Comfort - Score: 4.6
Our team came to this playtest with high expectations for how FlyteFoam would perform in their Solution Speed FFs. Considering the high marks in this category, it's easy to see that our playtesters were not disappointed. Even though the fit of this update was wider in the forefoot, it didn't seem to bother Chris' narrow feet. Chris said, "The Solution Speed FFs were very comfortable. The shoes didn't require any break in; they were flexing in all the right places from the first wear, and I felt like I could move very naturally in them. The FlyteFoam cushioning felt great. I've been a fan of FlyteFoam in Asics running shoes; I loved it in the Court FFs and I found another great application of it here. The ride was comfortable, yet very responsive. My feet were able to breathe decently in these shoes, and the fit was secure, so I never had any blisters or hot spots."
Jason was definitely looking forward to this update, and he was happy to find that his high expectations were met. He said, "I was loving the addition of FlyteFoam! It added a plusher feel underfoot that was missing from previous models. The new wider forefoot worked with my feet a lot better than the Solution Speed 3s. They were fitting more like the Solution Speed 2s, which was great for me. I did experience a little bit of arch soreness the first hour or two of wear, but I didn't have any other comfort issues after that initial break-in period."
Sean felt ready to compete in his pair from the moment he slid them on. He described, "I found these shoes to be virtually match ready right out of the box. The addition of FlyteFoam to the midsole made for a really responsive, low-to-the ground feel, and I never experienced soreness after playing. The uppers and tongue were well padded and flexible, and I even found myself wearing them off the court because they were so comfortable. My biggest issue was with the arch support, which felt a bit forward for my foot. The laces also could have been better; they were just too short and flimsy, so I had to keep re-tying my shoes."
Comfort is something Troy really values in his shoes, and this update gave him all the buffer he needed between his feet and the court. He said, "I loved the comfort level of these Solution Speed FFs. I was pleasantly surprised to find so much comfort coming from such a lightweight package. Typically, with lightweight shoes below 13 ounces I find that the materials are reduced to the point where there's a lack of cushioning underneath my feet. That wasn't the case here; the FlyteFoam provided a very plush ride throughout this playtest. The arch support was medium, and I was able to playtest these shoes without installing the Superfeet Premium Insoles that I typically use. I decided to go with a size 9.5, which is the same size I wear in the Asics Gel Resolution 7s. Initially the fit was very snug, but they started to contour to my feet like gloves during my first session with them. After a few hours in these shoes I noticed that there was a bit more width, specifically in the arch region, compared to the old Solution Speed 3s. I found the 3s to be a bit restrictive in this area, which caused some cramping. Thankfully, Asics fixed that issue in the Solution Speed FFs."
Foot Support/Stability - Score: 4.3
With their glove-like fit and stable Trusstic system, the Solution Speed FFs masterfully blend flex and support, which gave our playtesters the confidence they needed on quick cuts. Jason explained, "These shoes flexed and moved effortlessly with my feet, but at the same time provided enough stability and support for me to move with confidence. Even though these shoes are very lightweight, the stability was there when I would plant my foot and push off."
Since he has narrower feet, Chris needed an extra pair of socks to get a locked-in feel. He described, "I found these Solution Speeds to fit similarly to the 2s. Version 3 was narrower and a slightly better fit for my skinny feet. These Solution Speed FFs were roomier, like the 2s, but I was still able to find a secure fit with two pairs of socks. The fit through the midfoot on the medial side was a tad roomy, but it didn't seem to affect support, it just made the materials billow out there a little. I also had to use the very last eyelet and crank on the laces a little to lock in my heels. With all of that sorted out, I enjoyed the ride I found in these shoes. My feet never slid forward into the ends of the shoes, and there was enough support and stability for me to confidently make aggressive lateral cuts."
Troy enjoyed the level of stability his Solution Speed FFs provided, but he was a little concerned about the flex in the heel. He said, "I was finding good lateral stability in these Solution Speed FFs, considering how light they are. They weren't as stable as the Gel Resolution 7s, but that's a given considering the reduction of weight. There was enough lateral stability for me to feel confident in my ability to slam on the brakes and take off with an explosive first step. I found that these shoes contoured to my feet well, which helped to keep my feet locked in. My only knock with the Solution Speed FFs' support is the lack of support around my ankles. When I came down from a jumping overhead or a big split step, my ankles weren't supported as much as I would have liked. I never twisted or rolled an ankle, but I wish these shoes provided more support for my feet when undergoing plantar flexion and dorsiflexion."
"For being such light shoes, I was extremely impressed by the level of support the Solution Speed FFs provided," said Sean. "The Trusstic system remained flexible enough to allow a little bit of give, but the threshold of movement it allowed was still under what I call the 'breaking point,' which is where my movement would have stretched through its defenses. A lot of the stability is built into the material of the uppers, as the shoes don't have a huge rigid chassis sticking out. That said, I feel that these will hold up well for all levels of players."
Overall Sole Durability - Score: 3.8
Generally speaking, the durability category is where speed-oriented shoes show the compromise in their design. If you want light shoes, there's going to be less material in the outsole. That said, our playtesters found that the Solution Speed FFs held up a little better than average for their weight class. Sean elaborated, "For shoes that weigh 12.3 ounces, the durability was better than I expected. These are probably a little more durable than the Nike Vapor Xs or Court FFs, but they're still far from the most durable shoes on the market. With that in mind, for the weight, they lasted a bit longer than I expected."
