Novablast 5 Review
SUPPORT: Neutral
WEIGHT: (Men’s 9) 9oz (Women’s 7) 7.9oz
RECOMMENDED USE: Light-Weight Daily Trainer
SURFACE COMPATIBILITY: Road, track, and gravel
Things I like about the Novablast 5:
This is a shoe I’m always excited to see what they are doing to improve and evolve. This year they switched from a denser Flytefoam(FF) Blast Plus Eco midsole, to a lighter, softer, more compressive FF Blast Max. I enjoyed having the softer, more “Airy” ride for just putting in daily miles, long runs, and maybe some up-tempo workouts.
The new midsole formula is paired with an engineered jacquard mesh upper, making it lighter and more breathable. The upper feels and looks more premium than the knit on the 4th gen. I appreciate how the jacquard mesh won’t soak up water or sweat and just hold it by your foot. It also helps the shoe keep a cleaner appearance.
Things I dislike about the Novablast 5:
While there isn’t much I have to complain about with this shoe, there are a few things that should be discussed. Biggest thing first - with the change in upper, this shoe does have a higher volume fit than the previous generations. I had no issues with it (I have a pretty normal size foot) but if you know you have a narrow foot this upper will most likely fit a little baggy around the forefoot, making you have to cinch up the laces, and you might get that little buckling action right over the toes. Probably not a deal breaker for most, but it could be for some of you who have that narrower foot. With the change in midsole I feel this shoe has lost some of the versatility of its predecessors, the FF Blast Max adds a squish I appreciate in daily miles, but makes you work a little harder to get down to those very quick tempo paces and through those tighter turns, where the previous models felt more reactive and capable in that range.
Conclusion: At the $140 dollar price point, this is a serious competitor on any level. I think this shoe is a great daily trainer from jogging in the park to putting in a marathon training block. It’s almost a “do it all trainer” except for being a little mushy at those faster paces. If you have a narrower foot, I would recommend getting in a store to try it on and see how it fits before buying a pair. If you liked the last model for just daily training I think you’ll love the 5.
