Have done about 20k in this shoe and very positive. It's replacing NB 1080v10 in my rotation and the change is for better, 100%. I got Endorphin Pro2 as race shoe up to half marathon. Most other are trail shoes.
Currently I use Clifton 8 daily easies and the Mach 4 for easy track sessions , the rocket X for races , looking forward to add the Mach 5 for training and the saucony pro 3 for races, this ASICS would also deserve a try 💪🥰
I tried to love the Cliftons and tried to use them as a daily trainer, but failed at every attempt. They are very comfortable but perhaps too 'cushioned' to my taste. Never felt any excitement when running in them, hence the Novablast purchase😅
The Novablast 2 has been my go to for anything over about 4 miles, whether I'm going easy or pushing it a little. I'm looking forward to a lighter, bouncier version of that. Not much concern about wet weather here in SoCal. We just hope the state doesn't burn down.
Just sharing for those interested as I believe many have similar concerns as mine....biggest drawback(s) i come across is folks complaining that it is rather slippery in the wet, and perhaps that it is just AHAR outsole and not tAHAR+. We do get a fair number of rainy days here (it's actually raining now) and was my concern. Bought the TR and am glad to share that there are no issues cornering 90 deg in ~ 3m radius @ 10kmh, on wet outdoor tiles, tried many times already like around 100+ corners due to usual place that i usually run at. The thicker AHAR outsole also makes it a good value shoe for the mileage that you can squeeze out of it (i got it at usd 120). Also, my wife and I could not feel any weight difference between the 2 with holding both versions in our hands at the same time in the store. With that said, i don't run on mud and it probably is not a serious trail shoe. Not a pro runner too.
Using invincible for total recovery. Rotating nova 3(on the easier side), speed 3 (on the tempo side) and speed goat evo for trail. If you want 1 shoe- if you have been running a while buy speed 3. If you are just building your capacity and running tolerance buy the nova 3. Nova 3- only downside is that i wanted to go 1/2 side down but couldn't due to tapered toe box(so needed a runner knot)
I am loving my Speed 3. I have not tried Nova 3 yet. What do you suggest for a marathon race day shoe. I will be running my first full marathon in 3 months. My goal is to finish in 4 hours or less. Vaporfly's?
@@jxy5484 I suppose that's what I look for in recovery, (in terms of softness and ease of milage) but vs the rest of the options, you get that zoom x pop so frequency does not suffer. The next day the legs are feeling great and since my previous days cadence was quality- I feel like its easier to hit tempo again. Works in the rotation for me- not a 1 shoe that does it all for sure. Def look for discounts.-) What do you look for in recovery easy runs?
@@kiteracer2497 Not the 2 but 1, normally asics I size down 1/2 compared to other brands like the noosa tri and way in the past kayano. You know how it's quite a pointy fit- I first brought the 1/2 size down, length/room was spot on but there was too much pressure from the top mesh on my big toes. So got my 'normal' size.
Watching other reviews of this shoe, it's definitely the star of the moment. However seeing and hearing your thoughts on how it handles the wet, is the first time I've heard that. Having the UK weather variable is so useful. Awesome review as ever Ben and excellent production from Sarah as ever 👍🏻
Thanks for the review Ben! Just did my first run in them this morning. Almost felt like I was running downhill on flat ground in these shoes and my per mile splits were improved, but yes on wet ground there was no grip at all. Definitely a great do it all shoe and worth the wait. For shoe rotation it really depends on budget and the type and level of runner a person is at. When I started the Pegasus was my do it all daily trainer and certainly at that level it was all it needed, but as some of my runs have gotten longer and i've incorporated more speed and threshold work i've found myself picking up shoes that do those types of runs better and make them more enjoyable for me. I think 3 pairs of shoes is enough for a rotation. Easy/ Long run shoes eg. Invincible Run, Threshold/ Speed/Racer eg. Endorphin Speed and a wet day shoe eg. Ghost 14 GTX. But when new shoes like these drop the rotation always gets bigger
My current rotation is Novablast 1 at 900km (midsole and sole still perfectly good), Saucony Endorpohin Shift at 1,050km (literally no visible wear anywhere at 1,000km but some slight wear now visible on sole), Saucony Endorphin Speed at 275km having not raced or done speed work much for 9 months due to injuries (no visible wear at all) and Brooks Launch 7s bought for £70 and used as tempo trainers at 650km (my least favourite trainers but still going strong at 650km. Very boring though and not cushioned enough for my liking). I totally believe that having 3-4 shoes in rotation makes them last longer individually.
I think the ideal rotation has 9 shoes. 3 shoes for each category: road, trail, and speed. I like to have one lighter, lower profile road shoe, one medium-cushioned (longer run) shoe, and a recovery shoe. For speed I like to have one tempo shoe for the bulk of my workouts, one more aggressive carbon plated shoe (5K-10K), and one marathon racing shoe. For trail, I like to have shoes similar to what I explained on the road, but for trail. The exception is at least one of them needs to be confident on rocky/technical terrain.
Hi Ben I just runned 5k with my new Asics Novablast 3 and what a shoe 👌👍👏🤩 The Novablast 3 is more bouncy and the return is much byetter than the novablast 2...
Shoe rotation. Mach 4s for everyday road Endorphin Speed 2 for speed work. Terra Kiger for summer trail fun Xodus Ultra for trail long runs Trailfly G300s for tougher wetter trail days.
Put 750km on Novablast 2, loved them, put 650km on novablast 3, theyre great but toe tread slippery on wet bitumen and foam is now flatter than the used 2s. Have just bought my 2nd pair of novablast 2 = superior (although uglier) than the 3.
Current shoe rotation: Easy runs: Nike Pegasus 39 and Nike invincible 2 Tempo / Threshold: Saucony Endorphin speed 2 Races: Adidas takumi sen 8, Nike Vaporfly 2 and Alphafly 2 Want to try more brands but this obsession is already too much for my bank account 😂
I have: 1. Asics Kayano for long easy runs 2. Saucony Speed for tempo 3. Asics Nova blast 2 for tempo 4. Nike Vaporfly version 1 for speed 5. Asics metaspeed sky for racing 6. Coming soon - Alphafly 2 7. Hoka Bondi for walking ;)
Just did 10 miles straight out of the box. Better than my previous ride - the Mach 4. True about the grip in wet conditions, i will steer clear of wet pebble-wash pavements! Other than that, a solid addition.
