The ASICS NOVABLAST 6 is a very good daily trainer for neutral runners of all levels. Its high stack provides amazing impact protection, though the forefoot delivers a much livelier ride than the heel, so heel strikers will find it less energetic. It's a dependable pick for runners who want one shoe to handle all their weekly mileage, and it performs decently over marathon distances as well. However, it lacks the aggressive snap for faster workouts or short-distance racing.
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Our Verdict
The ASICS NOVABLAST 6 is a decent pick for marathon racing. Its amazing cushioning provides excellent impact protection, holding up decently without bottoming out as the miles build, and its stability is satisfactory enough to keep the ride reasonably controlled as fatigue sets in. However, it relies heavily on the forefoot for its rebound, so if your stride shifts late in the race, it becomes much less efficient. Its weight and flexible forefoot also make it less efficient than a dedicated marathon racer, meaning it's better suited to covering the distance than chasing a podium finish.
Amazing cushioning remains decently protective without bottoming out.
Stable enough to stay planted when form breaks down.
Heel delivers much less rebound when form shifts rearward deep into the distance.
Weight and flexible forefoot limit race-day efficiency.
The ASICS NOVABLAST 6 is an okay pick for 5K/10K racing. Its decent forefoot rocker geometry and good forefoot energy return give it enough life to handle faster efforts in a pinch. However, it's heavy for a short-distance racer, and its soft forefoot and flexible rocker stop the front of the shoe from holding its shape well enough to deliver quick, snappy turnover. It's better suited to occasional faster reps than dedicated 5K/10K racing.
Good forefoot energy return adds life at race pace.
Decent rocker geometry helps it transition through toe-off.
Weight makes quick turnover harder.
Soft forefoot and flexible rocker limit snap.
The ASICS NOVABLAST 6 is a satisfactory long-run companion. It stays comfortable deep into longer efforts, with enough cushioning to avoid feeling harsh as the miles build, while its stability keeps the ride predictable when fatigue sets in. However, its flexible forefoot and compliant rocker make it harder to maintain rhythm during progressive long runs, and its weight becomes more noticeable over longer distances.
Amazing cushioning remains decently protective without bottoming out.
Stable enough to remain trustworthy when fatigue sets in.
Flexible forefoot makes progressive efforts less efficient.
Weight becomes more noticeable over longer distances.
The ASICS NOVABLAST 6 is a very good daily trainer. Its amazing cushioning and decently planted ride make it easy to trust across weekly mileage, while its good forefoot rebound keeps the ride engaging. However, the heel is significantly less peppy than the forefoot, so heel strikers won't experience the same pop underfoot.
Amazing cushioning provides deep protection for daily mileage.
Stable enough to stay dependable across regular runs.
Good forefoot rebound adds some pep.
Heel strikers won't get the same energetic ride as forefoot strikers.
Changelog
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Updated Aug 26, 2026:
We've updated this review to add links to the ASICS NOVABLAST 6 and the newly reviewed Topo Specter 3 in the Breathability box.
- Updated Aug 17, 2026: We've updated this review to Test Bench 0.16, expanding our coverage with new tests for breathability, water absorption, and drying time. For more details, see the changelog.
- Updated Jul 23, 2026: Review published.
- Updated Jul 21, 2026: Early access published.
- Updated Jul 09, 2026: Our testers have started testing this product.
- Updated Jul 08, 2026: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
- Updated Jun 09, 2026: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.
We've bought and tested more than 300 running shoes. Every pair purchased with our own money, never supplied or sponsored by brands. Our data-driven tests are designed to go beyond marketing claims, and since every shoe goes through the exact same methodology, you can directly compare results to find the right pair for your needs.
Test Results
Energy Return
The ASICS NOVABLAST 6 provides decent energy return overall. The forefoot returns a good amount of energy thanks to the pod of premium foam beneath the ball of the foot, adding noticeable rebound through toe-off. However, the heel returns a mediocre amount of energy when compressed, so rearfoot landings feel much less lively than the forefoot, and the ride loses some of its bounce across a full stride.
Decent overall energy return.
Premium forefoot foam adds peps through toe-off.
Heel returns much less energy than the forefoot.
Rearfoot landings feel noticeably less lively.
The ASICS NOVABLAST 6 has good energy return in the forefoot, thanks to its trampoline pod of premium foam. It's a significant improvement from the ASICS NOVABLAST 5, making toe-off livelier overall, though it still isn't as lively as the ASICS SUPERBLAST 3 and is significantly less lively than faster shoes like the adidas Adizero Evo SL.
The ASICS NOVABLAST 6 returns a mediocre amount of energy in the heel, and only slightly more than the ASICS NOVABLAST 5. However, it's significantly less than the ASICS SUPERBLAST 3 and adidas Adizero Evo SL, making it much less lively for heel strikers.
