Why compere the Asics Novabalst 5 and the Saucony Ride 18? Well, both running shoes are in the daily trainer category. Therefore it makes sense to put them side by side. The Saucony Ride 18 was send to me by Saucony for the purpose of testing and review. I was also intrigued by the Novablast 5 and when the shoe was available in my size, I purchased the shoe with my own money. Since I published the reviews of both shoes (I will make sure to link to the reviews at the end of this article), I ran many more kilometers in both of them and it’s time to compare the two running shoes.
If you put the two shoes side by side, they look quite different. However, there is one part of both shoes, that is almost identical, shape of the forefoot. Looks like they have a similar rocker. But more on that a bit later when I get to the performance of the two running shoes.
Novablast 5 vs. Ride 18: Build quality
Until today I ran a bit over 150 kilometers in each of the shoe. After inspecting the two shoes today, there is no wear an tear visible on the shoes. The upper on both shoes looks almost the same as the day I received the shoes. The midsole shows no creasing and on the outsole there is little to no wear. Therefore I can say, that the build quality of both shoes is really good.
Upper and fit
Both of the shoes are in my regular running shoe size: US12 and they both fit true to size. The upper in both shoes is comfortable, as you would expect from a daily trainer but they are different. The upper in the Saucony Ride 18 is a bit thicker than the one in The Novablast 5. Both Have similar heel counters and padding in the heel area.
The biggest difference besides the upper material are the tongue and laces. True, both have tongues attached to the upper but the one in the Ride 18 is quite a lot more padded. Therefore the Novablast 5 is a bit more breathable. It doesn’t matter much now in winter but a fact you should consider if living in warmer climate. The laces used in the Ride 18 are longer and stretch more. I had no problem finding a good lockdown in both shoes but it’s easier with the laces used in the Novabalst 5.
Novablast 5 vs. Ride 18: Midsole and outsole
Let’s talk about the outsole first. They are made of completely different materials and you feel it while running. While the outsole of the Saucony Ride 18 has superb grip, even when running through tight corners or on wet roads, the outsole of the Asics Novablast 5 is not the most grippy. Looking at both outsoles after 150 kilometers, the one on the Novablast 5 has less wear but the grip is not as good as the one of the Ride 18.
The midsole of the Ride 18 is firmer, more dense as the one used in the Novablast 5 and also lower. Therefore the Ride 18 is more stable. The Novablast 5 gets a bit unstable in tight corners and while running downhill. Both shoes are made for neutral runners but if you have slight stability issues it’s something to consider.
Softness of the midsole can also impact the lifespan of a running shoe. I’m quite confident, that the Ride 18 will last for a log time. I’m not so sure about the Novablast 5. Could be, that the softer foam will compress over time and that the lifespan of the shoe is not as long as the one of the Ride 18. But only time will tell.
Novablast 5 vs. Ride 18: Performance
As stated at the start of this post, both shoes are daily trainers. They should handle everything. From easy runs up to races. I used both shoes for similar runs (more about that in the reviews of the two shoes). The ride is quite different. While you get more of a pop from the midsole of the Novablast 5, the Ride 18 rolls nicer forward. If you like more the sensation being pushed forward, the Ride 18 is a better choice. But if you like more a bouncy feeling from the midsole, I think the Novablast 5 is a better option.
Both running shoes can handle most of your standard runs. I used both shoes also in a track workout, doing 15 times 30 seconds fast. There are other running shoes that are better for such workouts but if I had to pick one of the two shoes to do this workout again, it would be the Ride 18. It’s easier to run faster paces in that shoe because of the firmer midsole.
On the other hand, longruns are slightly easier in the Novablast 5 because of the softer midsole. That said, I think that the Novablast 5 is better at slower paces and longer runs. If you plan to run a marathon, the Novablast 5 will in my opinion, be a better training shoe. For half marathon training either of the shoe works great. It’s more about your personal preference. When it comes to shorter distances, the Ride 18 is in my opinion the better choice.
I also think, that the Saucony Ride 18 is a better choice for those new to running and those, who run and walk. The Novabalst 5 is a little unstable at slower paces and while walking. That said, the Ride 18 is also a great choice as a running shoe for vacation. You can easily walk around in the shoe and explore your vacation spot and of course go also for a run.
If you want to find out more about each of the two shoes, you can find my reviews of both if you click or tap on the links below:
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