ASICS Novablast 6 Review: A Physio's Take
The Novablast 5 was one of the most popular daily trainers going around, so version 6 had a fair bit to live up to. I've had a good look at it in store, and the short version is that ASICS hasn't reinvented anything here. They've taken what worked and sharpened it.
Here's the quick version on video, then I'll break it down properly below.
What's changed underfoot
The midsole still runs on FF BLAST™ MAX, the same foam that gave the Novablast 5 that trampoline-like feel. What's new is a forefoot pod running FF TURBO™ SQUARED — the livelier, more propulsive foam ASICS uses in its faster shoes.
As the name suggests, the Novablast has always been about that bouncy toe-off, and the 6 leans further into it. The pod sits exactly where you load through late stance, so the pop is most obvious when you pick up the pace rather than when you're plodding through an easy Sunday run.
Lighter, narrower, more agile
It's a light shoe — noticeably lighter than the 5, at around 255g in a men's and 220g in a women's. The platform is also a touch narrower than the previous version.
That narrower base is the trade-off worth understanding. It makes the shoe feel agile and quick to roll through, which is great if you like a nimble trainer with a lot of cushion under you. But if you're someone who wants a wide, planted platform — or you tend to feel a bit wobbly late in long runs — the narrower base may not give you as much to stand on as the 5 did.
A physio's read on who it suits
The 8mm drop sits in neutral territory, so it's not asking anything unusual of your calves or Achilles compared to most daily trainers. Combined with the high stack and soft foam, that makes it a fairly forgiving shoe for accumulating easy kilometres.
Where I'd pause is stability. This is a tall, soft, neutral shoe on a slightly narrower base. If you're a runner who does well with more structure underfoot, or you're coming back from something that has left you feeling unsteady, the Novablast 6 probably isn't the first shoe I'd reach for. That isn't a knock on the shoe — it's just not built for that job.
The honest answer is that this stuff is much easier to sort out with your feet actually in the shoe. If you're not sure which camp you fall into, get into Run Vault and have the team watch you run in a few options before you commit.
The specs
| Weight (Men's) | 255g |
|---|---|
| Weight (Women's) | 220g |
| Heel-to-Toe Drop | 8mm |
| Stack Height | 41.5mm heel / 33.5mm forefoot |
| Midsole | FF BLAST™ MAX + FF TURBO™ SQUARED forefoot pod |
| Outsole | ASICSGRIP™ |
| Support | Neutral |
| Best For | Daily training, long runs, tempo efforts |
The verdict
For a similar price to the shoe it replaces, the Novablast 6 is a genuine upgrade: lighter, bouncier through the forefoot, and more versatile across the range of runs most people are doing week to week. It'll benefit the majority of runners, and I suspect we'll see plenty of them on the road and at parkrun over the next few months.
If you loved the 5, you'll like this. If you wanted the 5 to be wider and more stable, this isn't that shoe — and that's worth knowing before you buy.
Shop the ASICS Novablast 6
Shayle | Physio at Kor Physio
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