Stability
The ASICS NOVABLAST 6 is decently stable. Its wide outsole keeps the platform reasonably planted despite its high stack, and the gusseted tongue makes for a secure lockdown. However, the soft heel and forefoot mean landings are less trustworthy.
Wide platform provides a trustworthy ride.
Gusseted tongue delivers a secure lockdown.
Soft heel makes rearfoot landings less planted.
Soft forefoot reduces stability through toe-off.
The ASICS NOVABLAST 6's forefoot is also on the softer side, limiting snap through toe-off and making the ride less stable than the ASICS NOVABLAST 5.
The ASICS NOVABLAST 6's heel is quite soft overall, and much softer than the ASICS NOVABLAST 5, making landings plusher but also less planted.
Cushioning
The ASICS NOVABLAST 6 is amazingly cushioned. The heel provides excellent impact protection across all runner weights and paces, staying impressively protective even under heavier loads. The forefoot is especially protective at lighter to moderate efforts, while still providing enough cushioning to remain comfortable under higher forces and over longer runs.
Excellent heel protection across all runner weights and paces.
Cushioning holds up decently over longer efforts.
Forefoot protection drops significantly under heavier loads.
The ASICS NOVABLAST 6 has amazing heel cushioning. It holds up impressively across all force levels, providing a highly protective base under the rearfoot for runners of different weights and paces.
The ASICS NOVABLAST 6 has impressive forefoot cushioning overall. It provides superb protection at lighter forces, holding up impressively under moderate loads, too. However, it compresses more under heavier forces than the heel, and though it still retains a decent amount of cushioning, faster or heavier runners may find it harsher than the score suggests.
The ASICS NOVABLAST 6's forefoot cushioning holds up decently over longer runs, retaining a satisfactory amount of protection. However, the ASICS SUPERBLAST 3 remains the better option for runners who want maximum cushioning deep into marathon distances.
Bounciness
The ASICS NOVABLAST 6 is reasonably bouncy. Its premium forefoot foam delivers enough rebound to keep the ride engaging, while the heel compresses decently enough to avoid feeling overly firm. However, the heel returns much less energy than the forefoot, so the ride feels noticeably livelier toward the front of the shoe than the rear.
Premium forefoot foam adds noticeable rebound.
Bounce isn't consistent across the full stride.
Snappiness
The ASICS NOVABLAST 6 provides an alright amount of snap. Its forefoot returns a decent amount of energy when bent, providing some life through toe-off. However, its flexible forefoot, soft platform, and unremarkable rocker geometry stop that energy from translating into a propulsive ride.
Decent forefoot energy return when bent.
Flexible forefoot limits propulsion.
The ASICS NOVABLAST 6 has a flexible forefoot that bends easily through toe-off. This makes the ride smooth, though not particularly snappy.
The ASICS NOVABLAST 6 has better forefoot rocker geometry than the ASICS NOVABLAST 5. Its rocker starts earlier, with the apex positioned farther back, and it has slightly more toe spring, helping the shoe roll forward more smoothly through toe-off. However, its rocker angle is gentler, and the overall transition assistance is still less pronounced than that of the ASICS SUPERBLAST 3.
The ASICS NOVABLAST 6 returns a decent amount of energy as it bends through toe-off, helping the ride feel reasonably lively. However, it still lags behind faster shoes like the adidas Adizero Evo SL, which delivers a noticeably snappier toe-off.
Roll
The ASICS NOVABLAST 6 rolls adequately. Its forefoot rocker geometry and tall stack help the shoe move smoothly. However, the compliant rocker and flexible forefoot don't hold their shape particularly well, so transitions become less efficient at faster paces.
Forefoot rocker helps smooth out transitions.
Transition assistance is blunted by the flexibility of the forefoot overall.
The ASICS NOVABLAST 6 has a compliant forefoot rocker that flattens fairly easily under load. While this makes the ride feel smooth at easy paces, it also reduces the mechanical assistance the rocker provides during faster running.
The ASICS NOVABLAST 6 has almost identical stack dimensions to the ASICS NOVABLAST 5, with only minor changes to the measured drop. The white foam beneath the forefoot is the new trampoline pod, which uses a more premium and energetic foam to make toe-off livelier.
The ASICS NOVABLAST 6 has good heel rocker geometry, and it's a big improvement on the ASICS NOVABLAST 5. Its higher heel spring and steeper rocker angle help it roll more smoothly from landing into midstance.
True To Size
The ASICS NOVABLAST 6 fits true to size overall. The length is spot on, while the forefoot and arch provide plenty of room for most runners. However, the toe box is a bit shallow, so runners with taller toes may notice less vertical space than expected. That said, we recommend runners go with their usual size.
