ASICS Novablast vs Li-Ning Red Hare for Wide Feet
ASICS Novablast and Li-Ning Red Hare sit in the same mental shopping lane: fun, bouncy daily trainers that feel more exciting than a plain mileage shoe.
For wide feet, though, they are very different bets.
The short version: choose ASICS Novablast if you want the safer fit path and easier returns. Choose Li-Ning Red Hare if you want the more interesting Chinese super-trainer experiment and your foot is only slightly wide.
Quick answer
- Safer wide-foot pick: ASICS Novablast, especially if a wide version is available in your size.
- More exciting value experiment: Li-Ning Red Hare 9 Ultra.
- Better for true 2E/4E: ASICS, because width availability is clearer.
- Better if you buy by CM/EU size confidently: Red Hare can make sense.
- Biggest mistake: buying Red Hare by US size alone or buying standard Novablast when you actually need wide.
Check availability
Prices, colors, and widths move around constantly. Confirm width, CM/EU size, seller, and return policy on the retailer page before buying.
At a glance
| Question | ASICS Novablast | Li-Ning Red Hare 9 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Main appeal | Bouncy mainstream daily trainer | Chinese value super-trainer hype |
| Wide-width clarity | Better, especially when wide versions are listed | Lower; usually single-width |
| Sizing risk | Moderate | Higher if you trust US conversion |
| Return simplicity in the US | Usually easier | Depends heavily on seller |
| Best buyer | Wants a fun shoe with safer fit logistics | Wants the Chinese shoe experiment |
| True 4E confidence | Low to medium, depending on version | Low |
Where Novablast wins
Novablast wins on logistics. ASICS is easier to buy in the US, easier to return, and more familiar if you already know your ASICS size. When a wide version is available, it gives you a cleaner path than trying to make a single-width Chinese shoe work.
That does not mean every Novablast is roomy. Recent Novablast versions can feel more performance-shaped than older soft daily trainers. If you have a true wide foot, look for the wide listing first, then think about half-size changes only after width is handled.
Read the full ASICS Novablast 6 wide-feet guide.
Where Red Hare wins
Red Hare wins on curiosity and value. It is the shoe people search when they want to know if Chinese running shoes are now legitimately competitive with big Western brands.
For a medium or slightly wide foot, it can be a fun experiment. For a true 2E or 4E foot, it is riskier because you cannot simply choose wide or extra-wide.
Read the full Li-Ning Red Hare 9 Ultra wide-feet note.
Which one should you buy?
Buy ASICS Novablast if:
- you want the safer everyday trainer
- you value easy returns
- you need a wide option
- you already trust ASICS sizing
- your foot is wide enough that single-width shoes often fail
Buy Li-Ning Red Hare if:
- you want to try the Chinese running-shoe wave
- your foot is medium or only slightly wide
- you are comfortable using CM/EU sizing
- you can accept return or resale risk
- you care more about value and novelty than fit certainty
Wide-foot verdict
For most WideFit readers, Novablast is the safer recommendation and Red Hare is the more interesting experiment.
That is not a criticism of Red Hare. It is a buying-risk distinction. If a shoe does not offer clear 2E/4E sizing, wide-foot runners need stronger reasons to accept the risk.
If you are building a rotation, the practical move is simple: use ASICS, New Balance, or Brooks for your dependable wide daily shoe, then try Red Hare when you want to explore the Chinese super-trainer category.
More Chinese-shoe context: start with the Chinese running shoes for wide feet guide and the best Chinese super trainers shortlist.