ASICS Novablast 6 review

In our opinion, the Novablast 6 is an excellent choice for runners who:

• Land on the midfoot or forefoot and want a versatile shoe that can handle both easy runs and faster workouts without a premium price tag.
• Felt that the Novablast 5 was too bulky and are looking for a more agile ride.
• Want plenty of cushioning and comfort but don't want the extra weight or cost of a premium max-cushioned trainer.
• Are new to running and need one dependable shoe that performs well across a wide range of workouts.

For runners who loved the stable feel of the previous two Novablast generations, version 6 may not be the ideal choice. Instead, we think the Saucony Endorphin Azura is a better fit, delivering outstanding energy return with a more stable ride at a similar price.

We also believe that heel strikers won't benefit as much from this update, as ASICS clearly shifted the design toward midfoot and forefoot runners. Instead, the adidas Adizero EVO SL and the Saucony Ride 19 are stronger alternatives for this group.

With 143 SA in the heel and 130 SA in the forefoot, the ASICS Novablast 6 perfectly illustrates how running shoes have evolved over the last few years.

ASICS' best-selling daily trainer is a true max-cushioned model, delivering enough comfort and versatility to handle everything from short jogs to long runs while accommodating runners of virtually every size and experience level.

The biggest update in this sixth version comes from the midsole. ASICS continues to use FF Blast Max introduced in the Novablast 5, although we found that this iteration uses a new formula with noticeably less bounce. However, ASICS also added a forefoot puck of FF Turbo², the same premium foam that earned widespread praise in the excellent ASICS Megablast.

We sliced twice the Novablast 6 to reveal its internal construction, and before that, we tested its energy return: 55.4% in the heel (which is a bit of a letdown for FF Blast Max) but a fantastic 69.1% in the forefoot thanks to FF Turbo². For this reason, the Novablast 6 shines especially for midfoot and forefoot strikers.

We measured a heel stack height of 39.2 mm, so there are no major surprises here.

The Novablast series has consistently hovered around the 40 mm mark over the past two generations, and we believe that ASICS made the right decision by holding the line instead of chasing even more cushioning. In fact, 39.2 mm may already be slightly more than what many runners would ideally want from this shoe.

The forefoot is generously cushioned too, measuring 32.1 mm in our lab. That places the Novablast 6 firmly in the max-stack category, offering plenty of protection for long-distance runs.

That said, we want to highlight something that we've mentioned in a few other reviews. ASICS has a habit of showcasing only the premium foam in the midsole, as it also did with the Magic Speed 4, while leaving out the less responsive compound that makes up most of the midsole. 

The Novablast 6 follows the same approach. Yes, it features a meaningful section of FF Turbo², but the entire midsole is not made from this foam despite how it appears from the side.

ASICS lists the Novablast 6 with an 8 mm heel-to-toe drop, but our measurements came in at 7.1 mm. Combined with the FF Turbo² forefoot puck, this slightly lower-than-advertised drop makes the shoe even more appealing for runners who naturally land on their midfoot or forefoot.

Now, let's talk about midsole softness. The primary foam is FF Blast Max (again, despite what the midsole branding might suggest...) and we measured it at 35.1 AC.

That's slightly firmer than the Novablast 5, yet it still falls close to the current lab average.

Afterward, we measured the FF Turbo² puck in the forefoot. Here we found a much softer foam, registering just 28.8 AC.

However, there's no need to worry about reduced stability. As we showed earlier in this review, this white foam is fully enclosed within walls of FF Blast Max, preventing unwanted lateral movement while allowing it to compress and expand only vertically. We really think this is a clever design choice from ASICS that adds another layer of fun to the Novablast 6's ride.

We noticed that the ASICS Novablast 6 features a pronounced heel flare that encourages early ground contact and helps roll the foot smoothly through each stride.

At the same time, the forefoot rocker is less aggressive than what we typically see in other max-stack daily trainers. We think this is another good decision from ASICS, as it keeps the shoe feeling natural and easy to run in, especially at slower paces.

ASICS has traditionally favoured a secure, locked-in fit over an especially roomy toebox, and that's exactly what we experienced during our test runs.

Back in the lab, we poured our proprietary gel into the shoe and let it fully set before taking measurements. Our first reading came in at 94.8 mm, confirming the fit we noticed on the run.

At 71.0 mm, the toebox follows a classic tapered shape that works especially well for runners with narrow feet or those who prefer a secure fit with minimal toe movement.

However, it may feel somewhat restrictive for others, particularly during long summer runs when the feet naturally swell.

We then took our third toebox measurement to evaluate the amount of vertical space available inside the shoe.

Here we recorded 27.9 mm, a generous result that should prevent unwanted pressure across the top of the toes. It also leaves enough room for air to circulate more freely inside the toebox, helping improve overall ventilation.

The outsole of the Novablast 6 follows the familiar formula that has defined the series for years. It features large exposed sections of midsole foam recessed below the rubber to reduce premature wear, a forefoot trampoline pod positioned directly beneath the FF Turbo² insert, and rubber coverage around the perimeter.

