Men's NOVABLAST 5 Running Shoes

These shoes are beautiful and quality. The vibrant blue color is great and stand out. They take a little getting used to if you're not used to these tall running shoes, but after you get used to it, they're wonderful. They feature a good fit, with the wide variety perfectly fitting my massively wide foot. The mesh upper is very breathable and light. It sort of feels like walking on a bouncy pillow (in a good way). I also notice that my walking time is a little better, so perhaps it does add a bit of spring to your step. They are pricey but super comfortable and look like they will hold up.

These are the only running shoes my husband will purchase. He loves the light weight and quick dry and coolness they offer. He says they are very comfortable. He has referred them to other runners as well. High quality, great fit and excellent stability.

Today, we are reviewing what i call the Jack of All Trades daily trainers, the ASICS NOVABLAST 5. But I will also go into why I think this shoe is perfectly described by the full saying “jack of all trades, master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one” A quick background. This shoe was released back in November 2024 and I’ve had since its initial release. I’ve put about 70 miles in it so far so not quite long term, but i feel comfortable giving my honest opinion on it now. Specs: Starting with the upper, it has a very comfortable, lightweight and breathable Jacquard mesh. The upper is wide and very comfortable for my wide and thick feet. It has a semi-gusseted tongue which is very similar to the Superblast 2, which you guys know I loved. Size wise, i normally wear 11.5 wide (if available) and that is exactly what I got. It fits me perfectly. Very comfortable in the heel area with the thicker foam around the heel so no slippage or need for runners knot. Midsole wise, it has the new Flytefoam Blast Max which is soft and bouncy. Compared to novablast 4 which has the FF blast + eco which was much more firm. It has 41.5mm in the heel and 33.5mm in the forefoot for a 8mm drop. No carbon plate. The shoe is very flexible and not as rigid which helps with the a quicker turnover and doesn’t feel big underfoot. The heel is very wide and stable and the foam is not super compressive so I get a much more stable ride overall. Good value for the money for what it offer in terms of functionality and overall balance. Finally, the outsole is this Ahar Lo rubber outsole and I’m sad to say, it’s not great. It’s very slippery in wet surfaces so you have to be careful when you run in harsher weather. What are they like to run in for a runner like me? They are great! The fit and feel in them is one of my favorites of all the shoes that I have. The foam is soft but the right kind of soft. As I’ve said in the my other videos, I’m not a fan of very unstable and compressive foams. They cause a lot of instability when I’m running especially as a heavier runner. This FF Blast Max though is absolutely perfect blend of soft, stable, and bouncy. It feels soft underfoot, but it’s not super compressive like the 1080’s or other max cushioned shoes. For me personally, it’s a very good blend and it’s stable at the same time. Because i have a wide and thick feet, the shoe fits very well and i didn’t notice any kind of movement or slippage. The lockdown was perfect. However, it may be an issue for anyone who has narrow feet because there is a lot of room in the forefoot. There are a couple of issues that I came across when running in these shoes. While there is a good amount of bounce, these weren’t the greatest for my faster workouts. I felt like i had to really push these shoes along for the faster paces which is around 10min/mile for me. Not saying you can’t do the fast runs in them, it’s just not as propulsive as the EVO SL which has the bounce and the aggressive rocker. Another issues is something i mentioned earlier around the grip of the shoe. It’s very very slippery even though it was supposed to be an upgrade from the novablast 4. So for me, I haven’t been running in them outside in the rain just because I did almost slip a few times when i ran through a slippery path. So just be careful in these. What have I been using these for? Everything! I’ve been using them for my easy run, some long runs, and speed workouts. But here is the reason why I titled the video, jack of all trades but master of none. Don’t get me wrong, it is a very good all around shoe, but it’s not the best any particular thing. For example, it’s not the best for speed workouts because the bounce isn’t quite there compared to other daily trainers like EVO SL. For long runs, they sorta stiffen up for me and lose the bounce so not the best for long runs unlike Superblast 2. But before you get the wrong idea, I actually think it’s a good thing that this shoe is Jack of all trades because isn’t that the whole point of a good daily trainer? Sure there are specific speed shoes for fast workouts, max cushioned shoes for easy recovery days, and long run shoes, but a good daily trainer is one that can do all of the three well. So in my opinion, that is why I like this shoe so much, it does everything for me. I do wish they had better color ways so that I can use them for my travel days. But they are the easiest option for when I don’t want to think about which shoe will work best for a workout.

Super fast delivery on maybe the most comfortable shoes I have ever worn. This is the second pair I have bought, bouncy and pillowy under foot and great for long days on your feet.

I’ve wanting to try the Novablast since version 3. I am glad to finally pulled the trigger. So far I have put on a little over 20 miles on this pair. First, these shoes seems true to size compared with most of my shoe rotation. The heel collar is nicely padded and the tongue is minimal but doesn’t create pressure on the top of the foot. The toe box is roomy with the upper material having some flexibility and fairly breathable. I am a little confused where to use this in my shoe rotation. I have a long run shoe (Saucony Triumph) and shoes for fast workouts (Saucony Speed 2). The Novablast 5 can take the place of both shoes but probably doesn’t give you quite the speed as the Speed 2. It definitely feels well cushioned and quite bouncy. The midsole has the tallest stack height I own measuring 41.5 mm. I think this can be a great all around shoes if you’re only looking for 1 pair of running shoes. I would definitely bring this on a trip because it would be great for walking and also doing a few moderately paced runs. I’m planning to use Novablast for tempo day workouts and maybe some longer runs just to protect the legs from getting too beaten up. I also own 2 pairs of carbon shoes (Nike Vaporfly and Saucony Pro) that I only use for running events. I think the Novablast 5 will suit a lot of runners due to the stability and being fairly lightweight. This shoes is also a great deal too in my opinion. A max cushion shoes usually runs in the $160 range and uptempo shoes will set you back about $170. Overall I’m happy with this purchase and think most people will be too!

My new favorite running shoe! Just did 2 half marathons in these sneakers, would recommend to any runner! I also bought these for my husband and he immediately felt like they propelled him forward. I also now wear these as my work shoes (in the healthcare field and now being on my feet all day has never been easier!) 10/10 recommend for anyone looking for good quality shoe, Fit true to size, Great arch support, Color was exactly like photos online! Not water resistant so I avoid running in the rain with them!

I’ve been using the Novablast 5 for a while now, and overall it’s a solid daily running shoe. The cushioning is soft and comfortable, especially for easy runs and longer distances. It has a smooth ride, and the shoe feels lighter than expected for how much cushioning it offers. The upper is breathable and fits well, with enough room in the toe box to stay comfortable during longer runs. It works well for everyday training and even some moderate pace runs, which makes it pretty versatile. That said, it’s not the most responsive shoe out there. When picking up the pace, it feels a bit less energetic compared to more performance-focused options. The grip is also just okay, especially on wet surfaces.

Super comfortable and breathable. They work great on a treadmill. Much more comfortable during workouts. Super comfortable walking around and driving long distances.

Great pair of running/jogging shoes. Was dealing with shin splints for a while until i switched to this one and noticed massive improvement. Great cushion and feathery feels... amazing shoes !

Exelentes para daily runs. Son muy cómodos y muy estables.

Great pair of trainers. The comfort from these on my first run was brilliant. I am a mid foot striker, unless I am absolutely done then I revert to heel striking. It was pretty good for both. I am also on the heavier side for a runner being 90kg but that did not affect the stability or the cushion.

Excellent

Excelentes, cómodos y dinámicos. Mucho mejor de lo esperado.