While Hoka, Brooks and New Balance are some of the most popular brands for walking shoes, not everyone has been impressed with these stalwarts. We’ve previously covered a number of these popular Hoka alternatives, and we have another one you’ll want to know about. Many reviewers of the Asics Novablast 5 sneaker rank it above these other brands, with one reviewer proclaiming, “After buying and returning multiple pairs of Hokas, Brooks, New Balance and a few Asics, these are the most cushioned shoes ever, throughout the whole show!”Another reviewer went as far as to say, “They make my Hokas feel like wooden clogs. I love them so much. Fan for life!” Well, now we have to know more.In a 2025 report from Strava, a social workout-tracking app, that claimed to survery over 30,000 people, the Novablast 5 was the top running shoe. Business Insider also previously reported on the Novablast’s popularity among the Gen Z set. The sneaker stands out for its cushioning tech, called FF Blast Max, which is like “walking on a bouncy pillow,” as one reviewer put it. Emphasis on bouncy — the outsole’s design was literally inspired by a trampoline, if that gives you a sense of the responsiveness.In addition to the extreme cushioning, the sneaker features a breathable and stretchy mesh jacquard upper, reflective details for night runners and other low-light situations, a lace-up closure and front and back pull tabs. It comes in 12 colorways for women and men, in women’s sizes 5-12.5 and men’s sizes 5.5-15 (including wide sizing options). You can get both the men’s and women’s style at Zappos, in addition to the Amazon links above.The Novablast 5 is actually an older model, now that the Novablast 6 launched just days ago. According to the brand, the main differences the 6 introduces are a gripper outsole, slightly redesigned upper and even bouncier trampoline pod. However, the 6 isn’t currently sold at retailers like Amazon or Zappos, and doesn’t have many reviews yet, so if you want a more widely available and/or tried-and-true option, go for the 5 while there’s still plenty of stock.ZapposThe heel's FF Blast Max cushioning adds major height and bounce for a soft landing.The sole provides comfort for runners, walkers and folks who have to stand for long periods of time, as well as people with foot pain. “I have plantar fasciitis and I can wear these all day with no issues. I feel literally like I’m walking on clouds,” one shopper said.Another wrote, “These are some of the most comfortable running shoes I’ve had. The heel cup was the first thing I noticed. Very cushioned. I wear them for work and I’m on my feet all day. I also walk/jog with them and my plantar fasciitis isn’t as bad.”Yet another reviewer said they are a surgical nurse “on my feet for 10–12 hours a day,” who heard about the Novablast 5 from other nurses and paramedics. “From the first shift, I noticed a huge difference in comfort and cushioning,” they wrote. “My feet feel significantly less fatigued at the end of a long day and the support has been excellent throughout every shift. The shoes are lightweight, responsive and comfortable enough to wear all day without discomfort.”Like the reviewers mentioned earlier, many runners have also been swayed to reach for their Novablasts over popular sneakers from other well-known brands. “I’m an everyday runner and have Brooks, On Clouds, Hoka and Nikes in almost all [their] best running lines,” one said. “This Asic is my favorite by far! It’s lightweight, cushiony and has a wonderful little bounce to it. My Brooks are too firm, Nikes too heavy and Hoka/On Cloud too mushy after only a little wear but these are just right! I will be getting these in as many colors as possible.”One person, training for a half marathon, lamented, “Where have these been all my life? I now look at all my other shoes in disgust. I wish I could just wear these all the time. I took them straight out of the box and ran 6 miles at a tempo 8:30 pace. They were amazing and springy even though not worn in.” They added, “I’m in my 40s now and the knees and feet need more help. I wish I had found these long ago. They’re so bouncy with the cushion but I still have enough feel for the road. These would not be great for lateral sports like tennis or basketball. But for running and walking... 5 stars.”In case you need even more convincing, you’ll find even more promising reviews below. These sneakers have gained many fans, even up against heavy-hitter shoes like Hokas, Brooks and more. Plus, they’re $20 off right now. If you’ve been needing a new pair of sneaks, these could be the ones you’ve been waiting for.