ASICS Novablast 6 review
ASICS rebuilt its bouncy daily trainer around a softer, livelier front end and a narrower platform. Faster and lighter on its feet, and pickier about how you land.
- Drop
- 8 mm
- Heel stack
- 41.5 mm
- Forefoot
- 33.5 mm
- Weight
- 249 g
- Support
- Neutral
- Plate
- None
Our verdict
Made for runners who land forward.
The Novablast 6 is a lively, high-stack neutral trainer whose best foam now sits under the ball of the foot, on a narrower base than the Novablast 5. It rewards runners who land midfoot or on the forefoot and want one shoe for easy days and some faster ones, while classic heel strikers are better served elsewhere.
Strong points
- Softer, livelier FF Turbo² foam under the forefoot
- More agile and responsive at tempo than the Novablast 5
- One dependable trainer for most of the week
- Wide version for broader feet
- Much better wet grip, with ASICSGRIP rubber for the first time on a Novablast
Weak points
- Clunky transition for hard heel strikers
- Narrower platform, less forgiving than the 5
- Tapered, lower-volume toe box
Who it fits
- You land midfoot or on the forefoot
- You found the Novablast 5 too bulky
- You want one trainer for most of the week
Who should skip it
- You land hard on your heel
- You relied on the Novablast 5’s wide, steady base
- Your forefoot is broad or high in volume
Shoe profile
Where the Novablast 6 sits among the 395 shoes in our catalogue, and what changed from the Novablast 5.
| Axis | Novablast 6 | Novablast 5 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cushioning | 78 | 78 | = |
| Lightness | 64 | 61 | +3 |
| Stability | 30 | 30 | = |
| Drop | 45 | 45 | = |
| Response | 6 | 20 | −14 |
Fig. 1 · How to read it. Each axis runs from 0 at the centre to 100 at the edge. Cushioning, lightness and drop are the shoe’s rank in the catalogue from listed figures; stability and response are scored from the support type, the plate, the rocker and the intended use. The dotted grey line is the catalogue median. Source: Strideprint catalogue (cat).
Where it sits in the catalogue
Weight249 g, lighter than 63% of shoes
Drop8 mm, higher than 45% of shoes
Heel stack41.5 mm, higher than 78% of shoes
Forefoot stack33.5 mm, higher than 68% of shoes
How it feels
Written from 3 published tests. We quote measurements, not impressions we did not have.
Two foams, two feelings. FF Blast Max under the heel and FF Turbo² under the forefoot: a compliant rear, a noticeably softer and livelier front.
Neutral, on a slimmer base. No support feature; a wider sole and some flare add slight guidance, but the forefoot platform is narrower than the 5.
The pop is at the front. Energy return is 69.1 percent in the forefoot against 55.4 in the heel, so the pop shows when you roll onto the front.
Two foams, two feelings. The midsole now pairs FF Blast Max under the heel with a large FF Turbo² section under the forefoot. Doctors of Running describe the rear foam as compliant but not very resilient, and the front section as noticeably softer and more responsive.
The listed stack is 41.5 mm at the heel and 33.5 mm at the forefoot for the men’s shoe. RunRepeat measured the foam at 35.1 on the AC durometer scale, slightly firmer than the Novablast 5.
Neutral, on a slimmer base. There is no support feature. A wider sole at ground level and some sole flare add a bit of guidance, according to Doctors of Running, but the ride stays neutral.
The bigger change is width: RunRepeat measured the forefoot platform at 115.2 mm against 122.3 mm on the Novablast 5, and the heel at 93.8 mm against 97.6 mm. Less base means a more agile shoe, and a little less forgiveness for a foot that rolls in.
The pop is at the front. Testers find the front of the shoe clearly livelier than on the previous version, and the new geometry is designed to push you forward. Believe in the Run describes it as bouncy with purpose rather than mushy.
That energy only shows if you roll onto it smoothly. Landing hard on the heel, you meet the less resilient foam first, then a sudden drop onto the front.
Read more
Two foams, two feelings. The midsole now pairs FF Blast Max under the heel with a large FF Turbo² section under the forefoot. Doctors of Running describe the rear foam as compliant but not very resilient, and the front section as noticeably softer and more responsive.
The listed stack is 41.5 mm at the heel and 33.5 mm at the forefoot for the men’s shoe. RunRepeat measured the foam at 35.1 on the AC durometer scale, slightly firmer than the Novablast 5.
Neutral, on a slimmer base. There is no support feature. A wider sole at ground level and some sole flare add a bit of guidance, according to Doctors of Running, but the ride stays neutral.
The bigger change is width: RunRepeat measured the forefoot platform at 115.2 mm against 122.3 mm on the Novablast 5, and the heel at 93.8 mm against 97.6 mm. Less base means a more agile shoe, and a little less forgiveness for a foot that rolls in.