Just got a pair of the Novablast 3 LE and love them so far, super bouncy comfy shoe, supportive shoe which is so much fun to run in. Doing a marathon next weekend in them.
New road runner, 1 a daily trainer, once you are more experienced 2, easy/long and a faster shoes, then if you are a pb chaser it’s 3, easy/long, faster day and a dedicated race shoe. If you are running every day and high mileage then maybe a fourth which probably means two easy day shoes, one softer and one firmer
2 Shoes in my rotation. Brooks Adrenaline 22 for daily training and anything above 10K races. Saucony Fast-twitch for 5K / 10K races. Only shoes I need and I keep it pretty simple. Enjoyed the video and nice review Ben.
QotD: I like a 4-shoe rotation: daily trainer (Novablast), tempo + intervals (Takumi Sen 8), long runs but can pick up the pace (Adizero Prime X), and race (Vaporfly Next% 2).
3 Shoe rotation. Going all Saucony for 2022 - Triumph 20, Speed 3 and Pro 3. If I had to add a fourth for a max plated then it’s the Alphafly v1… didn’t pull the trigger on the AFv2.
great review... was a close call between the Saucony Triumph 20 and Asics novablast 3... went for the Saucony for its more padded tongue to help with my extensor tendonitis and glad i did coming to winter runs if the Asics is a slippy shoe in the wet. My rotation will be Hoka Mach 4 and Saucony Triumph 20.
Thank you for this review Ben. I was considering these but you saved me the trouble. No grip and slippery on wet is a huge NO for me, especially as we head into autumn and winter. Great video as always.
3 shoe rotation Adidas Adizero Pro (uptempo, races inc Sunday’s Sydney 1/2 marathon) Adidas Adios 3 (uptempo and long) Hoka Mach 5 (recovery and long) And a pair of trail shoes
I think for a beginner, just pick one versatile shoe. But as you get more experienced you're gonna want shoes for different occasions. Right now I just have Brooks Hyperion Tempo for my faster workouts, and just ordered the NovaBlast as my new daily trainer.
Great review. I’ve run two 10ks with it and I would say they’re fantastic. Not ran in wet conditions yet though. Felt great at toe off, forcing you to use that forefoot a bit more.
The Novablast 2 was a training game changer for me and first ASICS I’ve purchased in over a decade. Its foam midsole is something truly special and a shoe that’s capable of long recovery runs to tempo training days. Can’t wait to try the “3” and hope they make a trail version with beefier lugs than the Novablast TR.
I’ve been looking at these as a complete change from my UA mega 3 clone. I want something lighter but still cushioned as I’m a big lad. These sound like they will be perfect for me.
Thanks for the clear recommendation! I am running through my 3rd pair of original novablasts - love that shoe! And will stay with it and transition to version 3 now as soon as I need a new one 😋 For rotation, when running casually up to 3 times per week I’d say one shoe is fine. For me personally I like to have 1 lighter all rounder (like the novablast) 1 more stable/cushioned/grippy shoe for easy miles, light trails and bad weather 1 race shoe I don’t feel the need for an even faster shoe for workouts. But for running more miles per shoe before retiring, I often start a new pair in the same role to slowly phase out the old one. So, 4 pairs for me, 1:29 HM runner, sub 3:30 Marathoner, would be sufficient! (Got more though 😅)
I just started running about 2 months I bought novablast 3 and the pegasus 40 . I really love the novablast I’m at the moment a 10k runner making my way up to 21 k to run in march half marathon in Ghent .
I'm currently rotating 2 pairs of Nike Air Zoom Pegasus, a pair of Asics Magic Speed for faster runs (occasional) and Inov8 TerraUltra G270 for trail runs. Would love to throw a pair of these into the mix...
ASICS are a solid brand and I’m glad to see some ASICS being reviewed on your channel, especially when it’s clear that you’re a Nike fan! How many shoes should one have?-a shoe lover will say many. A regular runner running on a budget will say two: one for road and one for trail/winter running. However, I do see value in having about three different shoes all at varying drops to try to help avoid injury.
Thanks for the detailed information! Can't wait for my business trip to Japan in Nov. I am planning to buy Novablast 3 and Alphafly 1 or 2 in Japan due to strong US$. Also, please share a lot of videos about BMW Berlin marathon as you did for UTMB. Enjoy your trip to Berlin!
Dear Ben, I am a beginner at running. I took up running this spring, just to free my mind of war ( I live in Ukraine). I had never been a runner, at school I would look for a way not to run, I simply detested it 😅 Since spring I have been training now and then, last week I even purchased your plan to improve my 10km pace. I have only 2 pair of shoes: Nike Pegasus 38( it’s an ok shoe, just not a big fan of Nike) and Adidas Adios Pro3, which I absolutely love. My pace in the last ones is much better without any extra effort. I don’t have much experience in running shoes. I would like to purchase one more pair. I am considering Brooks Hyperion Tempo and Asics Novablast 3. Which would you recommend? Looking forward to your answer😊
in my rotation I have only shoes I can afford🙂so I really loved your 'best everyday running shoe' video Ben, thank you for these and thinking about 'everyday' runners as well 👍
Thanks Ben as always; love the Novablast 2 and have run Brighton and Southampton Marathons as well as Fleet half, GNR and many other runs and love them. Will definitely be looking at the 3s for the rotation. Take care and stay safe
Awesome! I'm running Brighton Marathon in 3.5 weeks...looking at the Novablast 3 for the day. How did you find the 2s during the race, especially towards the latter parts when no doubt your legs were tired?
Have now got the 3s and wore them during the Cambridge half last weekend; really good for me and helped me achieve my goal, even when my legs were tired.
@@darrenhall5783 Nice one, thanks for the info and congrats on the race! Doing a precursory spec comparison on the runrepeat website, it doesn't look too dissimilar to what I'm using now, at least in terms of flexibility and cushioning, which is the Saucony Triumph 20 (which has decent enough grip in the wet in road). Think I may well give the Novablast 3 TR a go for that extra traction for the current/pending rainy weather 👍🏻
absolutely the wet grip was pretty much non existent. i remember the first time running in these, started to rain mid way, and the grip was GONE straight away. basically anything other than the concrete slab (road surface), you can skate in them, not fun. except for this one caveat, a great everyday shoe
We must have run on the same day (and the same place) when it was raining, it was bearable like Hoka Mach 4. I would be cautious doing speed work in the rain though. But I could do it in Fuelcell TC which hasn't been too grippy either.
