Four Running Shoes Worth Watching: ASICS, Brooks, RAD, and Mizuno Compared

Introduction

Four shoes, four very different takes on modern running footwear: a revised carbon-plated speed trainer from ASICS, a new max-cushioned daily trainer from Brooks, an ambitious super trainer from the lesser-known RAD, and a genuinely exciting racing proposition from Mizuno. Here is how they stack up, and which ones are worth your money.

ASICS Magic Speed 5

The Magic Speed 5 appears to move away from the firmer feel of the previous version, with a generous layer of the new FF Leap foam sitting on top of a newly designed carbon plate. That is essentially the reverse arrangement of the Meta Speed Sky Tokyo, which puts its premium foam in the lower layer instead.

Interestingly, the stack is actually smaller than the Magic Speed 4, which is rare in a market where everyone keeps adding foam. Combined with the lightweight FF Leap, this contributes to a claimed weight drop of around 50 g over the previous version. The heel stack sits at roughly 37.5 mm in the sample size, giving a forefoot stack of around 27.5 mm, which is still comfortably enough for race day. At around £170 in the UK, it lands in the same territory as the Zoom Fly 6 or the Takumi 7.1 from Adidas. It feels like a shoe carving out its own space in the lineup, closer in character to a Takumi Sen. This is one worth picking up.

Brooks Glycerin 23

The Glycerin 23 is a chunky-looking shoe built on the DNA Tuned foam found in the Glycerin Max 2, which proved noticeably firmer than the much softer original version. Brooks has added 2 mm of extra forefoot stack, bringing the total to 38 mm, and trimmed the drop by 2 mm as a result. A sample-size weight of 300 g makes it 10 g heavier than the version 22.

The lower drop is a welcome sign that Brooks recognises not everyone wants a full 10 mm drop on every shoe. But the bigger question is what this offers over the Ghost, the Ghost Max, or the Glycerin Max. Right now there are a lot of shoes in the Brooks lineup doing essentially the same thing, and without the dramatic weight advantage of something like the Adidas Prime X3, it is hard to see the point. This one is a pass for now.

RAD UFO Super Trainer

The RAD UFO goes big on stack with 42 mm, well past the old stack limits that no longer really apply. At 249 g in the sample size it is somewhat lighter than several other super trainers, though not dramatically so. The foam is a dual-layer PEBA-based material, which is promising for cushioning and bounce.

The concern is the upper. The thick rope laces and a design that cinches tightly across the top of the foot look potentially problematic, especially for runners with narrower feet. The figure-eight silhouette from above is also a divisive look. At £180 in the UK it is far from the value proposition it appears to be in the United States, and it needs convincing feedback from actual runners rather than social media hype to justify the spend. One to wait on.

Mizuno Hyperwarp Elite

The Hyperwarp Elite is the most exciting shoe of the group. The Hyperwarp range looks genuinely clean, with minimal overlays and a simple, refined design. Underneath, there are two different midsole foams: a softer, more compressive layer on top of a shaped carbon plate. The heel stack is 38 mm with a low 3.5 mm drop, and the sample size weighs just 170 g, likely landing around 200 g for a UK 11. That puts it in the same league as the Meta Speed Sky Tokyo, which has a slightly higher heel stack.

The G3-style outsole looks excellent and echoes the Wave Rebellion Pro, a shoe remembered fondly for outstanding grip and traction. With a cushioned yet responsive character, this could be a viable racer for runners whose legs respond better to responsive foams than ultra-soft platforms. At £235 it is a serious investment, but if you can find a good deal, this is the one worth chasing.

Overall Buying Advice

If you want a race-ready carbon trainer with a proven lineage, the ASICS Magic Speed 5 is the safest bet. If you are chasing maximum performance and like low-drop racing shoes, the Mizuno Hyperwarp Elite is the most intriguing release here, provided you can accept the price and the low 3.5 mm drop. The Brooks Glycerin 23 works as a straightforward daily trainer, but it does not stand out in an already crowded Brooks range. The RAD UFO is best left until more genuine runner feedback lands.

Conclusion

Two clear winners emerge from this group: the ASICS Magic Speed 5 for a balanced carbon trainer upgrade, and the Mizuno Hyperwarp Elite for runners wanting something genuinely fast and exciting. The Glycerin 23 and the RAD UFO are worth watching, but neither currently earns an immediate purchase.