My First Real Pair Of Running Shoes: NovaBlast

I have a complicated relationship with running. By “complicated,” I mean I like doing it, but I’m really bad at it. I was never one of those gazelle-like humans effortlessly bounding through the neighborhood at dawn, never ran track in high school, and never completed any racing events. Nope. I was the guy who signed up for a 5K because it “sounded fun” and spent the entire second mile questioning my life choices.

The problem wasn’t just my, let’s say, not-so-lightweight frame. It was also my shoes. I was still stuck thinking my pair of Nike Frees were the best thing since sliced bread. I mean, come on, those shoes look amazing, but for a big guy running, they suck. So I trusted Nike as always and went with a cheap Nike Pegasus running shoe and was really impressed with all this new cushion. That is a fantastic all-arounder shoe.

That’s when I started to get really interested in running shoes, and I basically kept hearing how amazing ASICS were. The brand didn’t sound familiar to me, and the shoes didn’t look attractive at all. They are comically big and wide, and the only color they had at my running store was this bright green. But let’s give them a try.

First Impressions: Like Walking on a Cloud

As soon as I tried them on, I was blown away even more than the Nike Pegasus jump from Nike Frees. I immediately fell in love with this new max cushion rave that was going on. I’m a big guy at 230lbs, with major problems with shin splints, so anything that could take away some of those issues was my main goal here, and the ASICS filled that role perfectly. My pace is very slow, so these easy miles I was trying to do worked great.

The cushioning was next-level. ASICS calls it their FF BLAST™, which sounds like something out of a sci-fi movie. All I know is that it felt like I had little cloud shoes strapped to my feet. And for someone whose joints often protest at the mere thought of running, that was a game-changer.

The Real Test: A (Short) Run

Something new and shiny is always fun to go try out, so I knew I had this extra excitement during my first run, but it was great. It always takes me a couple of days to really know if this shoe is my style or not. I had bought a pair of Brooks before the Nike Pegasus, and for whatever reason, they gave me shin splints almost immediately.

After a couple of runs with them, I fell in love. Trust me, if you’ve never tried these max cushion-style shoes, do it. I was cruising with this new foam in my shoes; the stability was off the charts, and they are wide. They seem to take my pounding really well so far, and after about 300 miles of running, they are holding up extremely well. The foam is getting run down, but I am very impressed.

What I Like About Them

I highly recommend the ASICS NovaBlast. Max cushion shoes work exceptionally well for me—a bigger guy with a slow pace. Running mostly on concrete in Florida, where trails are nonexistent, these shoes provide the comfort and support I desperately need. 

• The Cushioning is Unreal – Seriously, the bounce-back on these shoes is ridiculous in the best way. My legs don’t feel nearly as beat up running in these as in past shoes I’ve had.
• They’re Surprisingly Lightweight – For all that padding, they don’t feel bulky or clunky.
• Used for All Runs – I used these for all my runs: tempo, long run, and “sprints.”

What Could Be Better?

Really nothing I would change, but personally, I don’t like the looks. I wouldn’t wear them to, let’s say, Disney World for the day.

• Price – This inflationary period has made everything more expensive, and at $140, these weren’t cheap.
• Looks – I’m not a huge fan of their design. I was actually a little hesitant to wear them at first. My daughter even laughed when she saw me in them.
• Grip – The grip on wet surfaces isn’t great. I’ve definitely felt myself slip a few times on wet concrete.

Specs

• Weight: Approx. 9.7 oz (men’s size 10)
• Midsole: FF BLAST™ cushioning for a responsive feel
• Outsole: AHAR® rubber for durability
• Heel-to-Toe Drop: 8mm
• Best for: All Runs

Final Verdict: Worth Every Penny

They have really opened my eyes to what running shoes could be nowadays. I was stuck in the old-school mindset, and they really brought a fresh air to it. They are holding up very well, the tongue is great, the laces are great. Stability is great—really good at just putting in the miles with these. I stuck with ASICS and bought a pair of GEL-NIMBUS next.