Asics Novablast 5 vs Nike Alphafly 3

97 facts in comparison

Based on 1,353 Reddit opinions. Close race—Novablast 5 edges ahead.

1.4K opinions
Novablast 5 leads by 1pts
Reddit's Pick
Asics Novablast 5
66%
C+
Based on
1,405 Redditors
Winner

Asics Novablast 5

~$149.95
605 opinions

tldr; Reddit opinions on the Asics Novablast 5 are mixed (65% positive across 1,405 mentions). Consider your specific needs and priorities.

Check prices
VS
Nike Alphafly 3
65%
C+
Based on
2,152 Redditors

Nike Alphafly 3

~$167
748 opinions

tldr; Reddit opinions on the Nike Alphafly 3 are mixed (65% positive across 2,152 mentions). Consider your specific needs and priorities.

Check prices
ComfortStyle & AestheticsBuild QualityFitDurability
❤️COM
STY
🔧BUI
📐FIT
DUR
61
Points
48
Points

Score by Category

Comfort
59%54%
Style & Aesthetics
69%46%
Build Quality
57%44%
Fit
66%67%
Durability
21%38%

Why is Nike Alphafly 3 better than Asics Novablast 5?

  • Better durability (38% vs 21%)
  • Long-Lasting
Based on 3,557 Reddit opinions
Too Close to Call

Reddit prefers the Novablast 5

Winning by 1 points (66% vs 65%)

Better style
Better quality
Better value
High confidence (3,557 mentions)

💬Reddit Sentiment

Based on 3,557 Reddit mentions

Overall Rating

Novablast 5
6.6/10
1,405 mentions
Alphafly 3
6.5/10
2,152 mentions
COMFORT
Novablast 55.9/10
Alphafly 35.4/10
STYLE
Novablast 56.9/10
Alphafly 34.6/10
FIT
Novablast 56.6/10
Alphafly 36.7/10
DURABILITY
Novablast 52.1/10
Alphafly 33.8/10
BUILD QUALITY
Novablast 55.7/10
Alphafly 34.4/10
VALUE
Novablast 59.2/10
Alphafly 33.9/10
⚔️

Head to Head

Head to Head

Novablast 5: 4|Alphafly 3: 1
ComfortNovablast 5
Novablast 559%
Alphafly 354%
StyleNovablast 5
Novablast 569%
Alphafly 346%
Fit
Novablast 566%
Alphafly 367%
DurabilityAlphafly 3
Novablast 521%
Alphafly 338%
Build QualityNovablast 5
Novablast 557%
Alphafly 344%
ValueNovablast 5
Novablast 592%
Alphafly 339%
Novablast 566%
Alphafly 365%
Close race - Novablast 5 edges ahead by 1 points

Key Specs

SpecAsics Novablast 5Nike Alphafly 3
Heel Drop
8 mm
Heel Stack Height
41.5 mm
Forefoot Stack Height
33.5 mm
Cushioning
FF BLAST PLUS
Full-length ZoomX foam, two forefoot Air Zoom units
Support Type
Neutral

Key Highlights

Asics Novablast 5
Solid community reputation
Frequently recommended
Nike Alphafly 3Winner
Long-Lasting

Topic Battles

Novablast 5: 3|Tied: 1|Alphafly 3: 1
❤️Comfort
Novablast 5 wins
Novablast 5
59%
Alphafly 3
54%
Style & Aesthetics
Novablast 5 wins
Novablast 5
69%
Alphafly 3
46%
🔧Build Quality
Novablast 5 wins
Novablast 5
57%
Alphafly 3
44%
📐Fit
Novablast 5
66%
Alphafly 3
67%
Durability
Alphafly 3 wins
Novablast 5
21%
Alphafly 3
38%