Chris tends to wear out his shoes quickly. He compared these shoes to previous iterations, saying, "Just as I've found with previous versions of the Solution Speed, there was an acceptable level of wear in this shoe. The Solution Speed FFs aren't the most durable option, but they lasted decently for speed-oriented shoes. Both the outsoles and uppers held up during the test, and I still have ample life left in both."
While Jason wasn't particularly impressed by the lifespan of his Solution Speed FFs, he found them to hold up about as well as other lightweight shoes. He said, "I found the durability of the Solution Speed FFs to be similar to that of the Gel Court FF shoes. Considering these are very lightweight, speed-oriented shoes, the durability is not bad. But taking all tennis shoes into account, these would definitely be on the less durable end of the spectrum. I saw noticeable wear and tear after 10 or 11 hours."
Troy also found the lifespan of his pair to be in line with other lightweight offerings. He said, "I found the durability of these Solution Speed FFs to be on par with previous versions of the Asics Solution Speeds and the adidas Ubersonic 2.0s, but better than the Nike Zoom Vapor 9.5 Tours. I was pleased with the level of toe protection, given how light these shoes are. The toe guard was significant enough to get me through this playtest without wearing through the rubber. At the end of this playtest the rubber in the toe region was bald, but not worn down to the midsole. This is pretty good considering I wear through the outsoles of most lightweight shoes during a playtest."
Traction - Score: 4.7
Although Asics' High Abrasion Rubber proved to not be the most durable material, our testers unanimously agreed that the traction of the Solution Speed FFs was spot on. What really seemed to stand out was the superb blend of grip and give, which translated into seamless stops, starts and slides on court. Troy found that his pair would transition between being both stick and slick depending on his moment-to-moment needs. He said, "As with all of the Asics tennis shoes I've used over the years, the Solution Speed FFs' traction is superb. For me, the traction comes down to a good balance of grip and give. These shoes allowed me to go from full speed to a secure stop, with a small amount of slide in between — not an Andy or Sean type of slide, just my kind of baby slide."
Chris agreed with Troy, saying, "I really enjoyed the level of traction I found in the Solution Speed FFs. The outsoles gripped the court well enough for me to push off aggressively. There was also enough give from the outsoles to allow me to pivot, change directions and take quicker, smaller steps without the shoes getting hung up on the court. I moved very well in the Solution Speed FFs, and they deserve top marks here."
Sean also felt right at home with the Solution Speed FFs' traction. He added, "These shoes are definitely on the slicker side. They should suit aggressive movers who like to slide on hard courts, but I wouldn't be surprised if players who usually prefer stickier outsoles find themselves enjoying these shoes as well, because I never felt like the wheels were spinning when I took off for a sprint. They've got a great blend of grip and give."
Although Jason enjoyed the balance of traction, he did have one minor gripe. He said, "I really liked the blend of give and stick that the outsole provided. It gripped the court when I needed it to, and it had enough give to make sliding stops easy. My one issue here has nothing to do with the performance, I just found these shoes to be pretty loud in terms of squeaks."
Weight - Score: 4.9
Coming in at 12.3 ounces, the Solution Speed FFs are among the lightest shoes Tennis Warehouse carries. More than just being lightweight, our playtesters were impressed with the flex of their shoes, which allowed them to move swiftly and naturally around the court. Jason said, "Even in the realm of lightweight shoes, the Solution Speed FFs felt especially lightweight. They're probably in the top three lightest shoes I've ever worn, but they also offer surprisingly great performance in terms of stability, durability and support."
According to Troy, the Solution Speed FFs felt on par with the lightest shoes he's ever tried. He described, "These Asics Solution Speed FFs felt just as light as the Babolat Jet Mach IIs, but with better cushioning. The Jets are the lightest shoes I have playtested at 11.5 ounces (size 10.5), and although these Solution Speed FFs are slightly heavier on the scale at 12.3 ounces (size 10.5), they played just as light. I was surprised that Asics could pack this level of cushioning into such a light package with FlyteFoam. The overall weight was very light, but these shoes also flexed very well when I was sprinting, which added to the nimble feel. I found easy heel-to-toe transitioning as I moved around the court. The Jets and these Solution Speed FFs are the lightest feeling performance shoes on the market. I was impressed with the combination of light weight and better-than-average cushioning, as a lack of cushioning is my biggest knock against most lightweight performance tennis shoes."
Chris felt that the static weight was just one contributing factor to the overall speed of the shoes. He explained, "The Solution Speed FFs felt very light and fast on court. I never weighed my pair, but the way the shoes flexed and transitioned from heel to toe made them feel really natural on my feet. I was definitely sprinting around the court at full speed in these shoes. Add in the grip from the outsoles, and the Solution Speed FFs proved to be some of the fastest shoes I've tried."
The Solution Speed FFs' feather-light weight and effortless feel helped Sean focus solely on his game. He said, "There aren't many shoes that feel as light as the Solution Speed FFs on court. Not that there's any weight to hide, but it was easy to put these shoes on and just forget about them, which was awesome."
