Weight: Men's: 260g / Women's: 225g
Stack height: Men's: 41.5mm / 33.5mm / Women's: 40.5mm / 32.5mm
Heel-to-toe drop: 8mm
Type: Nonbelligerent
The shoe
First launched in 2020, the Asics Novablast quickly gained a reputation as a great neutral shoe with serious bounce, versatility and longevity. The Novablast is up there with some of the Runners World Gear Awards 2024 we've tested, thanks to its perfect blend of cushioning and zip. And thankfully, the v4 retains this ideal balance.
It features Asics’ new FF Blast Plus Eco foam, providing runners with the same signature Novablast bounce and responsiveness that they’ve grown to love, but now with at least 20% bio-based material from renewable sources, including leftover waste from sugar cane processing.
Another major update is a new 'trampoline-inspired' outsole for maximum bounce. It has also been given additional grip to make it capable of handling a wider variety of surfaces.
Up top, the Novablast 3’s engineered mesh upper is replaced with an engineered woven upper, along with an upgraded stretch gusseted constructed tongue for better breathability.
As for the price, fans will be relieved to hear that the Asics Novablast 4 retails at £135 – the same as the current version – and is now available to buy.
First impressions
Although we've not had our hands on the shoe for very long, after just two weeks of testing, we're already hooked. As soon as you slip these on, they feel instantly comfortable – and trampoline-like (you can't help but start to jump up and down on the spot to test out the bounce!). The breathable woven upper wraps the foot securely and the lightly padded tongue sits comfortably across the top of the foot. They fit true to size, too, with plenty of room in the toebox but a slightly snugger fit in the midfoot, which creates the feeling of the shoe cradling the foot.
On the run, they feel even better. The stack height has increased slightly in the Novablast 4, and the thick wad of FF Blast Plus Eco foam underfoot delivers a superbly bouncy – yet snappy – ride. They don't feel like an easy-going daily trailer as the midsole cushioning is a little stiff – as though there may even be a carbon plate sandwiched in there – and their bouncy stiffness really encourages you to push the pace. As well as the propulsive cushioning, you also get a rocker profile and a toe spring in the forefoot which helps to create noticeable momentum at toe-off. Additionally, beneath the shoe are deep parallel grooves running along the full length on either side, with a central diamond-shaped pod in the forefoot, and this 'trampoline-inspired' outsole design works with the cushioning to create even more energy return.
We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article long runs and The best running shoes for 2024, expert-tested but, actually, all of the aforementioned features combine to make the Novablast 4 a very capable shoe for faster sessions, too. Don't get us wrong, they still function well as a daily runner but also have a very distinct performance quality to them. They really are the sort of pair you'd want to pack if you're off travelling and can only bring one pair to do everything.
Runners World Gear Awards 2024.