ASICS also incorporates a few cutouts in the rubber to trim weight, all while using its premium ASICSGRIP compound in the front of the shoe for extra grip.

The new foam configuration and redesigned outsole make the Novablast 6 slightly stiffer than its predecessor, requiring 15.5N in our flex test. Even so, it remains comfortably within the range of a modern daily trainer, offering enough flexibility to feel natural while still providing a smooth, controlled ride.

One of the Novablast's defining traits has always been its low weight for such a highly-cushioned shoe.

Version 6 continues that tradition, coming in slightly lighter than the Novablast 5 at just 8.8 oz or 249g. It's not a dramatic reduction, but any weight savings are always welcome, and we hope ASICS continues this trend with the Novablast 7 next year.

The ASICS Novablast 6 earned a solid breathability score of 80 BR.

The implications of this result are clear. The Novablast 6 does a good job of transporting sweat away from the foot, helping maintain a drier and more comfortable environment inside the shoe. This becomes especially valuable during hot summer runs or when running through light rain.

Our drying potential test also delivered a positive result for the new woven upper. After spending 3 hours on our heated footform inside the breathability machine, the shoe managed to release 59% of the moisture it had absorbed.

ASICS continues to deliver a stable ride for neutral runners with the Novablast 6, although a few design changes noticeably alter its character.

The platform is now slightly narrower than before, creating a more agile feel and improving the experience at faster paces. However, we think that runners with mild to moderate pronation may find this update less supportive than the previous version.

The high torsional rigidity has become one of the defining characteristics of the Novablast over the last few generations, and it looks like ASICS has no intention of changing that. We measured version 6 at 16.7 Nm.

The heel counter retains a balanced design that earned a 3/5 in our assessment, providing reliable support without ever feeling intrusive. In addition, ASICS packed the area with generous foam padding to create a truly luxurious step-in feel.

We mentioned earlier that the Novablast 6 features a narrower platform, and our lab measurements confirm it. While the Novablast 5 measured a massive 122.3 mm in the forefoot, ASICS reduced that figure to 115.2 mm in this latest version.

This is a dramatic change that gives the shoe a noticeably different personality. We found that the narrower platform makes it feel more agile, more responsive at tempo paces, and less bulky than its predecessor, with the new forefoot foam further enhancing the fun-and-fast ride.

The heel also follows the same trend, shrinking from 97.6 mm in the Novablast 5 to 93.8 mm in this latest version.

In our review of the previous model, we noted that its extra-wide platform came at the expense of agility. Now we see the opposite: the Novablast 6 feels quicker and more nimble, although it gives up a bit of the stability that defined its predecessor. That's the nature of running shoe design, every tweak comes with a trade-off.

The upper of the ASICS Novablast 6 is a clear improvement over its predecessor. It's comfortable, breathable, and, based on our testing, exceptionally durable as well. In our first Dremel test, it earned an impressive 4 out of 5.

The heel padding also delivered an excellent result in our durability test, earning another impressive 4 out of 5.

The addition of ASICSGRIP gives the Novablast 6 one of the best outsole compounds currently available for road running shoes.

Better yet, our Dremel test showed that it's built for outstanding longevity, with only 0.5 mm of rubber worn away, an exceptional result that outperforms almost every competitor we've tested.

With 2.7 mm of outsole rubber, the ASICS Novablast 6 offers more than enough coverage for long-lasting durability, especially considering the outstanding result it achieved in our abrasion test.

We see no real concerns here, except for runners whose gait causes excessive wear on the exposed midsole foam.

The insole measures 4.5 mm thick, a similar thickness to the one used by most running shoe brands.

We also confirmed that the insole is fully removable, making it easy to swap in a third-party option if needed.

We also noticed a change from the Novablast 5 and other shoes from the Japanese brand: the Novablast 6 does not display its CO2e carbon footprint on the insole.

We found that the Novablast 6 maintains its midsole softness exceptionally well in cold conditions. After spending 20 minutes next to our tasty ice creams, the foam became only 9% firmer.

ASICS chose not to include any reflective elements on the Novablast 6, and we think that's a disappointing omission.

The Novablast 6 retains the same mixed lacing system introduced last year, combining traditional punched eyelets with lace loops. However, ASICS has now hidden those loops beneath the upper, giving the shoe a much cleaner and more refined appearance.

We were also pleased to see ASICS address one of our complaints about the Novablast 5. The tongue padding is still concentrated near the top, but it now extends roughly three times farther than before.

The tongue performs exceptionally well in every aspect. Its perforated construction plays a major role in the solid breathability we measured earlier, while the semi-gusseted design delivers a secure, reliable lockdown throughout the run.

ASICS kept the heel design clean and minimalist, skipping a pull tab.

The Novablast 6 carries a small price increase over the Novablast 5, moving it slightly closer to the premium daily trainer category.

However, we believe the extra cost is fully justified by the addition of FF Turbo² and the upgraded ASICSGRIP outsole. It may not be a standout value option, but we believe that it's a fair deal for the complete package that it delivers... especially if you can grab a nice discount!