My daily trainer is the Hoka mach4/ Puma velocity nitro and they both work well. Will need an upgrade in a few hundred km and this is top of the list. Always wanted to try the ffblast foam. Great review Ben!
Personally I run 4-5 shoes doing 5 runs a week covering 50-80km increasing Easy run: ASICS magic speed Long run: nb sc trainer Interval/ speed day: saucony endorphin 3 Race: Nike vapourfly 2 Trail: Nike Pegasus gortex * I only buy them when they’re on 50% sales otherwise I can’t justify the cost of shoes nowadays
I had the Novablast 2, and loved it for my longer , slower runs. Ran over 900 km in them. Now I have run 300 km in the Novablast 3, and they just don’t work for me. It feels heavy (even though it’s lighter than the 2) and unresponsive. I prefer the Saucony Endorphine speed 3..best daily trainer ever!
My pair came in Thursday, I've done a 5 mile varied pace, and a 5 mile progressive run.(both in dry weather) ..very comfy and responsive, on par with my saucony speed , the speed aren't that good in the wet either... the N3 will be my daily running shoe for the foreseeable, hopefully no big issues in the wet weather though.. keep up the good Work BP..👍🏃♀️👌
I have 3 shoes in rotation , I have heard there is some evidence that rotating a few models can prevent injury . I have NB 1080 v12 and puma deviate and saucony endorphin speed 1 that I rotate .1080 for most of my easy runs and puma or saucony endorphin speed for faster work outs
I have the first Novablast did almost 150km with it already and still love every run in it. Can't wait to get the 3rd version when this one wears out on me.
I was between this shoe and the Hoka Mach 5. Went Mach in the end (got the 4 on sale) because I have the Nike Invincible Run 2 which seems to do exactly the same job as the Novablast (slow long runs - but not terrible if you do want to pick up the pace).
I always used to say have two as a minimum (two different types mean your body doesn't get into a rut with the same dynamics .. which helps as another factor in keeping you injury free).. but for me I find as a minimum.. 1. Easy day cushioned 2. Faster paced and long runs (I do long runs in a shoe that is closer to a race day shoe to help build up strength) 3. Trail shoe 4. Race day shoe (for marathons) And a new one.. I got gifted a brooks adrenaline (I'm a Brooks ambassador) and a cushioned shoe with some extra stability is an eye opener.. great for days after a race or when I am coming back from a niggle, or have very tired legs
I would get by fine with a single road shoe, and a single trail shoe if they were just right. The main reason I have a ton of shoes is that most of them have something that doesn't work optimally for me and I end up bying something that is better in one aspect, but has other issues.
What do I have in my rotation... ohh that's a bit embarrassing.. I sorta got carried away trying a bunch of diff stuff.. Saucony: Ride 14 Runshield (for my winter running here in Canada) Endorphin Speed 2 Runshield (for my slightly faster winter running here in Canada) Ride 15; Daily trainer Endorphin Pro 2 5-10k racer, maybe half, I'm not sure Hoka Carbon X2 (long tempo run) Speedgoat 3 (trail) Bondi 7 (was an easy run shoe, became walking around shoe, too squishy to run) Mizuno Wave Shadow 5, when I tried more track stuff New Balance 1080 v10 everything shoe I started with, now more house slippers lol It was a lot of shoes to buy in say 18 months but really now I watch shoe reviews and go meh no spot for you, I have a shoe for every workout and weather and will only replace them when any of them are worn. Favorite are my Speed 2, they currently have my 5,10 and half marathon PB and.. torn between Speed and Pros for half marathon next weekend, big A race of the year, tried and true speed 2 or somewhat quite stiff Pro 2s..
Invincibles on their way out, 1080V12 everyday shoes, nike tempos for workouts, alpha flys for races. Looking for a long distance trail shoe for the winter and some x Country spikes.
Just bought them. Half size down for me. Will run them tomorrow for the first time at Marathon pace blocs 😊 i had 1st and 2nd version. I did want to move away because of the tongue, but this 3rd version seemed to solved my issue (as it is a lot thinner). I will see
Waited for it, bought it on release day to replace my 1080v10s. Got 15% off for signing up on the Asics website. 50km put into them already. Comfort, fit, stability, looks all 10/10. Not super impressed by the responsiveness tbh and they weirdly feel heavier than they weigh. Grip has been fine for me in the wet, just a bit squeaky uphill. Overall an ideal daily trainer.
I usually have two or three road shoes at a time. Basically a do-it-all and a racer. Right now, I have the Rincon 3, Novablast 3, Metaspeed Sky Plus, and Endorphin Pro 2.
Thanks Ben - I had to return mine after 2 runs. It felt bouncy and comfortable initially, but I need a £135 daily trainer to handle any weather and I slipped on my arse on a wet run this week. Also I found it very hard to get a good lockdown which meant my foot slipped forward and made my toes feel cramped in the box. And the tongue seemed to have too much lumpy material. Very disappointed as I need something to replace my fave ever 1080v10s which are now impossible to get (the v12s are boring!) All the best for Berlin mate 👍👍👍
How could you return something you ran in twice! I hope that didn’t work for you… if you take a run in a new pair of shoes, there should not be any return…
I have 3. For race day I like the New Balance RC Elite 2. I’m waiting for the SC 3 & will run my November marathon in the Saucony Pro 3. For faster training days, I use my Saucony Endorphin Speed 2. I tried the 3 recently & actually like it a lot better, but don’t want to buy yet another shoe. Still searching for a great daily. Love my Saucony rides, but need more cushion. Will try the Triumph 3. ASICS don’t work well for me. Hated the Blast 2 (felt like a clown shoe)& didn’t care much for the Metaspeed Sky. Thanks for the unbiased review.
Hi Ben, just bought mine last few days. Have yet to try it but I oredi have the previous model which Nova Blast 2. Have to agree with you that the cushion, comfortability n stability is good but during running in the wet weather it has no grip and the confident dropped during running around bends. Hope to try the new shoe by this week and get the same results as the Nova Blast 2. Cheers mate frm Singapore.
Hmmm.. the only difference between the novablast 3 and 3 tr. Is that the tr is 24 grams heavier due to the trail pattern outsole. Hard to see that Makes it bulkier than the road version :)
Havent tried the shoe I went for the endorphin speed 3 instead. I think it looks good but too similar of a shoe to the saucony. I have 4 pairs in my rotation currently. Newly acquired nike tempo next % Saucony endorphin speed 3 Saucony triumph 19 And some adidas trail shoes i got given unused. I'm still chopping and changing shoes as I'm new to running and can't seem to find the one I love.
