The Asics Superblast 2 and the Novablast 4 are two Asics running shoes that are clearly well designed for daily training miles and have some similarities in areas like weight and drop. But if we had to pick one, which would we go for?
Testers Tom and Mike have spent plenty of time in the new Superblast and one of the team’s favourite instalments of the Novablast line. In this video, we break down the key differences and share our running experiences with both to help you decide whether you spend big on the Superblast 2 or save some money and go Novablast 4 instead.
Watch on to find out…
CHAPTERS:
00:00 – Intro
00:36 – Price and key differences
01:49 – How do they fit?
04:18 – The Run Test
12:35 – Verdict
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Asics Superblast 2 Review from 2 Runners:
Asics Superblast 2 vs Superblast – key differences explained:
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Asics Novablast 4 vs Superblast (original):
Hey this is Mike from the Run testers And in this video we're going to be Talking about how the new as6 super Blast 2 compares to the Nova Blast for Two shoes that we've absolutely enjoyed Running in but probably do overlap a Little bit in terms of the types of runs They excel at but if you had to pick one Or if we had to pick one which one would We go for now myself and Tom have both Test these two shoes first we're going To take you through the key differences Between the two then get into our Running experiences and then let you Know whether you should go for the ax Nova blast 4 or the ax super Blast [Music] 2 so here's a quick rundown of the key Differences between the ASX super Blast 2 and the Nova blast 4 the super blast Two is the significantly pricey of the Two shoes so you're going to have to be Prepared to pay a carbon racing shoe Like price to pick them up weightwise The no blast 4 weighing slightly lighter Than the super Blast 2 and a UK men size 8 they only buy a couple of grams both Shoes have an 8 mm drop though the stack Heights do differ greatly with the super Blast having the notably bigger stack at The heel they both feature woven uppers Similar gusted tongues and a similar Amount of padding at the heel collar at The Midol the no blast includes FF blast
Plus Eco to deliver a lively ride but Also some plushness and protection for Regular runouts the super blast also Includes plus Eco with a top layer of FF Blast turbo plus to provide bounce and a Responsive feel similar to the metas Speed sky and Edge paraset Racing shoes The out the super Blast 2 uses a hybrid Ax grip one to offer strong durability And even give it scope to wander Off-road the Nova blast 4 features an Aex aart outsole to make sure it's one That can suck up plenty of running time [Music] Too so the fit for me in the super Blast 2 I'm size eight in the UK this is a Size eight I have found it to be Absolutely fine uh there's plenty of Face before my big toe in this shoe uh And there's also plenty of wiggle room In the for foot so I found it to be very Comfortable it doesn't seem too narrow For me I think the earlier super blast Um was very comfortable as well there Doesn't seem to be any major changes From it and um there's plenty of padding As well so I stick to my size in the Super Blast 2 Nova blast 4 um I have Average wood feet um and I've not had Any issues with this shoe at all the uh Length of these shoes is pretty much Identical and um I think the Nova blast May be slightly more narrow in the mid Foot but I will still stay to my UK size
Eight in the Nova blast 4 so in terms of Fit I've got both of these shoes in a UK Size eight8 that's my typical running Shoe size and I'd say my experience in Both of these shoes has been very good No major issues to talk about very happy With the space up in the toes I think The hold the lockdown those kind of Things have been generally very good as I said in the super Blast 2 review I Have had to kind of play around with the Lacing on the shoe to get a slightly Better lock down here but once I've done That it's been absolutely fine I haven't Really had to do that in over Blast for It's kind of works very well out of the Box I would say you know the the biggest Differences for me I think really come Down to the nature of the uppers that Kind of slightly influences the kind of Feel of how they are and how they fit I Would say with the Nova blast 4 maybe Naturally feels a little bit more kind Of accommodating I think it feels like It's it's a little bit more snug feeling Particularly at the middle of the shoe Where I think the uh super Blast 2 kind Of Narrows a little bit more little bit More that speed field of locking you in A little bit um at that midfoot but then Other than that you're getting very Similar kind of feelings similar tongu Similar level of padding the heel collar Um it's slightly more narrow at the
