ASICS Novablast 6: Supwell Team Review

The ASICS Novablast 6 is dropping this summer with some key changes. The new model introduces FF Turbo² to add some zip to the front half of the platform. ASICS finally caved to the internet's demands and put ASICSGRIP rubber on the front for improved grip, and additional foam under the midfoot for a more robust, less compressive feel. These changes are designed to improve durability and reduce the bottoming-out sensation that users of the previous version reported. It drops on July 1st for $155. 

Background on the ASICS Novablast 6

The key updates to the ASICS Novablast 6 are the addition of FF Turbo²–the same foam that is in the Megablast–in the forefoot, a lightweight woven upper, more foam in the midfoot to attempt to address the disjointed sensation you can get in some of the Blast shoes, and the grippy ASICSGRIP rubber on the forefoot.

Specs:

• Weight in a Men's Sample Size 9: 253 grams
• Stack Height: 41.5mm in the heel and 33.5mm in the forefoot
• Heel to Toe Drop: 8mm

Daily Trainer

ASICS Novablast 6

Daily trainer designed for bounce and versatility

Price

$155

Plated?

No

Foam

Not disclosed, ATPU

Weight (oz)

8.9

Drop (mm)

8

Support

Neutral

see details

Barrett Reid-Maroney's Review

Background:

Barrett is Supwell's Brand Designer from Southwestern Ontario, Canada. He averages 60-65 miles per week, and he just got his half marathon PR of 1:27 in May 2026 at the St. Clair River Run in Port Lambton, Ontario. He will also be training for his second marathon, which will be at the Indianpolis Marathon in November of 2026.

Review:

When Yowana and I were on a call with ASICS to discuss this shoe, the Novablast 6 product team noted that one of their primary goals was to keep the ride accessible, versatile and reliable, while simultaneously re-injecting some of the fun, rebellious character that made the Novablast line so iconic to begin with. To do this, ASICS largely maintained the Novablast 5’s geometry, but placed a trampoline pod of FF Turbo² in the forefoot to amplify the bounce at toe-off and make for a more fun, elevated underfoot feel.

After my first run, I can safely say that ASICS has accomplished what they set out to do; the Novablast 6 retains much of what runners loved about the last version, but features a significantly better forefoot experience. Gone are the days of ASICS putting a tiny puck of race foam in the forefoot and calling it a day (like in the Magic Speed 4.) What’s on offer here is leaps and bounds better, with the slab of FF Turbo² sitting in a cutout that spans the entire vertical stack of the forefoot. This means that you get race foam directly underfoot (and all the way down to the ground.) Because of the firmer, more responsive nature of FF Turbo², this isn’t a set it and forget it type shoe that delivers effortless bounce; it works best when you put some mustard into it and drive power through the forefoot.

For $155, this feels like an excellent deal. No, it’s not as rockered and fast as the EVO SL, nor as light, bouncy and protective as the Dynafish Xiaonian, but the Novablast 6 does an excellent job at balancing mainstream usability with enthusiast appeal.

For runners with a 10+ shoe rotation, this might get lost in your rotation. It’s not mindblowing at any one thing; rather, it offers a dynamic, well-balanced ride that will be best enjoyed by runners seeking a jack of all trades shoe for the majority of their weekly mileage. I can see this shoe moving in absolute numbers for ASICS, further solidifying the Novablast as THE running shoe of the people.

Meredith Johnston's Review:

Background:

Meredith is Supwell's Community Manager from Mooresville (Charlotte suburb), North Carolina. She averages 65-70 miles per week. She is training for a sub 1:45 half marathon and her first marathon in Chicago in October of 2026.

Review:

Shoe Preferences and Novablast History: My favorite types of shoes are generally lightweight with a higher drop (6–10mm), a nice forefoot rocker that puts you up on your toes, and a slightly firmer foam (not super soft and squishy). My favorite daily trainers right now are the Dynafish Xiaonian and the Adidas Hyperboost Edge. I started running again around the time of the release of the Novablast 4, which was also when I discovered Yowana’s videos, so the Novablast 4 became my come-back shoe. I really enjoyed the slightly firmer foam, higher drop, and lighter weight compared to the Gel-Kayano line, which I had been running in for years. While I did get about 250 miles in my Novablast 5 before they lost their bounce and pop, I did prefer the firmer and more protective feel of the Novablast 4. I did not enjoy the Megablast, Superblast OG, 2, or the softer 3 due to the clunky heel geometry and overall feeling of an over-built, cumbersome shoe. As a mid-foot to forefoot striker, I feel like the heel just gets in the way.

