Asics Novablast 6 vs Saucony Ride 19:
Which to Choose

Start with what they share: both are neutral shoes with no plate, both carry tall stacks around 39 mm at the heel, and both use a bouncy superfoam rather than a firm EVA — FF Blast Max in the Novablast, PWRRUN+ eTPU in the Ride. The differences show up in weight, ride character, and stability. The Novablast 6 is the lighter shoe at 249 g (men's US 9) versus 278 g for the Ride 19, and that nearly 30 g gap is felt: the Novablast reads as springy and eager, with an extra rebound kick from its forefoot FF Turbo Squared pod, and it genuinely likes a quicker cadence and tempo work. The Ride 19 is the heavier, softer, more shock-absorbing platform — smooth and forgiving through the transition, happiest rolling along at conversational pace, and it starts to feel heavy and flat when you push hard. Geometry is close but not identical: the Novablast runs a 7 mm drop on a 39/32 mm stack, while the Ride sits at 8 mm on a slightly lower 30 mm forefoot, giving it a touch more heel-to-toe ramp. The trade-off is stability. The Ride 19's wide, cushioned base feels more planted (stability 4/6), whereas the Novablast's taller, bouncier build is a bit tippy at slow, tired, flat-footed paces (stability 3/6). In short: the Novablast is the more responsive, versatile, up-tempo-capable trainer, and the Ride is the plusher, steadier, protection-first long-mileage cruiser.