The pop is at the front. Testers find the front of the shoe clearly livelier than on the previous version, and the new geometry is designed to push you forward. Believe in the Run describes it as bouncy with purpose rather than mushy.
That energy only shows if you roll onto it smoothly. Landing hard on the heel, you meet the less resilient foam first, then a sudden drop onto the front.
Which runs it’s for
| Run | Fit | Why | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Easy runs | Made for it | Comfortable and bouncy at relaxed paces, especially if you land midfoot. | Doctors of Running, Believe in the Run |
| Long runs | Made for it | Doctors of Running see it mainly as an easy and long run shoe. | Doctors of Running |
| Tempo | Can do | RunRepeat found it more responsive at tempo paces than the Novablast 5. Fine for the odd faster session, not a dedicated speed shoe. | RunRepeat, Doctors of Running |
| Marathon race | Can do | A comfortable choice for a first marathon if you land forward. Runners chasing a time will look at plated or higher-stack racers. | Believe in the Run |
| Recovery runs | Can do | Soft enough, though heel strikers on tired legs will feel the abrupt transition most. | Doctors of Running |
Source: Doctors of Running, Believe in the Run, RunRepeat
What the tests say
Reviewers agree the Novablast 6 is livelier up front and more agile than the 5, and that it favours runners who land further forward. They disagree on length.
| Test | Type | Our reading | In one sentence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doctors of Running | Review | Mixed | Doctors of Running grade the design B, with a padded heel that runs short and a tapered toe box; personal grade C plus. | Read |
| RunRepeat | Lab | Positive | RunRepeat scores it 93 out of 100: version 6 keeps alive the Novablast’s reputation as a popular daily trainer. | Read |
| Believe in the Run | Review | Positive | Believe in the Run places it in its A tier: an easy-to-recommend, versatile trainer that takes no risks, with a roomy toe box. | Read |
They agree
- A livelier forefootDoctors of Running find the new FF Turbo² section clearly softer and more responsive than the rear foam, and Believe in the Run describe a bouncy ride with purpose.
- Not a shoe for hard heel strikersDoctors of Running describe a clunky drop from heel to forefoot, and RunRepeat says heel strikers gain little from this version.
- Narrower and quicker than the Novablast 5RunRepeat measured a narrower platform and found the shoe more agile at tempo, and Doctors of Running note only light guidance from the sole flare.
They split
- LengthRunRepeat’s reader vote and Believe in the Run say true to size, with one Believe in the Run tester finding it slightly long. Doctors of Running found it slightly short, with a tapered toe box.
How it’s built
A dual-foam, plate-free trainer: FF BLAST MAX for most of the midsole, an FF TURBO² trampoline pod up front, an engineered woven upper and, for the first time on a Novablast, ASICSGRIP rubber.
A dual-foam, plate-free trainer: FF Blast Max for most of the midsole, an FF Turbo² pod up front, an engineered woven upper, and 2.7 mm of ASICSGRIP rubber, a first for a Novablast.
| # | Part | Measure |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | UpperEngineered woven upper | Breathability 80 BR |
| 2 | Tongue | 5.7 mm |
| 3 | Heel | Stiffness 3 / 5 |
| 4 | MidsoleFF BLAST MAX and FF TURBO² | Hardness 35.1 AC |
| 5 | Insole | 4.5 mm |
| 6 | OutsoleASICSGRIP and AHAR LO | 2.7 mm |
Fig. 3 · Side profile. Stack heights to scale (listed: 41.5 mm heel, 33.5 mm forefoot; measured: 2.7 mm outsole); the split between the two foams is not measured and is drawn at mid-height. Dashed: insole, hidden. Sources: Believe in the Run, RunRepeat, Fleet Feet, Doctors of Running. BR: RunRepeat’s breathability scale (not a score out of 100).
Upper. An engineered woven mesh in recycled polyester replaces the jacquard of the Novablast 5, according to Fleet Feet. It scored 80 in RunRepeat’s breathability test, and a Believe in the Run tester with a low-volume foot found it far more dialled in than the old one.
Tongue. Padding still sits near the top but now runs about three times farther down, 5.7 mm at its thickest in RunRepeat’s measurement. The mix of punched eyelets and lace loops returns, with the loops now hidden under the upper; Believe in the Run found the tongue stays put.
Heel. A balanced heel counter, 3 out of 5 for RunRepeat, wrapped in thick padding and with no pull tab. Doctors of Running found that padding makes the shoe run slightly short.
