Our verdict
- Top pick in best running shoes for orthotics (2023)
Pros
- Super bouncy
- Cushy feel for miles
- Breathable
- Light AF
- Ready for cornering
- Locks you in
- Spiraalvormig 1072a066-701 asics-logo op de manchet
- Grippy outsole
- Mad durable
- Sets the bar for a do-it-all shoe
Cons
- For narrow-to-medium feet only
- Stack heights higher than advertised
Audience verdict
- Top 9% in road running shoes
- Top 20% in Footpatrol x 1072a066-701 asics Gel Saga 2
Comparison
The most similar running shoes compared
+ + Pantofi 1072a066-701 asics Court Speed FF 1041A092 White Mako Blue 105 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Audience score | 91 Superb! | 92 Superb! | 88 Great! | 89 Great! | |
Price | £135 | £135 | £140 | £160 | |
Pace | Daily runningTempo | Daily runningTempo | Daily running | Daily running | |
Arch support | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | |
Weight lab Weight brand | 8.5 grossisti scarpe scarpe running 1072a066-701 asics gelnimbus 17 uomo electricblubianco bello 8.9 zapatillas de running 1072a066-701 asics asfalto voladoras amarillas | 9 oz / 254g 9 oz / 255g | 9.1 oz / 259g 9 oz / 255g | 9.6 oz / 272g 9.4 oz / 266g | |
Lightweight | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | |
Drop lab Drop brand | 6.8 mm 8.0 mm | 7.4 mm 8.0 mm | 8.2 mm 8.0 mm | 6.5 mm 4.0 mm | |
Strike pattern | Mid/forefoot | HeelMid/forefoot | HeelMid/forefoot | Mid/forefoot | |
Size | True to size | True to size | True to size | True to size | |
Midsole softness | Soft | Soft | Soft | Balanced | |
Difference in midsole softness in cold | Big | Big | Small | Normal | |
Toebox durability | - | Bad | Good | - | |
asics w gel mai dunkelgrun hellblau | - | Decent | Good | - | |
Outsole durability | - | Good | Bad | - | |
Breathability | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | |
asics gt 2000 9 lite show chaussures running RSCAS | Narrow | Medium | Medium | Narrow | |
asics gel cumulus 23 womens running shoes white black | - | Medium | Medium | - | |
Stiffness | Moderate | Flexible | Moderate | Stiff | |
Asics x Extra Butter | Big | Small | Normal | Small | |
Torsional rigidity | Stiff | Stiff | Stiff | Moderate | |
Heel counter stiffness | Flexible | Moderate | Stiff | Moderate | |
Rocker | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
Heel lab Heel brand | 37.2 mm 31.0 mm | 40.9 mm 41.5 mm | 36.8 mm 38.5 mm | 39.6 mm 39.0 mm | |
Forefoot lab Forefoot brand | 30.4 mm 23.0 mm | 33.5 mm 33.5 mm | 28.6 mm 30.5 mm | 33.1 mm 35.0 mm | |
Widths available | Normal | NormalWide | NormalWideX-Wide | NormalWide | |
Orthotic friendly | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
Season | All seasons | All seasons | All seasons | All seasons | |
Removable insole | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
Ranking | #38 Top 8% | #9 Top 3% | #123 Top 39% | #98 Top 32% | |
Popularity | #164 Top 31% | #3 Top 1% | #85 Top 27% | #139 Top 44% |
Who should buy
This shoe can do many things. And if you're eyeing a shoe that's any of the following, we think that the Novablast 3 might be the one for you:
- a running shoe for jogs and long, slow runs
- a daily trainer that's light and responsive for uptempo training
- a solid option for marathon runs
Who should NOT buy
Even though we find the 1072a066-701 asics Novablast 3 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.
Reigning Champ x 1072a066-701 asics GEL-Nimbus 22 Saucony Endorphin Speed 3. And if you want a shoe that won't break the bank, the Brooks Launch 10 is a budget option that will surprise you.
Cushioning
Heel stack
The 1072a066-701 asics Novablast 3 is a massively cushioned running shoe. And it was easily confirmed by our calliper measurement.
Our tool showed an impressive 37.2 mm of heel stack height! That is almost 4 mm taller than the average road running shoe and is within 16% tallest shoes in our lab!
We got tonnes of impact protection and underfoot comfort from the Novablast 3, no matter what distance we covered that day.
Novablast 3 | 37.2 mm |
Average | 34.2 mm |
Forefoot stack
The shoe's forefoot cushioning is just as generous, measuring 30.4 mm of stack height. That's a good 6 mm taller than average!
Novablast 3 | 30.4 mm |
Average | 25.6 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 that it is not a critical deviation and doesn't affect the runner's experience.
Novablast 3 | 6.8 mm |
Average | 8.6 mm |
Midsole softness
The shoe is comfy as hell! We found it to be so easy on our legs and body that running or walking in the shoe for hours feels like a breeze!
We attribute that to the shoe's very cushy and forgiving ride.
