ASICSMen's NOVABLAST 5 Running Shoes

The media could not be loaded. 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.

All right all right all right.Performance and comfort ✔️5K run and 30 seconds off avg mile pace on not so fresh legs at 10pm at night. I felt the spring immediately when I started. Nova blast out the start. 5 days ago couldn't hardly walk after run and biking due to pain in arch of foot something like plantar fascyiatis. I get it from shoes with major heal toe drop like adizeros and NB super comp trainers pictured. Outer small toes slightly sore or raw after run. Noticed the details say added pressure here which I will take any day over sore arch or foot. Super light, soft and springy. These seem perfect and I'm thinking about getting gel nimbus 27 to rotate. My drop in time and comfort or no pain is proof in the pudding. Yes it's just 1 run but I'm very convinced.ComparisonFirst max cushion was nike invincible run. Felt like pillows. They great but lack the spring and performance. They go flat too but mine are over a year old. I ran in them yesterday on gravel trail bc of the traction. Bulky. Gel nimbus 24? I think. Great. Been running in them. No spring like these nova blast 5s. Don't feel very soft and lil bulky. Nb super comp trainers and adizeros are very similar to me. Lack stability in the heel and cause me foot pain in my arch. Not running in them again. I used to only run in asics and should have stuck with them. Plan to going forward. I got the teal ones. True to size.

First of all. I’d like to thank the seller. Great customer service and turn around on these being shipped out. Everything came excellent and their A-Z policy return was very clear and concise.For the sneakers, I’ve never bought a non major brand sneaker in my life (Nike & Adidas) but recently I started working out to burn fat and I typically enjoy jogging out doors doing HIIT. Unfortunately, I started suffering from soreness near the front of my leg. I am thinking is the beginning of shin splits. Did a bit of research and ended up in RunRepeat.com and had discovered I suffer from overpronation. I looked at my previous sneakers and determined this was true. Finally, I looked at their best shoe for heel strikers and wa-la. There it was, the NovaBlast.When I say these feel like legit walking on clouds, it is walking in clouds! I put them to the test today since I am a bit still sore and I under performed on Tuesday. After a 1 day recovery and some ice, and still slightly sore…I did my whole work out routine and while still sore I performed better than I did on Tuesday and did not exacerbate my soreness. If anything I was fatigued from just general end of the week tired. I am looking to push myself next week with these and highly highly recommend these sneakers and this seller!! A++

I absolutely loved my Novablast 3, but after logging over 1,000 miles of road running, it had understandably started to wear out. While searching for a replacement, I was disappointed to find that the NB3 had been discontinued. The Novablast 4, unfortunately, didn't live up to expectations and was eventually pulled by Asics as well.I was initially hesitant to try the Novablast 5. Online reviews described it as faster than the NB3 and a clear improvement over the NB4, which piqued my interest. After a few runs, I’ve grown to like the NB5—it’s remarkably comfortable. In terms of performance, I’d say it’s on par with the NB3. I didn’t find it noticeably faster, but I’m pleased that it handles long runs with ease, without putting strain on my feet or ankles.

Why did you pick this product vs others?: these are great shoes very comfortable. to be cushioned so much, they are very stable and even have a little spring to them while walking.i have very wide feet and worried about fit. but these actually fit pretty darn good! they do not rub the side of my big toe. my new favorites