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ASICS Novablast 5

ASICS Novablast 5 Reviews

Max cushion

Most runners find the Novablast 5 soft, bouncy and comfortable, with a roomy, breathable upper.

78Signal score
41% positive
110reviews
How the signal works
The signal score

A score out of 100 for how well reviewed a product is next to others of its kind. It rises with positive reviews and with how many there are; negative and mixed reviews take points off. The best in each category scores in the 90s.

So a handful of glowing reviews can’t beat a product lots of people like. No sponsored placements.

Updated 13 Nov

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What people mention

Real runner experiences (110)

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Showing 31 reviews mentioning wears out fast Show all

Reddit · r/RunningShoeGeeks · Jun 29, 2026 · summarized

Negative

Felt dead after 400–450 km, sooner than the Novablast 4.

Reddit · r/RunningShoeGeeks · Jun 2, 2026 · summarized

Negative

Foam completely dead by 200 miles, causing knee pain.

Reddit · r/RunningShoeGeeks · Apr 13, 2026 · summarized

Negative

The foam bottomed out at about 200 km, making runs over 5 km feel dead.

Reddit · r/RunningShoeGeeks · Feb 14, 2026 · summarized

Negative

Loved the Novablast 5 early on, but it felt pretty dead after 60 miles.

Reddit · r/RunningShoeGeeks · Jan 31, 2026 · summarized

Negative

They sold their pair after only 75 km because the forefoot foam was gone.

Reddit · r/RunningShoeGeeks · Jan 31, 2026 · summarized

Mixed

They loved their Novablast 5 but the midsole foam felt dead fairly quickly.

Reddit · r/RunningShoeGeeks · Jan 30, 2026 · summarized

Mixed

Loved it through two pairs in a year, but the first pair went flat, compared directly against a new one.

Reddit · r/RunningShoeGeeks · Dec 14, 2025 · summarized

Negative

Their Novablast 5 midsole fell off a cliff at around 200 miles.

Reddit · r/RunningShoeGeeks · Nov 12, 2025 · summarized

Mixed

Very good for about 150 miles, then dies; their Novablast 4s lasted 300.

Reddit · r/RunningShoeGeeks · Aug 13, 2025 · summarized

Negative

Their big toes tore through the Novablast 5 upper at about 450 km.

Reddit · r/RunningShoeGeeks · Aug 7, 2025 · summarized

Mixed

The wide Novablast 5 is the most comfortable of 100-200 pairs they have worn, with great lockdown, but for a 200 lb runner it bottoms out after 10k and lasts about 150 miles.

Reddit · r/RunningShoeGeeks · Jul 30, 2025 · summarized

Negative

At 400 miles the Novablast 5 lost bounce by 300, its heel was too soft at first, and the upper tore by the little toe; a step back from the NB4.

Reddit · r/RunningShoeGeeks · Jun 22, 2025 · summarized

Mixed

At almost 400 km their Novablast 5 has lost its bounce and is near retirement.

Reddit · r/RunningShoeGeeks · Jun 19, 2025 · summarized

Negative

Their Novablast 5 developed a hole in the front at 240 km, unlike their NB3 and NB4 pairs.

YouTube comment · on kofuzi · May 8, 2025 · summarized

Negative

After 250 miles the bounce turned clunky, and the upper separated from the sole on both shoes; poor build next to the 900 miles they got from a Novablast 3.

Reddit · r/RunningShoeGeeks · Apr 21, 2025 · summarized

Mixed

On their fourth pair of Novablast 5s, gets about 250km from each before they cause niggles; great when fresh and very versatile, but among the least durable shoes they've used.

Reddit · r/RunningShoeGeeks · Apr 21, 2025 · summarized

Negative

An 86kg forefoot striker found the Novablast 5 lost responsiveness after 100km and has ordered a replacement.

Reddit · r/RunningShoeGeeks · Apr 6, 2025 · summarized

Mixed

At 260 miles, says the Novablast 5 is fun and fast out of the box but has felt all over the place for the last 50-100 miles.

YouTube comment · on kofuzi · Mar 28, 2025 · summarized

Mixed

At 350 km the spring they enjoyed for the first 300 has dropped off sharply, so they now use it only for short runs.

Reddit · r/RunningShoeGeeks · Mar 17, 2025 · summarized

Mixed

Ran the LA Marathon injury-free in the Novablast 5, but it loses its special feel quickly and they missed the bounce of the Sky Paris.

Reddit · r/RunningShoeGeeks · Mar 16, 2025 · summarized

Mixed

Great for the first 150-200km, then the Novablast 5 lost all its bounce; the foam started dying around 75km.

Reddit · r/RunningShoeGeeks · Mar 12, 2025 · summarized

Negative

They retired the Novablast 5 at 370 km; the midsole became too soft and unsupportive from about 300 km.

Reddit · r/RunningShoeGeeks · Mar 3, 2025 · summarized

Mixed

A longtime Novablast runner says the Novablast 5 compresses noticeably after 150-200 miles, though it is not worn out.

Common questions about ASICS Novablast 5

What do runners say about ASICS Novablast 5?

Most runners find the Novablast 5 soft, bouncy and comfortable, with a roomy, breathable upper. The main complaint is that the cushioning goes flat sooner than expected, often somewhere between 250 and 400 km, though a few get far more. Some find it less stable than the Novablast 4.

Is ASICS Novablast 5 worth it?

Of the 110 reviews with a clear verdict, 41% are positive, 26% mixed and 33% negative. The praise mentioned most is responsive. The most common complaint is wears out fast.

What are the most common complaints about ASICS Novablast 5?

The complaints reviewers mention most: wears out fast (31 reviews), unstable (5 reviews) and blisters (1 review). For example: An 86kg forefoot striker found the Novablast 5 lost responsiveness after 100km and has ordered a replacement.

Where do these ASICS Novablast 5 reviews come from?

We collected and summarized 110 experiences shared on Reddit, YouTube and blogs, with links to the original sources. Reviews submitted here are checked for spam before they appear. Every review, submitted here or collected, is read as positive, mixed or negative.

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