Discontinued · road · Tempo / Daily · $140
FlyteFoam-era light trainer: firm, low-slung and responsive.
Built for tempo, daily, at a target pace of 7:00–9:30 /mi on road.
This model is no longer in production. The closest shoe you can buy today is Asics Novablast 5.
Asics tuned this midsole balanced (3/5 on our cushioning scale). Energy return is moderate — comfortable and predictable rather than bouncy. 29 mm of heel stack keeps you low and connected, with more ground feel than most current trainers. Combined, the ride reads as lively at 3/5 responsiveness.
There is no plate here. The midsole does all the work, so the shoe flexes naturally and stays versatile across paces — easier on the feet day to day, but without the snap of a plated shoe when you want to roll.
A 8 mm drop is the mainstream middle — familiar to almost anyone coming from a standard trainer. The geometry is fairly traditional and flat, so the shoe follows your foot rather than steering it. Forefoot flex is middle of the road. Support is light — neutral, with a mildly steady platform.
The toe-box is standard width — comfortable for most feet without swimming. It fits true to size. Expect roughly 350 miles from the outsole, about $0.40 per mile at $140.
For the foams and plates Asics uses across its line, read the Asics brand guide.
Measured against the 542 currently-available shoes in the catalog. The bar shows where this shoe sits in that range.
Weight
235 g / 8.3 oz
40 g lighter than the catalog median of 275 g
Heel stack
29 mm
7 mm lower than the catalog median of 36 mm
Drop
8 mm
2 mm higher than the catalog median of 6 mm
Price
$140
20 cheaper than the catalog median of 160
Responsiveness
3 / 5
Catalog median 3 / 5
Cushioning
3 / 5
Catalog median 4 / 5
Energy return
3 / 5
Catalog median 3 / 5
Durability
~350 mi
Catalog median ~400 mi
Within the Asics line it is lighter than the brand's median (268 g / 9.5 oz) and sits lower than its median stack (38 mm).
Current shoes with the nearest combination of weight, stack, drop, foam feel and plate.
Under Armour Sonic 7
240 g / 8.5 oz · 30 mm · 8 mm drop · — · $70
Lightweight, versatile budget trainer for everyday running.
New Balance Fresh Foam Arishi v4
246 g / 8.7 oz · 28 mm · 8 mm drop · — · $75
Light, affordable Fresh Foam daily for short runs and gym duty.
Nike Rival Fly 4
235 g / 8.3 oz · 30 mm · 8 mm drop · — · $100
Firm, low and cheap — the no-frills speedwork trainer.
Brooks Launch GTS 12
255 g / 9.0 oz · 32 mm · 8 mm drop · — · $120
The budget-friendly Launch with GuideRails added for mild support.