Introduction
The Asics Magic Speed has come a long, long way. If you were one of the early adopters, you would remember that the ride of version 1 felt far from the mega-thick, mega-cushioned speed trainers of today. It felt like a lean racing flat. It only had a ¾ length carbon plate and it felt nothing like the Metaspeed racing series.
The Magic Speed (as its name implies) is a speed trainer and it’s designed to be the training companion of the Metaspeed series: a cheaper, more durable version of the Metaspeed Sky and Edge.
Over the years, the Magic Speed series has gained immense popularity. It’s now one of the most popular speed trainers on the road because runners love how versatile it is; it can be used for both fast workouts and racing. It’s a lot more affordable than the Metaspeed series and more widely available.
The latest Magic Speed feels like a very different trainer to version 1. The midsole is completely different foam, the stack heights have shot up and the plate has been upgraded to a full-length, stiffer one.
This year’s Magic Speed 4’s weight has increased by 21 grams in a men’s US 9. Its midsole has also increased by 7 mm in the heel, 6 mm the forefoot compared to the previous version, which is where the majority of the extra weight comes from.
Specifications
Price
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$248
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Drop
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8 mm (43.5 mm heel, 35.5 mm forefoot)
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Surface
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Road
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Weight (Men's US9)
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242 g
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Pronation Control
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Neutral
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Upper
The engineered mesh upper of the Magic Speed 4 has great breathability. The mesh has tiny openings to let air through and it’s backed by a thin secondary layer for extra durability. It’s slightly stretchy so it conforms to your feet while inside the upper, it’s mostly seamless so it can be worn without socks.
It has a thin, semi-gusseted tongue with very little padding. The semi-gusset increases comfort for training runs- the Metaspeed racing series tongue doesn’t have a semi-gusset. A loop on the tongue allows the laces to pass through it, preventing any tongue slide.
The collar and heel tab are sufficiently padded so you don’t get any heel rubbing and heel lockdown is superb. The inside lining is soft and smooth, resulting in the area around the ankles being super comfortable.
When it comes to fit, the Magic Speed 4 has a snug, racing design. The forefoot and toe-box aren’t very accommodating but this is done on purpose because it’s to be used for mostly speed runs where you need good foot lockdown. Sizing is true-to-size however it’s best suited to low-volume, narrow feet.
Sole
At first glance, it looks like the entire midsole of the Magic Speed 4 is made of FF Turbo foam because of the big “FF Turbo” that’s written on the forefoot. That’s not the case. The main foam is actually FF Blast+, and there’s a small FF Turbo puck situated inside the forefoot, directly underneath the carbon plate.
The reason ASICS uses FF Blast+ as the main foam is that it’s a very resilient foam and can hold up to daily training much better than the more delicate FF Turbo.
It’s also cheaper to produce so they can make the Magic Speed more affordable using FF Blast+. FF Blast+ is the same foam that ASICS uses in daily trainers like the Novablast 4, Nimbus 26 and Cumulus 26.
ASICS says that FF Turbo is 33% lighter and 13% more responsive than FF Blast, which is why they decided to add a small amount of it in the forefoot of the Magic Speed 4.
There are 2 layers of FF Blast+, the top layer being soft and the bottom layer being firmer. The firmer bottom layer adds stability to the ride while the softer top layer provides more comfort.
The full length carbon plate in the Magic Speed 4 resembles the one that’s in the Metaspeed Sky Paris more than the one in the Edge Paris. It has a flat profile in the rearfoot and the midfoot, then it curves upwards in the forefoot.
The plate is relatively stiff but it has more flexibility than the carbon plates found in the Metaspeed Sky and Edge. This is for more comfort during slow-paced runs as it’s easier on the calves.
Outsole
The Magic Speed 4 has ASICSGRIP rubber on its outsole, which is the same type that’s used on the Metaspeed series. It’s softer than your average outsole rubber and this translates to better, more tacky grip. Traction on dry and wet surfaces is fantastic due to the softness of the rubber.
There’s more rubber coverage on the Magic Speed 4 than on most super shoes and all of the high wear areas are protected by ASICSGRIP. The rubber is also thicker than average so you can expect to get a lot of mileage out of it.
There’s a wide, deep cavity in the midfoot section that exposes the carbon plate. This saves weight as well as increases the ride softness. Running on trails or rough surfaces like gravel is not recommended because the exposed carbon plate could get damaged.
Ride
The Magic Speed 4 is best suited to uptempo runs: threshold runs, intervals, tempo runs and fartleks are all in its wheelhouse. While easy paces are doable, it’s not designed for relaxed runs, so the stiff midsole and firm ride feel are not ideal.
It has a high toe-spring and forefoot rocker which assist in increasing your cadence and speed. The rocker also makes long runs feel efficient because it eases you through transitions, allowing your legs to work less.
Transitions are velvety smooth and the ride is consistent from heel to forefoot. Even though it has the FF Turbo puck in the forefoot and not the rearfoot, it still feels smooth and consistent throughout the sole.
The 8 mm drop means that there’s 8 mm more foam in the heel than the forefoot. This setup suits heel and midfoot strikers more than forefoot strikers although there is still a considerable 35.5 mm of foam under the forefoot so it won’t bottom out if you forefoot strike.
In terms of softness, the Magic Speed 4 has a firm ride. It’s firmer than other training companions such as the Boston 12, Endorphin Speed 4, Deviate Nitro 3 and Hoka Mach X.
The firm ride means that the foam doesn’t compress much when loaded and as a result, transitions are faster. The firm midsole also provides a firm base to push off from, making it easy to pick up speed.
When it comes to stability, the Magic Speed 4 is not particularly stable. It has a narrow midfoot/rearfoot and a high stack height so cornering can feel wobbly if you excessively over pronate or you have weak ankles. This trainer is best suited to runners with neutral pronation.
Conclusion
Version 4 of the Magic Speed is the closest version to the Metaspeed series to date and it feels a lot more like a super trainer than previous versions. The thicker midsole results in more cushioning depth and it now has the ability to be a viable marathon racing option.
It has no major weakness however some runners may find its ride too firm for long distance runs above 30 kilometres. It’s also not the most stable speed trainer so it’s not suitable for severe overpronators.
Compared to version 3, version 4 has a lot less ground feel, its forefoot is stiffer and its rocker is more prominent. It also weighs more than version 3 but it’s a small sacrifice for the extra cushioning and extra speed assistance.
In an ASICS rotation, the Magic Speed 4 is the trainer that you would use for speed workouts. It would pair well with the Novablast 4 for easy runs and the Metaspeed Sky Paris for racing. The Metaspeed Sky Paris has a similar plate setup as in the Magic Speed 4.
Reviewed by Brandon Law