Top one again Ben. 👍🏼👍🏼 My daily trainer is the 1080V11 which need replacing and thinking the same again but this is making me think…….. Races ……… it continues to be the Alphafly and Vaporfly’s for me but the new Puma and Metaspeed Sky+ are beginning to turn my eye for a bit of a play. Keep up the good work 👏🏼👏🏼
I recently made the switch from Ultra Boosts, to NB 1080s v11, and currently have two in rotation. I'm training for a half, and will begin marathon training in December. The only thing I've noticed is the tread on my oldest pair, which after 360 miles is looking a bit worn. Am considering adding a pair of NB Fuel Cell to the arsenal.
I'm not sure I'd say I rotate through shoes but the shoe rack has one well cushioned pair for road runs, one "road to trail"/multi-terrain which covers most of my runs that are mix of well maintained towpath, grass, road, and lastly a couple of options vying for the "proper muddy, rocky, gnarly trails" slot. No doubt I'm old and cynical but I don't understand the purpose of a "fast" shoe for speed training sessions, surely it doesn't make you better it just shifts the baseline? And am not fast enough to warrant a race shoe 🙂, maybe I'll get those when I'm 2 minutes away from London GFA or a BQ!
Thanks for the review, Ben. Very much appreciated. I recently just got my hands on the Novablast 2. It's the most cushioned shoe I owned and I'm actually not sure how I feel about it. Like, I feel like it's making me land on my heels more compared to other shoes. I don't have the best running form (i'm a casual runner) but I never had this issue with my other shoes. Do the Novablast 3 feel the same way?
The Nova 1 and 2 are not for bad form runners, heel strikers or those with weak feet to begin with due to the "heel instability" imo. The solution? Improve your form and strengthen your feet... and you will begin mid-foot striking and bypass the instability issue and have a blast! I paired the Nova 1 up with the Evoride 2 and its worked super well. The Evoride is stable and well cushioned with a medium rocker design.... and what I found is that due to the rocker it made my running more effortless to be honest, and did so by naturally making me mid to forefoot strike. So it improved my form completely. What I also realised from the Nova is that my feet were also too weak hence my achilles being tender after runs. So using the Evo 2 for form and doing calf raises i.e. one foot each and then both feet together for foot strength, has helped me thoroughly enjoy the Nova's now. Done over 150km in each shoe and bought a 2nd pair of each since I liked the combo so much. In a way the Nova wants you to run properly and efficiently to be able to enjoy it to the max which will help avoid injuries in the long run.
Spot on take on the grip, for me Asics' outsole hasn't been good enough on wet surface starting from 2021, not just the novablast series but on their other road running shoes as well. Hope they can improve the grip next year!
Found this week in the wet- its not the wet/puddles/mud that's any issue due to the width/balance, but any grit/sand on the paths. Maybe those days are just best for other shoes anyway
Love the review Ben, always truthful and easy to understand. Personally didn’t like the V2 and more recently bought the ASICS Noosa Tri 14, would be interested to get your view on that shoe!!
4 pair shoes, 2 pair identical shoes ( rotation daily), race day shoes, lite trail runners. I find the hoka torrent 2 almost perfect lite trail runners.
Ironically, around the time this video was posted I got myself a pair of Peg 39 and have been running on those ever since. Of course, the Novablast 3 was not available in my country so I could hardly buy them. The Peg 39 have been a solid ride so far, but I have been looking at other options and the Novablast 3 is one of those.
Have done about 20k in this shoe and very positive. It's replacing NB 1080v10 in my rotation and the change is for better, 100%. I got Endorphin Pro2 as race shoe up to half marathon. Most other are trail shoes.
Currently I use Clifton 8 daily easies and the Mach 4 for easy track sessions , the rocket X for races , looking forward to add the Mach 5 for training and the saucony pro 3 for races, this ASICS would also deserve a try 💪🥰
I tried to love the Cliftons and tried to use them as a daily trainer, but failed at every attempt. They are very comfortable but perhaps too 'cushioned' to my taste. Never felt any excitement when running in them, hence the Novablast purchase😅
Try the CarbonX, fantastic shoe. Lightweight but with some cushion.
The Mach 5 is the only shoe I'm running in at the moment. I'd love to see a comparison between the Mach 5 and the NB3.
The Novablast 2 has been my go to for anything over about 4 miles, whether I'm going easy or pushing it a little. I'm looking forward to a lighter, bouncier version of that. Not much concern about wet weather here in SoCal. We just hope the state doesn't burn down.
Just sharing for those interested as I believe many have similar concerns as mine....biggest drawback(s) i come across is folks complaining that it is rather slippery in the wet, and perhaps that it is just AHAR outsole and not tAHAR+. We do get a fair number of rainy days here (it's actually raining now) and was my concern. Bought the TR and am glad to share that there are no issues cornering 90 deg in ~ 3m radius @ 10kmh, on wet outdoor tiles, tried many times already like around 100+ corners due to usual place that i usually run at. The thicker AHAR outsole also makes it a good value shoe for the mileage that you can squeeze out of it (i got it at usd 120). Also, my wife and I could not feel any weight difference between the 2 with holding both versions in our hands at the same time in the store. With that said, i don't run on mud and it probably is not a serious trail shoe. Not a pro runner too.
Using invincible for total recovery. Rotating nova 3(on the easier side), speed 3 (on the tempo side) and speed goat evo for trail. If you want 1 shoe- if you have been running a while buy speed 3. If you are just building your capacity and running tolerance buy the nova 3. Nova 3- only downside is that i wanted to go 1/2 side down but couldn't due to tapered toe box(so needed a runner knot)
I am loving my Speed 3. I have not tried Nova 3 yet. What do you suggest for a marathon race day shoe. I will be running my first full marathon in 3 months. My goal is to finish in 4 hours or less. Vaporfly's?
Invincible is a terrible recovery shoe. Tooooo sinky
@@jxy5484 I suppose that's what I look for in recovery, (in terms of softness and ease of milage) but vs the rest of the options, you get that zoom x pop so frequency does not suffer. The next day the legs are feeling great and since my previous days cadence was quality- I feel like its easier to hit tempo again. Works in the rotation for me- not a 1 shoe that does it all for sure. Def look for discounts.-) What do you look for in recovery easy runs?