Excellent true-to-size length.
Spacious forefoot accommodates most runners.
Low toe-box height may bother runners with taller toes.
The ASICS NOVABLAST 6 weighs virtually the same as the ASICS NOVABLAST 5, remaining a good weight for a daily trainer.
The ASICS NOVABLAST 6 uses the same FF BLAST MAX primary foam as the ASICS NOVABLAST 5, but adds an FF TURBO 2 forefoot "trampoline pod." This premium A-TPU foam gives the front of the shoe a livelier, more energetic toe-off, while the softer POE base keeps the ride comfortable for daily miles.
The ASICS NOVABLAST 6 uses flat, stretchy laces that make it easy to dial in the fit without creating pressure points that could cause lace bite.
The ASICS NOVABLAST 6 has good breathability. The woven mesh upper is airy just below the toes, meaning the shoe is a good choice for hot days or intense runs and workouts. Our testing found it to be comparable to more performance-focused shoes like the Topo Specter 3.
Popular Running Shoe Comparisons
The ASICS NOVABLAST 6 succeeds the ASICS NOVABLAST 5, the most logged running shoe on Strava in 2025, and remains largely the same dependable all-rounder. It's more cushioned and bouncier than its predecessor, and the new premium "trampoline pod" makes toe-off a bit livelier, though most runners won't notice a major upgrade overall. Elsewhere in ASICS' lineup, the ASICS SUPERBLAST 3 is the lighter, livelier performance trainer, and a much more cushioned option for long runs or marathon efforts, though it costs significantly more and is much less stable. From other brands, another option is the adidas Adizero Evo SL, an impressively cushioned shoe that sacrifices some stability and protection for a far quicker ride. Both alternatives are better suited to heel strikers, though the NOVABLAST 6 is the most balanced for casual runners, and midfoot and forefoot strikers will find it a lively, dependable companion for daily miles.
If you're looking for more shoes from ASICS, our recommendations for the best ASICS running shoes have everything you need to know. If you're a new runner and need help picking the best pair for your needs, check out our best shoes for beginners.
The ASICS SUPERBLAST 3 is a better shoe than the ASICS NOVABLAST 6. It's lighter, much livelier, and more protective, making it the pick for long runs and marathon training. The NOVABLAST 6 is more stable and still has amazing cushioning, plus it's cheaper, so it's the better pick for most recreational runners.
The ASICS NOVABLAST 6 is a better shoe than the Nike Vomero Plus. It's much lighter and just as cushioned, making it the pick for runners who want one shoe for daily training, long runs, and faster workouts. The Nike shoe has a more rockered heel, so it's the better choice for heel strikers who want a smoother ride, though it fits snugly through the arch.
The ASICS NOVABLAST 6 is a slight improvement over the ASICS NOVABLAST 5. It's more cushioned and bouncier, while its new premium forefoot pod makes toe-off a bit livelier. Otherwise, they're very similar daily trainers, so NOVABLAST 5 owners have little reason to upgrade.
The ASICS MEGABLAST is a better performance shoe than the ASICS NOVABLAST 6. Its lighter build and softer, bouncier foam help it shine at faster paces and on long runs. Runners who just want a comfortable shoe for everyday runs, and those with wider feet, should look at the NOVABLAST 6 instead: it feels more stable, and it comes in wide versions.
The ASICS GEL-NIMBUS 28 is a better choice than the ASICS NOVABLAST 6 for daily training and long runs. The NIMBUS 28's better stability and more resilient cushioning do a better job of keeping your stride steady and protecting your legs over long distances. However, if you want one shoe for easy runs and speed workouts, then the lighter, far bouncier NOVABLAST 6 is the one to get.
The ASICS NOVABLAST 6 is a better shoe than the HOKA Clifton 11. The ASICS is lighter, bouncier, and better cushioned, so it's the better shoe for runners who want one shoe for everything from intervals to faster workouts. The HOKA is more stable and has a more rockered shape that helps it glide through easy miles, so it's still a decent option if you're doing a mix of walking and running.
The ASICS NOVABLAST 6 is a better all-around running shoe than the Nike Vomero 18. It feels less bulky on foot while being much more cushioned and returning much more energy, giving you better protection and more assistance through each stride. That makes it better suited to everything from easy miles to some faster running. However, the Nike is much more stable and still has great cushioning, so it's still a great choice if you want a more supportive shoe mainly for relaxed running.
The ASICS NOVABLAST 6 is a better choice than the New Balance 1080v15 for most runners. Both are similarly light and bouncy, but the ASICS's deeper cushioning holds up better on long runs. Heel strikers who want a steadier ride should still consider the New Balance shoe, which feels a bit more planted and has a more rockered heel for smoother landings.
