ShoeGeometry

ASICS Novablast 5 vs ASICS Novablast 4

What changed from the ASICS Novablast 4: stiffness more flexible, firmness softer, rocker rise angle steeper. Each cell carries a provenance badge; open a shoe for sources.

ASICS Novablast 5: heel 42 mm, forefoot 34 mm (drop 8 mm); rocker apex 67 % of length, radius 39 % of length.ASICS Novablast 5: rocker apex at 67 % of lengthASICS Novablast 4: heel 42 mm, forefoot 34 mm (drop 8 mm); rocker apex 68 % of length, radius 39 % of length.ASICS Novablast 4: rocker apex at 68 % of length
  • ASICS Novablast 542/34 mm · apex 67 %
  • ASICS Novablast 442/34 mm · apex 68 %
Midsoles drawn from measured values on a common length (290 mm), heels aligned, toe to the left; dots mark the rocker apex. Dotted lines use typical values where a shoe has no measurement. Exact values are in the table below.

What changed

MeasureASICS Novablast 4ASICS Novablast 5Change
Heel stack41.5 mm41.5 mmabout the same
Forefoot stack33.5 mm33.5 mmabout the same
Drop8 mm8 mmabout the same
Weight258 g255 gabout the same
Rocker apex68% of length66.9% of lengthabout the same
Toe tip over ground39.1 mm41.9 mmabout the same
Rocker rise angle27.9°31.9°steeper (+4)
Stiffness52/10017/100more flexible (−35)
Firmness61/10037/100softer (−24)
Forefoot base width122.8 mm122.3 mmabout the same
FoamFF Blast+ EcoFF Blast Maxchanged

Compared with the previous version in this catalogue. Differences within measurement noise are shown as about the same. All version changes

MetricASICS Novablast 5
Daily trainer · Road
ASICS Novablast 4
Daily trainer · Road
Heel-to-toe drop8 mmStated8 mmStated
Heel stack42 mmStated42 mmStated
Forefoot stack34 mmStated34 mmStated
Weight255 gStated258 gStated
Rocker apex66.9 %est.68 %est.
Rocker radius39 %est.39 %est.
Rocker rise angle32 degest.28 degest.
Toe tip over ground42 mmest.39 mmest.
Rocker angle at toe60 degest.57 degest.
Visible rocker lift onset77.8 %est.78.8 %est.
Toe spring (relative)20.3 %est.17.9 %est.
Midsole width (forefoot)122.3 mmMeasured122.8 mmMeasured
Midsole width (heel)97.6 mmMeasured94.7 mmMeasured
Interior forefoot width97.5 mmMeasured—
Toebox width74.4 mmMeasured—
Longitudinal stiffness17Derived52Derived
Midsole firmness37Derived61Derived
PlateNo plateNo plate
Primary foamFF Blast MaxFF Blast+ Eco
List price$140$140

Key differences

  • Heel-to-toe drop is about the same: 8 mm for ASICS Novablast 5, 8 mm for ASICS Novablast 4.
  • Heel stack is about the same: 42 mm for ASICS Novablast 5, 42 mm for ASICS Novablast 4.
  • Forefoot stack is about the same: 34 mm for ASICS Novablast 5, 34 mm for ASICS Novablast 4.
  • Weight is about the same: 255 g for ASICS Novablast 5, 258 g for ASICS Novablast 4.
  • Rocker onset is about the same: 78 % of length for ASICS Novablast 5, 79 % of length for ASICS Novablast 4.

ASICS Novablast 5 details · ASICS Novablast 4 details · Add more shoes