ASICS Magic Speed 5

Ben Parkes recommends the ASICS Magic Speed 5 for beginner or intermediate runners looking to get their first carbon-plated shoe without spending the money on high-end race-day shoes.

Ben Parkes recommends the ASICS Magic Speed 5 for someone who wants to try a carbon-plated shoe for the first time without spending too much money.

Ben Parkes states the ASICS Magic Speed 5 is really for faster running only and is not the type of shoe for jogging around in; it should be paired with a daily trainer like the Novablast, Superblast, or GEL-Nimbus for the bulk of miles.

Marathon Handbook finds the ASICS Magic Speed 5 too far on the aggressive/speed side of the super trainer spectrum to make the top five.

Marathon Handbook observes that the ASICS Magic Speed 5 is so aggressive it almost feels like a racing shoe more than a workout shoe.

Marathon Handbook personally likes the ASICS Magic Speed 5 and uses it for a lot of workouts.

Marathon Handbook recommends the ASICS Magic Speed 5 to people who like a stiff, fast running shoe for workouts.

Marathon Handbook reports hearing from many people that the ASICS Magic Speed 5 does not have enough support to really be a workout shoe.

Marathon Handbook finds that the Asics Magic Speed 5 is the fastest shoe that can be bought for under $200, "point blank."

Marathon Handbook maintains that the Asics Magic Speed 5 could almost be confused for a racing shoe because it is that fast.

Marathon Handbook observes that the Asics Magic Speed 5 is a plated shoe with two layers of foam in its midsole, including a layer of FF Leap foam, which the reviewer describes as the fastest foam that Asics has ever created.

Marathon Handbook prefers wearing the Asics Magic Speed 5 for workouts and calls it "an ego boost" every time he wears it.

Marathon Handbook recommends the Asics Magic Speed 5 as the workout shoe to buy for under $200 if the buyer is after speed.

Sagasu Running mentions the ASICS Magic Speed 5 as a 'tempo trainer' option within an ASICS two-shoe rotation built around the ASICS Metaspeed (daily trainer) and the ASICS Metaspeed Ray (fast racer).

Sagasu Running notes the ASICS Magic Speed 5 uses 'FF Leap dulled down a little bit by FF Blast Plus' foam.

Sagasu Running says the ASICS Magic Speed 5 is useful to 'save' the Metaspeed Race 'for the really important stuff' (key workouts and racing).

Sagasu Running suggests the ASICS Magic Speed 5 would be useful for 'shorter, faster workouts, track workouts, you know, anything in between.'

Sagasu Running compares the ASICS Magic Speed 5 to the Puma DV8 Nitro 4 and observes that from a stance/stack standpoint they are actually similar, though the Magic Speed 5 feels like a lower, more flat-like shoe whereas the DV8 Nitro 4 feels like a more built-up shoe.

Sagasu Running describes the ASICS Magic Speed 5 as a very classic tempo trainer, meaning it is really geared towards faster running, threshold running, and faster—ideally faster—whereas the Puma DV8 Nitro 4 is more geared towards all-around running.

Sagasu Running finds that the ASICS Magic Speed 5 really starts to come alive at threshold running and really picks up after that, whereas the Puma DV8 Nitro 4 prefers steady into threshold running.

Sagasu Running notes that the Puma Grip on the DV8 Nitro 4 will wear and grip better than the outsole of the ASICS Magic Speed 5, but finds the ASICS grip outsole on the Magic Speed 5 is actually quite durable and has a little lug pattern that works on a lot of different surfaces including packed dirt and grass.

Sagasu Running recommends the ASICS Magic Speed 5 if you are looking for a fast shoe for tempo workouts, track workouts, and probably racing (5K-10K racing), and recommends the Puma DV8 Nitro 4 if you are looking for a shoe to do some easy running, steady running into threshold.

Sagasu Running finds the ASICS Magic Speed 5 fits like any other running shoe with a performance fit that is borderline race fit, closer to a super shoe.

Sagasu Running finds the ASICS Magic Speed 5 is a great 5K parkrun shoe and a great option for California cross country (hard surfaces, grass, packed dirt) due to its outsole grip and overall durability.

Sagasu Running finds the ASICS Magic Speed 5 is competent for threshold running and can go into steady paces, whereas the Nike Streak Fly 2 should not be used for warm-up, cool-down, slow, or easy running.

Sagasu Running finds the ASICS Magic Speed 5 outsole digs into track surfaces very well, works very well on a treadmill, and has really good grip on the road.

Sagasu Running finds the ASICS Magic Speed 5 performs very well at max-effort running (faster than 5K pace) and also does well in the sweet spot of max effort.

Sagasu Running finds the ASICS Magic Speed 5 provides a plated feel that is less aggressive than the Nike Streak Fly 2's direct carbon snap.

Sagasu Running finds the ASICS Magic Speed 5 provides some flex off the toes, which is needed for very fast running to allow stepping into a higher gear.

Sagasu Running finds the ASICS Magic Speed 5 upper holds the foot very well and delivers a performance fit that is compliant to the foot.