Achilles on the Nova blast one if that's Something you prefer then that's what You're going to get there on the super Blast it's a little bit more open but It's not massively wide and said the Level of padding is very similar overall So I would say the Nova blast 4 is a Little bit more accommodating in general A little bit more snug and comfortable In you know throughout the upper and the General fit I would say the super Blast 2 maybe just locks in a little bit more In places give you that more that kind Of racing kind of feel to it without you Know kind of really losing that kind of You know accommodating feel in general So yeah so yeah I think going through to Size in both these shoes should be Absolutely fine for most [Music] People so comparing these two shoes uh If if I looked at one of the earlier Nova blast compared it with the super Blast 2 it wouldn't be a very fair Comparison because it feels like the aex Has learned a lot from the um creation Of the super blast and has modified the Nova blast over this most recent version The re version four uh to take learnings From from the original super blast and It uses this FF blast plus midell phone Which is a very nice um responsive Comfortable midell phone that is quite Versatile as well um and some of the
Earlier NOA blast shoes weren't so for Me the two wasn't great but the three Really was a not an enjoyable uh Training shoe for me it just didn't seem To have any life in it I definitely Think it was a very versatile shoe the Nova blast 4 has reverted back to being A more versatile shoe so it is a really Comfortable easy day shoe to wear but You can do a lot more in it you can Really pick up the pace in this shoe It's not as fast as something like the So doin speed 4 for me um but it is Still a great versatile training shoe if You already bought one pair of trainers And you did all your running in it no Blast 4 is a good chout because you can That that phone's really good you get a Lot of kn nice pickup from it when You're out on the run but it's soft Enough to be comfortable as well so it's A really good solid daily shoe um if you Want to pick up the pace in that the Early version the NOA Blast 3 I wouldn't Compare with the super blast or the Super Blast 2 just because it was a in a Completely different um lower tier for Me when it came to to running shoes um The new super Blast 2 has new foam in it Um an updated foam so FF blast turbo Plus and as a result uh it is a little Bit poppier uh feels a little bit faster On the feet but not massively it's not a Major uh upgrade from the original super
Blast I've been i' ran a lot of miles in The original super blast I think it's One of the best shoes that came out last Year um this feels like more of the same It's a very uh it's a small progression Of that shoe which is nice because I Didn't want I was worried that they'd Make some big changes uh to the super Blast and um it would lose the magic Still has the magic still a very fast Comfortable shoe that you can do a lot Of stuff in so both of these shoes are Designed to be versatile uh the Nova Blast skews more towards those daily Runs that you can go faster in the super Blast 2 more for those sort of longer Tempo efforts things like that but you Can do easy runs in it but you can do INF sessions in it it's just a fantastic Uh performance focused allrounder Whereas noas isn't really a performance Focused shoe but you can do a bit more On it they are quite similar in some Ways the ride feels quite similar Neither is a soft shoe uh they both have Foams that do give it nice bit of popb Um not loads of Bounce not loads of Energy return but just a nice bit of Responsiveness and a lightweight feeling On the feet so they're quite similar in That respect other things I would say About these shoes is that um the Nova Blast 4 does very well for me at most Distances um but it doesn't Excel
Anything really for me I think I could Use it for most runs and I'd be very Very happy with it but the super blast And the super Blast 2 really excel at Longer sessions it really just gets you Into this really good cruising Groove Where you can just really really enjoy Um a nice consistent pace and pick it up It's um I haven't done any marathan Training this Sho CU I'm not training For a marathon since I've got it but the Super blast one I used for a lot of my 30k runs where I had about um uh 20K 25k At Tempo Pace or marathon pace and it Just did an amazing job at that and this Feels very similar that it really is Designed for those longer training Sessions where you need to maintain a Really good Pace uh the outside on these Shoes is actually very similar there's Been a bit of an updated outsole on the Super Blast 2 um I haven't really Noticed as much of a difference there's A bit less rubber on it than the Original super blast um presumably to Try and keep the weight down um but Really the outs on both of these I had No issues at all on um and I've I've run In the wet quite a lot in the no blast 4 Haven't really r r run in much of the Wet in the super Blast 2 but um on all The runs that I've done in it it feels Absolutely fine so I think there's a Good outso on both of these so in terms
