ASICS Magic Speed 2 Review

Upper

Jon: "The upper gave me a superior lockdown and allowed me to take on corners fast without losing any stability, which is something that I seldomly do in other shoes. The upper mesh was very breathable and comfortable. Unfortunately, I experienced a little bit of rubbing on the outside of my ankles that caused minor irritation, but thankfully, it did not leave any bruising or cuts. I had to start wearing thicker socks when wearing the Magic Speed, which helped but was not ideal."

Risa: "I was happy with the upper of the Magic Speed 2. It took no effort to get a secure lockdown with my feet, which are more on the narrow side, and I did not find myself having to make any adjustments out on long runs. Aesthetically, I do think this model looks fresher and more modern than the previous version, but it is not my favorite."

Midsole

Jon: "The Magic Speed 2 has an extremely comfortable step-in feel, and the upper fit perfectly around my foot. It felt a bit narrow in the midfoot but not to a point where I found it uncomfortable. Slower paces felt effortless while wearing the Magic Speed 2, and it was almost like being on cruise control throughout testing.

The midsole offered ample protection underfoot for an uptempo trainer but was firm enough to remain quick and stable, especially on downhill segments. Truthfully, I was a bit disappointed with the FF BLAST PLUS and plate combination. I was expecting a livelier, snappier return when running at faster paces, but I had to work harder than expected to transition to faster speeds.

When I was finally able to hit my goal pace, the Magic Speed kept my turnover fast, smooth, and efficient. Overall, I liked the balance of the midsole for a variety of runs, but again, I wish it offered a little more magic from a speed standpoint."

Risa: "The midsole is a bit firm, which was no surprise given the plated midsole and speedy nature of the Magic Speed. It feels responsive underfoot, and I enjoyed the shoe for my faster-paced testing runs.

I usually prefer shoes that have a softer midsole with a bouncier energy return, but I enjoyed all my testing runs in the Magic Speed 2. The shoe offered plenty of protection for an uptempo trainer, and I felt like I could wear it for nearly any type of longer training run. While testing the Magic Speed 2s, I was training for a half marathon and used them for a variety of different runs over various distances. I would not hesitate to use them for the half-marathon race itself."

Outsole

Jon: "I mostly ran on the roads and the track while testing the Magic Speed 2, and I thoroughly appreciated the level of grip offered by the ASICSGRIP rubber outsole. I spent an hour running around town at marathon pace, which is something I typically try to avoid given all the maneuvering that accompanies a city run, but I was very impressed with the shoe's traction and its ability to maintain pace when rounding corners."

Risa: "I wore the Magic Speed 2 on paved roads and some groomed dirt trails, and I never had an issue with traction. That said, I did not encounter wet or slippery surfaces throughout testing, so I am not exactly sure how the ASICSGRIP rubber would do in more adverse weather conditions.

I ran about 30 miles in the shoe, and the outsole has shown no signs of wear up to this point. I do not expect the Magic Speed 2's durability to be a problem."

Comparable Shoes

Jon: "I have had a difficult time finding comparable models to this shoe, which I think says a lot about the Magic Speed 2. There are plenty of carbon-plated racers out there, but they typically come with a $200 plus price tag. At $150, the Magic Speed 2 is really in a class of its own. That said, there are other shoes on the market that deliver a similar running experience.

The Saucony Endorphin Speed came to mind, especially as a shoe that feels great regardless of the pace. The Endorphin Pro had a similar underfoot feel, striking a great balance between firmness and cushioning, and the Nike Pegasus is also similar in terms of being very stable with the ability to pick up the pace with some effort."

Risa: "A lower profile option in the same category of shoes would be the Brooks Hyperion Tempo, though the Hyperion Tempo does not have a carbon plate. If I were choosing between the two shoes, I would opt for the Magic Speed 2 for a half marathon because of the added protection.

The Saucony Endorphin 3 is another comparable model. The Endorphin Speed 3 and Magic Speed 2 would be my top two choices for multipurpose shoes. The underfoot experience of the Magic Speed 2 also brought to mind the pricier, more race-focused ASICS METASPEED Edge, though I found the Magic Speed 2 to be a little more comfortable."