Midsole. FF BLAST MAX, a polyolefin-based foam according to Believe in the Run, makes up most of the midsole, measured at 35.1 AC. A large insert of FF TURBO², the ATPU foam of the Megablast, sits under the ball of the foot above the trampoline pod. RunRepeat measured torsional rigidity at 16.7 Nm, above the 14.4 Nm average, and found the shoe slightly stiffer than the Novablast 5 in its bend test, at an average 15.5 N.
Insole. A dope-dyed sockliner, per Fleet Feet, 4.5 mm thick in RunRepeat’s measurement.
Outsole. ASICSGRIP up front for grip and AHAR LO at the back for wear, around recessed areas of exposed foam and the trampoline pod. RunRepeat measured 0.76 on wet concrete, a big jump from the lab-average results of earlier Novablasts, on a 2.7 mm layer.
Read more
A dual-foam, plate-free trainer: FF BLAST MAX for most of the midsole, an FF TURBO² trampoline pod up front, an engineered woven upper and, for the first time on a Novablast, ASICSGRIP rubber.
1. Upper. An engineered woven mesh in recycled polyester replaces the jacquard of the Novablast 5, according to Fleet Feet. It scored 80 in RunRepeat’s breathability test, and a Believe in the Run tester with a low-volume foot found it far more dialled in than the old one.
2. Tongue. Padding still sits near the top but now runs about three times farther down, 5.7 mm at its thickest in RunRepeat’s measurement. The mix of punched eyelets and lace loops returns, with the loops now hidden under the upper; Believe in the Run found the tongue stays put.
3. Heel. A balanced heel counter, 3 out of 5 for RunRepeat, wrapped in thick padding and with no pull tab. Doctors of Running found that padding makes the shoe run slightly short.
4. Midsole. FF BLAST MAX, a polyolefin-based foam according to Believe in the Run, makes up most of the midsole, measured at 35.1 AC. A large insert of FF TURBO², the ATPU foam of the Megablast, sits under the ball of the foot above the trampoline pod. RunRepeat measured torsional rigidity at 16.7 Nm, above the 14.4 Nm average, and found the shoe slightly stiffer than the Novablast 5 in its bend test, at an average 15.5 N.
5. Insole. A dope-dyed sockliner, per Fleet Feet, 4.5 mm thick in RunRepeat’s measurement.
6. Outsole. ASICSGRIP up front for grip and AHAR LO at the back for wear, around recessed areas of exposed foam and the trampoline pod. RunRepeat measured 0.76 on wet concrete, a big jump from the lab-average results of earlier Novablasts, on a 2.7 mm layer.
Durability. Very good in the lab. RunRepeat measured only 0.5 mm of outsole wear, against a 1.1 mm average, and scored both the toe box and the heel lining 4 out of 5. Doctors of Running are more cautious, rating durability moderate until they see how the FF BLAST MAX holds up.
Durability. Very good in the lab. RunRepeat measured only 0.5 mm of outsole wear, against a 1.1 mm average, and scored both the toe box and the heel lining 4 out of 5. Doctors of Running are more cautious, rating durability moderate until they see how the FF BLAST MAX holds up.
Specs, listed and measured
Every figure carries its source.
Drop, mm
Heel stack (men’s), mm
Forefoot stack (men’s), mm
Weight (men’s), g
| Spec | Listed | Measured |
|---|---|---|
| Drop |
|
|
| Heel stack |
|
|
| Forefoot stack |
|
|
| Weight, US M9 |
|
|
| Support |
| – |
| Plate |
| – |
| Surface |
| – |
| Release year |
| – |
Fig. 4 · Listed vs measured. Bars start at zero. Sources: Doctors of Running, RunRepeat, Believe in the Run, Fleet Feet.
Lab measurements
| Spec | Measured |
|---|---|
| Midsole hardness |
|
| Torsional rigidity |
|
| Energy return (heel) |
|
| Heel counter stiffness |
|
| Traction coefficient |
|
| Breathability |
|
| Spec | Measured |
|---|---|
| Toe box width |
|
| Toe box height |
|
| Outsole thickness |
|
| Insole thickness |
|
| Tongue thickness |
|
| Flex force |
|
BR: RunRepeat’s breathability scale (not a score out of 100).
Sizing and fit
Most testers say true to size, but one found it short and the forefoot tapers. Try your usual size first, and the wide if your toes feel squeezed.
Length
Mixed reports
Widths
standard and wide
Toe room
Testers disagree. RunRepeat measured a 71.0 mm toe box with a generous 27.9 mm of height but a tapered shape, Doctors of Running describe a low-volume taper that eases while moving, and Believe in the Run found it roomy.
Doctors of Running, RunRepeat, Believe in the Run
Full sizing notes from testers
RunRepeat reports true to size from a vote of 120 readers, and Believe in the Run agrees, with one tester even finding it slightly long. Doctors of Running disagree: extra heel padding made it run slightly short for one tester, with a tapered, lower-volume toe box.
