Our verdict
Pros
- Super bouncy
- Cushy feel for miles
- Breathable
- Light AF
- Ready for cornering
- Locks you in
- Tongue stays in place
- Grippy outsole
- Mad durable
- Sets the bar for a do-it-all shoe
Cons
- For narrow-to-medium feet only
- Stack heights higher than advertised
Audience verdict
- Top 10% in road running shoes
- Top 18% in ASICS running shoes
- Top 9% most popular running shoes
Comparison
The most similar running shoes compared
+ + Add a shoe | |||||
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Audience score | 91 Superb! | 88 Great! | N/A | 89 Great! | |
Price | $140 | $140 | $140 | $150 | |
Pace | Daily runningSpeed training | Daily running | Daily runningSpeed training | Daily running | |
Arch-support | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | |
Weight lab Weight brand | 8.5 oz / 242g 8.9 oz / 252g | 9.1 oz / 259g 9 oz / 255g | 9 oz / 254g 9 oz / 255g | 9.5 oz / 270g 9.4 oz / 266g | |
Lightweight | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | |
Drop lab Drop brand | 6.8 mm 8.0 mm | 8.2 mm 8.0 mm | 7.4 mm 8.0 mm | 11.1 mm 5.0 mm | |
Strike pattern | Mid/forefoot | HeelMid/forefoot | HeelMid/forefoot | Heel | |
Size | True to size | True to size | - | - | |
Midsole softness | Soft | Soft | Soft | Soft | |
Difference in midsole softness in cold | Big | Small | Big | Big | |
Toebox durability | - | Good | Bad | - | |
Heel padding durability | - | Good | Decent | Bad | |
Outsole durability | - | Bad | Good | - | |
Breathability | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | |
Toebox width at the widest part | Medium | Medium | Medium | Medium | |
Toebox width at the big toe | - | Medium | Medium | - | |
Stiffness | Moderate | Moderate | Flexible | Stiff | |
Difference in stiffness in cold | Big | Normal | Small | Normal | |
Torsional rigidity | Stiff | Stiff | Stiff | Stiff | |
Heel counter stiffness | Flexible | Stiff | Moderate | Flexible | |
Rocker | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
Heel lab Heel brand | 37.2 mm 31.0 mm | 36.8 mm 38.5 mm | 40.9 mm 41.5 mm | 42.7 mm 40.0 mm | |
Forefoot lab Forefoot brand | 30.4 mm 23.0 mm | 28.6 mm 30.5 mm | 33.5 mm 33.5 mm | 31.6 mm 35.0 mm | |
Widths available | Normal | NormalWideX-Wide | NormalWide | Normal | |
Orthotic-friendly | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
Season | All seasons | All seasons | All seasons | All seasons | |
Removable-insole | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
Ranking | #38 Top 8% | #103 Top 36% | #193 Bottom 32% | #87 Top 31% | |
Popularity | #43 Top 9% | #77 Top 27% | #55 Top 20% | #170 Bottom 40% |
Who should buy
This shoe can do many things. And if you're eyeing a shoe that's any of the following, we think that the Novablast 3 might be the one for you:
- a running shoe for jogs and long, slow runs
- a daily trainer that's light and responsive for uptempo training
- a solid option for marathon runs
Who should NOT buy
Even though we find the ASICS Novablast 3 to be nearly perfect, it still has a few caveats here and there. One, it's a tad narrow. And two, it's more expensive now by £10.
If you need a little more wiggle room, have a look at Saucony Endorphin Speed 3. And if you want a shoe that won't break the bank, the Brooks Launch 10 is a budget option that will surprise you.
Cushioning
Heel stack
The ASICS Novablast 3 is a massively cushioned running shoe. And it was easily confirmed by our calliper measurement.
Our tool showed an impressive 37.2 mm of heel stack height! That is almost 4 mm taller than the average road running shoe and is within 16% tallest shoes in our lab!
We got tonnes of impact protection and underfoot comfort from the Novablast 3, no matter what distance we covered that day.
Novablast 3 | 37.2 mm |
Average | 33.9 mm |
Forefoot stack
The shoe's forefoot cushioning is just as generous, measuring 30.4 mm of stack height. That's a good 6 mm taller than average!
Novablast 3 | 30.4 mm |
Average | 25.3 mm |
Drop
However, to our surprise, the shoe's heel-to-toe drop turned out to be a little lower than stated. We measured it at 6.8 mm, while it is stated to be 8 mm.
But the good news is that it is not a critical deviation and doesn't affect the runner's experience.
Novablast 3 | 6.8 mm |
Average | 8.6 mm |
Midsole softness
The shoe is comfy as hell! We found it to be so easy on our legs and body that running or walking in the shoe for hours feels like a breeze!
We attribute that to the shoe's very cushy and forgiving ride.
Checking the foam softness with a durometer, we can confirm that it is indeed one of the softest shoes not only from ASICS but on the market in general. At 13.5 HA, it is 77% softer than the average.
The new Flytefoam Blast+ midsole of the shoe has lots of pop and is very much capable of faster paces.
Novablast 3 | 13.5 HA |
Average | 21.1 HA |
Midsole softness in cold (%)
Even when exposed to cold temperatures (20 minutes in our freezer) and getting 52% firmer, the Flytefoam Blast+ still remains much softer than most running shoes at room temperature.
With a durometer measurement of 20.5 HA, the Novablast 3 is 47% softer than the average "frozen" foam.