The nova 2 has a huge toe box. Is the 3 like that or have you not had the 2
@@kiteracer2497 Not the 2 but 1, normally asics I size down 1/2 compared to other brands like the noosa tri and way in the past kayano. You know how it's quite a pointy fit- I first brought the 1/2 size down, length/room was spot on but there was too much pressure from the top mesh on my big toes. So got my 'normal' size.
Watching other reviews of this shoe, it's definitely the star of the moment. However seeing and hearing your thoughts on how it handles the wet, is the first time I've heard that. Having the UK weather variable is so useful. Awesome review as ever Ben and excellent production from Sarah as ever 👍🏻
Thank you Christian! Certainly something to consider for running in the Uk, especially coming into autumn now.
Thanks for the review Ben! Just did my first run in them this morning. Almost felt like I was running downhill on flat ground in these shoes and my per mile splits were improved, but yes on wet ground there was no grip at all. Definitely a great do it all shoe and worth the wait. For shoe rotation it really depends on budget and the type and level of runner a person is at. When I started the Pegasus was my do it all daily trainer and certainly at that level it was all it needed, but as some of my runs have gotten longer and i've incorporated more speed and threshold work i've found myself picking up shoes that do those types of runs better and make them more enjoyable for me. I think 3 pairs of shoes is enough for a rotation. Easy/ Long run shoes eg. Invincible Run, Threshold/ Speed/Racer eg. Endorphin Speed and a wet day shoe eg. Ghost 14 GTX. But when new shoes like these drop the rotation always gets bigger
Current shoe rotation:
New Balance 5380 for track training/racing and shorter road races (
My current rotation is Novablast 1 at 900km (midsole and sole still perfectly good), Saucony Endorpohin Shift at 1,050km (literally no visible wear anywhere at 1,000km but some slight wear now visible on sole), Saucony Endorphin Speed at 275km having not raced or done speed work much for 9 months due to injuries (no visible wear at all) and Brooks Launch 7s bought for £70 and used as tempo trainers at 650km (my least favourite trainers but still going strong at 650km. Very boring though and not cushioned enough for my liking).
I totally believe that having 3-4 shoes in rotation makes them last longer individually.
I think the ideal rotation has 9 shoes. 3 shoes for each category: road, trail, and speed. I like to have one lighter, lower profile road shoe, one medium-cushioned (longer run) shoe, and a recovery shoe. For speed I like to have one tempo shoe for the bulk of my workouts, one more aggressive carbon plated shoe (5K-10K), and one marathon racing shoe. For trail, I like to have shoes similar to what I explained on the road, but for trail. The exception is at least one of them needs to be confident on rocky/technical terrain.
lol
Hi Ben
I just runned 5k with my new Asics Novablast 3 and what a shoe 👌👍👏🤩 The Novablast 3 is more bouncy and the return is much byetter than the novablast 2...
Shoe rotation.
Mach 4s for everyday road
Endorphin Speed 2 for speed work.
Terra Kiger for summer trail fun
Xodus Ultra for trail long runs
Trailfly G300s for tougher wetter trail days.
Easy, Base: Mach 5/ Mach 4
Tempo: Puma Deviate Nitro/Mach 5
Tempo/Fast/Race: Endorphin Speed 3
Put 750km on Novablast 2, loved them, put 650km on novablast 3, theyre great but toe tread slippery on wet bitumen and foam is now flatter than the used 2s. Have just bought my 2nd pair of novablast 2 = superior (although uglier) than the 3.
Current shoe rotation:
Easy runs: Nike Pegasus 39 and Nike invincible 2
Tempo / Threshold: Saucony Endorphin speed 2
Races: Adidas takumi sen 8, Nike Vaporfly 2 and Alphafly 2
Want to try more brands but this obsession is already too much for my bank account 😂
I have:
1. Asics Kayano for long easy runs
2. Saucony Speed for tempo
3. Asics Nova blast 2 for tempo
4. Nike Vaporfly version 1 for speed
5. Asics metaspeed sky for racing
6. Coming soon - Alphafly 2
7. Hoka Bondi for walking ;)
Ordered mine today. 1/14/2023. Cheers from the US. Oh, and new subscriber
How did you like them?
Just did 10 miles straight out of the box. Better than my previous ride - the Mach 4. True about the grip in wet conditions, i will steer clear of wet pebble-wash pavements! Other than that, a solid addition.
Just got a pair of the Novablast 3 LE and love them so far, super bouncy comfy shoe, supportive shoe which is so much fun to run in. Doing a marathon next weekend in them.
Fir roads, Saucony Speed and Novablast. Trails I use Hoka Speedgoat, Challenger, Torrent, Salomon Ride and Saucony Xodus depending on what I am doing.
I just ordered a pair for $75. After watching this again. I'm even more excited to get some miles in them.
How did you like them?
New road runner, 1 a daily trainer, once you are more experienced 2, easy/long and a faster shoes, then if you are a pb chaser it’s 3, easy/long, faster day and a dedicated race shoe. If you are running every day and high mileage then maybe a fourth which probably means two easy day shoes, one softer and one firmer
3 shoes work for my rotation with all different types of cushioning
Alphaflys
Saucony endorphin speed 2
And saucony kinvara
Nike Pegasus for easy and Long runs.
Nike Next% tempo for speed work
Nike Alphafly for race day.
2 Shoes in my rotation. Brooks Adrenaline 22 for daily training and anything above 10K races. Saucony Fast-twitch for 5K / 10K races. Only shoes I need and I keep it pretty simple. Enjoyed the video and nice review Ben.
QotD: I like a 4-shoe rotation: daily trainer (Novablast), tempo + intervals (Takumi Sen 8), long runs but can pick up the pace (Adizero Prime X), and race (Vaporfly Next% 2).
Crikey - you were so right about the wet weather. Just slid around a rainy Cape Town in a race this morning 😅! Otherwise great.
3 Shoe rotation. Going all Saucony for 2022 - Triumph 20, Speed 3 and Pro 3. If I had to add a fourth for a max plated then it’s the Alphafly v1… didn’t pull the trigger on the AFv2.
great review... was a close call between the Saucony Triumph 20 and Asics novablast 3... went for the Saucony for its more padded tongue to help with my extensor tendonitis and glad i did coming to winter runs if the Asics is a slippy shoe in the wet. My rotation will be Hoka Mach 4 and Saucony Triumph 20.
