Four New Running Shoes Worth a Second Look: Centaur, Infinity Run 4, Magic Speed 3 and Mach X

Introduction

Four shoes, four different briefs: a max-cushioned daily trainer from a brand pushing beyond its homeland, a long-awaited refresh of an everyday staple from Nike, a more trainer-leaning take on Asics’ racing line, and a plated all-rounder from Hoka. None of these has been fully judged on foot here; the goal is simply to sort which ones are worth picking up for a proper review and which can wait. Spoiler: all four made the cut, which makes for an expensive month.

Evaluation Criteria

The thinking behind each pick is fairly consistent. First, does the shoe bring something genuinely new, whether that is a foam formula, a revised fit or a better price for the cushioning on offer? Second, does it fill a real gap in the current lineup rather than repeating what the previous version already did? Third, is there enough promise in the construction, stack and materials that a hands-on review would actually be interesting? A shoe can still be great without ticking all three, but those boxes matter when choosing what to spend time on.

361 Degrees Centaur: Max Cushion Without the Bulk

The 361 Degrees Centaur has been out for a few weeks but stays firmly on the radar, largely because it rides the current wave of max-cushioned shoes that no longer weigh like an elephant. It sits in the same bracket as recent favourites like the Triumph 21 and Nimbus 25, landing in the 290 to 330 gram range, with roughly 29mm of stack in the sample size and a compressed pellet-style TPU midsole material. Early impressions suggest a soft, squishy ride with a slightly denser feel, which could make it especially appealing to heavier runners while still giving lighter runners a properly cushioned ride.

The design shows real thought too. The heel profile recalls the Pegasus 35, with a handsome flare and ample high-abrasion rubber on the outsole. At 120 pounds in the UK, it is a strong price for this level of cushion, and it feels like a natural comparison point against the Triumph 21, the Puma Magnify 2 and the Gel Nimbus 25. Branching out beyond the usual everyday suspects is part of the appeal here, and this one has earned its place on the buy list.

Nike React X Infinity Run 4: A New Foam to Explore

The fourth Infinity Run finally swaps standard React for React X, which Nike claims is 13 percent softer than React. For context on how these foam claims stack up: React itself was said to carry 13 percent more energy return than Lunarlon, typical EVA blends sit somewhere between 50 and 70 percent, ZoomX measures around 85 percent, and air units in some flagship racers have been measured in the 90s. Whether React X is a genuinely new formula or one of React’s many variants is hard to tell, and it is possible the midsole’s two-tone appearance is simply paint rather than two separate foam slabs.

The rest of the update reads well: a segmented Flyknit-style upper with a smaller tongue area, stretchy panels through the toe box and sides, a thicker padded heel collar and the return of the familiar heel clip. The full-length rubber outsole is heavily perforated, with holes that start larger at the heel and shrink toward the front. The Infinity Run has drifted through a few quiet years while lighter rivals emerged, so this midsole shake-up is exactly the kind of reason needed to revisit it. At the advertised price of 160 dollars and with a release expected very soon, the curiosity around the new foam is enough to make this a pick-up.

Asics Magic Speed 3: A Trainer-Racer in the Making

The Magic Speed 3 launches in two colorways, blue and yellow plus white and red, through select stores, the official Asics online store and SportsShoes.com. The loaded stack uses FF Blast Plus foam, and the profile now sits remarkably close to the Metaspeed Sky and Sky Plus, with an upper that looks almost grafted on from that line. Underneath, there is a substantial midfoot cutout plus extra rubber sections spreading back into the lateral heel, presumably to protect the midsole foam. FF Blast Plus is far more durable than the fragile FF Turbo foam, which shreds quickly, so that bodes well for longevity.

The tongue looks carefully positioned, with padding on both sides under the top eyelets to ease lace pressure. Everything here points toward a shoe positioned more as a trainer than a pure racer: the ride feels plusher, though the density of this foam in the Nimbus 25 was on the thick and firm side, so the tempo character remains an open question. It should only be marginally heavier than the Metaspeed Sky Plus, one of the lightest super shoes around, and the updates here address exactly what made the Magic Speed 2 skippable. That is enough to call it a pick-up for a future test.

Hoka Mach X: A Versatile Plated Do-It-All

Hoka is pitching the Mach X as a do-it-all plated super trainer, and the construction backs that up. It is a sandwich: PEBA foam on top, a relatively rigid PEBA plate, and a firmer, resilient Profly X midsole material below. The plate and the light weight, 266 grams in the sample size, should keep it nimble when pushed while preventing it from feeling clog-like on slower, longer runs. The firmer foam cups up around the lateral side of the foot for a hint of support, guiding the softer layer, a bit like an Endorphin Speed equivalent for Hoka.

The upper takes clear cues from the excellent Rocket X 2, one of the standout shoes of recent years: not overly generous in the toe box, with a foot-hugging feel that locks you down over the midsole. The outsole rubber allocation mirrors the Rocket X 2 as well. Priced at 160 dollars at launch, it undercuts the Rocket X by a comfortable margin while sitting a couple of millimeters more cushioned and swapping the carbon plate for a more forgiving one. For a shoe geek, that combination is hard to resist, and it is a pick-up.

Overall Buying Advice

All four shoes earn a pick-up, but they serve different needs. Runners wanting maximum cushion at a sane weight and price should look at the Centaur first. Those after an updated everyday trainer with a fresh foam story will find the Infinity Run 4 the most intriguing Nike option in this group. The Magic Speed 3 suits runners who want Metaspeed-adjacent speed for daily and tempo work without a full race-day price. And the Mach X looks like the strongest all-rounder of the set, blending a plated ride, a light build and a versatile midsole for everything from easy miles to faster sessions.

Conclusion

A four-for-four result is rare, and the wallet is feeling it. Each of these shoes brings a distinct promise: max cushion without excess, a long-overdue midsole refresh, a trainer-racer with better durability, and a plated all-rounder at a friendlier price. The real verdict will come on foot, but as first impressions go, this is a very promising batch for the coming season.