- Weight: 220g (women’s), 253g (men’s)
- Type: Neutral cushioned, road
- Health & Injuries
The shoe
The Novablast 3 is already one of the most talked-about new launches of the year - and they haven't even got a carbon plate in them. In fact, they really are just a standard everyday neutral trainer, so can they really live up to the hype? Spoiler alert: yes, they can.
The previous versions of the Novablast quickly gained a reputation as a great neutral shoe with serious bounce and good longevity. Some runners did find it a little unstable, largely because of the wedge of cushioning (though this seems to be increasingly the new standard with running shoes) but the general consensus was that Asics had made a great shoe and also one with a quite different feel to any of their other daily training shoes, like the always popular Gel-Cumulus or Gel-Nimbus.
The third version of the Novablast, however, is a significant update on its predecessor, primarily in the midsole where the FF Blast foam has been replaced by FF Blast Plus, making it lighter and bouncier. The result? A super comfortable running shoe which is both well cushioned and light, and has a soft landing that nevertheless gives great energy return. The hype around the shoe is, in this runners view at least, is more than justified.
What is the Novablast 3 like to run in?
The Novablast 3 has the comfortable-straight-out-of-the-box feel every runner wants. The newly redesigned soft knit upper is both comfortable and rather more stylish than some of the old school Asics trainers, which tend to look - well, let's say utilitarian to be kind.
Even just standing in them, you can tell the Novablast are properly bouncy. You can feel that stack of cushioning, yet from the outset, the foam never feels overly soft and squidgy. From first wear, it's clear that this is a shoe that you could wear for easy runs and long runs, but also those where you might want to pick up the tempo. In fact in testing, I often ended up running slightly quicker than planned, just because the shoe feels so responsive and great to run in. It’s not a race or speed shoe, by any means - nor is it claiming to be - but the energy return it offers means it’s still a great shoe for something a little faster, like a tempo Best winter running gear.
Published: 05 October 2022?
The Novablast 3 fits true to size. The toe box is perhaps on the wider side of average, but still within ‘normal’ range. The knit upper is very comfortable - perhaps a little more snug fitting than previous versions of the shoe, but again nothing particularly restrictive or noticeable when actually running.
The Novablast 3 is really well padded around the heel area, particularly give how light it is (for an everyday trainer, anyway) and the heel lock is good. As is now increasingly commonplace with what you might call the new generation of running shoes, there is a big wedge of cushioning. In some shoes, that can lead to stability issues, at least on uneven ground or when dealing with sudden turns or changes of direction. The Novablast 3, however, counteracts any instability with a really well fitting upper and heel. They felt secure at all times, whether running in a straight line or dodging and weaving on a busy day on the roads.
How is the Novablast 3 different to the Novablast 2?
The most significant update on the previous Novablast is really to be found in the foam that comprises the midsole. This is now the higher spec FF Blast Plus foam, which is specifically designed to offer a “bouncy running experience” - and it certainly delivers on that. The Novablast 3 is also lighter than the 2, by approximately 22g.
The newly redesigned "Notch Tongue Construction" is very thin, and has a sort of bifurcated wing shape, which initially made me wonder if it would move around a bit when running, but that absolutely wasn't the case. ASICS say that the new construction allows the tongue to cradle the foot to reduce potential pressure points. Like all the best features of a running shoe, this basically equates to not noticing anything at all during the run: a good fit, after all, is a fit you don't really even notice. And the lack of tongue padding certainly also aids the shoe to be lighter overall that the Novablast 2.
What shoes do they compare to in other brands?
It's always useful to compare to shoes from other brands that fulfil a similar role. That's not to say they feel the same when running, but I would equate them with other very versatile daily shoes, like the Nike Pegasus, or the at Sports Shoes (though the latter does have a plastic plate). In other words, they are a can-wear-everyday, workhorse of a shoe - though also zippier than that implies.
RW verdict
The Novablast 3 have almost immediately become my favourite daily running shoes - the kind you'd pack on holiday when you can only take one pair to do all your runs in. I find myself reaching for them when I'm tired and need cushioning for weary joints, when I want to run long, or when I want to start easy but build up the pace a bit: this is a shoe that can fulfil a lot of different roles. For £135 there are of course cheaper shoes on the market, but value wise, they are a great buy. I've now done over 150 miles in them and they show very little sign of wear, and feel just as bouncy as they did on the first run. Anyone looking for a good all-round running shoe, for a neutral gait, with the perfect blend of cushioning and zip - look no further.
