Asics Magic Speed 3 First Run Review: A Lighter, Racier Plated Trainer

Introduction

The Asics Magic Speed 3 is the third version of Asics’s plated training partner shoe, and it arrives with changes that make it a bit racier in general. It is pitched as either a budget alternative to carbon racing shoes or as a training partner shoe, and at 160 pounds in the UK and 160 dollars in the US, it is a fair bit cheaper on RRP than most compact racing shoes.

It is also impressively light. In a UK size 9 (US 10), it weighs 221 grams or 7.8 ounces, a big drop from the 238 grams of the Magic Speed 2 in the same size. That puts it about as light as, or even lighter than, most super shoes, though the Asics Meta Speed Sky remains a fair bit lighter.

Specs and Fit

The Magic Speed 3 has a seven millimetre drop with a stack height of 36 millimetres at the heel and 29 at the forefoot in the men’s shoe, and 35 and 28 millimetres in the women’s shoe. That is one millimetre lower in the men’s shoe than the Magic Speed 2.

In the standard UK 9 / US 10, the fit works well. It is the same size worn in all Asics shoes, and the heel is held securely with no heel rubbing, plus a nice secure fit around the midfoot. Be aware that the fit is tighter and more racy than other Asics shoes in the range: compared with models like the Nimbus or Kayano, there is noticeably less room in the toe box, and it can feel a little cramped up front. If you are between sizes or have wider feet, going half a size up is probably the safest choice.

Key Changes in the Magic Speed 3

The headline change is that the plate is now a full carbon plate instead of a mix of carbon and TPU. The midsole now uses two layers of FF Blast Plus, written on the side of the shoe, for both the top and bottom layers. In the Magic Speed 2, only the top layer was FF Blast Plus and the bottom was regular FlyteFoam. It is still not the Turbo foam used in the Meta Speed line, but you get two layers of Asics’s slightly better foam.

Other changes include the motion wrap upper from the Meta Speed series, still with a little padding at the back but generally lighter and less thick than the Magic Speed 2 upper. There is also a large cut-out in the midsole, which helps drop weight. On the outsole side, rubber now runs the entire length of the medial side of the shoe, with more coverage at the heel compared to the Magic Speed 2, which should help with durability and grip.

How It Rides on Fast Sessions

Tested in a session of eight 1K reps at roughly half marathon pace, the Magic Speed 3 was really impressive. The shoes are very light and easy to pick up, and when you are tiring, the plate has that rolling effect that helps you sustain pace and efficiency, in the same way super shoes do.

Compared directly with the Meta Speed Sky Plus during the same session, the full super shoe clearly has more oomph off the toes. It is bouncy off the forefoot, helped by its lower drop and bulbous forefoot. Switching back to the Magic Speed 3, it actually felt more nimble, including on a small hill at the start of a rep. But coming down onto the forefoot, it feels a bit firmer because there is slightly less foam under the forefoot, and you get a little less pop off the toes than the Meta Speed Sky. It is maybe slightly less bouncy at the forefoot, but it is not a big step down, and it has all the hallmarks of a really impressive plated shoe.

Magic Speed 3 vs Magic Speed 2

In a short walk-and-run comparison wearing the Magic Speed 2 on one foot and the 3 on the other, there is not a massive difference that is immediately noticeable, though it becomes more noticeable over time. The Magic Speed 3 certainly feels lighter and airier on the foot, partly because of the weight and partly because the new upper feels more open, lightweight and racy in general.

There is a very slight feeling that speed transitions a little more onto the forefoot and off the toes compared to the Magic Speed 2. Sitting back in the heels, especially on easy runs, the 2 feels marginally more comfortable. On paper it looks like a big upgrade, but there are a lot more similarities than differences in terms of geometry, setup and foams. The upgrade simply makes the shoe a little lighter, racier, punchier and more exciting without a big price jump.

Where It Fits Against Other Plated Trainers

The plated trainer category is now full of really excellent shoes, but many of them are geared towards being great all-rounders. The Endorphin Speed 3 is a brilliant all-rounder, very good at fast stuff and very comfortable. The Hoka Mach X is built more for easy runs, the Saucony-style comfort all-rounders like the Capra Pro similar, and even the Puma Fast-R Nitro-style daily trainers have good outsoles and comfortable uppers suited to daily training and speed work.

The Magic Speed tilts more towards the speed end of things. It is a really fast shoe, very close to the performance of a carbon shoe for fast runs. The trade-off is that it is a little less comfortable than those other shoes, so if you want an all-rounder, that is where it may fall down a bit. It should still be okay for easy runs, but that may hurt it slightly when compared against something like the Endorphin Speed 3, which is so good for everything.

Buying Advice

If you want a fast trainer or a race day alternative to carbon shoes, the Magic Speed 3 is now a better option than ever. Super shoes can be found on sale for near the RRP of the Magic Speed 3, which makes the price a little less of a concern, but if the Magic Speed 3 drops somewhere near 100 pounds or dollars, you end up with what is a really good racing shoe, even if it is not quite a full super shoe.

As a race day shoe, it is being put to the test over a 10K road race to see how it really performs, but as a fast trainer it already ticks the box when it comes to speed. Buy it if speed is your priority; look elsewhere in the plated trainer category if versatility and all-day comfort matter more.

Conclusion

The Magic Speed 3 refines an already good shoe into something lighter, racier and punchier, with a full carbon plate, dual FF Blast Plus foam and a genuinely impressive 221 gram weight. It is not quite a super shoe, and it gives up some comfort and versatility compared to the best all-rounder plated trainers, but as a fast trainer and a more affordable race day alternative to carbon shoes, it is a compelling choice.