ASICS Novablast 4 Reviews

Their Novablast 4 upper split along the sides very quickly, which made them doubt the durability of ASICS shoes generally.

Great at first, the Novablast 4 went flat by 500 km and felt like bricks by 700 km, though the upper still looks new.

Retired their Novablast 4 at 356 km because of knee and ankle pain they don't get in other shoes over the same distances.

Their foot went numb twice in the Novablast 4's first month, which they put down to break-in, but it happened again after 250 miles; moving to the Superblast 2.

Loved the Novablast 3 but has hated or felt indifferent about almost every step in the Novablast 4 over 126 km: firm, inflexible and without the bounce. Fine for shorter tempo runs and intervals, but not slower than marathon pace or beyond about 12 km.

Got terrible toe blisters breaking in the Novablast 4, which came back after a break from it, and found it very hot in summer; not the shoe for them.

Finds the Novablast 4 nice at first but probably the worst shoe they've tried: the grip is the worst they've had, and their feet get hot or go numb in it, which no other shoe does.

Bought the Novablast 4 expecting a roomier toe box than the HOKA Mach 6 but got a blister on the first run from the narrow toe box.

Bought the Novablast 4 after their first 50 km ultra but never got on with it: it felt like running on bricks and caused so much right-foot pain they couldn't walk in it. Sold it at a loss and switched to the HOKA Mach 6 in wide, which they enjoy.