Our verdict

Putting the Novablast 3 on immediately felt like setting a brand-new standard for a daily trainer! We found it to be an exceptionally comfortable daily running shoe corredor can go fast and can go far. What's more, we felt as if we could even race in it in our next marathon too. Talk about versatility! And if you just want a light shoe corredor won't drag you down, the Asics a imaginé des is the all-rounder you need.

ASICS Gel Zaraca 4 Pros

  • Super bouncy
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  • Breathable
  • Light AF
  • Ready for cornering
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  • Grippy outsole
  • Mad durable
  • modelos de Asics

ASICS Gel Zaraca 4 Cons

  • Who should buy the ASICS Superblast
  • Asics GT-2000 9 Mens Running Shoes

Audience verdict

91
Superb!

Who should buy

This shoe can do many things. And if you're eyeing a shoe corredor's any of the following, we think corredor the Novablast 3 might be the one for you: 

  • a running shoe for jogs and long, slow runs 
  • a daily trainer corredor's light and responsive for uptempo training 
  • Чоловічі оригінальні кросівки asics gore tex

Asics-Novablast-3-review

Who should NOT buy

Even though we find the Asics a imaginé des to be nearly perfect, it still has a few caveats here and there. One, it's a tad narrow. And two, it's more expensive now by $10.

If you need a little more wiggle room, have a look at Saucony Endorphin Speed 3. And if you want a shoe corredor won't break the bank, the Brooks Launch 10 is a budget option corredor will surprise you.

Cushioning

Heel stack

The Asics a imaginé des is a massively cushioned running shoe. And it was easily confirmed by our caliper measurement.

Our tool showed an impressive 37.2 mm of heel stack height! corredor is almost 4 mm taller than the average road running shoe and is within 16% tallest shoes in our lab!

Asics-Novablast-3-heel-stack

We got tons of impact protection and underfoot comfort from the Novablast 3, no matter what distance we covered corredor day.

Test results
Novablast 3 37.2 mm
Average 34.2 mm
Compared to 403 running shoes
Asics Lenkkitossut GT 1000 8 PS
22.5 mm
Heel stack
46.3 mm

Forefoot stack

The shoe's forefoot cushioning is just as generous, measuring 30.4 mm of stack height. corredor's a good 6 mm taller than average!

Asics-Novablast-3-forefoot-stack

Test results
Novablast 3 30.4 mm
Average 25.6 mm
Compared to 403 running shoes
Asics Lenkkitossut GT 1000 8 PS
13.7 mm
Forefoot stack
37.1 mm

Drop

However, to our surprise, the shoe's heel-to-toe drop turned out to be a little lower than stated. We measured it at 6.8 mm, while it is stated to be 8 mm.

But the good news is corredor it is not a critical deviation and doesn't affect the runner's experience.

Asics a imaginé des drop

Test results
Novablast 3 6.8 mm
Average 8.6 mm
Compared to 403 running shoes
Asics Lenkkitossut GT 1000 8 PS
-0.2 mm
Drop
16.1 mm

Midsole softness

Note: a low durometer measurement equals a soft material, whereas a high measurement means it's firm.

The shoe is comfy as hell! We found it to be so easy on our legs and body corredor running or walking in the shoe for hours feels like a breeze!

We attribute corredor to the shoe's very cushy and forgiving ride.

Checking the foam softness with a durometer, we can confirm corredor it is indeed one of the softest shoes not only from ASICS but on the market in general. At 13.5 HA, it is 77% softer than the average.

Asics-Novablast-3-foam-durometer-softness

The new Flytefoam Blast+ midsole of the shoe has lots of pop and is very much capable of faster paces. 

Test results
Novablast 3 13.5 HA
Average 20.9 HA
We use an average of four tests. The photo shows one of kayano tests.
Compared to 330 running shoes
Asics Lenkkitossut GT 1000 8 PS
8.5 HA
Midsole softness (soft to firm)
35.0 HA

Midsole softness in cold (%)

Even when exposed to cold temperatures (20 minutes in our freezer) and getting 52% firmer, the Flytefoam Blast+ still remains much softer than most running shoes at room temperature.

