ASICS Magic Speed 5

The ASICS Magic Speed 5 is an all-new speed training shoe designed to be light and nimble. Priced at $180, it competes with the Puma Deviate Nitro 4 ($170) and Adidas Boston 13 ($160). It has a dual foam construction with the soft ATPU FF Leap foam on the top, a full carbon fiber plate in the middle, and a firmer foam on the bottom. Compared to the previous version of the Magic Speed, the stack height is significantly reduced (6mm lower in the heel) and it is lighter with more race foam on the top. It felt firm, low, and aggressive upon step-in with a race-like, very snug upper. On the run it felt uncomfortable, aggressive, and harsh at slower, more relaxed paces. It felt much better and more responsive when we picked up the pace along stretches of straightaways—like it was meant for the track. You have to land with a strong midfoot to forefoot strike to feel the FF Leap foam come alive. It is also unstable due to the very narrow heel. While it is great that ASICS is offering a lower stack shoe, the problem is that the Magic Speed 5 is overly restrained at slower paces due to the firmer bottom layer of foam, it’s not protective enough for higher mileage training, and the FF Leap isn’t allowed to shine and doesn’t feel as special as it does in the Metaspeed Ray. Additionally, the overall geometry and vibe of the shoe is way too aggressive for a training shoe. If you are looking for a race shoe, we recommend looking for any of the true race shoes on a deal, but if you are looking for a speed training shoe for higher mileage training, check out the Adidas Boston 13 for a much more comfortable option.