The sources agree on the fix: the shoe comes in regular (D) and wide (2E) for men, as listed by Fleet Feet and RunRepeat. If you sit between sizes or have a broad forefoot, start with the wide rather than going up half a size.
Doctors of Running, RunRepeat, Believe in the Run, Fleet Feet
Vs Novablast 5
A real rework: new forefoot foam, new geometry, a narrower platform, new outsole and upper. More agile and lively, less forgiving for heel strikers.
| Novablast 6 | Novablast 5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Support | Neutral | Neutral |
| Drop | 8 mm | 8 mm |
| Heel stack | 41.5 mm | 41.5 mm |
| Forefoot | 33.5 mm | 33.5 mm |
| Weight | 249 g | 252 g |
Stay with the Novablast 5 if you land on your heel, if you liked its broad, steady base or if your foot is on the wide side. Move to the 6 if you land midfoot or forefoot, found the 5 bulky, or want more snap on faster days.
Listed figures. Source: Strideprint catalogue (cat).
Version history: Novablast 5 to Novablast 6
FF Turbo² under the forefoot. A softer, more responsive foam pod, borrowed from the Megablast, sits under the front of the foot. (Doctors of Running, Believe in the Run)
Narrower platform. RunRepeat measured about 7 mm less width at the forefoot and 4 mm less at the heel than on the Novablast 5. (RunRepeat)
Different transition. The smooth heel-to-toe roll of the 5 gives way to a more abrupt drop onto the forefoot, according to Doctors of Running. (Doctors of Running)
New outsole and upper. AsicsGrip and AHAR LO rubber replace the old outsole, and a woven mesh replaces the jacquard upper. (Believe in the Run)
Alternatives compared
Each one fixes one thing the Novablast 6 does not do.
| ASICS Novablast 6 |  ASICS Novablast 5 |  Saucony Ride 19 |  ASICS Megablast |  Salomon Aero Glide 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pick it for | This page | More stable | Less cushion | More cushion | Same support |
| Drop | 8 mm | 8 mm | 8 mm | 8 mm | 8 mm |
| Heel stack | 41.5 mm | 41.5 mm | 38 mm | 46 mm | 42 mm |
| Weight | 249 g | 252 g | 255 g | 230 g | 249 g |
| Support | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
Questions runners ask
Is the ASICS Novablast 6 good for heel strikers?
It is not the best match. Doctors of Running describe a clunky transition from heel to forefoot, and RunRepeat says heel strikers will not benefit much from this version. Heel strikers usually do better in the Novablast 5 or another daily trainer with a smoother heel.
Should I keep my Novablast 5 or get the Novablast 6?
Keep the Novablast 5 if you land on your heel, liked its wide, stable base or have a broad foot. Choose the Novablast 6 if you land midfoot or forefoot, found the 5 bulky, or want a livelier forefoot for faster runs. The 6 has a measurably narrower platform.
Does the Novablast 6 run small?
Opinions differ. RunRepeat’s reader vote and Believe in the Run report a true-to-size fit, while Doctors of Running found it slightly short because of extra heel padding. The forefoot tapers, so runners with broad feet should try the wide version before sizing up.
Does the Novablast 6 come in wide?
Yes. Fleet Feet and RunRepeat list a regular (D) and a wide (2E) version for men.
What is the stack height of the Novablast 6?
ASICS lists 41.5 mm at the heel and 33.5 mm at the forefoot for the men’s shoe, an 8 mm drop. Some retailers show 40.5 and 32.5 mm, which Believe in the Run gives as the women’s figures. RunRepeat’s lab measured 39.2 and 32.1 mm.
Can you run a marathon in the Novablast 6?
Yes, as a comfortable trainer for runners who land midfoot or forefoot. It has no plate, so it is not built for a fast race time. Heel strikers planning a marathon in it should try it on long runs first.
Sources
- Doctors of Running, ASICS Novablast 6 Review. Accessed Oct 9, 2026.
- RunRepeat, ASICS Novablast 6 lab review. Accessed Oct 9, 2026.
- Believe in the Run, ASICS Novablast 6 Review. Accessed Oct 9, 2026.
- Fleet Feet, Men’s ASICS Novablast 6. Accessed Oct 9, 2026.
- Strideprint, Strideprint running shoe catalogue (ranks computed on 2026-10-11). Accessed Oct 11, 2026.
- i-run.fr · Surface, listed
- i-run.fr · Release year, listed
- cat: Strideprint catalogue, 395 shoes
How we review. We read published tests, brand and retailer pages and lab measurements, cross-check the figures and flag where they disagree. We did not test this shoe ourselves. Last updated October 12, 2026.