Four Running Shoes Worth Watching: ASICS Novablast 6, Mizuno Neo Vista 3, Wave Rider 30 and Adidas Adizero Pacer

Introduction

Four fresh or upcoming trainers, four quick verdicts. This round-up covers the next ASICS Novablast 6, two new Mizuno options in the Neo Vista 3 and Wave Rider 30, and Adidas’s newly launched Adizero Pacer. Three of them earn a confident yes, one does not. Here is the reasoning behind each call.

ASICS Novablast 6: Yay

The Novablast has been a fixture in daily-use rotations since the first release in 2020, and the formula has shifted with each version. The original was all squish, versions 3 and 4 leaned more stable, and version 5 moved to FF Blast Max foam for a softer, more protective feel, though it arguably lost some pop and zip in the process.

The response now appears to be a dose of FF Turbo square material in the forefoot, the same foam used in the Megablast and Sonicblast models. That should energize the ride and make the shoe more fun, which could also shift its use case. Historically the Novablast has been a daily trainer with enough cushion for longer efforts and enough softness for recovery runs, but not the pick for faster sessions. That could change here.

It is expected to release in early July in the UK, so it is still a little way off. If it delivers some Megablast vibes without that steep price tag, it will be well worth picking up.

Mizuno Neo Vista 3: Yay With Some Caveats

The Neo Vista 3 has just launched from Mizuno with a bootie-like construction and the same flared heel design as the previous version. There is more stack here than before: 44.5mm of heel with a fiberglass plate and an 8mm drop, which is a more considerable drop than the related Neo Z 2. Underfoot it is the same Enerzy Next material, which is very soft and highly compressive.

The main question mark comes from the previous version, where the knit-like upper felt a touch long and slightly baggy. Feedback on the new version suggests Mizuno has addressed this, and the weight appears unchanged. It is a bit of a roll of the dice, but the shoe was excellent underfoot with bags of cushion, so a cautious yes, especially for runners with more standard-width feet who may not have noticed the upper issue at all.

Mizuno Wave Rider 30: Yay

The Wave Rider 30 is the flagship Mizuno daily trainer, now on its 30th iteration, and it shares the Enerzy Next foam being rolled across the brand’s lineup. This time it is stabilized by a plate setup, with a more resilient EVA section sitting in the bottom of the heel sandwich. That points to a shoe aimed at heel landings, built as a steady cruiser.

Some of the numbers stand out. The sample weighs 263g (9.4oz) with a 42.5mm heel stack and an 8mm drop, suggesting Mizuno is no longer worried about stack heights for training shoes in 2026. The outsole keeps the durable X10 rubber that has made every recent Mizuno excellent for longevity, with minimal rubber coverage overall. Add the stabilizing plate and you have a likely candidate for building aerobic base mileage at an even pace. A clear yay, and a good benchmark for daily-shoe comparisons.

Adidas Adizero Pacer: Nay

The Adizero Pacer has launched in the US with no UK availability confirmed. It uses a Lightstrike-only midsole, which may put some runners off given how that foam has aged. The profile reads as a blend of the SL 2 and the Evo SL, with a similar midsole shape and stack to the Evo SL: 38mm of heel and 31mm up front for a standard drop. The upper is a touch more padded, particularly in the tongue and ankle collar.

The concern is the foam. Lightstrike, even in its rumored 2.0 form, is firmer, less compressive and less energetic than modern foams, and even the SL 2 mixed in some Lightstrike Pro. At a $100 price point it sits in an awkward spot, since discounted alternatives are often available for not much more. A firm nay, unless you happen to be Stateside with spare change and are simply curious.

Buying Advice

If you want maximum cushion for easy miles, the Neo Vista 3 stacks up the most and stays soft. If you want a dependable, durable daily cruiser for steady mileage, the Wave Rider 30 looks like the safest long-term bet. If you want a more energetic daily trainer that can also handle some faster running, the Novablast 6 could be the most interesting of the four once it lands. The Pacer is the one to skip unless its price drops well below launch level.

Conclusion

Three of these releases show real promise: a livelier Novablast, a big-cushion Neo Vista with a hopefully fixed upper, and a 30th-anniversary Wave Rider built for steady miles. The Pacer, on the other hand, leans on dated foam at a price that does not quite make sense. Waiting for the first three looks like the smart move.