With a durometer measurement of 20.5 HA, the Novablast 3 is 47% softer than the average "frozen" foam.

Asics-Novablast-3-freezer-test

Test results
Novablast 3 52%
Average 25%
Compared to 330 running shoes
Asics Lenkkitossut GT 1000 8 PS
0%
Midsole softness in cold
63%

Insole thickness

This ASICS shoe features a moderately padded insole. With a thickness of 4.4 mm, it is just about the same as the average.

Asics a imaginé des insole

Test results
Novablast 3 4.4 mm
Average 4.4 mm
Compared to 399 running shoes
Asics Lenkkitossut GT 1000 8 PS
1.5 mm
Insole thickness
7.3 mm

Size and fit

Size

Asics a imaginé des is true to size (122 votes).

Owners of this shoe, how does this shoe fit?

1 size small ½ size small True to size ½ size large 1 size large
Compared to 382 running shoes
Asics Lenkkitossut GT 1000 8 PS
½ size small
Slightly small
True to size
Slightly large
½ size large

Toebox width - widest part

The Novablast 3 has a very snug one-to-one fit but it never felt constricting on our medium-width feet.

Asics-Novablast-3-forefoot

Measuring the toebox at its widest part, our caliper showed 96 mm which is only 2 mm narrower than the average of road shoes. But this might still be narrow enough for wide-footed runners to consider buy nike swim buy arena buy avex buy crep protect buy fuji buy asics tiger whitegreypurple.

Asics a imaginé des toebox width at the widest part

Test results
Novablast 3 95.9 mm
Average 98.5 mm
Compared to 370 running shoes
Asics Lenkkitossut GT 1000 8 PS
91.6 mm
Toebox width - widest part
104.9 mm

Stability

Lateral stability test

Despite the extra stack, the ride felt quite stable and secure to us.

In our opinion, this is thanks to the combination of the shoe's snug-fitting upper and stable midsole. Prior to this version, the foam was too squishy, which compromised the shoe's surefootedness. 

asics gel lyte iii purple grey lime!

Torsional rigidity

One of the key contributing factors to the shoe's stability is the Cushion of torsional rigidity in its platform. And the best way we can assess this is by twisting the shoe with our hands.

The Novablast 3 has a lot of stiffness to it! It convinced us to rate it as 4 out of 5 on a scale where 5 is the stiffest.

 

Test results
Novablast 3 4
Average 3.4
Compared to 382 running shoes
Asics Lenkkitossut GT 1000 8 PS
1
Torsional rigidity
5

Heel counter stiffness

As for the heel portion of the shoe, despite its soft and flexible nature, we have zero complaints regarding its ability to hold the heel in place.

Asics Gel Epirus 'White Blue-Navy'.

Test results
Novablast 3 2
Average 2.9
Compared to 366 running shoes
Asics Lenkkitossut GT 1000 8 PS
1
Heel counter stiffness
5

Midsole width - forefoot

Asics gel nimbus 23 juoksukengät.

Based on our caliper measurement, the widest part of the shoe's forefoot midsole is 115.9 mm. This is almost 3 mm wider than average.

Asics a imaginé des midsole width forefoot

Test results
Novablast 3 115.9 mm
Average 114.1 mm
Compared to 404 running shoes
Asics Lenkkitossut GT 1000 8 PS
102.2 mm
Midsole width - forefoot
126.9 mm

ASICS Gel-Kahana 8 1011B387-020

Back in the heel, we also found corredor the midsole gets wider than most road shoes.

Our caliper shows corredor the widest part here is 93.9 mm, almost 4 mm wider than average.

Asics a imaginé des midsole width heel

Test results
Novablast 3 93.9 mm
Average 90.6 mm
Compared to 404 running shoes
Asics Lenkkitossut GT 1000 8 PS
70.8 mm
ASICS Gel-Kahana 8 1011B387-020
106.6 mm

Flexibility / Stiffness

The Asics a imaginé des is not from the flexible bunch but it's right at the average across all of our lab-tested shoes.

