Asics Novablast 5 vs Asics Gel-Nimbus 28:
Which to Choose

On paper the platforms are close: both sit on roughly a 41mm heel and ~34mm forefoot, both are neutral with no plate, and both rely on ASICS' FF Blast family foam. The differences are in tuning, not size. The Novablast uses FF Blast Max in an 8mm-drop setup and feels springy and trampoline-like — the rebound comes alive as you lift the pace, which is why it extends up to the marathon and holds a genuine tempo around 4:15–4:30 min/km. The Nimbus 28 runs FF Blast+ with a PureGEL heel insert at a lower lab-measured 6mm drop; it's calmer, softer, and more forgiving on landing, trading snap for a dead-plush, protective feel that tops out closer to 5:15–5:45 min/km before the foam stops keeping up. Weight tilts the same direction: the Novablast comes in around 254g in a men's US 9 versus 278g for the Nimbus, so the lighter, livelier shoe is also the one that encourages turnover. Stability is a wash in practical terms — the Novablast's wide flared base keeps its tall stack predictable, while the Nimbus's broad max-cushion platform feels a touch more planted and steady underfoot (reflected in its slightly higher stability rating), though neither adds pronation control. Both share an engineered mesh upper and both ask for a little care on the exposed-foam outsole over the long haul.