The ASICS SUPERBLAST 2 is a better running shoe than the ASICS NOVABLAST 6. They weigh about the same, but the SUPERBLAST 2 offers slightly better cushioning, a bit more energy return, and a smoother ride, making it an easier shoe to run in. Its cushioning also holds up significantly better as the distance builds, making it the better choice for long runs and a more comfortable option for a marathon if you're not racing. However, it's more expensive, and the NOVABLAST 6 is still a great daily training option if you're on a budget.
The Saucony Endorphin Azura is a better choice for varied training than the ASICS NOVABLAST 6, especially when your week includes faster or longer runs. It returns more energy at both the heel and forefoot, offers a steadier feel, and maintains better forefoot protection over distance. Its roomier arch and taller toe box also suit feet that feel cramped in low-volume uppers. The ASICS shoe is better if you mostly do easy runs, where its softer forefoot and better heel cushioning matter more. It also comes in wide sizes, which the Saucony does not.
The ASICS NOVABLAST 6 and adidas Adizero Evo SL are versatile trainers, but the adidas is more fun underfoot. It's much lighter, livelier, and snappier, making it better for workouts or runners who want a more energetic ride for regular miles. However, it's less stable, and the ASICS is more cushioned and protective. Runners who need the extra support should go for the ASICS; runners who don't should go for the adidas.
The ASICS NOVABLAST 6 is a better daily trainer than the ASICS GT-2000 15 for runners who prioritize practicality over added stability. It absorbs more impact under both the heel and forefoot, offers a softer feel, and maintains better forefoot protection over longer runs. That makes it a more appealing option for comfortable everyday mileage. The GT-2000 15 is better if you need a firmer platform with guidance features to prevent excessive inward rolling of your foot. It also has a roomier arch, although the very low toe box may press on higher-volume feet.
The Saucony Triumph 24 is a better running shoe than the ASICS NOVABLAST 6. It returns significantly more energy and is slightly more cushioned, providing better protection and more assistance through each stride. Its cushioning also holds up much better over long runs, so it's the better option for longer distances and can comfortably get you through a marathon if you're not racing. It's a bit less stable, though, but that likely won't matter for most runners, so the Saucony is the shoe to get.
The ASICS DYNABLAST 6 and ASICS NOVABLAST 6 are neutral daily trainers, but the NOVABLAST is the more performance-oriented shoe. It's lighter, much more cushioned, and significantly more energetic, making it better overall and more versatile across different paces. Get the DYNABLAST 6 if stability and a firm, planted ride matter most to you, but get the NOVABLAST 6 for a livelier and more comfortable daily trainer.
The Dynafish Xiaonian is a better choice for various types of runs than the ASICS NOVABLAST 6, including shorter sessions, long runs, and even racing. That's because it's substantially lighter, returns more energy, and offers stronger forefoot cushioning without sacrificing stability. Its protection also holds up better over longer runs, making it a strong option for runners who want one shoe for daily mileage and faster efforts. The ASICS shoe is worth considering if you need wide sizing, which the Dynafish doesn't offer. Also, keep in mind that delivery usually takes longer for the Dynafish if you live in a Western country.
The Brooks Ghost Amp and ASICS NOVABLAST 6 are both versatile daily trainers that aim to do it all, but the ASICS is the better shoe for most runners. It's more protective underfoot, offering a livelier ride. It's also lighter, and its midsole holds up better over longer efforts as well. The Brooks is still a good daily trainer, and its lower stack and drop mean it's more stable and suits runners who want a closer connection to the road.
The ASICS NOVABLAST 6 is a better shoe than the ASICS GEL-EXCITE 11. It offers significantly more impact protection, as well as being lighter and peppier underfoot. It's also more versatile, much more capable over long runs and marathon efforts. However, the Gel-Excite 11 is cheaper and more stable, so if you don't have the budget for the Novablast 6 and just want a trustworthy shoe when you're getting started running, the Gel-Excite 11 ticks those boxes.
The ASICS NOVABLAST 6 is a better running shoe than the New Balance AC Runner. The ASICS shoe is far superior in terms of performance and cushioning, while also weighing significantly less. The AC Runner is a touch more stable, so it could be a better choice if you're doing drills with lots of side-to-side movement.
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
We tested the ASICS NOVABLAST 6 in men's U.S. size 9, as indicated on the label of our unit. The colorway shown here is Midnight/Energy Aqua. ASICS offers Regular and Wide sizing for men and women, with multiple color options available across regions. The design section applies specifically to the version we tested, but we expect other sizes and gender variants to perform similarly.
