ASICS Novablast 4 First Run Review: Firmer, Faster, and More Fun Than Before

Introduction

The ASICS Novablast 4 keeps the fundamentals its fans loved and changes just enough to feel meaningfully better. The stack height stays the same as the previous generation, 41.5mm and 33.5mm in the men’s shoe and 40.5mm and 32.5mm in the women’s, for an 8mm drop. In a UK men’s size 8.5, the shoe tips the scales at 9.4oz or 267g, marginally heavier than the Novablast 3, which came in at 8.9oz or 253g. Pricing is unchanged from the last generation: £135 in the UK and $140 in the US.

The headline update is a new midsole foam called FlyteFoam Blast Plus Eco, with eco materials in the mix and revised midsole and outsole geometry. There is a much more aggressive midsole rocker plus extended forefoot and heel flaring, creating a wider platform across the whole base of the shoe. Up top there is a new engineered woven upper that ASICS says offers more stretch, ventilation, and durability.

Key Design Changes

The Novablast 4 gets a more aggressive rocker and a wider platform, and the side walls of the shoe rise higher on the foot. The toe box sweeps up with the rocker to help keep space over the top of the toes, aimed at avoiding the black toenails some runners complained about in earlier versions.

The tongues have also been reworked. They now have wings that wrap across the foot, are about the same thickness as before, and use a new material that feels like a thin neoprene. Flip them over and there is a rubberized covering for grip and durability. Notably, this is also the first Novablast to be CO2 labelled, which reflects ASICS’s push toward more transparent production.

Fit and Sizing: True to Size, but Roomy

The tested pair ran in a UK 8.5, the tester’s regular running shoe size. Heel hold, midfoot lockdown, and overall fit through to the toe box feel good, and the roomy toe box is one of the shoe’s better traits. If anything, the shoe feels a little long; there was some debate mid-run about whether going half a size down would create a more compact fit, though that risks toe bashing against the end.

Our take: go true to size, but be aware of the length if you prefer a snug forefoot.

Ride Impressions: Firmer and More Responsive

The Novablast line has always been a big, hulking shoe with a massive wide, high stack of foam, and that character remains. What is different is the tuning. Out of the box, the Novablast 4 feels firmer and more responsive than previous generations. It does not sink as much, and there is more spring coming back out of the shoe, which removes some of the sogginess that hurt the ride in past versions.

That firmer tune means the shoe still delivers the textbook Novablast max-cushioning comfort for easy miles and long runs, with a plush heel collar and comfy tongue, but it also picks up well at faster marathon-pace efforts. The ride feels more immediate, and the rocker is pretty effective, particularly when moving well.

Novablast 4 vs Novablast 3

Running the Novablast 3 and 4 side by side makes the shift clear. The Novablast 3 was about bounce and spring, with a bit of softness and sinking before reacting. The Novablast 4 leans more toward roll efficiency and form momentum, which suits runners who found earlier versions too soft. The wider base also cradles the foot more, and together with the higher side walls it creates a noticeably more stable ride.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The fit quirks persist. The wide base of midsole foam combined with a long length can make the shoe feel slightly disconnected, almost like different parts of the shoe are coming back at different times. It is also worth asking whether this is still a shoe that works well on hills: when moving back onto the heels, there is more spring and rebound than when up on the toes, where it feels more like working through the rocker. Runners who prefer a narrower, more precise shoe, or who liked the softness of the Novablast 3, may want to weigh that carefully.

Buying Advice

If you liked previous Novablasts, this version is likely a straightforward upgrade. If the soft, sinky feel of the Novablast 3 was what put you off, the firmer, more responsive Novablast 4 addresses much of that, and it looks like a much more promising shoe for long runs than its predecessor. With pricing unchanged at £135 in the UK and $140 in the US, it is a low-risk refresh at the same cost as the last generation.

Conclusion

The ASICS Novablast 4 keeps the generous cushioning and roomy fit of the line while correcting the softness and sogginess that held it back. With a firmer tune, a wider and more stable platform, and a genuine lean toward rolling efficiency, this is a version of the Novablast that finally feels tuned for more than just easy miles.