ASICS Novablast 1

I heard good things about the Novablast and was having trouble finding the updated version of another shoe that had worked well for me, so I gave them a try.

They are definitely bouncy - a very different feel than previous asics models I had tried (like the 1000 and 2000 series years ago). There is a fairly high stack and a bit of a rocker so the shoe rolls through the gait cycle.

However, I have found the upper to be uncomfortable - it's a tight knit that runs a bit hot and causes pressure points on various points of my foot if I lace them too tight. 

I have also found them to be a bit sluggish when pushing the pace.

I think this is a shoe that marked a departure for Asics, but my guess is that they've made subsequent improvements in newer models. 

The Novablast is fast and soft and quickly became a favorite of mine for workouts and easy days. I've put 500 miles on two pairs without them breaking down. Two complaints: not very stable/good for trails, would be easy to roll an ankle, and the shoelaces suck, thin, short and uncomfortable 

I started wearing the Asics Novablast when it came out in early 2020. My initial impression was that it had an interesting springy ride to it and caused me to run more on my mid foot, which was definitely a good thing. The first pair I got chafed against my achilles on both legs pretty bad if my sock wasn't in between. I am on my third pair, and the second two pairs haven't bothered my achilles at all. I use this shoe on road, trail, grass, and everything in between. It is an amazing everyday trainer that has enough cushion for long runs, but is light and springy enough to pick up the pace on fartlek runs and some tempo type runs. I highly recommend this shoe!