Asics Novablast 5 vs Asics Superblast 3:
Which to Choose

These are closer cousins than the different names suggest — same 8mm drop, same neutral support, no plate in either, and both get their bounce purely from foam and geometry rather than a stiff insert. The biggest hardware difference is the platform: the Superblast 3 towers at 46mm heel / 38mm forefoot, versus the Novablast 5's 41.5mm heel / 33.5mm forefoot, so the Superblast simply gives you more foam underfoot and grades out as maximum cushioning (6/6) against the Novablast's high (5/6). The counterintuitive part is weight — despite the taller stack, the Superblast 3 comes in around 235g for a men's US 9, lighter than the Novablast 5's roughly 254g, thanks to its premium FF Leap A-TPU-over-FF Blast+ build versus the Novablast's single FF Blast Max slab. That weight-to-cushion ratio is why the Superblast feels quicker and rates higher for pace (5/6 vs 4/6): it comes alive from roughly 4:00–4:45/km and can dip to about 3:50/km before a racer takes over, whereas the Novablast is happiest at 4:45–5:45/km and tops out closer to 4:15–4:30/km. The trade-off is stability and easy-pace manners: the Novablast's wider, lower, flared base (4/6 stability) feels more planted and predictable at slow, plodding paces, while the Superblast's extra height (3/6) can feel slightly tippy until you settle into a rhythm and press into it. Both share the same character — soft, trampoline-like rebound that rewards rolling forward — and both have exposed foam sidewalls that ask for a little durability care.