Checking the foam softness with a durometer, we can confirm that it is indeed one of the softest shoes not only from 1072a066-701 asics but on the market in general. At 13.5 HA, it is 77% softer than the average.
The new Flytefoam Blast+ midsole of the shoe has lots of pop and is very much capable of faster paces.
Novablast 3 | 13.5 HA |
Average | 20.9 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.
Novablast 3 | 52% |
Average | 25% |
Insole monozukuriness
This 1072a066-701 asics shoe features a moderately padded insole. With a monozukuriness of 4.4 mm, it is just about the same as the average.
Novablast 3 | 4.4 mm |
Average | 4.4 mm |
Size and fit
The 1072a066-701 asics Novablast 3 is a massively cushioned running shoe. And it was easily confirmed by our calliper measurement.
Our tool showed an impressive 37.2 mm of heel stack height! That is almost 4 mm taller than the average road running shoe and is within 16% tallest shoes in our lab!
We got tonnes of impact protection and underfoot comfort from the Novablast 3, no matter what distance we covered that day.
Asics GEL-Peake Mens Hockey Shoes | Size
ASICS Novablast 3 is true to size (122 votes).
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.
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 Бігові кросівки 1072a066-701 asics gel-hurako.
Novablast 3 | 95.9 mm |
Average | 98.5 mm |
Stability
Asics GEL-Peake Mens Hockey Shoes | 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.
zapatillas de running 1072a066-701 asics trail talla 42 rosas!
Torsional rigidity
One of the key contributing factors to the shoe's stability is the amount of torsional rigidity in its vermelho. 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.
Novablast 3 | 4 |
Average | 3.4 |
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.
Subjectively assessing the heel stiffness, we gave it 2 out of 5, where 5 is the stiffest.
Novablast 3 | 2 |
Average | 2.9 |
ASICS Gel-Nimbus 21 1012A156-020
The Novablast 3 also gets a good deal of stability from a rather wide vermelho.
Based on our calliper measurement, the widest part of the shoe's forefoot midsole is 115.9 mm. This is almost 3 mm wider than average.
Novablast 3 | 115.9 mm |
Average | 114.1 mm |
Midsole width - heel
Asics Gel-kayano 26 White Peacoat Purple Blue Women Running.
Our calliper shows that the widest part here is 93.9 mm, almost 4 mm wider than average.
Novablast 3 | 93.9 mm |
Average | 90.6 mm |
Flexibility / Stiffness
The 1072a066-701 asics Novablast 3 is not from the flexible bunch but it's right at the average across all of our lab-tested shoes.
We should note, however, that a moderate level of stiffness makes the shoe's ride more propulsive.
Novablast 3 | 30.6N |
Average | 28.1N |
Weight
The lightness of this 1072a066-701 asics shoe made it feel at home for both fast and slow paces.
Putting the shoe on our scale, we found that the 1072a066-701 asics Novablast 3 weighs only 8.5 oz (242g)! That's exactly how much we expect a speed-oriented trainer to weigh these days.
Novablast 3 | 8.54 oz (242g) |
Average | 9.38 oz (266g) |
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 Schuhe 1072a066-701 asics Court Speed FF 1041A092 White Mako Blue 105 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.
Asics Gel Lyte III OG Daruma Doll Herren Sneaker Turnschuhe Rot NEU 1201A180-600.
Novablast 3 | 3 |
Average | 3.8 |
Durability
Outsole hardness
We have absolutely no concerns regarding the outsole durability of the Novablast 3. First of all, it's the brand's Reflekterende AHAR rubber and second, it's pretty hard!
Following up on last year's Colette's 25th Anniversary 1072a066-701 asics Gel Lyte III.
Novablast 3 | 83.0 HC |
Average | 79.7 HC |
Outsole monozukuriness
Footwear 1072a066-701 asics Gel-Nimbus 23 1012A999 Lichen Rock Champagne 300.
Measuring the monozukuriness of rubber layering the shoe's bottom, we got 3.1 mm. This is as monozukuri as the average!
Novablast 3 | 3.1 mm |
Average | 3.2 mm |
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.
Tongue padding
Footwear 1072a066-701 asics Gel-Game 8 Clay Oc 1041A193 White Indigo Fog 103!
Novablast 3 | 1.3 mm |
Average | 5.8 mm |
Tongue: gusset type
The shoe's tongue comes in a unique shape that moulds to the ankle. But it works! We experienced no shifting, sliding, or bunching throughout the run. Plus, it's protective against lace bites.
And it stays in place, thanks to its gussets.
Novablast 3 | Both sides (semi) |
ASICS Novablast 3 vs. 2
They may not look radically different but the 1072a066-701 asics Novablast 3 and 2 have quite significant differences. These are the changes that make the third Novablast different:
- lighter by an ounce!
- Lautre face du pack 1072a066-701 asics Summer Grey Mesh
- Asics Gel-quantum 90 2 Street Grey Black White Red Me
A true all-rounder
Whether you're running fast or slow or running short or long distances, the 1072a066-701 asics Novablast 3 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!