ASICS NOVABLAST 5 vs adidas Adizero Evo SL

Which Running Shoe Is Better?

Products

ASICS NOVABLAST 5
adidas Adizero Evo SL

Tested using Methodology v0.13

Updated Jul 23, 2026 12:46 PM

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Tested using Methodology v0.15

Updated Jul 23, 2026 12:47 PM

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ASICS NOVABLAST 5 Picture

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adidas Adizero Evo SL Picture

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Our Verdict

ASICS NOVABLAST 5

adidas Adizero Evo SL

The ASICS NOVABLAST 5 and the adidas Adizero Evo SL both deliver impressive versatility, but each shines in different areas. They both offer protective cushioning, making it ideal for long runs and daily training, particularly if you prioritize plush comfort. Meanwhile, the Evo SL is lighter and offers more energetic responsiveness, allowing for snappier workouts and even racing. The NOVABLAST 5 still has some bounce, but its overall design and geometry mean it's more geared towards easier runs.

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Variants

  • NOVABLAST 5 (Black/Carrier Grey - (Men - US 9))
  • NOVABLAST 5 (Black/Carrier Grey - (Women - US 7))
  • Adizero Evo SL (Carbon/Lucid Red/Solar Slime - (Men - US 9))
  • Adizero Evo SL (Cloud White/Core Black/Cloud White - (Men - US 9))
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Main Differences for
Half/Full Marathon Racing

Threshold 

0.10

Half/Full Marathon Racing 
 

7.4
7.6

Weight  

6.5
7.5

Heel Stack Height 
 

41.8 mm
36.9 mm

Forefoot Bending Energy Return 
 

6.5
7.7

Forefoot Compression Energy Return 
 

7.3
8.4

Full Comparison

Design

Weight  

6.5
7.5

Right Shoe Weight Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
ASICS NOVABLAST 5 Right Shoe Weight Photo
Compare High-Res
adidas Adizero Evo SL Right Shoe Weight Photo

Left Shoe Weight Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
ASICS NOVABLAST 5 Left Shoe Weight Photo
Compare High-Res
adidas Adizero Evo SL Left Shoe Weight Photo

Weight 
 

248.2 g (8.76 oz)
220.0 g (7.76 oz)

Stack Heights 
 

Stack Height Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
ASICS NOVABLAST 5 Stack Height Photo
Compare High-Res
adidas Adizero Evo SL Stack Height Photo

Heel Stack Height 
 

41.8 mm
36.9 mm

Forefoot Stack Height 
 

33.4 mm
30.2 mm

Heel-To-Toe Drop 
 

8.2 mm
6.7 mm

Advertised Heel-To-Toe Drop 
 

8.0 mm
6.0 mm

External Shape 
 

3D Model Full Shoe  

Preview 3D
ASICS NOVABLAST 5 3D Model Full Shoe
Preview 3D
adidas Adizero Evo SL 3D Model Full Shoe

Outsole Heel Width 
 

89 mm (3.5")
84 mm (3.3")

Outsole Arch Width 
 

75 mm (2.9")
64 mm (2.5")

Outsole Forefoot Width 
 

115 mm (4.5")
114 mm (4.5")

Heel Width-To-Stack Ratio 
 

2.13
2.27

Forefoot Width-To-Stack Ratio 
 

3.44
3.77

Internal Shape 
 

3D Model Internal  

Preview 3D
ASICS NOVABLAST 5 3D Model Internal
Preview 3D
adidas Adizero Evo SL 3D Model Internal

Internal Length 
 

284 mm (11.2")
276 mm (10.8")

Internal Heel Width 
 

62 mm (2.4")
61 mm (2.4")

Internal Forefoot Width 
 

94 mm (3.7")
94 mm (3.7")

Wide Sizing Available 
 

Yes
No

Forefoot Fit: Width 
 

9.2
7.6

Forefoot Width Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
ASICS NOVABLAST 5 Forefoot Width Photo
Compare High-Res
adidas Adizero Evo SL Forefoot Width Photo

Ball-Of-Foot TTS Deviation 
 

1.5 mm (0.059")
-2.2 mm (-0.085")

