What replaced the Asics Novablast 5?
Updated August 2, 2026. Specs are men's US 9.
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THE SHORT ANSWER
The Novablast 6 replaced the 5 in July 2026. It keeps the FF Blast Max base but adds an FF Turbo Squared insert under the forefoot, narrows the forefoot, moves to a grippier ASICSGRIP outsole (finally answering the line's wet-traction complaints), and gets a new woven upper. Street price rose to about $155. Reviewers called it more stable and easier to live with; the 5 stays on clearance while stock lasts.
- Asics Novablast 5Men's at AmazonWomen's
- Asics Novablast 6Men's at AmazonWomen's
Availability last checked Aug 2, 2026. Prices and stock change without notice.
At a glance
- The Novablast 6 is 0.2 oz lighter
- Drop is unchanged at 8 mm
- New midsole foam
- List price up $15
Every spec side by side, with the reason behind each change: Novablast 5 vs 6.
Stay on your shoe, or switch?
Refined, same shoeThe 6 is a tune-up, not another swing. The stack, drop and FF Blast Max base carry over; the news is the bouncy forefoot pod, a narrower and more agile forefoot, and an outsole that finally grips wet roads. Most reviewers approved (RunRepeat 93, RoadTrailRun scores up to 9.2), and Believe in the Run summed up the value question: it does not take risks, and at $155 neither do you. Doctors of Running was the dissent, grading it B for a clunky heel transition.
Stick with the Novablast 5 if
- Money decides it; even Believe in the Run said grabbing a discounted 5 makes sense, since the core ride carries over
- You loved the 5's bouncier heel; the 6's reformulated heel foam measurably gives back less
Move to the Novablast 6 if
- You run in the wet; the ASICSGRIP outsole fixes the line's oldest complaint
- You want a livelier toe-off on a slightly more stable, more agile shoe
What loyalists said about the update
Mixed-positive, and calmer than the last two changeovers. Fans call it more stable and better underfoot than the 5 and a standout in its price range; one widely upvoted comment said it eats the Adidas Evo SL 2's lunch in every area. The gripes: it needs a break-in (stiff and dull out of the box), the forefoot pod polarizes, some tongues slip, some pairs squeak, and the 4's holdouts still have not moved.
Still want the original?
Buy remaining Novablast 5 stock
Stocked at AmazonAvailability last checked Aug 2, 2026.
Ready to move on?
Beyond the Novablast 6, these come closest to what the Novablast 5 did.
- 7.9 oz
- 5 mm drop
- 37 mm heel
- $145 list
The Mach is the other fun, light daily that can pick up the pace. It is firmer, snappier and about an ounce lighter; the Novablast carries more foam and a lot more bounce.
Against your Asics Novablast 5: 1.1 oz lighter, 4.5 mm less heel stack, 3 mm less drop, $5 more at list.
- 9.2 oz
- 8 mm drop
- 42 mm heel
- $155 list
The comparison goes back to the first Novablast, which one tester called the shoe the Clifton was supposed to be. The Clifton is the calmer, more rockered easy-day cruiser at a similar stack; the Novablast is bouncier and handles a wider range of paces.
Against your Asics Novablast 5: 0.2 oz heavier, the same drop, $15 more at list.
- 8.9 oz
- 8 mm drop
- 38 mm heel
- $145 list
The Ride is the traditional take on the same daily-trainer job: firmer, lower, more stable, less exciting. Runners who find the Novablast too soft or too tall usually land here.
Against your Asics Novablast 5: the same weight, 3.5 mm less heel stack, the same drop, $5 more at list.
Questions runners ask
- Is the Asics Novablast 5 still available?
- Yes. The Asics Novablast 5 is still widely stocked on Amazon in both men's and women's sizes, often below its original list price now that a newer version exists.
- Is the Novablast 6 a downgrade from the Asics Novablast 5?
- No. Most runners rate the Novablast 6 as the same shoe done slightly better. The changes are real but none of them alter what the shoe is.
- How much lighter is the Novablast 6?
- 0.2 oz lighter in a men's US 9: 8.8 oz against the Asics Novablast 5's 9 oz.
- What is the closest current alternative to the Asics Novablast 5?
- The Hoka Mach 7. The Mach is the other fun, light daily that can pick up the pace. It is firmer, snappier and about an ounce lighter; the Novablast carries more foam and a lot more bounce.