Thank you for this review Ben. I was considering these but you saved me the trouble. No grip and slippery on wet is a huge NO for me, especially as we head into autumn and winter. Great video as always.
Picked these up recently and immediately felt a decrease in muscle fatigue. Previously training in nike infinity react.
And the AHAR outsole is indestructible!
3 shoe rotation
Adidas Adizero Pro (uptempo, races inc Sunday’s Sydney 1/2 marathon)
Adidas Adios 3 (uptempo and long)
Hoka Mach 5 (recovery and long)
And a pair of trail shoes
I think for a beginner, just pick one versatile shoe. But as you get more experienced you're gonna want shoes for different occasions. Right now I just have Brooks Hyperion Tempo for my faster workouts, and just ordered the NovaBlast as my new daily trainer.
Easy/recovery : nike invincible v1
Daily: novablast v1 or brook ghost 11
Tempo/threshold: endorphin pro1
Race: alphafly v1
Great review. I’ve run two 10ks with it and I would say they’re fantastic. Not ran in wet conditions yet though. Felt great at toe off, forcing you to use that forefoot a bit more.
Rotation: Cloud Monster, Endorphin speed 3, vapourfly Next% 2, Nike trail 4 Gortex and Solomon Ultraglide 2….+ some spares🤦🏻♂️
i've been thru 4 pairs and 2000 miles....these are the GOAT shoe
As a budget runner, I use adidas SL20.2 for my daily and long run, with Boston 10 for speed session.
‘Need’:
2 daily shoes to alternate
1 tempo and speed shoe
1 race shoe
1 allround trail shoe
Have: many more…. 🙈
The Novablast 2 was a training game changer for me and first ASICS I’ve purchased in over a decade. Its foam midsole is something truly special and a shoe that’s capable of long recovery runs to tempo training days. Can’t wait to try the “3” and hope they make a trail version with beefier lugs than the Novablast TR.
Only got 3 shoes as I’m poor, reebok floatride 4,saucony speeds and Nike tempos as they were all on sale with codes too 😊
Really good line up there Mark. Great bargain hunting!!
I’ve been looking at these as a complete change from my UA mega 3 clone. I want something lighter but still cushioned as I’m a big lad. These sound like they will be perfect for me.
Thanks for the clear recommendation!
I am running through my 3rd pair of original novablasts - love that shoe!
And will stay with it and transition to version 3 now as soon as I need a new one 😋
For rotation, when running casually up to 3 times per week I’d say one shoe is fine.
For me personally I like to have
1 lighter all rounder (like the novablast)
1 more stable/cushioned/grippy shoe for easy miles, light trails and bad weather
1 race shoe
I don’t feel the need for an even faster shoe for workouts.
But for running more miles per shoe before retiring, I often start a new pair in the same role to slowly phase out the old one.
So, 4 pairs for me, 1:29 HM runner, sub 3:30 Marathoner, would be sufficient!
(Got more though 😅)
I just started running about 2 months I bought novablast 3 and the pegasus 40 . I really love the novablast I’m at the moment a 10k runner making my way up to 21 k to run in march half marathon in Ghent .
Loving the v3 of this shoe. RunningXpert have them on sale in many colour ways for under £100. Good replacement for my invincible shoes.
Rotation is Pegasus39 RocketX Clifton8 Nike AirZoom Next
For race vaporfly en alphafly
Bought this 2 weeks. Happy with it no complaints. Made me bit wary now you mentioned the wet! Last 2 weekends been terrific weather
How has the shoe been so far?
I'm currently rotating 2 pairs of Nike Air Zoom Pegasus, a pair of Asics Magic Speed for faster runs (occasional) and Inov8 TerraUltra G270 for trail runs. Would love to throw a pair of these into the mix...
ASICS are a solid brand and I’m glad to see some ASICS being reviewed on your channel, especially when it’s clear that you’re a Nike fan!
How many shoes should one have?-a shoe lover will say many. A regular runner running on a budget will say two: one for road and one for trail/winter running. However, I do see value in having about three different shoes all at varying drops to try to help avoid injury.
Exactly different reviews have different brand fans. I run in saucony and would always have a preference for them.
Thanks for the detailed information! Can't wait for my business trip to Japan in Nov. I am planning to buy Novablast 3 and Alphafly 1 or 2 in Japan due to strong US$. Also, please share a lot of videos about BMW Berlin marathon as you did for UTMB. Enjoy your trip to Berlin!
Looking forward to trying version 3, have training for & 3 marathons completed in Novablast 2's and love them.
Dear Ben, I am a beginner at running. I took up running this spring, just to free my mind of war ( I live in Ukraine). I had never been a runner, at school I would look for a way not to run, I simply detested it 😅
Since spring I have been training now and then, last week I even purchased your plan to improve my 10km pace.
I have only 2 pair of shoes: Nike Pegasus 38( it’s an ok shoe, just not a big fan of Nike) and Adidas Adios Pro3, which I absolutely love. My pace in the last ones is much better without any extra effort. I don’t have much experience in running shoes.
I would like to purchase one more pair. I am considering Brooks Hyperion Tempo and Asics Novablast 3. Which would you recommend?
Looking forward to your answer😊
in my rotation I have only shoes I can afford🙂so I really loved your 'best everyday running shoe' video Ben, thank you for these and thinking about 'everyday' runners as well 👍
We only really “need” 3, one for speed work/long runs, one for slow runs and one for the treadmill. But of course you can have and should own more…😊
Thanks Ben as always; love the Novablast 2 and have run Brighton and Southampton Marathons as well as Fleet half, GNR and many other runs and love them. Will definitely be looking at the 3s for the rotation. Take care and stay safe
v3 should be really good for you Darren. Well done for all those races!!
Awesome! I'm running Brighton Marathon in 3.5 weeks...looking at the Novablast 3 for the day. How did you find the 2s during the race, especially towards the latter parts when no doubt your legs were tired?
Have now got the 3s and wore them during the Cambridge half last weekend; really good for me and helped me achieve my goal, even when my legs were tired.