Toe TTS Deviation 
 

-3.0 mm (-0.116")
-6.4 mm (-0.253")

Forefoot Fit: Height 
 

8.9
8.5

Forefoot Height Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
ASICS NOVABLAST 5 Forefoot Height Photo
Compare High-Res
adidas Adizero Evo SL Forefoot Height Photo

Toe TTS Deviation 
 

-1.6 mm (-0.064")
-2.1 mm (-0.081")

Arch Fit: Width 
 

7.1
8.5

Arch Fit Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
ASICS NOVABLAST 5 Arch Fit Photo
Compare High-Res
adidas Adizero Evo SL Arch Fit Photo

Arch Width TTS Deviation 
 

-4.5 mm (-0.178")
-2.6 mm (-0.103")

Length Fit 
 

10
10

Toe Clearance Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
ASICS NOVABLAST 5 Toe Clearance Photo
Compare High-Res
adidas Adizero Evo SL Toe Clearance Photo

Heel Rocker Geometry 
 

6.2
7.4

Heel Rocker Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
ASICS NOVABLAST 5 Heel Rocker Photo
Compare High-Res
adidas Adizero Evo SL Heel Rocker Photo

Heel Spring 
 

17 mm (0.7")
21 mm (0.8")

Heel Apex Position 
 

13.2%
20.3%

Heel Rocker Angle 
 

23.0°
19.3°

Forefoot Rocker Geometry 
 

6.7
7.2

Forefoot Rocker Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
ASICS NOVABLAST 5 Forefoot Rocker Photo
Compare High-Res
adidas Adizero Evo SL Forefoot Rocker Photo

Toe Spring 
 

48 mm (1.9")
49 mm (1.9")

Toe Apex Position 
 

73.4%
62.7%

Forefoot Rocker Angle 
 

31.0°
24.0°

Foam 
 

Primary Foam Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
ASICS NOVABLAST 5 Primary Foam Picture
Compare High-Res
adidas Adizero Evo SL Primary Foam Picture

Secondary Foam Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
ASICS NOVABLAST 5 Secondary Foam Picture
Compare High-Res
adidas Adizero Evo SL Secondary Foam Picture

Primary Foam Name 
 

FF BLAST MAX
Lightstrike Pro

Primary Foam Type 
 

POE
TPEE

Secondary Foam Name 
 

N/A
N/A

Secondary Foam Type 
 

N/A
N/A

Laces 
 

Laces Picture  

adidas Adizero Evo SL Laces Picture

Lace Type 
 

Flat

Width 
 

5.0 mm (0.2")

Thickness 
 

1.1 mm (0.0")

Stretch 
 

6.0%

Other Features  

Other Features Photo 
 

Compare High-Res
ASICS NOVABLAST 5 Other Features Photo
Compare High-Res
adidas Adizero Evo SL Other Features Photo

Tongue Gusset Type 
 

Fully-gusseted
Non-gusseted

Plate 
 

None
Plastic Shank
Performance

Heel Compression Energy Return 
 

6.3
8.1

Heel Compression Video  

Heel Energy Return  

 Preview Graph
ASICS NOVABLAST 5 Heel Energy Return

Heel Energy Return 
 

74.0%
81.4%

Forefoot Compression Energy Return 
 

7.3
8.4

Forefoot Compression Video  

Forefoot Energy Return  

 Preview Graph
ASICS NOVABLAST 5 Forefoot Energy Return

Forefoot Energy Return 
 

77.3%
83.3%

Heel Cushioning 
 

8.2
8.0

Heel Cushioning Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
ASICS NOVABLAST 5 Heel Cushioning Picture
Compare High-Res
adidas Adizero Evo SL Heel Cushioning Picture

Heel Cushioning  

 Preview Graph
ASICS NOVABLAST 5 Heel Cushioning

Energy Absorbed At 550N 
 

3.83 J
3.46 J

Energy Absorbed At 1100N 
 

9.97 J
10.03 J

Energy Absorbed At 1900N 
 

16.86 J
17.07 J

Forefoot Cushioning 
 

7.9
8.1

Forefoot Cushioning Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
ASICS NOVABLAST 5 Forefoot Cushioning Picture
Compare High-Res
adidas Adizero Evo SL Forefoot Cushioning Picture

