ASICS Novablast 5

Real-World Performance

The Novablast 5 is the shoe reviewers keep recommending first to high-arch runners, and the reason is simple: it is genuinely neutral. High arches already do little shock absorption on their own, so they need a forgiving platform rather than a medial post that fights the stride. RunRepeat's lab measured a 41.5mm heel and 33.5mm forefoot stack and a 92/100 CoreScore, calling the FF Blast Max foam a clear upgrade in shock absorption over the Novablast 4. In testing across easy days and long runs, the foam reads as soft on landing but rebounds with a noticeable pop on toe-off, which is unusual for a trainer this cushioned.

Run To The Finish framed it as a max-cushioned trainer that still has a little bit of pop perfect for long-run days, and singled out mid-to-back-of-the-pack runners as the ideal audience. Believe in the Run's testers were surprised by the underfoot feel for a $140 shoe, saying the comfort is unquestionably there and that landings are well protected before the foam rebounds. For high-arch runners chasing easy miles and recovery days, that protect-then-return cycle is exactly the profile that keeps a high-arched foot comfortable late in a run.

What separates the Novablast 5 from the plusher options in this group is that the bounce is genuinely usable rather than just soft. Reviewers note the FF Blast Max foam compresses on landing and springs back with enough energy to carry you into the next stride, so the shoe never feels like it is swallowing your effort. That responsiveness is why testers reached for it on tempo days as well as recovery days — a flexibility the heavier, firmer-foamed Nimbus and Cumulus cannot match. For a high arch that wants protection without feeling stuck in molasses, the lively rebound is the differentiator that earns this shoe the top rank.

Why It Suits High Arches

High-arched feet tend to be higher-volume and supinate (roll outward), so the worst thing a shoe can do is add a stiff medial post that pushes the foot further to the outside edge. The Novablast 5 is purely neutral with no posting, which is the category-correct answer. Run To The Finish specifically noted the slightly bigger fit through the midfoot that suits a wider foot or a high arch needing more space, plus an arch that provides a noticeable yet subtle lift — not overwhelming, but enough to fill the gap under a high arch.

That combination of generous volume and a gentle internal contour is why this model edges out plusher rivals for the top spot here. It cushions the heel and forefoot strike zones where a high arch lands hardest, without the corrective geometry that makes stability shoes a poor fit for supinators. Runners who have struggled with the hard outer-edge feel of firmer trainers report the Novablast's wide, soft platform finally lets a high arch settle in.

Build Quality and Design

The upper is an engineered mesh that reviewers describe as comfortable and well-fitting, though Believe in the Run and others note it runs warm in hot weather. The midsole geometry is the trampoline-style Novablast shape — a sculpted, slightly rockered platform that loads and rebounds. RunRepeat measured the shoe at roughly 9 oz in a men's 9, light for the amount of foam underfoot, which keeps it from feeling like a recovery-only slog.

Durability of the outsole is reasonable for a soft trainer; RunRepeat's grip and durability sub-scores landed mid-pack rather than class-leading. The wider midfoot that helps high arches does make the platform feel a touch tippy on sharp turns for some testers, a tradeoff worth knowing if your routes are technical or twisty rather than straight road miles.

What Reviewers Loved

Across RunRepeat, Run To The Finish, and Believe in the Run, the consistent praise is the value-to-comfort ratio. At $140 it undercuts most max-cushioned flagships while delivering a ride testers compared favorably to pricier shoes. Believe in the Run graded it strongly on value, and Run To The Finish rated it about 90%. The lightness relative to the cushioning came up repeatedly — a max trainer that does not feel like a brick is rare.

The other recurring note is versatility. While it is happiest on easy and long runs, multiple reviewers used it for the occasional faster effort and found the foam had enough rebound to handle a pickup. For a high-arch runner who wants one shoe to cover most of the week, that range is a meaningful advantage.

Where It Falls Short

The Novablast 5 is not a stability shoe, and that is by design — but a high-arch runner who also overpronates (a rarer combination) will not find any corrective support here. The tall, soft platform also has a slightly tippy feel on aggressive turns that a few testers flagged, and the engineered mesh upper traps heat on hot days. None of these are dealbreakers for the target buyer, but they define the edges of who should look elsewhere.

It also is not a tempo or race shoe. Reviewers who pushed the pace hard found the foam, while bouncy, is tuned for comfort rather than propulsion. If you want a do-everything shoe that includes serious speed work, a firmer, more responsive trainer will serve better; the Novablast's strength is soaking up easy and long miles.

Who It's Best For

This is the default recommendation for a high-arch runner who wants maximum cushioning without any stability hardware. If your arch is high, your foot is medium-to-high volume, and you log most of your miles on roads at easy to moderate paces, the Novablast 5 is the safest first pick — it protects the strike zones a high arch hammers and gives the midfoot room to breathe.

Look elsewhere if you need a plusher, more luxurious feel for recovery (the Gel-Nimbus 27), a firmer high-mileage tank (the Brooks Ghost 18), or genuine stability for combined overpronation. For the core high-arch use case — neutral, cushioned, versatile, affordable — nothing in this group balances those traits better.

Value at This Price

At $140 the Novablast 5 sits below the flagship Nimbus 27's $160 while delivering a more versatile, lighter ride, and reviewers across RunRepeat, Run To The Finish, and Believe in the Run repeatedly flag it as punching above its price. Believe in the Run gave it an S-tier value grade, noting the foam feels premium for a $140 shoe — the kind of underfoot quality usually reserved for $160-plus trainers. For a high-arch runner shopping for one trainer to cover most of the week, getting max cushioning, real bounce, and sub-9.5-oz weight at this price is a strong value case.

Durability is the one caveat on the value math. The soft FF Blast Max foam and the mid-pack outsole grip and durability sub-scores from RunRepeat suggest the shoe may not stretch to the highest mileage totals before the foam softens, so very high-volume runners should factor in a slightly shorter lifespan than a firmer workhorse like the Ghost. For most high-arch runners logging moderate weekly mileage, though, the cost-per-comfortable-mile is hard to beat in this group.