Asics Novablast 5 vs. Nike Pegasus 41: Which running shoe should you get?
The Nike Pegasus 41 largely sticks to the formula that has made it a successful shoe for over four decades, offering a balance between comfort and speed for daily training. It's great for the gym as well as running, and the Pegasus 41 has a more sprightly ride than its predecessor.
The Asics Novablast 5 and Nike Pegasus 41 are among the best running shoes I've tested, and both are very popular with new and experienced runners alike. Both shoes are good value and have comfortable and hardy designs that work well for a wide range of runners and running styles.
I've logged over 40 miles in both shoes during my testing, using them for a mix of training runs, and there are pros and cons to each that might make one or the other more suitable for you. I've focused on their comparative strengths and weaknesses below, and for more detail on either shoe, check out our Nike Pegasus 41 review and Asics Novablast 5 review.
The Nike Pegasus 41 is the slightly cheaper shoe at $145 vs $150 for the Asics Novablast 5, and the Pegasus is also the shoe that appears more frequently in sales. The Novablast 5 is yet to really be discounted, though you can find deals on the Novablast 4 quite easily, and it's a pretty similar shoe in my opinion.
The Nike Pegasus 41 is currently available in 16 colors, and you can also design your own. There are also special editions of the shoe for college and pro sports teams, so you can really get a Pegasus that suits your personal preferences all round.
There is less choice with the Novablast 5, but it is still available in 15 colors. Both shoes are available in wide fits as well, and I found they both fit me well in my normal running shoe size.
The Novablast 5 is the higher stack shoe, standing 41.5mm at the heel and 33.5mm at the forefoot for an 8mm drop. The Pegasus 41 has 37mm of cushioning at the heel and 27mm at the forefoot for a 10mm drop.
Despite having more foam underfoot, the Novablast 5 is lighter, weighing 9.6oz in my US men's size 10. The Pegasus 41 weighs 10.3oz in the same size.
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Both shoes have comfortable uppers with padding around the tongue and collar that hold the foot securely on the run. Neither is especially breathable, though, and the thick tongue on the Pegasus 41 means it can get a bit warm on hot days.
The Novablast 5 uses Asics' FF Blast Max Plus foam in its midsole, which provides plenty of comfort without being too soft or unstable. It has sidewalls of foam that your foot sits within to create more stability, and a mild rocker to ease you from heel to toe as you run.
There are two foams in the midsole of the Pegasus 41. Most of the midsole is made from ReactX, which is designed for comfort, while two Air Zoom pods — one under the heel and one under the forefoot — add a bit more pop and responsiveness to the ride.
The Pegasus 41 has a thicker outsole than the Novablast 5, and rubber covers more of the bottom of the shoe. This is one reason it weighs more, but the benefit is increased durability, and the Pegasus 41 will stand up better to use on light trails than the Novablast 5.
It also offers slightly better grip on wet pavements than the Novablast 5, which can be a bit slippery, especially on your first couple of runs. After that, I found the rubber outsole roughed up a bit and provided better traction.
Both shoes are capable daily trainers, in that they can handle a variety of runs quite well while being best suited to easy efforts.
The Novablast 5 has a smoother ride and is more comfortable. It also has a wider base and feels stable on the run despite its high stack. I particularly enjoyed long runs in the shoe, and while it's not a bouncy or particularly exciting ride, it's a bit more lively underfoot than the Pegasus 41 at fast paces.
There's a snappier feel to the Nike Pegasus 41, partly because it has a higher drop but also because it doesn't have as much of a rockered design as the Novablast 5. It's not as comfortable, especially under the forefoot, but it has a nimbler ride that gives you more feel for the ground.
At faster paces, I found the Novablast 5 to be a little more effective, and I prefer the smoother feel of the Asics for easy and long runs, too. The Pegasus 41 was still comfortable, though, and some runners might favor its more traditional and agile design, because the Novablast 5 can feel quite large on the foot, even though it's not heavy.
While the Novablast 5 and Pegasus 41 are both good shoes, I prefer the Novablast 5 myself as a running shoe. I would recommend it over the Pegasus 41 if you want a comfortable shoe for all your runs, or one to add to a rotation just for easy and long sessions.
However, there are a few factors that could swing me to the Pegasus 41. For one, it's cheaper and often drops nearer $100 in sales. It's also more durable thanks to its thick outsole, and will work better as your only workout shoe if you also use it in the gym or for other sports. Also, looks aren't everything in a running shoe, but the Pegasus 41 is better for casual use in my opinion.
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