Our verdict
Pros
- Super bouncy
- Cushy feel for miles
- Breathable
- Light AF
- Ready for cornering
- Locks you in
- Ноые женские кроссовки asics takket 34 35 жіночі кросовки asics
- Grippy outsole
- Mad durable
- Sets the bar for a do-it-all shoe
Cons
- For narrow-to-medium feet only
- asics takket GEL-Kayano 5 360
Audience verdict
- Top 9% in road running shoes
- asics takket Sakura Aop Magnez Wit B6 asics takket running shoes
- Top 7% most popular running shoes
Comparison
The most similar running shoes compared
+ + Add a shoe | |||||
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Audience score | 91 Superb! | 86 Good! | 90 Superb! | 90 Superb! | |
Price | $140 | $140 | $160 | $140 | |
Pace | Daily runningSpeed training | Daily running | Speed training | Daily running | |
Arch support | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | |
Weight lab Weight brand | 8.5 oz / 242g 8.9 oz / 252g | 9.1 oz / 259g 9 oz / 255g | 7.4 oz / 211g 7.8 oz / 220g | 9.1 oz / 259g 9 oz / 255g | |
Lightweight | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ | |
Drop lab Drop brand | 6.8 mm 8.0 mm | 8.2 mm 8.0 mm | 9.8 mm 7.0 mm | 9.0 mm 8.0 mm | |
Strike pattern | Mid/forefoot | HeelMid/forefoot | HeelMid/forefoot | HeelMid/forefoot | |
Midsole softness | Soft | Soft | Soft | Soft | |
asics takket Seamless Short Sleeve Texture | Big | Small | Small | Normal | |
Toebox durability | - | Good | Bad | Decent | |
asics takket GT 2000 10 MK | - | Good | Decent | Good | |
Outsole durability | - | Bad | Good | Good | |
Breathability | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | |
asics takket gel lyte v brazil | Medium | Medium | Narrow | Medium | |
Toebox width at the big toe | - | Medium | Medium | Medium | |
Stiffness | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | |
asics takket 25 Mid Grey Mid Grey Nova Orange | Big | Normal | Small | Small | |
Torsional rigidity | Stiff | Stiff | Stiff | Stiff | |
Heel counter stiffness | Flexible | Stiff | Flexible | Moderate | |
Rocker | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
Heel lab Heel brand | 37.2 mm 31.0 mm | 36.8 mm 38.5 mm | 36.3 mm 36.0 mm | 39.2 mm 41.5 mm | |
Forefoot lab Forefoot brand | 30.4 mm 23.0 mm | 28.6 mm 30.5 mm | 26.5 mm 29.0 mm | 30.2 mm 33.5 mm | |
Widths available | NormalWide | NormalWideX-Wide | Normal | NormalWide | |
Orthotic friendly | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
Season | Winter | Winter | Summer | Winter | |
Removable insole | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
Ranking | #34 Top 9% | #125 Top 49% | #45 Top 18% | #39 Top 16% | |
Popularity | #28 Top 7% | #72 Top 29% | #82 Top 33% | #5 Top 2% |
Who should buy
This shoe can do many things. And if you're eyeing a shoe that's any of the following, we think that the Novablast 3 might be the one for you:
- a running shoe for jogs and long, slow runs
- a daily trainer that's light and responsive for uptempo training
- conservando la ligereza de las asics takket GT-2000 3
Who should NOT buy
Even though we find the asics takket core backpack in navy to be nearly perfect, it still has a few caveats here and sportiness. One, it's a tad narrow. And two, it's more expensive now by $10.
If you need a little more wiggle room, have a look at asics takket Korte Bukser Road 2 In 1 7. And if you want a shoe that won't break the bank, the asics takket Maastojuoksukengät Fuji Lite 2 is a budget option that will surprise you.
Breathability
The mesh upper on the Novablast 3 scores high on our breathability tests. You can see how much more smoke passes through it compared to the asics takket Kayano 29 Jusquà la asics takket Gel Lyte 3 Cervidae.
But on a 1-5 scale, where 5 is the most breathable, we had to give it a 3 because it took a few seconds for the toebox material to release the smoke.
asics takket gel lyte iii disney beauty and the beast coffee.
Novablast 3 | 3 |
Average | 3.8 |
BAIT x asics takket Gel Lyte III Nippon Blues Arriving to Additional Retailers | Durability
Outsole hardness
We have absolutely no concerns regarding the outsole durability of the Novablast 3. First of all, it's the brand's reputable AHAR rubber and second, it's pretty hard!
Our durometer shows a reading of 83.0 HC which is firmer than the average measurement of road shoes.
Novablast 3 | 83.0 HC |
Average | 80.5 HC |
Outsole thickness
The Novablast 3 manages to be a lightweight speed trainer without sacrificing outsole protection.
Measuring the thickness of rubber layering the shoe's bottom, we got 3.1 mm. This is as thick as the average!
Novablast 3 | 3.1 mm |
Average | 3.2 mm |
Weight
The lightness of this asics takket shoe made it feel at home for both fast and slow paces.
Putting the shoe on our scale, we found that the asics takket core backpack in navy weighs only 8.5 oz (242g)! That's exactly how much we expect a speed-oriented trainer to weigh these days.
Novablast 3 | 8.54 oz (242g) |
Average | 9.38 oz (266g) |
Cushioning
Heel stack
The asics takket core backpack in navy is a massively cushioned running shoe. And it was easily confirmed by our caliper measurement.
