By Kieran Alger
When it comes to do-it-all daily trainers, ASICS has really upped its game. The max-stack ASICS Superblast 2 – a shoe that can handle almost any run – has been a big hit. Now we’ve got the new ASICS Novablast 5. Another big stack daily that almost promises to be a Superblast 2 Lite. But is it? And which is the best running shoe for you?
I’ve put in plenty of test miles in both shoes and I’ve picked up some important differences. I’m here to help you work out what’s the best ASICS running shoe and which one might suit you best.
Get the verdict in my ASICS Novablast 5 vs ASICS Superblast 2 comparison.
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Stack Height, Drop, Weight and Price
The ASICS Novablast 5 is a max stack cushioned shoe with a large geometric midsole that sits you on top of 41.5mm of foam in the forefoot and 33.5mm in the heel for an 8mm drop.
But if the Novablast 5 is big, the Superblast 2 is massive. The ASICS Superblast 2 has the same 8mm drop but puts even more midsole underfoot with a whopping 45mm in the heel and 37mm in the forefoot.
When it comes to weight, in our US 9.5 test shoe, the now lighter ASICS Novablast 5 tips the scales at a pretty impressive 8.9oz / 251g. That’s virtually the same as the ASICS Superblast 2 which weighs in at 8.9oz / 254g.
On price, the RRP for the ASICS Novablast 5 is $140 while the more premium ASICS Superblast 2 will set you back a princely $200.
Stats
Runing shoes | Superblast 2 | Novablast 5 |
|---|---|---|
Best for | Daily miles Plush comfort | Daily miles |
Support | Neutral | Neutral |
Cushion | Max cushioning | Max cushioning |
Stack Height | 45mm heel 37mm forefoot | 41.5mm heel 33.5mm forefoot |
Drop | 8mm | 8mm |
Weight | 8.9oz / 254g | 8.9oz / 251g |
Suggested Retail Price | $200 | $140 |
Fit | True to size | True to size |
Rating | 9.5 / 10 | 9 / 10 |
Design
In the grand scheme of things, these are both big shoes. The ASICS Novablast 5 packs a max-stack midsole from a new Flytefoam Blast Max foam that’s tuned to be softer but also deliver more bounce than the Novablast 4. There’s a large rocker to smooth the transitions and a reduced heel extension to cut the weight and improve the ride for heel strikers.
The ASICS Superblast 2 uses a full-length layer of the brand’s Flytefoam Turbo Plus. The same foam used in the ASICS Metaspeed range. Despite its extra bulk, this high-stack, max-cushioned shoe remains light for a shoe with this level of cushioning.
Up top, the Superblast 2 has an excellent new engineered mesh upper that intelligently adds tighter-knit structure in some places and leaves flex and breathability in others. The Novablast 5 now opts for a premium Jacquard mesh that takes styling cues from the Superblast.
The heel package and tongues are similar. There’s a touch more roll-top padding on the Novablast 5 heel collars but you’re getting plushness on both. The excellent, flatter, gusseted wrapping tongues are also virtually the same.
Flip them over, and there’s an important difference in the outsole rubber choice. The ASICS Novablast 5 sticks to a relatively standard covering of ASICS AHAR Lo rubber. While the ASISC Superblast 2 uses AHAR Plus – a much grippier outsole compound.
ASICS Superblast 2
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ASICS Novablast 5
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Fit
On fit, I ran in my regular ASICS shoe size – a US 9.5 – in both shoes. These are two roomy, accommodating shoes with ample length and room in the toe box. Good lockdown across the midfoot, reliable hold in the heels and plenty of wiggle room that’s ideal for long-mile comfort.
The Novablast 5 are notably more spacious and some might find there’s too much room. If you have narrow feet or like a snug fit, it might be worth considering half a size down in the Novablast 5 but otherwise I’d stay true to size in both.
Performance
In testing, I’ve run north of 50 miles in the ASICS Novablast 5. I’ve run a touch more in the ASICS Superblast 2, including a solo marathon around London, not in race conditions. I’ve covered a range of paces from slow recovery up to intervals at 5km pace. And everything in between.
The minute you put the shoes on, you not only feel the higher stack in the ASICS Superblast 2, you also notice an extra stiffness and firmness in the midsole compared to the softer Novablast 5 which sinks more on footstrike.
The Superblast 2 is still highly cushioned but that midsole holds up firmer with some added stiffness that helps create a snappier roll through and smoother transition. There's more immediacy as a result and a touch more spring in the toe off.
On the flipside, the Superblast 2 is a bigger shoe on the foot. They weigh the same but you notice the general extra heft of the platform. The Novablast 5 is more precise and feels more nimble thanks to a more compact design. It’s not a particularly compact shoe. It’s just more compact than the monster Superblast 2.
Stability wise, I quite like the firmness of the Superblast 2 provides a more reliable and stable platform. There’s some motion, or wobble, into the Novablast 5. It’s not major but I picked it up, particularly at slower paces – or striking further back into the heels.
If you've run in the Superblast 2, or you've watched reviews that made you think they might be a little bit too stiff for the long miles – and you wanted more softness – the Novablast 5 could be the way to go. The ride relies more on the foam compressing deeper and getting energy from the bounceback. It feels softer, particularly at slower paces and that creates a ride that’s arguably less punchy but ultimately more protective.
For some runners, the Novablast 5 will be a bit more accommodating for going slower and longer. Whereas if you don't mind running in a big shoe, the Superblast 2 is better at cruising tempo paces.
My Verdict
After my very first run in the ASICS Novablast 5 – where I ran well and the shoes returned good energy – I was wondering if they might be a more affordable alternative to the ASICS Superblast 2. A sort of Superblast Lite. But after logging many more miles in both shoes, that’s not quite the case. They largely cater for the same kinds of runs but handle them in a slightly different way.
Both shoes are enticingly versatile but the Superblast 2 is by far the more energetic with a smoother ride and a more consistent punch. The Novablast 5 has energy, and it’s also a capable cruiser, but the softer edge just isn’t quite as encouraging as the ride you get from the Superblast 2.
There’s enough cushion on both shoes to eat easy miles in relative comfort. But I find they can get a bit sluggish at the very slowest paces, or at least when you’re running with a heavier form.
When it comes to the fastest training, for some runners, both blast shoes might be a bit too much shoe on the foot for tackling things like intervals. Though if you don’t mind a bigger shoe, you can do these sessions in either shoe. They just don’t excel at it.
For me the sweet spot for the ASICS Novablast 5 and the Superblast 2 is really cruising, from around my marathon pace to tempo.
The ASICS Superblast 2 is a better shoe all round. The grip’s superior, the ride is snappier and it still covers slower miles as comfortably.
If you’re taking money out of the question, I’d choose the Superblast 2. I think on balance it’s the more accomplished all rounder.
The answer is probably yes. Would they be as good? I don’t think so.
If you’re looking for a cheaper alternative to the Superblast 2, I actually think the Novablast 4 runs more like it.
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