Asics S4 Plus YOGIRI Review: The Four-Hour Marathon Shoe Reaches the US

Introduction

The Asics S4 Plus YOGIRI spent its early life as a Japan-market release, the kind of shoe that fetched premium resale prices from collectors overseas. It has now officially reached the US market, and that alone makes it worth a closer look. This is a shoe with a very specific brief: it is positioned as a four-hour marathon shoe, meaning it is built for runners who will be on their feet for a long time and want comfort and support without giving up the fun of a plated race-day ride.

After more miles, lab measurements, and side-by-side comparisons, the picture is clear. This is a smooth, comfortable, remarkably normal-feeling carbon shoe that fills a genuine gap in the lineup.

Who This Product Is For

This shoe suits three main types of runners. First, anyone training for a marathon who wants a comfortable long run shoe that can still handle marathon pace efforts inside a big workout. Second, runners targeting roughly a four-hour marathon who do not want something bulky or something brutally aggressive. Third, runners who want a long run trainer with exceptional wet weather grip.

It also fits a specific slot in a rotation: lighter and faster than a max-cushioned daily trainer, but more comfortable and forgiving than an aggressive race shoe. If your current setup already covers a fast daily trainer, a super-cushioned trainer, and an aggressive racer, there may not be much daylight left for this one.

Main Strengths

The construction is refreshingly simple. A well-executed engineered mesh upper sits on a dual-foam midsole: a layer of FF Turbo Plus race foam on top and a traditional EVA training foam below, with a full-length carbon fiber plate in between. On paper that sounds similar to other plated trainers, but the geometry ties it together in a way that feels far more coherent.

The standout quality is smoothness. Where shoes like the Asics Superblast can feel choppy through the heel, this ride stays even from heel strike through toe-off. It also feels noticeably softer and more comfortable than the Metaspeed Edge Paris, while being lighter and more streamlined than the New Balance SC Elite v4.

Comfort deserves its own mention. If comfort is the absence of anything bothersome, this scores as high as it gets: no bagginess in the upper, good heel padding, and a balance that is neither overly soft nor overly firm. The firm EVA base also adds stability, which is unusual for a shoe this narrow and lightweight.

Wet weather grip is a genuine differentiator in this category. Tested in snow, slush, and wet roads, it held up impressively well, rivaling the grip typically associated with Puma and Adidas outsoles.

Things to Consider Before Buying

Price is the main sticking point. At $200, it costs more than comparable plated trainers like the Saucony Endorphin trainer alternatives and the Mach X2, which sit around $180. The standard EVA bottom layer is not exotic, and a $180 price would have felt more natural. It is still cheaper than the Metaspeed Edge Paris at $250, so the value case is not broken, just tighter than expected.

Fit is another question mark. Early stock arrived in centimeter sizing, and the pair tested ran slightly large. US sizing is now available through regular retailers, but it is worth checking whether these run true to size or lean toward the tighter Edge Paris fit, which typically needs a half size up.

Finally, the foam needs break-in. Give it at least 15 miles before judging the ride; once the race foam loosens up, the shoe comes alive and reads softer than it does out of the box.

Buying Advice

If you want a smooth, versatile plated shoe for long runs, marathon pace work, or a four-hour-plus marathon effort, this is one of the best options available. It manages to be lightweight, stable, and comfortable at the same time, which few shoes in this category pull off.

If you already own an aggressive race shoe and prefer to do your fast workouts in it, or if your rotation is already full, you can pass. For those who want a similar spirit without the carbon plate or the $200 price, the On Cloudmonster Hyper is the main alternative, blending a comparable dual-foam construction with a slightly more comfort-oriented ride.

Conclusion

The Asics S4 Plus YOGIRI is a complete package for its niche: smooth, comfortable, stable, grippy, and quick enough to matter. It will not replace an elite-level racer, and it does not try to. Instead, it delivers the enjoyment of a plated shoe without punishing you when your form fades late in a long run. For the right runner, that is exactly the shoe they have been looking for.