ASICS · NOVABLAST

NOVABLAST 5

Released December 2024

The NOVABLAST 5 is ASICS's bouncy, plateless road-running daily trainer, with a full FF BLAST MAX midsole and an 8 mm drop, suited to everyday runs from easy to tempo.

Made for: Road running
Weight: 247 g
Heel height: 41 mm
Drop: 8 mm

What reviewers say

Reviewers agree it is a comfortable, fun and well-priced daily trainer, softer and bouncier than the Novablast 4 and versatile across paces. Criticisms include middling traction, which RunRepeat called its weakest point and Believe in the Run also flagged along with the upper; Tom's Guide found it a small upgrade and thought the Novablast 4 better value on discount.

From runrepeat.com, believeintherun.com and tomsguide.com

Specifications

Report a wrong or missing spec

Fit and feel

Made for: Road running
Weight: 247 g
Heel height: 41 mm
Forefoot height: 33 mm
Drop: 8 mm
Carbon plate: No
Midsole foam: FF BLAST MAX, with a pod-like groove in the forefoot
Upper: Engineered jacquard mesh; gusseted wing tongue

Use

Best for: Everyday training
Measured figures: Running Warehouse, men's US 9: 247 g, 41 mm heel, 33 mm forefoot, 8 mm offset. RunRepeat lab: 254 g, 40.9 mm heel, 33.5 mm forefoot, 7.4 mm drop

Pros and cons

Pros

Full FF BLAST MAX midsole, which ASICS says adds about 8.5% more bounce than the NOVABLAST 4
Gusseted wing tongue, as on the SUPERBLAST
Light for a daily trainer, 247 g for a men's US 9 in Running Warehouse's measurement

Cons

No FF TURBO SQUARED forefoot pod, which the NOVABLAST 6 adds
Replaced by the NOVABLAST 6 in July 2026

Closest rivals

Model	Made for	Weight	Heel height	Drop	Released
ASICSSUPERBLAST 2	Road running	250 g	42.8 mm	8 mm	Jul 2024
OnCloudsurfer 2	Road running	261 g	37 mm	9 mm	Feb 2025
SauconyEndorphin Speed 5	Road running	237 g	36 mm	8 mm	Jul 2025

Newer model: NOVABLAST 6.

Sources

Photo: images.asics.com

Spot a mistake? Tell us