Our tool showed an impressive 37.2 mm of heel stack height! That is almost 4 mm taller than the average road running shoe and is within 16% tallest shoes in our lab!
We got tons of impact protection and underfoot comfort from the Novablast 3, no matter what distance we covered that day.
Novablast 3 | 37.2 mm |
Average | 33.7 mm |
Forefoot stack
The shoe's forefoot cushioning is just as generous, measuring 30.4 mm of stack height. That's a good 6 mm taller than average!
Novablast 3 | 30.4 mm |
Average | 25.0 mm |
Drop
However, to our surprise, the shoe's heel-to-toe drop turned out to be a little lower than stated. We measured it at 6.8 mm, while it is stated to be 8 mm.
But the good news is that it is not a critical deviation and doesn't affect the runner's experience.
Novablast 3 | 6.8 mm |
Average | 8.7 mm |
Insole thickness
This asics takket shoe features a moderately padded insole. With a thickness of 4.4 mm, it is just about the same as the average.
Novablast 3 | 4.4 mm |
Average | 4.5 mm |
Midsole softness
The shoe is comfy as hell! We found it to be so easy on our legs and body that running or walking in the shoe for hours feels like a breeze!
We attribute that to the shoe's very cushy and forgiving ride.
Checking the foam softness with a durometer, we can confirm that it is indeed one of the softest shoes not only from asics takket but on the market in general. At 13.5 HA, it is It is 77% softer than the average.
The new Flytefoam Blast+ midsole of the shoe has lots of pop and is very much capable of faster paces.
Novablast 3 | 13.5 HA |
Average | 21.4 HA |
asics takket Seamless Short Sleeve Texture
Even when exposed to cold temperatures (20 minutes in our freezer) and getting 52% firmer, the Flytefoam Blast+ still remains much softer than most running shoes at room temperature.
With a durometer measurement of 20.5 HA, the Novablast 3 is 47% softer than the average "frozen" foam.
Novablast 3 | 51.9% |
Average | 25.5% |
Stability
Lateral stability test
Despite the extra stack, the ride felt quite stable and secure to us.
In our opinion, this is thanks to the combination of the shoe's snug-fitting upper and stable midsole. Prior to this version, the foam was too squishy, which compromised the shoe's surefootedness.
zapatillas de running asics takket pronador talla 36 verdes entre 60 y 100!
Torsional rigidity
One of the key contributing factors to the shoe's stability is the amount of torsional rigidity in its platform. And the best way we can assess this is by twisting the shoe with our hands.
The Novablast 3 has a lot of stiffness to it! It convinced us to rate it as 4 out of 5 on a scale where 5 is the stiffest.
Novablast 3 | 4 |
Average | 3.2 |
Heel counter stiffness
As for the heel portion of the shoe, despite its soft and flexible nature, we have zero complaints regarding its ability to hold the heel in place.
racing flat asics takket gel ds racer.
Novablast 3 | 2 |
Average | 2.8 |
Midsole width in the forefoot
asics takket Gel Saga Glow in the Dark Black.
Based on our caliper measurement, the widest part of the shoe's forefoot midsole is 115.9 mm. This is almost 3 mm wider than average.
Novablast 3 | 115.9 mm |
Average | 113.7 mm |
BAIT x asics takket Gel Lyte III Nippon Blues Arriving to Additional Retailers | Midsole width in the heel
Back in the heel, we also found that the midsole gets wider than most road shoes.
asics takket Crew Chaussette 3 Sac Femme.
Novablast 3 | 93.9 mm |
Average | 90.5 mm |
Flexibility
Stiffness
The asics takket core backpack in navy is not from the flexible bunch but it's right at the average across all of our lab-tested shoes.
We should note, however, that a moderate level of stiffness makes the shoe's ride more propulsive.
Novablast 3 | 30.6N |
Average | 29.2N |
Grip / Traction
Whether you're running city miles or on paved surfaces, dirt roads, steep, wet, and loose gravel, the outsole of the third Novablast is awesome.
Size and fit
asics takket gel lyte v brazil
The Novablast 3 has a very snug one-to-one fit but it never felt constricting on our medium-width feet.
Measuring the toebox at its widest part, our caliper showed 96 mm which is only 2 mm narrower than the average of road shoes. But this might still be narrow enough for wide-footed runners to consider more spacious alternatives.
Novablast 3 | 95.9 mm |
Average | 98.4 mm |
Tongue: gusset type
The shoe's tongue comes in a unique shape that molds to the ankle. But it works! We experienced no shifting, sliding, or bunching throughout the run. Plus, it's protective against lace bites.
And it stays in place, thanks to its gussets.
Novablast 3 | Both sides (semi) |
Comfort
Tongue padding
zapatillas de running asics takket pie normal grises!
Novablast 3 | 1.3 mm |
Average | 5.6 mm |
asics takket core backpack in navy vs. 2
They may not look radically different but the asics takket core backpack in navy and 2 have quite significant differences. These are the changes that make the third Novablast different:
- lighter by an ounce!
- has more spring
- new mesh upper plus gusseted tongue creates a more supportive fit
Afew and asics takket Champion Mental Health with the Uplifting Pack
Whether you're running fast or slow or running short or long distances, the asics takket core backpack in navy will keep you covered. It's an out-and-out versatile shoe. Throughout our run tests, we've done just about everything in this running shoe and the shoe delivered every time!