Asics Gel Hyper Speed 6 Review

The Good

Review by Peter Stuart @theloudmouse

This shoe is a barely there, light fast racing flat. It disappears on my foot and feels better the faster I lean into it. The upper is super minimal, but holds my foot steady and feels secure. The sole is just the right amount of cushion for a long-distance racer(for me). It has a simlarly fluid ride to the Skechers GoMeb, but fits my foot a bit better and doesn’t have the stiff plate in the bottom. The sole has good grip and seems to be holding up very well (especially for a racing flat). Another bonus with these shoes is they don’t seem to retain water (which is helpful for me in hot races). Certainly a great half-marathon shoe and I’m pretty sure I can make it work for a full marathon.

The Bad

Hmm, I can’t really find anything bad about this shoe. Oh wait, I’ve got it—it doesn’t feel terrific at slow speeds. I wouldn’t use it for recovery runs or as an every day trainer. I suppose if you’re looking for a lot of support or cushion it’s not the shoe for you.

Conclusion

The Gel Hyper Speed 6 is a terrific, affordable racing flat. From the moment I put them on they just felt right–It’s just one of those shoes that works for me. I put it on, ran 14 miles with intervals and felt terrific. The unknown for me is how it will feel above 20 miles, but at 16 it’s been great. I’ve put about 50 miles of interval workouts and fartleks on them and they are showing very little wear. This is certainly my leading choice for my fall marathon. I’ve not had any luck in other Asics shoes, but this one leaves me wondering if there’s a great Asics daily trainer out there for me.

What ASICS has to say:
The racing flat of choice for ASICS’ elite athletes, the GEL-Hyper Speed® 6 gets modernized with seamless materials and drops over an ounce in weight. Rearfoot GEL® Cushioning System and the broad accommodating fit make this value-packed racing flat ideal for fast paced training or lacing up on race day.

• Shoe Stats: weight 5.7 oz / heel height: 16 mm / forefoot height: 10 mm
• Rearfoot GEL® Cushioning System
• Attenuates shock during impact phase and allows for a smooth transition to midstance.
• Seamless Construction
• The use of seamless materials reduces the potential for irritation and friction caused by traditional stitches and seams.
• Perforated Sockliner
• Optimizes moisture drainage and improves breathability.
• DuoSole® Outsole
• Reduces weight and enhances flexibility while maintaining traction and durability.
• Magic Sole™
• Vented midsole and outsole minimizes weight and maximizes breathability.
• F.A.S.T.™ Drop

Similar to the geometry seen in racing flats, a low heel-toe differential reduces midsole weight to improve economy and encourage faster running.