ASICS Novablast 4 After 100 Miles: A Softer, More Stable Daily Trainer

Introduction

Some shoes change your mind slowly. After 100 miles in the ASICS Novablast 4, my opinion has shifted a little from my first impressions. The short version: this is still one of the most likeable daily trainers you can buy, but the update has changed its character in ways that will matter to some runners more than others.

The FF Blast Plus Eco foam delivers a nice amount of cushion and a peppy ride that makes easy miles genuinely enjoyable. This year’s changes to the foam and the shoe’s sculpting also make it noticeably more stable, which broadens its appeal. Not everyone wants a midsole that compresses as dynamically as the previous version did, and the Novablast 4 now feels dependable in a way its predecessor never quite did.

How It Performs as a Daily Trainer

As a classic daily trainer, the Novablast 4 has handled everything I have thrown at it. Most of its miles have been easy running, but it steps up for light workouts when needed. The versatility is exactly what you want from the shoe that will carry the bulk of your weekly mileage.

The foam feels more consistent than ever, both across weeks of running and within a single long session. The squish and decompression stay the same from the first mile to the last, which was not always true of the Novablast 3. It also works well as a recovery run shoe, soaking up long slow distance comfortably.

It even held up during a full day of spectating a major city marathon, where I was standing around for hours and then sprinting in short bursts to keep up with world-class athletes and friends. Few daily trainers can cover that range without complaint.

Durability and Midsole Condition at 100 Miles

Durability is where this shoe genuinely surprised me. At the 100-mile mark, it still feels like a new shoe. The FF Blast Plus Eco foam shows only a light amount of creasing, and the overall experience remains remarkably fresh.

The outsole rubber is holding up just as well. All the fine details and etchings in the grippy rubber are still visible, which suggests it will keep protecting the foam and providing tread for a long time to come. Aside from a bit of dirt on the upper, the shoe at 100 miles looks barely touched.

If longevity matters to you, the consistency of this foam is a strong reason to pick the Novablast 4 over alternatives that soften or deaden faster.

What Changed from the Novablast 3

Here is the honest tension. The Novablast 3 was my daily trainer of the year for 2023, and the Novablast 4 was preceded by a shoe of the year winner from the same line in 2022. The new version is more stable, more consistent, and more dependable, but it has also lost some of the wild, dynamic personality that made the old one so much fun.

It is a bit like coming home to find a reliable new version waiting while you keep thinking about the slightly chaotic one you loved. Both are very good shoes. The Novablast 4 compresses and decompresses less dramatically, which makes it better suited to a wider audience, but runners who prized that springy chaos may prefer the previous generation.

Pairing Options for Faster Work

If the Novablast 4 is your daily trainer and long run shoe, it now covers enough recovery and long run duties that you can pair it with two genuinely speedy options. For the shortest, fastest reps, the Takumi Sen 10 is a great session shoe that loves to run fast.

For marathon workouts and marathon races, the ASICS Metaspeed Sky Plus remains a strong pairing option. It is worth noting that Olympic-year update cycles mean the Metaspeed Sky line is likely to see a significant update soon, but as of early 2024 the Metaspeed Sky Plus is still one of the best super shoes you can pair with this trainer.

The original pairing suggestions still hold too: the Nimbus 25 for max cushion and the Endorphin Elite for race day remain excellent complements.

Alternatives Worth Considering

The earlier alternatives, the 1080 v13 and the Clifton 9, are still solid competitors. Two more are worth adding to that list, and both have undergone a similar transformation to the Novablast 4 itself.

The Puma Deviate Nitro 2 was my favorite shoe of last year. It combines racing foam in the forefoot with Nitro foam in the heel and a carbon fiber plate, so it can handle more of the speedy work than the Novablast 4. The Novablast 4 does the easy, relaxed miles a little better, but there is significant overlap between the two. It retails for $160, though it has been out long enough that sales are common.

The New Balance Rebel v4 is the other interesting comparison. Both shoes went through the same kind of update: exciting, borderline chaotic predecessors refined into more stable, more polished versions. The Rebel v4 arguably went through an even bigger transformation year over year. It releases at $140, the same price as the Novablast 4, which makes a head-to-head comparison between them very natural.

Buying Advice

At $140 in the United States, the Novablast 4 is priced right in line with its main competitors. But the biggest rival to the Novablast 4 may be its own predecessor. I still prefer the Novablast 3, and while remaining inventory lasts you can typically find it for at least $20 off, so $120 or cheaper.

My advice: grab the remaining Novablast 3 stock while it exists if you want the more dynamic ride. Once it is gone, the Novablast 4 and the Puma Deviate Nitro 2 are both excellent places to land.

Conclusion

After 100 miles, the ASICS Novablast 4 has proven itself as a durable, consistent, and versatile daily trainer that will suit a wider range of runners than its predecessor. It trades a little personality for dependability, and whether that trade works for you depends on what you loved about the Novablast 3. Either way, this category is full of very good shoes, and the Novablast 4 remains one of the best places to spend your daily miles.