Daily trainer · Neutral · Road · 8.5 oz · Men's 42/34mm · women's 41/33mm stack · 8mm drop
Variants of this shoe
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. Cushioning and value are its strongest sub-ratings. Durability scores well below its other sub-ratings. The rating is based on 18 runner reviews and 5 other rated shoes in the Novablast product line.
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
89 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.
“They have everything I love about the 4's but somehow feel lighter, even bouncier, and more breathable.”
“I'm retiring them at 450 miles right now and I can say confidently these are dead.”
“Perfect amount of responsiveness and cushioning for a daily trainer.”
“The energy return is really fun, especially when I go from easy pace to 5k effort.”
“It's just egging you on to run faster every time you get out there.”
“You maybe start to notice a decline after 250 miles.”
“Their cushioning seems to drop off after about 300 miles.”
“Super comfortable and light weight.”
“I definitely feel more pop in them compared to neutral trainers like my Brooks Ghost 16.”
“After about 350 miles though, the shoes stop giving you as much back.”
“They're a great value and their standard size is good for a slightly wider foot.”
“I wear a size 13 in all shoes but go with a 12.5 in every Novablast including version 5.”
“Out of the box this shoe is very very bouncy.”
“I overpronate when running, especially when exhausted, so I probably need more stability.”
“Great daily trainer that lets you pick up the pace without getting beat up.”
“They are definitely my all time favorite shoe for long runs!”
100% 4/4
83% 5/6
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Prices last updated on Oct 22, 2026 at 8:31 AM 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.
Report a wrong price
Prices last updated on Oct 22, 2026 at 3:00 AM UTC (19 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.
Report a wrong price
Prices last updated on Oct 22, 2026 at 7:32 PM UTC (3 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 Oct 22.
Amazon prices change often.
Buy at Amazon for $130 · 13% off
BuyRating & 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
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
Novablast 5 This shoe
2025 · 19 reviews
98 Exceptional
89 Confidence
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
Sizing and ride details at a glance.
Men's
8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 10.5, 11, 11.5, 12, 12.5, 13
7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 10.5, 11, 11.5, 12, 12.5
41, 42, 42.5, 43, 44, 44.5, 45, 45.5, 46, 47, 47.5
Women's
7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10
5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8
38, 38.5, 39, 40, 40.5, 41, 42
5/5
Overall
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
5/5
Overall
Nathan Riediger · Jul 2, 2026
40 mpw avg pace 8:50 532 miles in this shoe training for a marathon would buy again
5/5
Overall
Treno2 · Jun 9, 2026
50 mpw avg pace 8:00 400 miles in this shoe training for 5K and 10K would buy again
5/5
Overall
Anonymous runner · Jun 7, 2026
would buy again
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
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