Based on Reddit sentiment across 5 categories

📈Where They Rank

💬What Redditors Actually Say

What Redditors Say

Best praise vs top criticism for Asics Novablast 5

Best Praise
+46 pts
I was tossing up whether to get the SB2 or NB5 and ended up buying the NB5 since I’ve only been running for a month. They’re coming in tomorrow and can’t wait to try them out! From what I’ve seen the SB2 seems better at faster paces, can’t wait to get my pace up and buy a pair of those in the future!
r/RunningShoeGeeks
View
Top Criticism
+14 pts
I have 260 miles on my pair of Novablast 5 (roughly same build as you as well) and I’ve gone back and forth on them. I agree with everyone that out of the box they’re fun and want to go fast, but my last 50-100 miles they feel all over the place. During intervals they feel responsive but not in an energy return kind of way if that makes sense, could just be that they are compressing to where there’s no more give. On easy runs they either feel completely dead or vaguely soft, but definitely nowhere near where they started. Disappointed that they fell off so quick but that’s the gamble with shoes unfortunately
r/RunningShoeGeeks
View
3 more quotes available below

What Redditors Say

Best praise vs top criticism for Nike Alphafly 3

Best Praise
+123 pts
Finally, a discounted Alphafly.
r/RunningShoeGeeks
View
Top Criticism
+32 pts
Alphafly 3 will not give you hundreds of miles. You would chew through them.
r/RunningShoeGeeks
View
3 more quotes available below

📈Historical Price Data

Asics Novablast 5
Nike Alphafly 3
$180$270$360$450Jun '25Sep '25Oct '25Dec '25Jan '26Mar '26Mar '26Mar '26Apr '26May '26Low: $129.95Low: $167Current: $129.95Current: $173.45
Asics Novablast 5
All-time low!
Nike Alphafly 3
All-time low: $154.53(2026-04)
$16 below 90-day avg

Which is Better?

Too Close to Call

Both products have nearly identical approval ratings (66% vs 65%). Choose based on your specific needs and preferences.

Why Novablast 5
  • Better Value for Money (92% vs 39%)
  • Better Build Quality (57% vs 44%)
Why Alphafly 3
  • Long-Lasting
  • More discussed (2,152 vs 1,405)

❤️The Love/Hate Breakdown

Sentiment Breakdown

28%Positive
Positive
28%
Neutral
57%
Negative
15%
Based on 1,405 Reddit opinions

Sentiment Breakdown

23%Positive
Positive
23%
Neutral
65%
Negative
12%
Based on 2,152 Reddit opinions

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, Asics Novablast 5 or Nike Alphafly 3?
Based on 3,557 Reddit comments, Asics Novablast 5 has a slight edge with 66% positive sentiment vs Nike Alphafly 3's 65%. The difference is small, so both are solid choices.
Should I buy Asics Novablast 5 or Nike Alphafly 3?
Both have similar approval ratings (66% vs 65%), so focus on specific features, pricing, and what matters most to you.
What do Redditors love about Asics Novablast 5?
Asics Novablast 5 has 1,405 mentions on Reddit with 66% positive sentiment. Users consistently recommend it based on real ownership experiences.
What do Redditors say about Nike Alphafly 3?
Reddit users highlight: Long-Lasting. With 2,152 mentions and 65% approval, it remains a popular alternative.
How many Reddit reviews were analyzed?
This comparison analyzed 3,557 Reddit comments: 1,405 about Asics Novablast 5 and 2,152 about Nike Alphafly 3. Data was sourced from Sneakers community discussions.
How accurate are these ratings?
Our sentiment analysis is approximately 80-85% accurate compared to manual review. Well-discussed products with many mentions tend to have more reliable scores than niche items with fewer data points.
Why trust Reddit over professional reviews?
Reddit users bought products with their own money and have no incentive to mislead. You're seeing hundreds of real opinions across different use cases, not just one reviewer's take. This crowdsourced approach surfaces both common praise and recurring complaints.

1,353 Reddit opinions analyzed · Last updated 6/6/2026