ASICS
Novablast 6
9.0Excellent
High-cushion neutral daily trainer with FF BLAST MAX and a FF TURBO SQUARED forefoot trampoline pod.
From € 149
Comparison
ASICS Novablast 6 vs Brooks Ghost 18
Both are versatile road dailies. Novablast 6 is the more energetic soft daily; Ghost 18 emphasises approachable cushioning and official width options.
- Expert comparison
- Data driven
- Updated 1 September 2026
- Running Shoes
Brooks
Ghost 18
8.6Very Good
Soft neutral daily trainer with broad width options for beginners and high-mileage road runners.
From € 144
Decision guide
When each shoe is the better buy — by training mix and conditions, not overall score alone.
Bottom line
No universal winner — pick Novablast 6 for bounce and mixed easy/moderate paces; Ghost 18 when fit widths and a calmer daily ride matter most.
ASICS
Choose Novablast 6 if…
- You want a livelier soft daily trainer.
Brooks
Choose Ghost 18 if…
- You need width options or a calmer daily ride.
Key Differences
Drop
Novablast 6: 8 mmGhost 18: Higher traditional drop (family norm ~12 mm)Drop differs by family geometry — check specs on each product page.
Width options
Novablast 6: Standard (wide where offered)Ghost 18: Broad official width rangeGhost line is known for published width SKUs.
Score Comparison
Novablast 6Ghost 18
Cushioning
9.38.8Ride & Energy
9.18.4Fit & Comfort
9.09.0Stability
7.88.0Durability
8.28.6Value for Money
8.48.5
When each wins
Context winners by session type — use these with the decision guide above, not as a universal ranking.
Daily Training
Novablast 6
Higher daily Recommendation score for energetic soft miles.
Long Runs
Novablast 6
—
Recovery Runs
—
—
Tempo Runs
—
Easy Runs
Novablast 6
Soft energetic easy-day profile.
VSValue
TIE
Kitletics value scores are too close to call on current catalog pricing.
Specs
| Spec | Novablast 6 | Ghost 18 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight (g) | 253 | 272 | — |
| Drop (mm) | 8 | 12 | — |
| Heel Stack (mm) | 41.5 | 36 | — |
| Forefoot Stack (mm) | 33.5 | 24 | — |
| Cushioning | High | High | TIE |
| Stability | Neutral | Neutral | TIE |
| Energy Return | High | Moderate | — |
| Cushion Feel | Soft | Soft | TIE |
| Ride Character | Rockered | Smooth | — |
| Flexibility | Moderate | Moderate | TIE |
| Plate | No | No | TIE |
| Plate Material | None | None | TIE |
| Midsole | FF BLAST MAX + FF TURBO SQUARED trampoline pod | DNA LOFT v3 | — |
| Outsole | ASICSGRIP (forefoot) / AHAR LO (heel) | Rubber | — |
| Upper | Engineered woven | Engineered mesh | — |
| Terrain | Road, Treadmill | Road, Treadmill | TIE |
| Training Types | Easy, Long, Recovery, Tempo | Easy, Long, Recovery | — |
| Recommended Distance | Daily, Half, Marathon | Daily, 10k, Half | — |
| Weather Suitability | Dry, Wet, All Season | Dry, All Season | — |
| Width Options | Standard, Wide | Narrow, Standard, Wide, Extra Wide | — |
| Arch Support | Medium | Medium | TIE |
| Fit / Sizing | Men, Women | Men, Women | TIE |
| Recommended Pace Range (min/km) | — | — | TIE |
| Recommended Runner Weight Range (kg) | — | — | TIE |
| Surface | Asphalt, Treadmill | Asphalt, Treadmill | TIE |
| Grip | Road | Road | TIE |
| Durability | Moderate | High | — |
| Race Legal | Yes | Yes | TIE |
| Breathability | High | High | TIE |
Current Prices
Regional prices · Netherlands
Novablast 6
From € 149
- ASICS Official: € 160 · Check price
- All4running: € 154 · Check price
- Amazon.nl: € 159 · Check price
Ghost 18
From € 144
- Brooks Official: € 150 · Check price
- All4running: € 144 · Check price
- Amazon.nl: € 149 · Check price
Prices last checked: 12 Sept 2026. Offer updates do not mean the editorial comparison was re-reviewed.
Top Alternatives
ASICS Novablast 5Pick Novablast 5 over Novablast 6 only if soft energetic ride is the weekly gap. Novablast 5 is daily training / long runs; Novablast 6 stays daily training / long runs. Cost of the switch: not a stability shoe.
Saucony Endorphin Speed 5Endorphin Speed 5 is on the Novablast 6 alternatives list for more responsiveness. Endorphin Speed 5 brief: Nylon-plated tempo shoe for workouts, faster long runs, and accessible race efforts.. Novablast 6 brief: High-cushion neutral daily trainer with FF BLAST MAX and a FF TURBO SQUARED forefoot tram…. Extra peer cue: strong race/training crossover. Peer spec: drop 8, midsole PWRRUN PB, cushion feel balanced, stability neutral.
HOKA Clifton 10Clifton 10 is on the Novablast 6 alternatives list for a same-role peer. Clifton 10 brief: Lightweight max-cushion neutral daily trainer with HOKA’s signature rockered geometry.. Novablast 6 brief: High-cushion neutral daily trainer with FF BLAST MAX and a FF TURBO SQUARED forefoot tram…. Extra peer cue: smooth rocker. Peer spec: drop 5, midsole Compression-molded EVA / CMEVA, cushion feel plush, stability neutral.
ASICS GEL-Kayano 32Leave Novablast 6 for GEL-Kayano 32 when more stability outweighs the source’s daily training / long runs bias. GEL-Kayano 32 centres on overpronators / daily training (drop sits higher on GEL-Kayano 32 (10 vs 8)). You give up Novablast 6 spec (drop 8, heel stack 41.5, weight 253, midsole FF BLAST MAX + FF TURBO SQUARED trampoline pod).
Nike Pegasus 41Novablast 6 vs Pegasus 41 is not a score swap. Pegasus 41 wins when a same-role peer and versatile workhorse beat soft energetic daily ride. drop sits higher on Pegasus 41 (10 vs 8).
ASICS SUPERBLAST 2Novablast 6 vs SUPERBLAST 2 is not a score swap. SUPERBLAST 2 wins when better long-run protection and huge protective stack beat soft energetic daily ride.
Saucony Ride 18Shared use-case alternative
ASICS GEL-Cumulus 27Shared use-case alternative
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