Of my running experience in these two I've done about the same distance wise Probably a little bit more in the Nova Blast for so just over 50k in this shoe 50k in this shoe um and I would say Overall my time in both these shoes has Been very good I think you know this is My favorite Nova blast so far I think if You are looking for a nice uptempo daily Trainer one that's comfortable kind of Ticks all the key boxes and this is a Very good one at a very good price this Shoe I mean this is the first time I've Run in a super blast is expensive more Expensive than this I think in terms of All the runs I've done it's felt very Very good to do and even to racing as Well um now obviously there are some Similarities they have weighed in the Same for me uh in a UK size eight and I've put them both back on and going to Run a little bit in them as well too and They do feel very similar in terms of Those weights there isn't like they Weigh in the same but don't feel like That when you're out running so that's a I think a good thing and that's Consistent across the two shoes a Similar kind of characteristics in terms Of the upper as well too and that kind Of General fit and then it get down to The kind of midols and obviously this Has got a bit more of a bigger stack in It compared to the Nova blast 4 I mean
It's a decent stack in here as well too Obviously the makeup of those midsoles Are very different this has that FF Blast Eco Plus in here that's in here as Well too but you also get an FF plus Turbo plus from The Meta speed range as Well now what I think that does in terms Of experience I think first and foremost These are shoes you can run up Tempo in They do feel very nicely that you do Roll very nicely through from Hill to Toe in both of these shoes and it feels Good to do that I would say you know When I've thrown them back on I feel That the Nova Blast for feels a little Bit more softer underf foot it's still Pretty responsive and you do get Something that you know does feel nice To run a little bit quicker in but it Does feel softer in comparison to the Super blast too now obviously you are Getting a combination of Foams you're Getting something I think that's bounci Here on this shoe I think more lively Than the Nova Blast for probably more in Keeping with the previous Nova blast Shoes uh but also I think you're getting Something that's very controlled as well Too I think it's the same here it's very It's a very stable shoe in general but I Think obviously you are getting more Foam in here the combination of Foams Means you're getting a slightly harder Edge to the um super blaster in
Comparison you know you don't sink into It as much as you do on the Nova Blast For I think that's something I really Noticed in my running time with them I Think ultimately you are getting shoes That you can run quicker in I do think This has a bit more of a faster Edge to It I think having that kind of met speed Influence in terms of that midso I think Has made that happen obiously you don't Have a plate in there you don't have a Plate in this shoe as well too so for Kind of all out speed work I don't think These are shoes that ultimately I would Turn to but if I had to pick one I would Feel more comfortable doing this despite Having that kind of bigger stack in here As well it really kind of handles the Size of the shoe or handles its size Very well um whereas I think with the no Blast 4 you can definitely kind of kind Of get up to a really nice Breezy kind Of quick Pace in this as well too but I Felt that when I've run a little bit Quicker or a little bit harder I found That the the mids here just lends itself A little bit more to it but I do think There is an overlap in terms of the Types of runs that these shoes will work For and I think if you are looking for Shoes that can you can ease off in but Also run a little bit quicker and Up Tempo I think these are shoes that don't Feel awkward to do that I just think in
