ASICS Magic Speed 5 review

Full review

The Magic Speed 5 is ASICS's affordable plated shoe for fast running. It is about 50 g lighter than the previous version, with a brand weight of 196 g for men. The midsole has a top layer of FF Leap, which ASICS describes as its lightest and bounciest foam, over a lower FF Blast Plus layer, and a full-length carbon plate gives the ride a propulsive snap.

The stack is 37.5 mm at the heel and 30.5 mm at the forefoot with a 7 mm drop, which is moderate by modern standards and feels stable at speed. The forked forefoot design adds some flex, so it does not feel as stiff as a full carbon racer.

ASICSGRIP rubber grips well on wet roads, and the upper uses at least 75% recycled material in its main fabric.

The carbon plate and light build suit tempo runs, intervals and shorter races, although the lower foam layer is a Blast Plus rather than a top-tier racing foam, so it will not match the pricier Metaspeed shoes. It is not a recovery shoe. Pair it with a daily trainer such as the Novablast 6 and you have a two-shoe rotation for most training.