Novablast 4
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Price history
Our verdict
The Asics Novablast 4 is a bouncy, high-stack daily training shoe built to make easy and steady miles feel fun. It sits in the cushioned-but-springy corner of the running shoe market, the sort of trainer you reach for when you want soft landings without a dead, sink-in feel. At 257g it is not the lightest max-cushion shoe out there, but the energetic midsole hides the weight well once you are moving. The 8mm drop keeps you in a slightly lower, more natural position than a traditional 10mm trainer, so midfoot and forefoot strikers tend to get on with it quickly. This is a do-most-things daily trainer rather than a specialist. It will happily soak up recovery jogs, cover a long run, and still has enough pop to enjoy the odd faster stretch. If you want one cushioned shoe for the bulk of your week, the Novablast 4 is an easy shoe to live with. The newer Novablast 5 refines the same recipe.
Key features
- High-stack springy midsoleDelivers soft landings with a clear bounce back, so easy miles feel fun and your legs stay fresh
- 8mm heel-to-toe dropSits you a touch lower and more naturally than a 10mm trainer, which suits midfoot and forefoot strikers
- Flared, stable-ish geometryWidens the base under the soft foam to add some steadiness without killing the bounce
- Engineered mesh upperWraps your foot securely, breathes well and breaks in fast with no hot spots
- Versatile daily rideCovers recovery jogs, long runs and the odd faster stretch, so one shoe handles most of your week
Who it suits
Who should buy it
- Neutral runners who want one bouncy shoe for most of their weekly miles
- High-mileage runners who need soft protection on easy and long runs
- Midfoot and forefoot strikers who get on with a lower 8mm drop
- Runners who find max-cushion shoes too dull and want some pop back
Who should not buy it
- You overpronate or want a stable, planted ride with guidance
- You want a shoe for sharp track intervals or all-out sprints
- You have a broad forefoot and need a true wide fitting
- You prefer a firm, low-to-the-ground feel over soft and bouncy
Best uses
Extra information
Fit & sizing
The Novablast 4 fits true to size for most runners, so order your usual Asics size and you should be fine. The midfoot wrap is snug in the classic Asics way, holding the arch closely without feeling like a vice, and the heel locks down well with very little slip once laced. The toe box is medium width: there is room to splay and wiggle your toes on a long run, but it is not a wide, roomy front end, so if you have a genuinely broad foot you may find it a touch close across the forefoot. There is no wide fitting in this version, so wider feet might prefer something like the New Balance 1080v14. The engineered mesh upper has a little give and breaks in quickly. If you run in thick winter socks or like extra forefoot space, going half a size up is a sensible call, but most people will not need to.
Performance breakdown
Ride & feel
The Novablast 4 has a lively, spring-loaded ride that wakes up the moment you start moving. The tall midsole compresses and rebounds so you get a clear sense of being pushed back up rather than just cushioned, which makes steady running genuinely enjoyable. It is at its best at easy to moderate paces, where the bounce keeps your legs feeling fresh deep into a run. Push hard into a sprint and the soft, tall platform starts to feel a little vague underfoot, so this is not the shoe for sharp intervals. Hold a comfortable cruise and it flatters you. Over the miles the energy return stays consistent, and it is a shoe that fades fatigue rather than building it.
Cushioning
Cushioning is the headline here. The Novablast 4 carries a generous stack of soft, springy foam that takes the sting out of hard pavement and protects your legs on longer outings. It leans soft and bouncy rather than firm and stable, so landings feel forgiving and you sit slightly down into the platform before it springs back. That makes it a strong pick for high-mileage weeks and recovery days when you want maximum protection underfoot. It is not a plush, slow, sink-in feel like some max-cushion shoes; the foam is more energetic than that. For most daily-trainer duties the balance of softness and rebound is judged well.
Stability
This is a neutral shoe with no medial post or guidance features, so it is built for runners who do not need correction. The tall, soft midsole prioritises bounce over a planted, locked-down feel, which means the platform can feel a little tippy at slow speeds or when you are tired and your form drifts. Asics has flared the sole to add some inherent steadiness, and most neutral runners will find it secure enough for daily miles. If you overpronate or actively want a stable, grounded ride, look at a dedicated stability shoe such as the GT-2000 14 instead. For its intended neutral audience, the Novablast 4 is fine.
Upper & comfort
The engineered mesh upper is comfortable straight out of the box and needs little to no breaking in. It is reasonably breathable, so feet stay cool on warmer runs, and the padding around the collar and tongue is judged well: enough to feel plush without adding bulk or heat. Lockdown is good thanks to the snug midfoot and secure heel, and most runners will get a clean fit without resorting to a runner's loop. The materials feel a step above budget, in keeping with the price. It is a no-drama upper that simply gets out of the way and lets you focus on the ride.
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FAQ
Specifications
| Category | Max Cushion |
| Surface | Road |
| Drop | 8mm |
| Heel Stack | 41.5mm |
| Forefoot Stack | 33.5mm |
| Weight | 257g |
| Carbon Plated | No |
| Stability | No |