ASICS Novablast 4 vs the Competition: Five Daily Trainers Compared

Introduction

The ASICS Novablast 4 is one of the most talked-about daily trainers right now, and the big question is whether it still earns its reputation as the do-it-all value shoe. To find out, we compared it against four serious rivals: the Nike Vomero 17, the Adidas Boston 12, the Puma ForeverRun Nitro and the ASICS Superblast.

Retail prices vary meaningfully across the line-up. The Novablast 4 sits at £135, the Vomero 17 at £145, the Boston 12 at £140, the ForeverRun Nitro at around £140 (currently heavily discounted), and the Superblast at £195. Here is how they stack up.

Fit and Feel

Weight separates the field quickly. The Vomero 17 carries a full ounce more than the Novablast 4, while the ForeverRun Nitro adds roughly an ounce as well, though that difference is not very noticeable on foot.

Width is broadly similar between the Novablast 4 and Vomero 17 in both forefoot width and heel, but the Vomero 17 has a noticeably lower-volume toe box. Both shoes run on the narrower side. The Vomero 17’s tongue is better padded and, unlike the Novablast 4’s, it stays put, helped along by more dialled-in laces. The Novablast 4’s tongue, which lacks lace loops to anchor it, tends to slide around on shorter four or five mile runs.

ASICS Novablast 4 vs Nike Vomero 17

At pace, the Novablast 4 is the more exciting shoe. Around half marathon pace it pulls ahead of the Vomero 17, which settles firmly into the longer, slower run category and can even handle recovery efforts thanks to its plush ride.

One criticism for the Vomero: the ZoomX sidewalls in the heel sit away from the foot, adding weight without a real performance gain. Between these two, the Novablast 4 wins on both price and fun factor.

View more details for Asics Novablast 4

Adidas Boston 12: The Tempo All-Rounder

The Boston 12 costs about £10 more at retail and justifies every penny of it. You can race in it or train in it, and it has already covered full marathons in everyday use. Weight and midsole stack are close to the Novablast 4 with a very similar drop, but the Boston 12’s less bulky upper fits better and the midsole setup, with its foam and energy rods, delivers more propulsion. It shifts through the gears more easily and now feels like a genuine daily trainer with nice impact protection from its Lightstrike Pro-style cushioning.

The outsole is another clear win. The Novablast 4’s outsole picks up debris in too many little crevices and already shows exposed midsole wear, while the Boston 12’s Continental rubber is a step up. It is the kind of good-value tempo shoe that handles a wide range of paces, and for the extra £10 it simply offers more.

Puma ForeverRun Nitro: Comfort with a Hint of Stability

The ForeverRun Nitro delivers beautifully smooth midsole performance and, with its current discounts, is easy to recommend on value. The upper is more accommodating than the Novablast 4’s, and dual lace loops on the tongue keep everything in place with no sliding.

The Novablast 4 fights back with lower weight, a slight edge if you want to run at pace, and the trampoline-like feel from its midsole cutouts, though those cutouts mean plenty of exposed midsole and a durability penalty. If the choice comes down to comfort, the Puma is slightly more dialled in for distance efforts, and its unique outsole pattern amplifies traction noticeably better.

Both brands have pushed foam up around the heel, creating sidewalls that sit away from the foot. On the Puma, at this weight and price, it feels like warranted stability. On the spritely, nimble Novablast 4, it is a slightly odd addition. If you could only take one of these shoes to a desert island, the ForeverRun Nitro would be the pick: more comfortable for its intended use, with fewer bells and whistles.

ASICS Superblast: Worth the Upgrade?

Is it worth spending the extra £60 or so on the Superblast over the Novablast 4? Wholeheartedly yes. The Superblast is in another class. It is not a cut-down version of anything: the ride is completely different underfoot, with a softer, smoother landing, a wider base in the forefoot and extra heel width.

The trade-off is traction. The Novablast 4 beats the Superblast comfortably here, and the Superblast’s exposed foam holes are prone to collecting rocks and debris. Price is the other sticking point at close to £200, though the shoe also works for longer distance racing, and some have even considered it for ultra events given the cushion-to-weight ratio, which is genuinely unmatched. Durability looks reasonable, with very little rubber wear around the 100 mile mark, and the weight lands around what you would expect from a fast race shoe in the same size class.

If you have the cash, go Superblast. Just do not buy the Novablast 4 expecting a similar ride: despite the similar profile and styling, the underfoot feel is vastly different. The Superblast is super smooth, almost weightless and very nimble, and it could be a great marathon shoe for runners who do not want a carbon-plated option.

Overall Buying Advice

Pick the Novablast 4 if you want a lively, lighter trainer at a fair price and can live with a wandering tongue and mediocre outsole durability. Choose the Boston 12 if you want more versatility across paces and better grip for £10 more. The ForeverRun Nitro is the comfort pick, especially at a discount. The Vomero 17 suits slow, plush cruising. And if budget allows, the Superblast is the premium option that genuinely plays in a different class.

Conclusion

The Novablast 4 remains a fun, fast-feeling daily trainer, but this comparison shows it is no longer the automatic value champion. The Boston 12 offers more versatility, the Puma more comfort, and the Superblast a superior ride entirely. Match the shoe to how you actually run and you will not go far wrong with any of them.