Step-in Feel & Fit of the Novablast 6: The step-in feel is very normal in the best way possible. As someone who tends to have upper issues, I really appreciate the fact that the upper on the Novablast 6 is something I didn’t even have to think about. The material is not plush and luxurious, but it is light and breathable, and the tongue and heel have just enough padding to make it comfortable without being oppressive, which will be great for running in the summer heat and humidity. The fit is also perfect. I got my normal Men’s 9.5 and the length, forefoot width and volume, midfoot, and heel width were perfect. It was easy to get a good lockdown without any lace bite, extra fabric or sloppiness. I could tell right away that the foam seemed to be on the firmer side (much more similar to the Novablast 4 than the 5).

Ride of the Novablast 6: My first thought as I started my run was how flat the geometry felt. ASICS added some more foam into the midfoot of the shoe to try to make the roll through from the heel to the forefoot less disjointed and more smooth, but I initially felt like it made the geometry too flat. After the first mile and getting used to running in the shoe though, I found that I just needed to get up onto my forefoot a little more and not run quite so relaxed. Once I did that, the shoe felt more lively, smooth, and natural. For me, the Novablast 6 has a more streamlined, less bulky feel than the Megablast and Superblast 3. Despite the fact that it weighs slightly more than the Superblast 3 and Megablast, it has a very light, nimble feel that makes it very easy to run in without any weirdness or concerns about stability or fit (which was definitely a problem for me in the Megablast with its less structured and sloppy upper).

The Outsole of the Novablast 6: One of my complaints about the Novablast 4 and 5 was the terrible traction on wet pavement and gravel. Even if the roads were still a little wet long after any rain had stopped, I felt like I was losing grip and traction with each step. In the Novablast 6, I didn’t have any issues with traction and this improvement was very noticeable. Keep in mind that I definitely prefer lighter shoes that put you up onto your forefoot, so I’m generally not someone who enjoys shoes like the ASICS Gel-Nimbus 28, Puma MagMax, or most New Balance and Brooks daily trainers and max-cushion models, so, I might be the rare Hobby Jogger who prefers the Novablast 6 over the Superblast 3 or Megablast.

Summary & Who Might Want to Get the Novablast 6: While the Novablast 6 is not going to be a shoe that I reach for over some of my favorites like the lighter Dynafish Xiaonian or the more responsive, fun and protective Adidas Hyperboost Edge, I do think it is a great shoe for someone with a one to three shoe rotation or for someone who prefers a less plush or overly soft daily trainer. For $155, it is a great option for someone coming back to running or just starting to run because it offers some pep and pop without being unstable, too soft, or uncomfortable.

Yowana Wamala's Review:

Background:

The Don, Yowana, is Supwell's CEO and Founder. He started running in 2020 as a way to get healthy and now he runs 100+ mile weeks, is famous for the weekly 20 mile long run, and has run two back to back 5,000 mile years. He just got a big PR, breaking 2:30 in the marathon with a 2:29:04 at the Bayshore Marathon in May of 2026.

Review:

The Novablast 5 was the most popular running shoe of 2025, so they kept the good things about the shoe–the comfortable step-in feel, a decent amount of padding around the heel, and the FF Blast Max foam in the heel–while infusing it with some more fun and bounce in the forefoot with the addition of the FF Turbo² ATPU foam in the forefoot. The good news is that ASICS did not mess up with this iteration of the super popular Novablast franchise. But they also didn’t make it a crazy banger. By adding the FF Turbo² to the forefoot they gave it the most amount of pep and bounce that is acceptable for a standard daily trainer. So, if you are looking for a fun, daily trainer, you won’t be disappointed. Just don’t buy this shoe thinking that it is a $200 super trainer. It does not have that super stacked, cushioned feel that you get in the On Lightspray Cloudmonster 3 Hyper, Adidas Hyperboost Edge, or the ASICS Megablast or Superblast 3.

For what it is, it is really nice. It can push the pace some and it will be good for runs up to at least 90 minutes. We will test it soon on a longer, 2 hour run to see how it holds up to long time on feet. If you want a one-shoe rotation, the Novablast 6 is a great option, but if you are a running shoe sicko, you probably already have the Megablast and Superblast 3 and you don’t really need this shoe. If you prefer something lower to the ground and zippy and you don’t like the higher stack of foam in the Megablast or the softer foam in the Superblast 3, this could be a better option for you. For my preferences I like something a little softer and more comfortable for my daily use, but for people who run 2-3 times per week or for those who don’t need or want a multiple shoe rotation, the Novablast 6 is a great option.

Summary:

The Novablast 6 has some of the super fun Megablast DNA with the addition of the FF Turbo² with a comfortable upper in a lightweight package with a clean aesthetic at a $155 price tag.

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