ASICS Novablast 6 vs Superblast 3: Which Max-Stack Trainer Should You Buy?

Introduction

ASICS has two big hitters in the Blast family, and both received interesting updates for 2026. The Novablast, now in its sixth generation, is the original Blast, while the Superblast 3 is the highest shoe in the lineup. Both are max-stack, non-plated, neutral daily trainers, and after test miles in each, the picture is clearer than you might expect: these two are becoming remarkably similar in what they aim to do, and the price gap now does a lot of the deciding.

Specs at a Glance

The Novablast 6 packs 41.5mm in the heel and 33.5mm in the forefoot for an 8mm drop. The Superblast 3 is taller still, with a huge 46.5mm heel and 38.5mm forefoot, sharing the same 8mm drop.

Weights are where things get interesting. In a US 9.5 / UK 9.5 test shoe, the Novablast 6 comes in at 9.1 oz (258g), while the Superblast 3 is surprisingly lighter at 8.3 oz (236g) despite the extra stack. On price, the Novablast 6 lands at $155 or 140 GBP, with the Superblast 3 setting you back $210 or 200 GBP.

Midsole and Upper

Both shoes feature dual-foam midsoles, but they mix the ingredients differently. The Superblast 3 carries a trampoline pod of FF LEAP, the highly compressive foam also used in the ASICS Metaspeed Sky Tokyo, alongside FF Blast Plus foam. The Novablast 6 combines a forefoot wedge of FF Turbo Squared, the same foam found in the Megablast, with FF Blast Max foam, aiming for more response while retaining reliability.

Up top, the Superblast 3 uses an engineered woven mesh upper that cuts weight while improving breathability and moisture management. The Novablast 6 has marginally more flexible woven uppers sitting a little higher over the toes, creating a roomier toe box. Heel packages and tongues are almost identical on both, with well-padded heel collars and excellent flat, wrapping tongues.

Fit and Sizing

Across testers running US 9.5, UK 8, and UK 9, the consensus was consistent: go true to size in both shoes. Both offer a spacious toe box with decent clearance all around the toes, and forgiving uppers that are not particularly narrow.

There are subtle differences. The Novablast 6 feels slightly longer with more wiggle room and flex, while the Superblast 3 sits a touch closer across the top of the foot, a bit more snug, though still well secured without feeling claustrophobic. The Novablast’s slightly more padded feel suits its comfort-focused brief, and some of that extra weight likely comes from there.

Midfoot lockdown is strong on both, ASICS laces doing their usual good job, and tongues offer just enough padding to remove lace pinch. Heel collars are a match for security and comfort, with the Novablast carrying a touch more padding. Both fit well and comfortably in regular running shoe sizes.

Ride and Feel

This is where the two separate. The Superblast 3 feels softer, more compressive, and more highly cushioned underfoot, with a broad platform and a bouncy, lively character that comes alive when you engage it at pace. The ride is smooth and connected from heel to toe thanks to its full top layer of foam, and it rolls forward nicely over long and steady marathon pace efforts. The trade-off is that it feels bulkier than its light weight suggests, with little road feel, and it can feel a touch mushy at slower paces where sinking into the foam takes more work.

The Novablast 6, while not as bouncy, feels sprightlier and better suited to faster paces without wanting for cushioning. Its foams are positioned differently: a softer, tempering feel at the heel for stability, and a firmer, snappier FF Turbo Squared section under the forefoot that delivers strong energy return on toe-off. It feels more precise, more nimble, and slightly more stable, though both are reasonably stable overall.

How They Perform Across Runs

Both are excellent easy-run shoes: soft, comfortable, with real energy return, and right up there with the best daily trainers on the market. Both handle mid-range steady runs and tempo or threshold work well, and both are capable all-rounders, though neither is an out-and-out racing or interval shoe.

The Superblast 3’s character has shifted from the Superblast 2. Where the earlier versions were firmer, smooth-rolling tempo specialists, the 3 now skews toward easier efforts. It has been run to a 3:30 marathon in comfortable fashion, and it does long, steady work beautifully, but some runners who loved the firmer 2 may prefer that older feel. For long runs specifically, the Superblast 3’s extra softness and bounce give it a slight edge.

The Novablast 6 is a genuine improvement over the Novablast 5. The FF Turbo Squared addition has upped its game enough that it can handle tempo efforts and progression runs that its predecessor was never really asked to do, making it a much more rounded, versatile shoe.

Outsole and Durability

Both deploy strategic rubber pads and strips in the main impact zones with plenty of exposed midsole to save weight. Both now use a combination of AHAR in the heel and ASICS GRIP in the forefoot, which is an upgrade on grip for the Novablast 6 that some found wanting in the past.

The Superblast 3’s outsole is designed for longer runs and should give you a bit more life, while the Novablast 6 offers good daily-trainer durability with a thick layer of rubber. Both can handle lighter trails and park paths, though they are really built for flatter road routes.

Verdict: Which One Should You Buy?

The Novablast 6’s updates genuinely work. The switched-up forefoot foam adds energy and moves it much closer to its pricier stablemate on performance. Provided you are not chasing the biggest, bounciest stack, there is now a strong argument to save your money and choose the all-rounder credentials of the Novablast 6. If you run mostly easy miles with the occasional faster workout, run for general fitness, or are a beginner, it is the smarter investment.

If you like your shoes super soft, highly stacked, but still light and bouncy, the Superblast 3 is an excellent all-round marathon training option that will eat up long runs, tempos, and progression sessions. You will have to enjoy running at pace in a bulkier shoe to make the most of it at the top end. The gap between these two shoes is not as big as the price gap between them, and for most runners the Novablast 6 does the same runs extremely well for significantly less.

Conclusion

These are two of the very best max-cushion daily trainers available, and both have earned their reputations. The Superblast 3 delivers the softest, bounciest, most protective ride with a slight edge for long runs and single-shoe versatility, while the Novablast 6 counters with a sprightlier feel, near-identical versatility, and much better value. If the price difference matters, the Novablast 6 is the easy pick. If you want maximum cushion and bounce and are happy to pay for it, the Superblast 3 will not disappoint.