The Cumulus, now in its 26th version has always been the shoe for everyone: enough cushioning for long distances and light enough for short distances. It costs $140.
The Novablast is a brand new shoe on its 5th iteration designed to be highly cushioned for long distances with a propulsive, trampoline feel. It costs $140.
Which of these shoes is the right one for you?
The midsole of the Cumulus is made from single-density FF Blast+. The Novablast is made from FF Blast Max. The Cumulus has gel in the rearfoot whereas the Novablast has no gel in its midsole.
The ride of the Cumulus is softer than the ride of the Novablast. The firmer Novablast is better suited to short, fast runs and the softer Cumulus better for slower, longer runs.
The Cumulus has a more traditional-feeling midsole which feels cushioned but flat. The Novablast has a more dynamic, modern-feeling midsole which feels cushioned but also bouncy and springy.
The taller midsole height of the Novablast makes it less stable than the Cumulus. The firmer, lower to the ground Cumulus also has a midsole which flares out to create a large, stable base.
The outsole of the Novablast has rubber covering the high wear areas. The Cumulus doesn’t have any traditional rubber- instead, it has a rubberised EVA outsole which results in padded landings. The Novablast has the more durable outsole of the 2 trainers.
Ride transitions are very smooth in both shoes but the Cumulus with its full contact outsole results in smoother ride transitions than the Novablast.
The Cumulus has a thick and padded upper made from a breathable, porous mesh. Its tongue is flat and stretchy. The Cumulus’s upper is superb at locking the foot down with zero heel slippage. The Cumulus comes in regular, wide and extra wide versions.
The Novablast features an upper made from a breathable net mesh that doesn’t stretch much or conform to the foot. It has a roomy toe box with lots of foot splay room. It also has a long padded tongue and traditional heel counter but the upper takes some adjusting to get a secure fit. The fit is true to size and the Novablast comes in 2 widths.
If you’re a runner looking for a softer shoe for longer runs, get the Cumulus. The Cumulus has a plush upper which comes in a variety of widths and is great value at $140. The Cumulus has a midsole with gel in it for extra shock absorption and has a stable ride with smooth ride transitions.
If you’re a runner looking for a firmer shoe for faster runs, get the Novablast. The Novablast has a bouncy ride, fun ride and a thicker midsole for more foot protection when you need it on longer runs.
