Type a shoe name, like Pegasus, Clifton or Kayano.

ASICS Novablast 5

Daily trainer · Neutral · Road · 9 oz · 8mm drop · 40.5/32.5mm stack · Medium/Narrow/Wide

Variants of this shoe

  • Novablast 5 ATC Edition

Some shoes have multiple versions of what is essentially the same shoe, with variations in style or materials. We try to group these together. Retailers sometimes list a version number wrong, and our system can treat those mislabeled names as variants.

How it ranks

The ASICS Novablast 5 is one of the strongest daily trainers in our data. Value and comfort are its strongest sub-ratings. Durability scores well below its other sub-ratings. The rating rests on 18 runner reviews and 5 other rated shoes in the Novablast product line.

ASICS Novablast 5

of 5

Exceptional

99/100
Overall
99
Value
98
Comfort
97
Cushioning
97
Appearance
75
Durability
74
Confidence

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 will score low when we have few ratings or when runners disagree.

See the product line's history

Confidence

95/100

95

What runners say

“They have everything I love about the 4's but somehow feel lighter, even bouncier, and more breathable.”
5/5 Full review 30 mpw training for a marathon came from the ASICS Novablast 4
“I'm retiring them at 450 miles right now and I can say confidently these are dead.”
5/5 Full review 34 mpw training for 5K and 10K came from the ASICS Novablast 3
“Perfect amount of responsiveness and cushioning for a daily trainer.”
5/5 Full review 45 mpw avg pace 7:30 400 miles in this shoe training for middle distance would buy again came from the New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080 v14
“The energy return is really fun, especially when I go from easy pace to 5k effort.”
5/5 Full review 25 mpw training for 5K and 10K came from the Saucony Endorphin Speed 3
“It's just egging you on to run faster every time you get out there.”
5/5 Full review 34 mpw training for 5K and 10K came from the ASICS Novablast 3
“You maybe start to notice a decline after 250 miles.”
5/5 Full review 45 mpw avg pace 7:30 400 miles in this shoe training for middle distance would buy again came from the New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080 v14
“Their cushioning seems to drop off after about 300 miles.”
5/5 Full review 50 mpw avg pace 8:00 400 miles in this shoe training for 5K and 10K would buy again
“Super comfortable and light weight.”
5/5 Full review 45 mpw avg pace 7:30 400 miles in this shoe training for middle distance would buy again came from the New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080 v14
“I definitely feel more pop in them compared to neutral trainers like my Brooks Ghost 16.”
5/5 Full review 50 mpw avg pace 8:00 400 miles in this shoe training for 5K and 10K would buy again
“After about 350 miles though, the shoes stop giving you as much back.”
5/5 Full review 34 mpw training for 5K and 10K came from the ASICS Novablast 3

Would buy again

100% 4/4

Prefer this shoe over another

80% 4/5

Where to buy

Dick's Sporting Goods
26% off
$110 $150

Yamabuki / Anzu (and 1 other)

Buy at Dick's Sporting Goods
Price as of Sep 13.

Report a wrong price

Prices last updated on Sep 13, 2026 at 7:31 PM UTC (14 hours ago).

Our prices come from feeds the retailers send us. We refresh them every day, but a feed is sometimes wrong. Tell us and we will look into it.

Other retailers
Amazon
$130 13% off
Price as of Sep 14, 8:31 AM UTC.

Report a wrong price

Prices last updated on Sep 14, 2026 at 8:31 AM UTC (1 hour ago).

Our prices come from feeds the retailers send us. We refresh them every day, but a feed is sometimes wrong. Tell us and we will look into it.

Running Warehouse Black / Carrier Grey (and 6 others)
$130 13% off
Price as of Sep 14.

Report a wrong price

Prices last updated on Sep 14, 2026 at 3:00 AM UTC (6 hours ago).

Our prices come from feeds the retailers send us. We refresh them every day, but a feed is sometimes wrong. Tell us and we will look into it.

Affiliate links included. They never affect our ratings.

Prices updated daily. Last checked Sep 14.

Amazon prices change often.

Buy at Dick's Sporting Goods for $110 · 26% off

Buy

Pros

  • Reviewers use them for easy days, tempo runs and track sessions.
  • Runners describe a bouncy, responsive ride that encourages faster paces.
  • 9 oz with a 40.5mm heel stack, light for the cushioning.

Cons

  • Several runners say the cushioning fades after roughly 300 miles.
  • A few reviewers find it runs long and size down half a size.

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.

Confidence
50 60 70 80 90 100 25 50 75 100

Better Shoes Rating

Novablast 5 rates 99. This shoe has very high certainty. See how we rate shoes.

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.

