Asics Novablast 5 vs New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080v15:
Which to Choose

Start with how close they actually are: the Novablast 5 lands around 255g and the 1080v15 around 258g (men's US9), so weight is effectively a wash — neither feels heavier on the foot. Stack heights are nearly matched too, with the Novablast at roughly 41.5mm heel / 33.5mm forefoot and the 1080v15 at about 40mm / 34mm, both firmly in max-cushion territory. The Novablast's 8mm drop gives a slightly more pronounced heel-to-toe slope than the 1080v15's 6mm, which sits a touch lower and more natural underfoot. Where they genuinely split is the foam and the ride it produces. The Novablast 5's FF Blast Max is soft but distinctly springy — a trampoline-like rebound that pops back as you roll forward and genuinely wakes up when you lift the pace (we rate its responsiveness 5/6, pace 4/6). The 1080v15's Fresh Foam X is tuned comfort-first: plush, forgiving, and smooth, but it returns medium rebound rather than a snappy pop (responsiveness 3/6, pace 3/6). That shows in their happy pace windows — the Novablast is comfortable cruising and still rewarding when pushed toward roughly 4:15–4:30 min/km, while the 1080v15 is at its best from easy to moderate daily effort and starts losing its edge past about 5:00 min/km. Both share the same best-distance range (10K, half, marathon) and both can feel slightly tall or vague at very slow plodding paces, but the summary is simple: same weight class and cushioning depth, different personalities — the Novablast adds bounce and pace range, the 1080v15 prioritizes plush, predictable comfort.