Forefoot Cushioning  

 Preview Graph
ASICS NOVABLAST 5 Forefoot Cushioning

Energy Absorbed At 800N 
 

5.15 J
5.16 J

Energy Absorbed At 1300N 
 

8.58 J
8.87 J

Energy Absorbed At 2050N 
 

12.28 J
12.68 J

Heel Firmness 
 

7.2
7.7

Heel Firmness Graph  

 Preview Graph
ASICS NOVABLAST 5 Heel Firmness Graph
 Preview Graph
adidas Adizero Evo SL Heel Firmness Graph

Firmness At 550N 
 

39.9 N/mm
44.0 N/mm

Firmness At 1100N 
 

50.9 N/mm
52.8 N/mm

Firmness At 1900N 
 

72.0 N/mm
73.9 N/mm

Forefoot Firmness 
 

7.2
7.5

Forefoot Firmness Graph  

 Preview Graph
ASICS NOVABLAST 5 Forefoot Firmness Graph
 Preview Graph
adidas Adizero Evo SL Forefoot Firmness Graph

Firmness At 800N 
 

51.8 N/mm
53.9 N/mm

Firmness At 1300N 
 

69.1 N/mm
70.3 N/mm

Firmness At 2050N 
 

97 N/mm
98 N/mm

Forefoot Long Run Cushioning 
 

7.3
7.6

Forefoot Long Run Cushioning  

 Preview Graph
ASICS NOVABLAST 5 Forefoot Long Run Cushioning
 Preview Graph
adidas Adizero Evo SL Forefoot Long Run Cushioning

Energy Absorbed At 10km 
 

8.00 J
8.31 J

Energy Absorbed At 20km 
 

7.77 J
8.17 J

Energy Absorbed At 30km 
 

7.61 J
8.07 J

Energy Absorbed At 40km 
 

7.50 J
7.99 J

Rocker Stiffness 
 

6.1
6.1

Forefoot Rocker Stiffness Video  

Forefoot Rocker Stiffness Graph  

 Preview Graph
ASICS NOVABLAST 5 Forefoot Rocker Stiffness Graph
 Preview Graph
adidas Adizero Evo SL Forefoot Rocker Stiffness Graph

Force To Flatten The Rocker 
 

64 N
63 N

Forefoot Bending Energy Return 
 

6.5
7.7

Forefoot Bending Video  

Forefoot Bending Energy Return  

 Preview Graph
ASICS NOVABLAST 5 Forefoot Bending Energy Return
 Preview Graph
adidas Adizero Evo SL Forefoot Bending Energy Return

Forefoot Bending Energy Return 
 

62.4%
69.4%

Forefoot Bending Stiffness 
 

6.5
6.4

Forefoot Bending Resistance Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
ASICS NOVABLAST 5 Forefoot Bending Resistance Picture
Compare High-Res
adidas Adizero Evo SL Forefoot Bending Resistance Picture

Forefoot Bending Resistance  

 Preview Graph
ASICS NOVABLAST 5 Forefoot Bending Resistance
 Preview Graph
adidas Adizero Evo SL Forefoot Bending Resistance

Forefoot Bending Stiffness 
 

11.3 N/mm
9.4 N/mm

Forefoot Bending Force 
 

234 N
247 N

Heel Compression Depth 
 

6.0

Heel Compression Graph  

 Preview Graph
adidas Adizero Evo SL Heel Compression Graph

Heel Compression At 550N 
 

12.5 mm

Heel Compression At 1100N 
 

20.8 mm

Heel Compression At 1900N 
 

25.7 mm

Forefoot Compression Depth 
 

6.3

Forefoot Compression Graph  

 Preview Graph
adidas Adizero Evo SL Forefoot Compression Graph

Forefoot Compression At 800N 
 

14.8 mm

Forefoot Compression At 1300N 
 

18.5 mm

Forefoot Compression At 2050N 
 

20.8 mm

ASICS NOVABLAST 5

adidas Adizero Evo SL

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