ASICS Versablast 4 review

In our view, the ASICS Versablast 4 is a great pick for:

• Runners on a budget who want a versatile shoe for daily use.
• Anyone with narrow feet who struggles to find an affordable, secure-fitting option.
• Beginners searching for their first running shoe without spending too much.
• Those that love the Novablast design language but don't want to pay its price.

We found in the lab that the Versablast 4 has serious ventilation issues—the upper traps heat fast, leading to a sweaty-hot feel during warm runs. From our perspective, shoes like the Nike Interact Run or Adidas Supernova Rise 2 deliver a far more breathable ride for summer training.

We’re also convinced that the narrow toebox of this shoe won’t suit many runners. The compressive fit creates discomfort, especially in the midfoot and toebox. In our view, the Nike Journey Run is a smarter choice for those with average or wide feet, while the ASICS Novablast 5 is the perfect upgrade in comfort and energy return—though it comes at a higher price.

Even wallet-friendly daily trainers are now creeping toward the 40 mm mark, and the Versablast 4 is proof of that trend. We measured a solid 36.1 mm stack height in the heel, which places it right alongside much pricier models in terms of cushioning.

Consequently, the forefoot stack is also on the higher end at 26.7 mm, although this is quickly becoming the new normal. Still, we’ve found that few shoes break the 25 mm barrier up front while staying under 100 bucks.

With these stack heights, this shoe can handle long runs!

Most beginner-friendly shoes feature a higher heel-to-toe drop, which makes sense—new runners and weekend warriors often land on their heels and benefit from extra offset.

That’s also true for the Versablast 4. We measured 9.4 mm, nearly identical to ASICS’ 10 mm claim. And it feels exactly like it!

The Versablast 4 comes with the new Amplifoam+ midsole. It's a lightweight EVA blend that ASICS uses in their newer value shoes—and we think it’s one of the best foams you can get in this range.

It’s not a plush experience, though. With a durometer reading of 22.5 HA, it leans on the firmer side, but we didn’t find it uncomfortable. And as expected from an EVA-based midsole, the ride lacks that springy rebound you’d find in premium foams, yet it still delivers a decently smooth, easygoing run for daily use and short runs alike.

Since it's EVA-based, we didn’t expect a standout result in our cold-weather test, and we didn’t get one. Still, Amplifoam+ only became 24% firmer, which is actually impressive for EVA.

The insole measures a generous 5.1 mm, showing clearly that ASICS aimed to deliver a cushioned running experience with the Versablast 4.

Despite measuring over 25 mm in the forefoot, we discovered that ASICS went with a traditional midsole shape without a dramatic rocker—something we believe suits entry-level runners.

High-rockered designs are ideal for faster efforts, but for back-of-the-pack runners or those using the shoe for casual walks and jogs, this simpler setup feels more natural.

We tested the fit using our gel method after noticing the Versablast 4 felt slightly snug during our runs.

With a measurement of 92.6 mm at its widest point, this shoe leans toward a narrow-foot-friendly design. And it's not a comfortable fit for wider feet at all.

Our second test confirmed that as well, showing a 69.0 mm toebox width. This reinforced our view that the shoe is best for runners with pointy feet or those who enjoy a snug fit with limited toe splay.

While horizontal space is definitely limited, we were glad to find plenty of vertical room for the toes, helping avoid any crushing.

Our lab test showed a surprisingly tall measurement of 30.3 mm in this area.

While traction isn’t elite-level, a 0.41 score is quite good for a shoe priced below 100 bucks. It provides reliable grip on dry roads and enough bite to handle light rain without slipping.

This outsole offers a stable, all-purpose design. Rubber is laid out in long strips across the heel, midfoot, and forefoot, delivering solid grip and reliable coverage for daily runs. It’s clear ASICS took strong cues from the Novablast series, especially with the central bump in the forefoot.

The firmer foam used by ASICS on the Versablast, combined with the wide midsole and its central guidance channel, creates a surprisingly stable ride. We believe that even moderate-pronation runners can enjoy this running shoe.