“I came from exclusively running in Hokas the last few years. These definitely offer more cushion than what I got from my Hokas, and when running down hills my knee is much less irritated. The first run I had in these I spent the entire run considered buying a second pair. I do think faster runners may find these on the heavier side and impact some speed, but for me, (26min 5K / 57min 10K) it strikes a good balance. The shoes are also comfortable enough for taking walks or even just long weekend shopping trips.” — Chris Freeze“These shoes are beautiful and quality. The vibrant blue color is great and stand out. They take a little getting used to if you’re not used to these tall running shoes, but after you get used to it, they’re wonderful. They feature a good fit, with the wide variety perfectly fitting my massively wide foot. The mesh upper is very breathable and light. It sort of feels like walking on a bouncy pillow (in a good way). I also notice that my walking time is a little better, so perhaps it does add a bit of spring to your step. They are pricey but super comfortable and look like they will hold up.” — J. Trevino“I have suffered with blisters on my feet in the arch and ball of my foot after running more than 4 miles in all my running shoes. I’ve tried NB, Hokas, etc. These shoes are the FIRST to have me blister free, even after 9 mile runs. Responsive foam, great style, lightweight, and plenty of room for your toes to breathe. This shoe converted me to an Asics lover.” — Sarra“So comfortable. I read a review that this model got someone running again after an injury. I have an injured knee that’s been giving me issues. Put these on and like walking on clouds. I have 2 other pairs of different brand shoes and even though I love my New Balance, the novablast has less impact on my knees and less recovery time. I wore my older shoes yesterday after using Novablast for 18 miles total runs, and there was a huge difference with my knees. The impact on my knee is so much softer and can barely feel soreness. The other shoes left my knees more sore and more recovery time. I’ll never wear a diff set of shoes again. I only wore diff shoes because I didn’t want to have my Novablast wet from running in the rain and would take a few days to get dry. Now I’m contemplating getting a second pair just so I have a back up” — Beachbummama“I bought these for a work trip where I would be doing a lot of walking. The best shoe I have ever had. It’s like walking on a firm memory foam. I broke my foot last year and I’ve had pain since and I don’t have any pain or discomfort wearing these. I’m gonna buy ALL the colors..lol” — ThePamdalorianP.S. We found even more great Hoka alternatives. Check out this list, curated by the HuffPost Shopping team:AmazonThese non-slip, cushioned Nortiv 8 sneakersWe previously covered these sporty Nortiv 8 sneakers that reviewers compare to walking on clouds, and HuffPost readers have shown interest in their comparability to similarly cushy Hoka models. The shoes boast a thick midsole, good traction for outdoor walking and, best of all, a sub-$60 price. Find them in men's sizes 7.5-13 in seven colorways, and women's sizes 6-11 in eight colorways (this includes wide sizing options).Promising review: "I saw these on a youtube video and I decided to try them. I’m so glad I did! These shoes feel like I’m walking on a cloud. They are so comfortable! They feel much better than the hoka’s and brooks that I had been wearing. Great price too! They fit as expected for size and width." — Amazon CustomerAmazonA pair of slip-ons with a wide baseAnother pair that grabbed the attention of HuffPost readers is this slip-on shoe by Allswifit with a very subtle chevron pattern in the lightweight mesh for a touch of style. They don't skimp on function, either; aside from the easy on-off design, these are slip-resistant, made with a thick midsole and have a wide base that promotes stability. Get a men's pair in sizes 7.5-13 and five colorways, or a women's pair in sizes 6-11 and five colorways.Promising review: "Love these shoes! I was looking for another pair of Hokas and these were recommended in my Amazon search. Even MORE comfortable than Hokas! And now I have these in 3 different colors; navy, pink/orange, and turquoise/purple." — S. MeagAmazonOr a pair of Saucony Hurricane 24s with max cushioningAnother well-known brand, Saucony's Hurricane 24 shoe has major cushioning like Hokas — but, according to reviewers like the one below, while being more stable and durable. (They're not the only reviewer who's favorably compared this shoe to the Gaviota specifically, if that's a style you've been eyeing.) Try these out in men's sizes 7-16 in 11 colorways, or women's sizes 5-12 in nine colorways (wide sizing available).Saucony has a newer version of these, the Hurricane 25, but they're well over $100, so for affordability's sake, the 24s are where it's at.Promising review: "I will purchase these again. I was looking for an alternative to the HOKA Gaviota, due to HOKA's upper durability issues. These shoes are perfect, the same cloud like feel underfoot but not as clunky as the HOKA. They fit true to size, do not feel as heavy as my Gaviota's, and provide plenty of support for overpronation. Awesome deal." — M. Walsh