Sagasu Running finds the ASICS Magic Speed 5 upper takes a few runs to break in and feels really stiff out of the box.

Sagasu Running finds the FF Turbo foam in the ASICS Magic Speed 5 provides soft cushion on foot strike and the performance and resilience expected at toe-off.

Sagasu Running finds the flex in front of the ball of the foot in the ASICS Magic Speed 5 gives the ability to adjust speed and sprint toward the end of a rep or race, which is unique in a plated trainer.

Sagasu Running observes that the ASICS Magic Speed 5 has a wider, more stable platform and more rubber coverage than the Nike Streak Fly 2, consistent with being more of a trainer.

Sagasu Running observes that the ASICS Magic Speed 5 has an engineered mesh upper that is stiffer and heavier than the Nike Streak Fly 2's upper, with more padding in the heel, built up as a true trainer.

Sagasu Running observes the ASICS Magic Speed 5 has a full-length plate with a Y-section (forked under the toes), which gives a softer feel off the toe.

Sagasu Running observes the ASICS Magic Speed 5 has a lot of forefoot flex, flexing right under the ball of the foot, which allows for a mechanical snap off the toe when digging off the toe.

Sagasu Running observes the ASICS Magic Speed 5 has a lot of toe-box taper on the lateral side, causing the pinky toe to rub on the side of the shoe, which eases after a couple runs as the shoe breaks in.

Sagasu Running observes the ASICS Magic Speed 5 has one layer of FF Turbo foam directly under the foot above the plate, described as ASICS's premier racing super foam, and below that a layer of FF Blast Plus foam that is firmer, stiffer, almost plastic-like for stability.

Sagasu Running recommends staying true to size in the ASICS Magic Speed 5 to keep the flex point of the plate aligned with the ball of the foot; some runners may want to go up half a size.

Sagasu Running states ASICS calls the plate in the Magic Speed 5 a carbon plate, but the reviewer speculates it is a carbon-infused plate because it is noticeably softer than ASICS carbon plates in the MetaSpeed series.

Sagasu Running states that in early 2026 the ASICS Magic Speed 5 and Nike Streak Fly 2 are the two best plated speed-work shoe options.

Sagasu Running states the ASICS Magic Speed 5 can be used for racing up to 5K and under.

Sagasu Running went true to size (US men's 9) in the ASICS Magic Speed 5 and states that was exactly what he needed.

Sagasu Running believes the Magic Speed 5 will be about $10 more expensive than the Magic Speed 4, which he sees as giving a lot of value.

Sagasu Running measured the Magic Speed 5 weight at 193 g, which is about 40 to 50 g lighter than the Magic Speed 4.

Sagasu Running observes that the Magic Speed 5 has FF Blast in the top (lighter-colored) layer of foam directly under the foot, and a carbon fiber plate, present since the Magic Speed 3.

Sagasu Running observes that the Magic Speed 5 returns the Magic Speed back to what the Magic Speed 3 was: a low stack, very fast, very traditional tempo trainer, a totally different direction from the Magic Speed 4 which was more of a generic super trainer eclipsed by the Sonicblast.

Sagasu Running states that based on Japanese launch information, the secondary (lower) layer of foam in the Magic Speed 5 is FF Blast Plus, which he finds a little disappointing.

Sagasu Running observes that the most recent leaked images of the Magic Speed 5 show a lower stack height, returning to the roots of what the Magic Speed has been, closer to the Magic Speed 3 than the Magic Speed 4.

Sagasu Running reports that ASICS reps have confirmed the Magic Speed is going back to something more racy, more 'tacum, streakfly-like', with all the Super Trainer vibe now going to the Sonic Blast.

Sagasu Running reports that the ASICS Magic Speed 5 has been seen through leaks to be primarily FF Leap foam in the forefoot, with a secondary foam elsewhere in the shoe.

jogoncrago states that the Magic Speed 5 has been 'a lot of fun' and that they have 'really, really enjoyed that shoe so far'.

TF XC Running Shoe Reviews (TF XC) observes that the Magic Speed 5 has flight foam leap in it.

TF XC Running Shoe Reviews (TF XC) observes that there is a Magic Speed 5, which goes back to being a lower-stack, faster, racier shoe more similar to the Magic Speed 3.

Road To Trail finds that the ASICS Magic Speed 5 is harsh and firm and stiff and low stack and useless.

Road To Trail calls the ASICS Magic Speed 5 'terrible'.

Road To Trail characterizes the ASICS Magic Speed 5 as 'awful'.

Road To Trail characterizes the ASICS Magic Speed 5 as 'kind of like an Adidas Boston' — very low to the ground and very firm.

Road To Trail finds that in the ASICS Magic Speed 5 'you don't really get a whole lot of feel for the good foam here, this basically just feels like the bad foam'.

Road To Trail finds the ASICS Magic Speed 5 'very firm'.

Road To Trail finds the ASICS Magic Speed 5 an F-tier shoe.

Road To Trail notes the ASICS Magic Speed 5 has FF Leap foam.

Road To Trail sold his pair of ASICS Magic Speed 5 'pretty quickly' because he did not keep it for very long.