@@darrenhall5783 Nice one, thanks for the info and congrats on the race! Doing a precursory spec comparison on the runrepeat website, it doesn't look too dissimilar to what I'm using now, at least in terms of flexibility and cushioning, which is the Saucony Triumph 20 (which has decent enough grip in the wet in road). Think I may well give the Novablast 3 TR a go for that extra traction for the current/pending rainy weather 👍🏻
absolutely the wet grip was pretty much non existent. i remember the first time running in these, started to rain mid way, and the grip was GONE straight away. basically anything other than the concrete slab (road surface), you can skate in them, not fun. except for this one caveat, a great everyday shoe
We must have run on the same day (and the same place) when it was raining, it was bearable like Hoka Mach 4. I would be cautious doing speed work in the rain though. But I could do it in Fuelcell TC which hasn't been too grippy either.
Endorphin Speed 2, Clifton 8, NB1080 V12 and Speedgoat 5. I don’t need any more. For now.
My daily trainer is the Hoka mach4/ Puma velocity nitro and they both work well. Will need an upgrade in a few hundred km and this is top of the list. Always wanted to try the ffblast foam. Great review Ben!
Personally I run 4-5 shoes doing 5 runs a week covering 50-80km increasing
Easy run: ASICS magic speed
Long run: nb sc trainer
Interval/ speed day: saucony endorphin 3
Race: Nike vapourfly 2
Trail: Nike Pegasus gortex
* I only buy them when they’re on 50% sales otherwise I can’t justify the cost of shoes nowadays
I had the Novablast 2, and loved it for my longer , slower runs. Ran over 900 km in them. Now I have run 300 km in the Novablast 3, and they just don’t work for me. It feels heavy (even though it’s lighter than the 2) and unresponsive. I prefer the Saucony Endorphine speed 3..best daily trainer ever!
I have a 4 shoe rotation. Nike Alphafly, Saucony Pro 2, Saucony Speed 2 and New Balance 1080 v 10.
My Current Shoe Rotation: Nike Zoom Foy 3, Saucony Endorphin Speed 1 and 2, and Under Armour Flow Velocity Wind.
My pair came in Thursday, I've done a 5 mile varied pace, and a 5 mile progressive run.(both in dry weather) ..very comfy and responsive, on par with my saucony speed , the speed aren't that good in the wet either... the N3 will be my daily running shoe for the foreseeable, hopefully no big issues in the wet weather though.. keep up the good Work BP..👍🏃♀️👌
I have 3 shoes in rotation , I have heard there is some evidence that rotating a few models can prevent injury . I have NB 1080 v12 and puma deviate and saucony endorphin speed 1 that I rotate .1080 for most of my easy runs and puma or saucony endorphin speed for faster work outs
I have the first Novablast did almost 150km with it already and still love every run in it. Can't wait to get the 3rd version when this one wears out on me.
I was between this shoe and the Hoka Mach 5. Went Mach in the end (got the 4 on sale) because I have the Nike Invincible Run 2 which seems to do exactly the same job as the Novablast (slow long runs - but not terrible if you do want to pick up the pace).
I always used to say have two as a minimum (two different types mean your body doesn't get into a rut with the same dynamics .. which helps as another factor in keeping you injury free).. but for me I find as a minimum..
1. Easy day cushioned
2. Faster paced and long runs (I do long runs in a shoe that is closer to a race day shoe to help build up strength)
3. Trail shoe
4. Race day shoe (for marathons)
And a new one..
I got gifted a brooks adrenaline (I'm a Brooks ambassador) and a cushioned shoe with some extra stability is an eye opener.. great for days after a race or when I am coming back from a niggle, or have very tired legs
I would get by fine with a single road shoe, and a single trail shoe if they were just right. The main reason I have a ton of shoes is that most of them have something that doesn't work optimally for me and I end up bying something that is better in one aspect, but has other issues.
What do I have in my rotation... ohh that's a bit embarrassing.. I sorta got carried away trying a bunch of diff stuff..
Saucony:
Ride 14 Runshield (for my winter running here in Canada)
Endorphin Speed 2 Runshield (for my slightly faster winter running here in Canada)
Ride 15; Daily trainer
Endorphin Pro 2 5-10k racer, maybe half, I'm not sure
Hoka
Carbon X2 (long tempo run)
Speedgoat 3 (trail)
Bondi 7 (was an easy run shoe, became walking around shoe, too squishy to run)
Mizuno Wave Shadow 5, when I tried more track stuff
New Balance
1080 v10 everything shoe I started with, now more house slippers lol
It was a lot of shoes to buy in say 18 months but really now I watch shoe reviews and go meh no spot for you, I have a shoe for every workout and weather and will only replace them when any of them are worn.
Favorite are my Speed 2, they currently have my 5,10 and half marathon PB and.. torn between Speed and Pros for half marathon next weekend, big A race of the year, tried and true speed 2 or somewhat quite stiff Pro 2s..
Invincibles on their way out, 1080V12 everyday shoes, nike tempos for workouts, alpha flys for races. Looking for a long distance trail shoe for the winter and some x Country spikes.
Three in rotation until the NB3 are delivered. Favorite are Takumi Sen 8.
Just bought them. Half size down for me. Will run them tomorrow for the first time at Marathon pace blocs 😊 i had 1st and 2nd version. I did want to move away because of the tongue, but this 3rd version seemed to solved my issue (as it is a lot thinner). I will see
Waited for it, bought it on release day to replace my 1080v10s. Got 15% off for signing up on the Asics website. 50km put into them already. Comfort, fit, stability, looks all 10/10. Not super impressed by the responsiveness tbh and they weirdly feel heavier than they weigh. Grip has been fine for me in the wet, just a bit squeaky uphill. Overall an ideal daily trainer.
What other shoe would you recommend in the same comfort, fit, stability zone but with more responsiveness?
@@sidak5847 not sure if it exists.. I got the Speed 1 for £89 last year, that's more responsive but way less stable for me.
I am not buying full price shoes anymore I will wait for sales.
It’s reasonably priced imo….
Novablast 2s are like 60 quid now for black friday
Wait for Novablast 4 and then get these for cheap on Christmas
Currently £81 on very site (U.K.) 😁
That's what I do. Buy running shoes only when they go on sale. 😊
I usually have two or three road shoes at a time. Basically a do-it-all and a racer. Right now, I have the Rincon 3, Novablast 3, Metaspeed Sky Plus, and Endorphin Pro 2.