We twisted the shoe and found a 3/5 score for torsional rigidity. That’s a balanced approach that's quite common in daily trainers and reflects a safe-and-sound design choice.

ASICS took a zero-risk approach with the heel design too, landing another 3/5 that combines mild flexibility with good support.

A minute ago we referenced the wide midsole of the Versablast 4, and now it’s time for precise measurements. In our experience, the shoe definitely felt wide while running—especially in the heel rather than the forefoot.

That impression was backed up by our first reading of 116.9 mm. It’s fairly close to the average, but still leans toward the wider end of the spectrum for a budget-oriented trainer.

The heel is definitely wide at 95.0 mm, clearly built for added support. It’s also obvious that ASICS knows the target runner for this shoe is a heel striker.

The Versablast 4 isn’t the most flexible cheap running shoe, scoring 14.7N in our bend test. That’s mostly due to a now-common trend... stack heights are growing across the board! Still, it feels great for daily use and easy runs, staying below the average.

After registering it at 10.2 oz or 288g, we found the Versablast 4 heavier than it looks. However, it's not a disaster by any means, and it’s totally fine for a budget-conscious daily trainer.

The lack of ventilation is one of the main issues we encountered in the Versablast 4. From our very first runs, we noticed the shoe felt unusually warm—especially under the midday sun—hinting at a heat-trapping upper.

To verify this, we fired up our smoke-pumping machine. The shoe scored a disappointing 2/5, confirming what we suspected. In our view, this isn’t a shoe you’d want to wear in sun-drenched climates like California or Málaga.

When we inspected the upper using a bright LED light, we couldn’t identify any obvious ventilation holes or air-release zones, just some tiny openings. The entire structure looked airflow-restrictive from every angle.

We followed that up with a microscope inspection to get a deeper look.

The mesh appeared dense and tightly woven—clearly not engineered for airflow. Honestly, we couldn’t imagine how heat or moisture would ever escape from it.

From our perspective, the upper is where ASICS likely trimmed costs. The Versablast 4 is adequately padded and not uncomfortable, but compared to the Amplifoam+ midsole or the durable outsole, the upper feels like a compromise.

The toebox isn’t very durable either. Some heat-retaining shoes at least provide better protection against wear, but the 2/5 score confirms that this isn’t the case for the Versablast 4.

Heel padding is underwhelming too in terms of durability, scoring another 2/5. This might be a concern for runners who often wear through the heel area, but for everyone else, it should hold up well enough despite the low score.

The outsole may not include high-end compounds like ASICSGRIP, but we tested it with our Dremel and were impressed by the result. It only showed 0.8 mm of wear, which is an ultra-durable outcome for such a budget-friendly shoe.

The outsole is on the thicker side at 3.7 mm, which adds some extra weight to the shoe. On the bright side, it boosts durability—there’s more rubber to wear down, so it will last longer.

The biggest strength of the Versablast 4 isn’t its foam, upper, or outsole—it’s the value. We think its price-to-performance ratio is tough to beat, offering comfort and features rarely seen in this budget-friendly range.

Night runners would’ve appreciated at least some reflective details on the Versablast 4—but unfortunately, we didn’t find a single one.

The lacing system on the Versablast 4 is simple and effective, using flat laces and punched eyelets, which is a tried-and-true combo in running shoes. It locks down well without any extra fuss, and features a long strip that acts to try to keep the tongue in place.

For us, the tongue strikes a solid balance between comfort and weight. With 5.8 mm of padding, it’s cushy enough to tighten the laces firmly without discomfort, yet slim enough to keep things reasonably light.

The tongue isn’t attached to the sides, but given the price of the Versablast 4, that’s totally acceptable. It’s already a great value shoe and expecting a gusseted tongue here would be wishful thinking.

The heel design is quite basic and skips the pull tab found on ASICS’ more premium daily trainers.

We had no trouble removing the insole of the Versablast 4, and there’s nothing remarkable about it—aside from the printed carbon footprint. Feel free to swap it out with your favorite insert.