value
- 5/5
0
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.
0 · Feb 29, 2024
training for 5K and 10K came from the Saucony Triumph 21
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 5/5
- Appearance
- 5/5
- Value
- 5/5
Comfortable training shoe
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.
daveroesener · Feb 13, 2024
30 mpw training for a marathon came from the NOBULL Knit runners
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 5/5
- Appearance
- 4/5
- Value
- 5/5
Solid performance with an affordable price
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.
RG · Feb 12, 2024
40 mpw training for 5K and 10K came from the ASICS GT-2000 11
- Comfort
- 5/5
- Cushioning
- 5/5
- Durability
- 4/5
- Appearance
- 5/5
- Value
- 4/5
Alternatives
Other shoes worth considering.
More from ASICS
Compared to other shoes
See how this shoe compares to others like it.
ASICS Novablast 4 In Context
More on the ASICS Novablast
- ASICS Novablast 6
- ASICS Novablast 5 next version
- ASICS Novablast 3 previous version
- ASICS Novablast 2
- ASICS Novablast 1
Reviewers Also Ran In
- NOBULL Knit runners 1 runner
- HOKA Arahi 6 1 runner
- Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 39 1 runner