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The Asics Novablast 6 is one of the best running shoes of 2026 so far, with the addition of FF Turbo Squared foam to its midsole making it a lighter, more energetic and more versatile shoe than it’s predecessor, the Asics Novablast 5.
It’s a comfortable, cushioned daily trainer that now has a bit more spark for faster runs, and a shoe that will work well for runners of all levels. Unless you like a lighter, less cushioned daily like the Adidas Adizero Evo SL or Hoka Mach 7, or are happy to pay more for a super-trainer like the Asics Megablast, the Novablast 6 is well worth checking out.
Design & Key Stats
- Price: £140/$155
- Weight: 262g/9.2oz (men’s UK 9/US 10)
- Drop: 8mm
- Stack: 41.5mm heel, 33.5mm forefoot
- Upper: Woven upper
- Midsole: FF Blast Max with FF Turbo Squared puck in forefoot
- Outsole: AsicsGrip (forefoot) and AHAR LO (heel) rubber
Asics Novablast 6 review
The Fit
Four of The Run Testers team tested out at the Asics Novablast 6 and the fit was good sticking to our normal running shoe size, the same size we’ve used on past models of the shoe. It’s a well-padded upper that can get a bit hot around the heel collar, but is breathable in the forefoot and holds the foot securely.
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The Run Test: Likes
The addition of FF Turbo Squared foam to the midsole of the Novablast 6 is a significant upgrade, and makes the ride of the shoe more energetic and exciting at all paces. It’s only a small puck of foam, but you certainly feel it compared to the full FF Blast Max midsole on the Novablast 5.
It’s a particularly telling upgrade when running at faster paces. The Novablast 6 is the most versatile version of the shoe yet, in that it can handle tempo runs and even workouts well, while still being very comfortable for easy runs.
The midsole update hasn’t reduced the comfort or support of the shoe at all in fact. Its till provides a lot of protection at the heel, and it’s pretty stable for a high stack shoe, though not as much so as a full stability shoe.
Compared to other popular daily trainers like the Nike Pegasus 42 or Brooks Ghost 18, the Novablast feels a lot more modern and enjoyable for regular use, as well as being faster and lighter.
Asics has also improved the grip of the shoe, which has been a minor weakness for the Novablast line in the past, with the AsicsGrip rubber used at the forefoot being more reliable in wet conditions.
The Run Test: Dislikes
We don’t have any major dislikes with the Novablast 6, though will keep an eye on its performance over long-term testing because some runners found the midsole on the Novablast 5 bottomed out.
The small rise in price is unwelcome, and could be an important factor because the Novablast 6 is competing in a very strong area of the market with lots of highly versatile and impressive daily trainers like the Puma Deviate Pure and Saucony Endorphin Azura.
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Verdict And Alternatives
The Asics Novablast 6 is an impressive update on the Novablast 5, and is our favourite version of the shoe yet. It’s lighter, more versatile, and more fun to run while still being highly comfortable for easy and long runs, and it could find a happy place in the rotation of pretty much any runner.
If you don’t to use such a cushioned shoe as your mainly daily, then there are even lighter options, like the Puma Deviate Pure, Hoka Mach 7 and Adidas Adizero Evo SL, which are all outstanding and versatile shoes that aren’t as comfortable as the Novablast 6, but still good for easy runs and faster.
There’s also the Dynafish Xiaonian, which is extremely light and versatile while still packing a lot of foam into its midsole. It’s faster and more rockered than the Novablast 6, and cheaper, but not as stable and comfortable at very easy paces.
In general that’s what the Novablast 6 offers – a lot of comfort and support while still being quite versatile. It certainly outstrips other popular daily trainers as a result, making shoes like the Pegasus, Ghosts and Asics Gel-Nimbus 28 seems a bit outdated.