Men’s Fitness verdict<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div><\/h3>A big improvement on its predecessors, with more responsiveness despite big cushioning. If you like maximal shoes with a softer edge you\u2019ll likely enjoy this shoe.<\/span><\/div>Pros<\/span>- Big, cushioned comfort<\/li>
- More responsive ride than the Novablast 3<\/li><\/ul><\/div>Cons<\/span>
- A bit on the bulky side<\/li>
- Sometimes a bit too soft<\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBuy Now<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n
How we test the best running shoes<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\nKieran Alger is one of MF’s top fitness kit reviewers, specializing in running gear above all else. He’s put each of the running shoes in our group test through their paces, in all sorts of contexts. From the gym, to the natural trail; from 5k distances, to ultramarathons. During each test, Kieran has made sure to assess important features, including: fit, cushioning, responsiveness, and more. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
ASICS Novablast 4 design<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
From a distance, the ASICS Novablast 4 looks much like its predecessor. It\u2019s still a hulking great shoe with a slightly mad, geometric, jutting midsole and heel. But get closer and there are some important changes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nFirst up there\u2019s a new midsole foam \u2013 FlyteFoam Blast + Eco. That features a small percentage of recycled materials but, despite the billboarding of that eco edge, it\u2019s not nearly doing enough to have genuine green credentials. It offers nothing to deal with the afterlife environmental impact.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nThe midsole and outsole shape has changed, too. The Novablast 4 now has a much more aggressive midsole rocker, to help with smoother, snappier transitions. There\u2019s also broader forefoot and heel flaring for<\/span> a wider platform across the whole base of the shoe. That\u2019s there for better stability and a more reliable platform to run off. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nUp top you\u2019ve now got an engineered woven upper. ASICS says those new uppers offer more stretch, ventilation, and durability. It is notably softer and smoother than the uppers on the Novablast 3 but it doesn\u2019t feel that much more stretchy.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nThe side walls of the shoe now rise higher up the foot and you\u2019ve got an upwards sweeping toe box that almost curves with the rocker shaping, to create space for your toes across the top. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nThe tongues have been changed, too. They now have thin neoprene-like wings that wrap the foot.\u00a0Flip the Novablast 4 over and you\u2019ve got a good covering of AHAR rubber for grip and durability.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nThis is also the first NOVABLAST\u2122 to be CO2e labelled at 11.2kg CO2e. That\u2019s quite significantly higher than the Allbirds Tree Flyer 2<\/a> which comes in at 7.21kg CO2e. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"ASICS](\"https:\/\/mensfitness.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/04\/Asics-Novablast-4-Outsole.jpg?w=900\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nASICS Novablast 4 weight, stack height and drop<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The Novablast 4 sticks with the same big max stack as the previous generation. The stack height measures up at 41.5mm \/ 33.5mm in the men\u2019s and 40.5mm \/ 32.5mm in the women’s, for an 8mm drop. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nThe new Novablast 4 tips the scales at 9.4oz or 267g in my test-model UK men\u2019s size 8.5.\u00a0That\u2019s marginally heavier than the Novablast 3, which was 8.9oz \/ 253g.\u00a0 But still lighter than similar big-cushioned rivals like the Gel Nimbus 25<\/a> and the Brooks Ghost Max<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nWhen it comes to price, that stays the same as the last generation Novablast 3 at $140. That\u2019s pretty standard for this type of max-stack daily trainer.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Big, cushioned comfort<\/li>
- More responsive ride than the Novablast 3<\/li><\/ul><\/div>Cons<\/span>
- A bit on the bulky side<\/li>
- Sometimes a bit too soft<\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBuy Now<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n
How we test the best running shoes<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\nKieran Alger is one of MF’s top fitness kit reviewers, specializing in running gear above all else. He’s put each of the running shoes in our group test through their paces, in all sorts of contexts. From the gym, to the natural trail; from 5k distances, to ultramarathons. During each test, Kieran has made sure to assess important features, including: fit, cushioning, responsiveness, and more. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
ASICS Novablast 4 design<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
From a distance, the ASICS Novablast 4 looks much like its predecessor. It\u2019s still a hulking great shoe with a slightly mad, geometric, jutting midsole and heel. But get closer and there are some important changes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
First up there\u2019s a new midsole foam \u2013 FlyteFoam Blast + Eco. That features a small percentage of recycled materials but, despite the billboarding of that eco edge, it\u2019s not nearly doing enough to have genuine green credentials. It offers nothing to deal with the afterlife environmental impact.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
The midsole and outsole shape has changed, too. The Novablast 4 now has a much more aggressive midsole rocker, to help with smoother, snappier transitions. There\u2019s also broader forefoot and heel flaring for<\/span> a wider platform across the whole base of the shoe. That\u2019s there for better stability and a more reliable platform to run off. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Up top you\u2019ve now got an engineered woven upper. ASICS says those new uppers offer more stretch, ventilation, and durability. It is notably softer and smoother than the uppers on the Novablast 3 but it doesn\u2019t feel that much more stretchy.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
The side walls of the shoe now rise higher up the foot and you\u2019ve got an upwards sweeping toe box that almost curves with the rocker shaping, to create space for your toes across the top. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
The tongues have been changed, too. They now have thin neoprene-like wings that wrap the foot.\u00a0Flip the Novablast 4 over and you\u2019ve got a good covering of AHAR rubber for grip and durability.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is also the first NOVABLAST\u2122 to be CO2e labelled at 11.2kg CO2e. That\u2019s quite significantly higher than the Allbirds Tree Flyer 2<\/a> which comes in at 7.21kg CO2e. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n
\n<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nASICS Novablast 4 weight, stack height and drop<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The Novablast 4 sticks with the same big max stack as the previous generation. The stack height measures up at 41.5mm \/ 33.5mm in the men\u2019s and 40.5mm \/ 32.5mm in the women’s, for an 8mm drop. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
The new Novablast 4 tips the scales at 9.4oz or 267g in my test-model UK men\u2019s size 8.5.\u00a0That\u2019s marginally heavier than the Novablast 3, which was 8.9oz \/ 253g.\u00a0 But still lighter than similar big-cushioned rivals like the Gel Nimbus 25<\/a> and the Brooks Ghost Max<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to price, that stays the same as the last generation Novablast 3 at $140. That\u2019s pretty standard for this type of max-stack daily trainer.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n