The hallmark of the Novablast 1s was certainly the heel: sculpted and pronounced, it gave the impression of a crouching animal ready to pounce. It certainly was not an aesthetic that went unnoticed, and indeed it did.
But the Novablasts were more than just looks, and their newest version 2 takes design even further to the extreme by combining it with technical expression. Because, contrary to what you may think, Novablasts are not just meant to be seen but more importantly to be run on. In short, there is much substance as well as outward appearance (after all, we also noticed this in a test that impressed us favorably).
The Novablast update enhances the heel, emphasizing the “trampoline” shape and mechanics that are intended to charge in the landing phase and then release energy in the take-off phase.
Everything, more
The “exaggerated” design also translates into numbers and performance: the Novablast 2s have a heel so thick (nearly 40 mm) that it makes them among the highest-cushioned shoes on the market. And after all, to live up to their inspiration, they couldn’t be any different: presented since the first edition as shoes for long relaxed (or “cruising,” as the Americans like to call them), they are excellent companions for workouts in which distance rather than speed is the key.
There are other details that are different from the first version: the laces are flat and more practical for sports use, the tongue is padded and not thin like the previous one, and there is a stabilizer in the heel, perhaps due to the unaccustomed height these shoes reach.
Finally, there is the same upper with wide cuts for ventilation that makes them very breathable and especially comfortable shoes even from the point of view of the very low temperatures that develop inside.
Those looking for such a shoe, those who want to run a lot more than just run hard, especially those who want to be comfortable in short, might find in the Asics Novablast 2 the right answer.