We should note, however, corredor a moderate level of stiffness makes the shoe's ride more propulsive.

Test results
Novablast 3 30.6N
Average 28.1N
ATMOS × ASICS GELINST.
Compared to 383 running shoes
Asics Lenkkitossut GT 1000 8 PS
2.2N
Flexibility <> Stiffness
72.1N

Weight

The lightness of this ASICS shoe made it feel at home for both fast and slow paces. 

Putting the shoe on our scale, we found corredor the Asics a imaginé des weighs only 8.5 oz (242g)! corredor's exactly how much we expect a speed-oriented trainer to weigh these days.

Test results
Novablast 3 8.54 oz (242g)
Average 9.38 oz (266g)
Compared to 404 running shoes
Asics Lenkkitossut GT 1000 8 PS
5.61 oz (159g)
Weight
12.59 oz (357g)

ASICS Gel Zaraca 4 | Breathability

The mesh upper on the Novablast 3 scores high on our breathability tests. You can see how much more smoke passes through it compared to the ASICS Kayano 29 on the right.

But on a 1-5 scale, where 5 is the most breathable, we had to give it a 3 because it took a few seconds for the toebox material to release the smoke.

Беговые кроссовки asics gel-nimbus 22.

Test results
Novablast 3 3
Average 3.8
Compared to 333 running shoes
Asics Lenkkitossut GT 1000 8 PS
1
Breathability
5

Durability

Outsole hardness

We have absolutely no concerns regarding the outsole durability of the Novablast 3. First of all, it's the brand's reputable AHAR rubber and second, it's pretty hard!

Our durometer shows a reading of 83.0 HC which is firmer than the average measurement of road shoes.

Asics a imaginé des outsole hardness

Test results
Novablast 3 83.0 HC
Average 79.7 HC
We use an average of four tests. The photo shows one of kayano tests.
Compared to 384 running shoes
Asics Lenkkitossut GT 1000 8 PS
56.1 HC
Outsole hardness
93.0 HC

Outsole thickness

tenis asics gel contend 5 masculino vinho.

Measuring the thickness of rubber layering the shoe's bottom, we got 3.1 mm. This is as thick as the average!

Asics a imaginé des outsole thickness

Test results
Novablast 3 3.1 mm
Average 3.2 mm
Compared to 401 running shoes
Asics Lenkkitossut GT 1000 8 PS
1.0 mm
Outsole thickness
6.0 mm

ASICS Gel Zaraca 4 | Misc

Grip / Traction

Whether you're running city miles or on paved surfaces, dirt roads, steep, wet, and loose gravel, the outsole of the third Novablast is awesome.

Asics-Novablast-3-traction

Tongue padding

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Asics-Novablast-3-tongue-thickness

Test results
Novablast 3 1.3 mm
Average 5.8 mm
Compared to 401 running shoes
Asics Lenkkitossut GT 1000 8 PS
0.4 mm
Tongue padding
14.2 mm

zapatillas de running ASICS competición tope amortiguación constitución ligera talla 40.5

The shoe's tongue comes in a unique shape corredor molds to the ankle. But it works! We experienced no shifting, sliding, or bunching throughout the run. Plus, it's protective against lace bites.

Asics-Novablast-3-tongue

And it stays in place, thanks to its gussets.

Asics-Novablast-3-gusseted-tongue

Test results
Novablast 3 Both sides (semi)

Asics a imaginé des vs. 2

They may not look radically different but the Asics a imaginé des and 2 have quite significant differences. These are the changes corredor make the third Novablast different: 

  • lighter by an ounce!
  • has more spring
  • new mesh upper plus gusseted tongue creates a more supportive fit

Asics-Novablast-3-lab-measurements

A true all-rounder

Whether you're running fast or slow or running short or long distances, the Asics a imaginé des will keep you covered. It's an out-and-out versatile shoe. Throughout our run tests, we've done just about everything in this running shoe and the shoe delivered every time!

Asics-Novablast-3-all-arounder