Although I have a lot of shoes, I only really use two. The Saucony Endorphin Speed 2's, and the Nike Victory 5's because I do a lot of xc races
Thanks Ben - I had to return mine after 2 runs. It felt bouncy and comfortable initially, but I need a £135 daily trainer to handle any weather and I slipped on my arse on a wet run this week. Also I found it very hard to get a good lockdown which meant my foot slipped forward and made my toes feel cramped in the box. And the tongue seemed to have too much lumpy material. Very disappointed as I need something to replace my fave ever 1080v10s which are now impossible to get (the v12s are boring!)
All the best for Berlin mate 👍👍👍
How could you return something you ran in twice! I hope that didn’t work for you… if you take a run in a new pair of shoes, there should not be any return…
@@jonatanelvekjrlegene8734 because ASICS have returns policy that allows you to send back anything that doesn’t work for their customers
Just bought them and i am so chuffed with their feel. Been 5 pairs of shoes where ive been in limbo but these feel right :')
I have 3. For race day I like the New Balance RC Elite 2. I’m waiting for the SC 3 & will run my November marathon in the Saucony Pro 3. For faster training days, I use my Saucony Endorphin Speed 2. I tried the 3 recently & actually like it a lot better, but don’t want to buy yet another shoe. Still searching for a great daily. Love my Saucony rides, but need more cushion. Will try the Triumph 3. ASICS don’t work well for me. Hated the Blast 2 (felt like a clown shoe)& didn’t care much for the Metaspeed Sky. Thanks for the unbiased review.
Hi Ben, just bought mine last few days. Have yet to try it but I oredi have the previous model which Nova Blast 2. Have to agree with you that the cushion, comfortability n stability is good but during running in the wet weather it has no grip and the confident dropped during running around bends. Hope to try the new shoe by this week and get the same results as the Nova Blast 2. Cheers mate frm Singapore.
Hmmm.. the only difference between the novablast 3 and 3 tr. Is that the tr is 24 grams heavier due to the trail pattern outsole. Hard to see that Makes it bulkier than the road version :)
I think I would pick the TR over this one especially in the UK
Havent tried the shoe I went for the endorphin speed 3 instead. I think it looks good but too similar of a shoe to the saucony. I have 4 pairs in my rotation currently.
Newly acquired nike tempo next %
Saucony endorphin speed 3
Saucony triumph 19
And some adidas trail shoes i got given unused.
I'm still chopping and changing shoes as I'm new to running and can't seem to find the one I love.
Top one again Ben. 👍🏼👍🏼
My daily trainer is the 1080V11 which need replacing and thinking the same again but this is making me think……..
Races ……… it continues to be the Alphafly and Vaporfly’s for me but the new Puma and Metaspeed Sky+ are beginning to turn my eye for a bit of a play.
Keep up the good work 👏🏼👏🏼
I recently made the switch from Ultra Boosts, to NB 1080s v11, and currently have two in rotation. I'm training for a half, and will begin marathon training in December. The only thing I've noticed is the tread on my oldest pair, which after 360 miles is looking a bit worn. Am considering adding a pair of NB Fuel Cell to the arsenal.
I'm not sure I'd say I rotate through shoes but the shoe rack has one well cushioned pair for road runs, one "road to trail"/multi-terrain which covers most of my runs that are mix of well maintained towpath, grass, road, and lastly a couple of options vying for the "proper muddy, rocky, gnarly trails" slot. No doubt I'm old and cynical but I don't understand the purpose of a "fast" shoe for speed training sessions, surely it doesn't make you better it just shifts the baseline? And am not fast enough to warrant a race shoe 🙂, maybe I'll get those when I'm 2 minutes away from London GFA or a BQ!
Fastest mile?
Thanks for the review 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
See you soon Maudene!!
Thanks for the review, Ben. Very much appreciated.
I recently just got my hands on the Novablast 2. It's the most cushioned shoe I owned and I'm actually not sure how I feel about it. Like, I feel like it's making me land on my heels more compared to other shoes. I don't have the best running form (i'm a casual runner) but I never had this issue with my other shoes.
Do the Novablast 3 feel the same way?
The Nova 1 and 2 are not for bad form runners, heel strikers or those with weak feet to begin with due to the "heel instability" imo. The solution? Improve your form and strengthen your feet... and you will begin mid-foot striking and bypass the instability issue and have a blast!
I paired the Nova 1 up with the Evoride 2 and its worked super well. The Evoride is stable and well cushioned with a medium rocker design.... and what I found is that due to the rocker it made my running more effortless to be honest, and did so by naturally making me mid to forefoot strike. So it improved my form completely.
What I also realised from the Nova is that my feet were also too weak hence my achilles being tender after runs. So using the Evo 2 for form and doing calf raises i.e. one foot each and then both feet together for foot strength, has helped me thoroughly enjoy the Nova's now. Done over 150km in each shoe and bought a 2nd pair of each since I liked the combo so much.
In a way the Nova wants you to run properly and efficiently to be able to enjoy it to the max which will help avoid injuries in the long run.
My rotation at the moment is Puma Nitro 2. Sacouny endorphin 3. Under Armour flow velociti. I'm tempted to add Asics Novablast 3. 😉
Spot on take on the grip, for me Asics' outsole hasn't been good enough on wet surface starting from 2021, not just the novablast series but on their other road running shoes as well. Hope they can improve the grip next year!
Found this week in the wet- its not the wet/puddles/mud that's any issue due to the width/balance, but any grit/sand on the paths. Maybe those days are just best for other shoes anyway
Thanks Ben. Great review
I think I need 3-4 shoes. Recovery + cushion, dedicated trail, speed shoe and finally a race shoe :)
Greatest review. It make me want to buy Novablast 3.
If my feet are 26cm, do in need to buy 26cm or 26.5cm Novablast 3?
I wear 26.5cm Rebel V3.
A great shoe but agree about the grip in the rain, but it has not stopped be using it in the rain. 9/10
Love the review Ben, always truthful and easy to understand. Personally didn’t like the V2 and more recently bought the ASICS Noosa Tri 14, would be interested to get your view on that shoe!!
4 pair shoes, 2 pair identical shoes ( rotation daily), race day shoes, lite trail runners. I find the hoka torrent 2 almost perfect lite trail runners.
TNX FOR THE REVIEW BRO. I'LL GONNA BUY MYSELF ONE PAIR. GOD BLESS
Ironically, around the time this video was posted I got myself a pair of Peg 39 and have been running on those ever since. Of course, the Novablast 3 was not available in my country so I could hardly buy them. The Peg 39 have been a solid ride so far, but I have been looking at other options and the Novablast 3 is one of those.