Asics Novablast Tokyo Review | The comparison

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• Asics Novablast Tokyo Review | The comparison

Two minute exam

The Asics Novablast Tokyo is a fresh take on the company's springy, lightweight road shoe, and it's a ton of fun. This is a heavily cushioned neutral shoe with masses of lightweight Flytefoam Blast material in the midsole for a truly bouncy ride. The shoe is laterally stiff, with a highly curved toe box for efficient power transfer and a distinctive springy feel, ideal for faster sessions and race days.

(Image credit: Future) Asics went to great lengths to keep the weight down, resulting in a particularly breathable upper, and while the laces and tongue are thinner than we're used to, there hasn't been a lot of pressure. nasty on top of our foot after a long run. However, all that pumpkin foam means the Novablast Tokyo can feel a little wonky on bumpy surfaces, and the minimal grip (another weight-saving measure) means you'll want to keep it on on dry days to avoid slipping. We anticipate this will be a great shoe for hot days, and the heel clutch provides a secure and comfortable fit, even with light socks.

(Image credit: futuro) Unlike the Sunrise Reborn pack launched earlier this year, which includes new versions of the MetaRide and Gel-Quantum 360 TYO shoes redesigned from old clothes collected in Japan, the Novablast Tokyo sticks manufacturing techniques and conventional materials of the company.

Price and release date

The Asics Novablast Tokyo was launched in February 2021 and costs € 130 / € 130 / AU € 230 direct from Asics.

Integrated

The Asics Novablast Tokyo comes in only one color: a scorching, bright orange-red that the company calls Sunrise Red. Our test pair came in a light-up box, but it was hardly necessary; no one will get lost, which is a real bonus for training after dark. The men's model has black accents, while the women's model (tested here) has white. It may not be to everyone's taste, but it is fun. Asics has tried to keep the weight down as much as possible and as a result the men's version tips the scales at around 275g while the women's version weighs around 225g. The laces are thinner and narrower than we expected, and we were concerned that they might put unwanted pressure on the top of the foot when combined with the lightly padded tongue, but that wasn't the case. The shoe held up well and stayed comfortable throughout each run, although you may want to pay a little more attention to tension.

(Image credit: Future) The midsole is made from Asics' Flytefoam Blast material, which is super soft, giving the shoe that signature bouncy feel. There's 32mm of spongy foam under the heel and 22mm under the toe box, which is generous by everyone's standards. The shoe is stiff enough to stay springy, and the aggressively angled toe box provides a nice push forward. If your 10,000 times stalls, it might be right up your street.

(Image credit: future)

Performance

We found the Asics Novablast Tokyo to be comfortable right out of the box, and despite the aforementioned skinny laces, it was easy to get a secure fit. As with all recent Asics road shoes, the heel clutch prevents slippage and there's plenty of room in the toe box to accommodate a wider foot and accommodate swelling on hot runs. This is one of the most breathable road shoes we've tested in quite some time, which should be a real boon for summer endeavors, and the upper is made entirely of one piece with no seams or welds, which should help prevent blisters even with thin summer socks.

(Image credit: Future) While the Asics Novablast Tokyo doesn't have a carbon or plastic plate, it does have an actual spring that makes it a better choice for faster sessions than long, slow runs. In fact, the super-soft foam combined with a stiff sole gives it a bit of an odd, wobbly feel until you get up to it, at which point it becomes really nice. It can also feel a bit unsettled if the nearby roads are prone to cracks and potholes; For the best run, we recommend sticking to reasonably well-paved roads. You can also store them on dry days; the sole has relatively little grip, which could lead to some slippage in wet conditions, especially when you factor in the soft foam. Under the right conditions, though, this shoe is a treat, and we can see it being especially fun in hot weather when a heavier shoe would make training a sweaty ride.

Buy it if

Your 10k times are stagnant
The bouncy, springy feel of this shoe makes training fun again and can give you the boost you need to shave for a few seconds. You find that summer is a chore
Lightweight and breathable with minimal padding on the tongue, the Novablast Toyko will keep your feet as cool as possible when the temperature starts to rise.

Even if you don't buy it

You run down uneven roads
Asics' Flytefoam Blast material is really super soft and you'll feel much more stable on good quality flat surfaces. You want to keep things low key
There are other Novablast models available if bright, scorching orange isn't your shade of choice.