Asics Superblast 2 vs Novablast 5:
Same DNA, Different Missions
These two shoes do not genuinely compete for the same run or the same runner. Choose the Superblast 2 if your training has a performance orientation — tempo work, race-pace long runs, or actual race day — and you run comfortably below 4:40 min/km where the PEBA foam delivers its best return. Choose the Novablast 5 if you want a versatile, high-mileage daily trainer that rewards consistent effort at comfortable paces without asking you to run fast to justify it. The decision comes down to what your typical training week actually looks like, not what you aspire to.
149.95 USD
Drop
Support
Plate
Distances
129.95 USD
Drop
Support
Plate
Distances
Who Should Choose Each Shoe
The Superblast 2 is for the intermediate-to-experienced runner who wants a single shoe to cover tempo sessions, progressive long runs, and even race day — without committing to a carbon racer. If your training regularly dips below 4:30 min/km and you want the energy return of PEBA foam in a format that's forgiving enough for longer efforts, this is where the Superblast 2 earns its place. It also suits runners who find themselves gravitating toward half marathons and marathons but want a shoe that rewards effort rather than just absorbing it.
The Novablast 5 is built for the recreational runner who wants one cushioned, high-mileage shoe that covers most of a week's running — easy days, long runs, and the occasional faster effort — without demanding a specific pace to feel good. If your typical training sits in the 5:00–5:30 min/km range and you prize a fun, bouncy ride that keeps legs feeling fresh over the accumulation of miles, the Novablast 5 is the better fit. It's also the right call for runners new to higher-stack shoes who want a forgiving platform that isn't as sensitive to pacing as the Superblast 2.
The Asics Superblast 2 and Novablast 5 look like close cousins on paper — both are tall, neutral, plateless ASICS trainers sharing an 8mm drop, the same best-distance range (10K through marathon), and a similarly bouncy ride character. But beneath that family resemblance they are built for meaningfully different runners: the Superblast 2 is an unplated super trainer angled toward performance and race day, while the Novablast 5 is a high-mileage daily trainer built to feel fun and forgiving across a wide range of easy-to-moderate efforts. If you're deciding between them, the right question isn't which is better — it's which one matches the pace and purpose of your actual training week.
Head-to-Head
The clearest dividing line is foam technology. The Superblast 2 uses a dual-layer midsole — FF Turbo Plus PEBA on top over FF Blast Plus Eco beneath — in a stack of approximately 45mm. PEBA is the same class of high-energy-return foam found in carbon racers, and here it delivers genuine propulsive rebound without a plate; the cushioning score reflects this, rating maximum (6/6) against the Novablast 5's high (5/6). The Novablast 5 runs a single-material FF Blast Max stack at around 41.5mm — still tall and lively with that signature trampoline bounce, but its energy return is cushioning-first rather than performance-first. Reviewers consistently describe the Novablast 5 as softer and more plush underfoot, while the Superblast 2 feels firmer and more purposeful as pace increases.
That difference in foam translates directly to optimal pace ranges. The Superblast 2 is tuned for 3:50–4:40 min/km (6:10–7:30 min/mile), with its effective upper limit around 3:40 min/km — territory where the PEBA foam is working at its best. The Novablast 5 lives comfortably between 4:45–5:45 min/km (7:40–9:15 min/mile), peaking around 4:15–4:30 min/km before a plated shoe becomes the better tool. There's only a thin overlap between these windows, which means in practice these shoes rarely compete for the same run. The Superblast 2 is the choice when the session is a tempo, a progressive long run, or a race; the Novablast 5 earns its place as the everyday shoe that keeps legs fresh across accumulated weekly mileage.
Weight is another real distinction: the Superblast 2 weighs approximately 248g in a men's US 9, which is remarkably light for a 45mm stack and underscores its performance ambition. The Novablast 5 is not dramatically heavier, but it does not share that same "fast for its size" credential. Both shoes carry a stability score of 4/6 on a wide, sculpted base — neither is a true stability shoe, but both manage their tall stacks with predictable geometry for neutral runners. The upper materials differ slightly (an engineered woven on the Superblast 2, engineered mesh on the Novablast 5), with the woven offering a snugger, more performance-oriented fit that reviewers note suits uptempo efforts. Both carry the same durability caveat: exposed or lightly covered midsole foam that rewards some rotation care.
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