ASICS Novablast 5 introduction:
ASICS’ Novablast series has long been a versatile daily shoe which has brought fun to the run. While some thought that the blast part of the shoe had been dampened in the fourth iteration, everyone has been waiting to see what came next. Quite a lot, that’s what! Moving away from ASICS’ usual small iteration cycle with maybe a different foam or slightly updated upper, the Novablast 5 gets both a brand new foam and a totally new upper.
Have ASICS thrown the baby out with the bathwater or have they brought back the blast?
ASICS Novablast 5 upper:
Andy: Straight out of the gate, the Novablast 5 looks good. The new jacquard mesh in the rather less than poetically named ‘greyish purple’ looks a lot better on foot than it does in some photos. Aesthetics aside, the upper’s new material adds a lot more stretch than the previous versions. Admittedly, my last Novablast were a selection of the 2 which I picked up for cheap from an ASICS outlet but I have had the more recent iterations in hand and can confirm the new softness.
This softness adds to the excellent step in feel of the shoe. The plushness of the upper is balanced with the stretch offered in the forefoot. Sliding into the Novablast 5 is like a warm embrace for the foot. This is helped by the new tongue which has a material which feels akin to a space age sleeping bag for the foot. It wraps the foot well and the padding protects the top of the foot from any lace pressure. Two ‘tongue wings’ as ASICS have named the gussets really help the feeling of lockdown.
Breathability feels good so far. Although, I have only had the chance to test it in a British November so the temperatures have hardly been soaring. The padding around the heel collar and ankle cutouts may become a moisture magnet during warmer months, but I’ll have to wait about 6 months to find out!
Overall, the upper is a fantastic upgrade which really treats the foot well.
ASICS Novablast 5 midsole: Pure Fun (and instability)
Andy: One of my favourite genres of shoe are those which allow you to run easy runs too fast. The New Balance Rebel is a prime example of this genre for me. The Novablast 5 is another fantastic exa mple of this. The FFBlastMAX foam is fabulous so far. Light, bouncy and soft. My first run in the Novablast 5 caused me to get moaned at by my running buddies. The morning run turned into a morning tempo because the midsole rides so well, so smoothly and offers so much bounce the run felt effortless.
That said, for me, the foam works well at every pace I have used it at so far. From easy runs pushing 6:30/km to harder tempo reps at around 3:45/km it has felt excellent. The forefoot feels bottomless and the rebound is wonderful. Even on legs trashed by 8.5km of cross country racing in spikes, they felt very enjoyable to run in. However, there is one caveat, if you are a person who needs some stability elements to keep themselves injury free, this is probably best avoided.
The ride of the Novablast 5 is enjoyable on both roads and track, it protects the legs from shock while returning a good amount of energy. When slowing down, the FFBlastMAX sinks and softens. When turning up the pace, it rebounds really well. The 8mm drop also helps with getting the foot rolling through the gait cycle.
Overall, this has been an excellent upgrade to the Novablast series. The FFBlastMAX is a foam which I would very much like to see in some other shoes as it brings so much fun to the run. Stability runners beware, this does not offer much in that department, but hey, who needs ankles anyway?
ASICS Novablast 5 outsole:
Andy: Now, this has been quite a glowing report card so far. Here’s the catch. The AHAR low-density outsole material hasn’t always felt the most secure on damper, frostier mornings. When the pavement has been slimy with damp, autumn leaf fall, the Novablast 5 can feel a little skittish with the mix of low adhesion rubber and very soft midsole material. I have definitely found myself taking a few corners with a little more caution than usual, especially at pace.
While the outsole might not be Saucony Endorphin Speed 1 and 2 levels of friction free, it certainly won’t be challenging PUMAGRIP for any adhesion crowns this year. That said, on dry pavements and gravel paths which I have run on, the grip has been adequate.
ASICS Novablast 5 conclusion:
Andy: I have been fortunate enough to test a wide range of shoes this year. Some have been absolute bangers, some have left me flat. However, it seems like I might have just received my shoe of the year in the form of the Novablast 5. It gives me everything I love from a running shoe. Secure, comfortable fit. Soft, bouncy midsole. A big smile on my face when haring around the streets at 5:30am. For runners who don’t need stability and want a bit of versatility in their lives, head to ASICS on December 1st and treat yourself to an early Christmas present. For those who need stability, you might want to look elsewhere.
Overall, I just want to say, thanks ASICS, the Novablast 5 has put the fun back into some dark, dreary running this November.