Rating

Release year

We use the reviews of past versions to inform this shoe’s rating. See why.
  • Novablast 6

    2026 · 4 reviews

    70 Below average

    30 Confidence

  • Novablast 5 This shoe

    2025 · 19 reviews

    99 Exceptional

    95 Confidence

  • Novablast 4

    2023 · 47 reviews

    99 Exceptional

    99 Confidence

  • Novablast 3

    2022 · 87 reviews

    99 Exceptional

    100 Confidence

  • Novablast 2

    2021 · 7 reviews

    73 Decent

    78 Confidence

  • Novablast 1

    2020 · 5 reviews

    85 Good

    64 Confidence

Reader Ratings

18 ratings
5/5 15
4/5 3
3/5 0
2/5 0
1/5 0

Specs & fit

Sizing and ride details at a glance.

Weight
9 oz
Release
2025 Q4
MSRP
$150
Widths
Medium, Narrow, Wide
Stack Height
40.5mm heel - 32.5mm toe
Drop Height
8mm

Available sizes

Men's sizes

8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 10.5, 11, 11.5, 12, 12.5, 13

Women's sizes

6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10

Runner reviews

Write a review

Showing 1–5 of 8 written reviews

Perfect trainer

5/5

Overall

Im on my 5th pair of Novablast 5’s right now. It’s my favorite daily of all time. Perfect amount of responsiveness and cushioning for a daily trainer. Super comfortable and light weight. The only downside is The foam eventually bottoms out and isn’t super poppy but I’ve gotten between 350 and 400 miles on all my pairs. You maybe start to notice a decline after 250. That’s happens with most shoes though so not much of a concern. I do most easy runs in these and they handle long runs well. Perfect for easy paces but you could take them up to tempo if you’re doing a long run with some pickups. If you’re doing work faster than tempo I wouldn’t use them though.

Fletch · Jul 16, 2026

45 mpw avg pace 7:30 400 miles in this shoe training for middle distance would buy again came from the New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080 v14

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

Do It All Shoe

5/5

Overall

Great daily trainer that lets you pick up the pace without getting beat up.

Nathan Riediger · Jul 2, 2026

40 mpw avg pace 8:50 532 miles in this shoe training for a marathon would buy again

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

Great value for cushioning and speed

5/5

Overall

My favorite pair of shoes to run in currently. They feel amazing for daily easy runs and they might not be the speediest, but I like them for tempo runs and even some track sessions. I definitely feel more pop in them compared to neutral trainers like my Brooks Ghost 16. The only knock is that their cushioning seems to drop off after about 300 miles, however I am still using them at 400 miles and they still feel fine just not quite as cushioned anymore. They're a great value and their standard size is good for a slightly wider foot.

Treno2 · Jun 9, 2026

50 mpw avg pace 8:00 400 miles in this shoe training for 5K and 10K would buy again

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

Reader review

5/5

Overall

Anonymous runner · Jun 7, 2026

would buy again

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

Swiss Army Shoe

5/5

Overall

Out of the box this shoe is very very bouncy. It's just egging you on to run faster every time you get out there. This feeling continues for about 50 miles until you break them in, then they become very comfortable and they can do a lot. I used these shoes for paces ranging from 9:00 cooldowns and workout at 4 flat mile pace. These shoes can handle anything. I have feet that are longer than most and it fit me fine, so for normal people it may fit long. I don't think people should have much issue with lockdown, I didn't and I have pretty narrow feet. After about 350 miles though, the shoes stop giving you as much back. I'm retiring them at 450 miles right now and I can say confidently these are dead. When compared to the Novablast 3, these start out much more bouncy and quick but by the end they feel much more dead. I still do think these are good shoes and I recommend them for anyone training for any distance, they can get your work done and done well, but know in the later stages of its lifespan it won't be giving you as much and thats ok.

SupahSlowSub5 · Jun 11, 2025

34 mpw training for 5K and 10K came from the ASICS Novablast 3

Comfort
5/5
Cushioning
4/5
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.

Current shoe
Choose a model
Lowest price / Best value
Newest
Lightest / Best overall / Best comfort
Shoe properties
Type
Daily trainer
Daily trainer
Daily trainer
Pronation
Neutral
Neutral
Neutral
Weight
9 oz M
8.5 oz M Lightest
Stack
40.5/32.5mm
40/35mm
Drop
8mm
5mm
Release
2025 Q4
2026 Newest
2023 Q1
MSRP
$150
$155
$145
Best price
$110.47 Lowest price
$154.95
$149.99
Ratings
Overall
Exceptional (99)
Below average (70)
Exceptional (99) Best overall
Comfort
Exceptional (97)
Good (84)
Exceptional (99) Best comfort
Cushioning
Exceptional (97)
Excellent (94)
Exceptional (99) Best cushioning
Durability
Decent (74)
Below average (66)
Very good (92) Best durability
Appearance
Decent (75)
Bottom-tier (60)
Very good (91) Best appearance
Value
Exceptional (98) Best value
Decent (73)
Good (88)
Specific shoe

Search for the exact model to add to this comparison.