Novablast 3 | 52% |
Average | 26% |
Insole thickness
This ASICS shoe features a moderately padded insole. With a thickness of 4.4 mm, it is just about the same as the average.
Novablast 3 | 4.4 mm |
Average | 4.5 mm |
Size and fit
The ASICS Novablast 3 is a massively cushioned running shoe. And it was easily confirmed by our calliper measurement.
Our tool showed an impressive 37.2 mm of heel stack height! That is almost 4 mm taller than the average road running shoe and is within 16% tallest shoes in our lab!
We got tonnes of impact protection and underfoot comfort from the Novablast 3, no matter what distance we covered that day.
Size
ASICS Novablast 3 is true to size (104 votes).
Toebox width - widest part
The Novablast 3 has a very snug one-to-one fit but it never felt constricting on our medium-width feet.
Measuring the toebox at its widest part, our calliper showed 96 mm which is only 2 mm narrower than the average of road shoes. But this might still be narrow enough for wide-footed runners to consider more spacious alternatives.
Novablast 3 | 95.9 mm |
Average | 98.5 mm |
Stability
Lateral stability test
Despite the extra stack, the ride felt quite stable and secure to us.
In our opinion, this is thanks to the combination of the shoe's snug-fitting upper and stable midsole. Prior to this version, the foam was too squishy, which compromised the shoe's surefootedness.
But in the third iteration, our feet never felt as if they were about to topple over!
Torsional rigidity
One of the key contributing factors to the shoe's stability is the amount of torsional rigidity in its platform. And the best way we can assess this is by twisting the shoe with our hands.
The Novablast 3 has a lot of stiffness to it! It convinced us to rate it as 4 out of 5 on a scale where 5 is the stiffest.
Novablast 3 | 4 |
Average | 3.3 |
Heel counter stiffness
As for the heel portion of the shoe, despite its soft and flexible nature, we have zero complaints regarding its ability to hold the heel in place.
Subjectively assessing the heel stiffness, we gave it 2 out of 5, where 5 is the stiffest.
Novablast 3 | 2 |
Average | 2.9 |
Midsole width - forefoot
The Novablast 3 also gets a good deal of stability from a rather wide platform.
Based on our calliper measurement, the widest part of the shoe's forefoot midsole is 115.9 mm. This is almost 3 mm wider than average.
Novablast 3 | 115.9 mm |
Average | 114.0 mm |
Midsole width - heel
Back in the heel, we also found that the midsole gets wider than most road shoes.
Our calliper shows that the widest part here is 93.9 mm, almost 4 mm wider than average.
Novablast 3 | 93.9 mm |
Average | 90.7 mm |
Flexibility / Stiffness
The ASICS Novablast 3 is not from the flexible bunch but it's right at the average across all of our lab-tested shoes.
We should note, however, that a moderate level of stiffness makes the shoe's ride more propulsive.
Novablast 3 | 30.6N |
Average | 28.2N |
Weight
The lightness of this ASICS shoe made it feel at home for both fast and slow paces.
Putting the shoe on our scale, we found that the ASICS Novablast 3 weighs only 8.5 oz (242g)! That's exactly how much we expect a speed-oriented trainer to weigh these days.
Novablast 3 | 8.54 oz (242g) |
Average | 9.38 oz (266g) |
Breathability
The mesh upper on the Novablast 3 scores high on our breathability tests. You can see how much more smoke passes through it compared to the ASICS Kayano 29 on the right.
But on a 1-5 scale, where 5 is the most breathable, we had to give it a 3 because it took a few seconds for the toebox material to release the smoke.
You can also see how porous the upper is not only in the toebox but all throughout its length.
Novablast 3 | 3 |
Average | 3.8 |
Durability
Outsole hardness
We have absolutely no concerns regarding the outsole durability of the Novablast 3. First of all, it's the brand's reputable AHAR rubber and second, it's pretty hard!
Our durometer shows a reading of 83.0 HC which is firmer than the average measurement of road shoes.
Novablast 3 | 83.0 HC |
Average | 80.1 HC |
Outsole thickness
The Novablast 3 manages to be a lightweight speed trainer without sacrificing outsole protection.
Measuring the thickness of rubber layering the shoe's bottom, we got 3.1 mm. This is as thick as the average!
Novablast 3 | 3.1 mm |
Average | 3.2 mm |
Misc
Grip / Traction
Whether you're running city miles or on paved surfaces, dirt roads, steep, wet, and loose gravel, the outsole of the third Novablast is awesome.
Tongue padding
To our great surprise, the tongue is only 1.3 mm thick and yet does the job!
Novablast 3 | 1.3 mm |
Average | 5.8 mm |
Tongue: gusset type
The shoe's tongue comes in a unique shape that moulds to the ankle. But it works! We experienced no shifting, sliding, or bunching throughout the run. Plus, it's protective against lace bites.
And it stays in place, thanks to its gussets.
Novablast 3 | Both sides (semi) |
ASICS Novablast 3 vs. 2
They may not look radically different but the ASICS Novablast 3 and 2 have quite significant differences. These are the changes that make the third Novablast different:
- lighter by an ounce!
- has more spring
- new mesh upper plus gusseted tongue creates a more supportive fit
A true all-rounder
Whether you're running fast or slow or running short or long distances, the ASICS Novablast 3 will keep you covered. It's an out-and-out versatile shoe. Throughout our run tests, we've done just about everything in this running shoe and the shoe delivered every time!