Terms of the midsole makeups it's a Little bit softer feeling in terms of What you're feeling on the NOA blast 4 It's a little bit bouncier a little bit Firmer comp on the super Blast 2 in Comparison um in terms of out SS you Know gripping wise you are getting more Rubber here on the Nova Blast for expect This to last a little bit longer and Survive a lot more of your running time Now as I said in the super Blast 2 Review that we did I've had my I've done My testing across two shoes so I can't Say huge amount I think you know across My 50k just yet about what I think the Durability is going to be on the shoe I Me I'm not seeing bad signs of well in My in my running time yet but I do feel Like you know in terms of durability This is going to give you a bit more [Music] Overall my verdict on these two shoes if You're going to buy one of these shoes Um it largely comes down to budget I Think if you've got a uh unlimited Budget I think you're going to go you're Going to want to go super Blast 2 I Think most people would be able to use This shoe and get the benefits off of it Whether you're uh just doing lots of Easy runs whether you're doing par runs Or whether you're training for like sub3 Marathon This shoe is a great option for all of
Those different runs so if you money Was No Object I would say get the uh get the Super blast but if that is quite Expensive shoe for you which it is a Very expensive shoe and you're looking For something more like a daily shoe That you can do a little bit more in I Think the no blast 4 is absolutely fine For that I think it's a very comfortable Good shoe um and solid uh versatile shoe If you want to do racing in it if you Want to go and do interval sessions and Things like that and you only want to Buy one pair of shoes I think it's a Good option um I would say that shoes Like the soc Dophin speed 4 I think are Better than the Nova blast 4 um not as Comfortable I think Nova blast 4 skews a Little bit more towards the easier daily Miles the comfortable daily miles um Whereas the speed for really is designed For Speed so um it just has a little bit One one up on that um but I do think the Super blast is a better long run shoe Than the speed 4 so it really comes down To money uh if you have lot lots of Money and you want to buy the expensive Shoe that is the best out of these two Get the super Blast 2 if you don't want To spend loads of money you just want a Shoe that's pretty pretty good um get The Nova blast 4 because it's a solid Daily trainer that does a good job at Most things so my take whether you
Should go for the Nova blast 4 or the Super blast two well I think these are Two very good shoes I think you know two Shoes I've really enjoyed running in two You know kind of Stand Out daily Training options that you can look at This is obviously the more affordable One this is a little bit more expensive There are some clear similarities in Terms of the weight in terms of aspects Of the fit and the Upp as well too I Think what it comes down to for me is What you want from a daily trainer I Think for me with the Nova blast 4 I Think that it is a little bit better for Those kind of daily training miles I Think it's a little bit softer feeling Compared to the uh super Blast 2 maybe Isn't as Lively and bouncy as the super Blast if that's something that you want Then this shoe is going to give you this In a bit more abundance I do think these Are shoes that you can run you know Slightly quicker in Tempo in and can run Can do longer runs in them as well They're going to be comfortable to do That I think maybe you're getting a Little bit more protection in the super BL 2 simply because you are getting a Little bit more in that stack Particularly at the hill so if that's Something you looking for something that Is a little bit more protected over Longer distances I would be inclined to
Say the super Blast 2 is a bit of a Better fit if you are looking for Value I think the Nova blast will serve you Well it's a shoe I've really enjoyed I Know we've all been fans of on the Channel I think if you're looking for a Shoe a bit of a doit all shoe as well Like the super Blast 2 it can handle Up Tempo Paces you can ease off in it as Well too it's a nice rocker in there as Well maybe getting a little bit more in Terms of the outsole and the kind of Life you're probably going to get out of That shoe then yeah go for the no blast 4 if you're looking for the Lively fun Shoe to run in I think maybe he's a Little bit more protective over longer Distances but also I think has a little Bit more of a faster Edge to it Personally for me based on my experience Be G for super Blast 2 I think you know Two very good aex shoes and I think You're not going to go very wrong going With either of these shoes that's how I Kind of see it for me in terms of Picking between the two okay so there You have it that is our take on how the New aex super Blast 2 compares to Nova Blast 4 now if you got any questions About anything talked about in this Video do let us know in the comments if There are other videos you want to see This sh compared to do let us know about Those but don't worry we have got more
On the way obviously we have got our Full review of this we have got Comparison with the super blast as well Too we'll put links into this video as Well as always like And subscribe hit That little bell to find out about our Latest videos and yeah we'll see you for Next round Test's video
