Versablast 4

ASICS calls the Versablast 4 a budget, beginner-friendly member of the Blast family, and it copies the Novablast's design, outsole and sharp rocker. Underneath, it uses the same materials as the Excite and Pulse. The midsole is Amplifoam Plus, reformulated to be less dense, softer and meant to be more energetic. The stack is 36 mm at the heel and 26 mm at the forefoot, and I can feel the 10 mm drop. On the run it was a big disappointment. Before running it felt balanced, not very soft, a bit like the Pulse 16. After the long run, the midsole had nothing in it. It is not responsive or energetic, and it does not have the protective, balanced feel of the Excite, Pulse, Cumulus, Nimbus or GT-2000. It feels like completely dead foam. I would not use it for more than 8 to 10 km on any day. The upper is a thin outer mesh over a thick inner layer, so it should not tear easily. The heel padding and heel counter are minimal, so avoid it if you have flat feet or overpronation. It runs small. My usual UK 8 hit my forefoot hard and had no room at the sides, so I bought a UK 8.5, which weighs about 270 g. Even then it is just about right in length and tight at the sides. Go up half a size, or even a full size, and forget it if you have wide feet. The ASICS High Abrasion Rubber outsole is thick and fully covers the bottom, with good traction and durability. For walking to the office or on trips, it is decent if you are under 85 kg. For running at ₹5,000 there are many better options, and I felt ripped off. I would only consider it for running at ₹2,000 to ₹3,500. Instead, look at the Excite 10 or Pulse 16 under ₹3,500, the Excite 11 at ₹5,000, or the Nimbus 27 at about ₹6,500.