Magic Speed 5 vs Zoom Fly 6

The Magic Speed 5 is Asics doing the sensible thing: a carbon-plated running shoe that hands you race-day pop without asking for full super-shoe money. It sits a rung below the Metaspeed Sky racers, so think of it as a carbon tempo shoe and part-time marathon shoe rather than an out-and-out record chaser. At 193g with a 37mm heel and a 7mm drop, it is light and low-slung enough to feel fast, and the FF Turbo foam gives it genuine bounce when you lean into a session. What makes it worth a look is versatility. It will pace a threshold workout on Tuesday, then carry you through a half or a first marathon on Sunday without feeling like overkill. It is not the softest or the most aggressive shoe in its class, but as a one-shoe answer for a runner who wants some carbon assistance across a range of paces, we rate it highly.

The Nike Zoom Fly 6 is the carbon plate experience for everyone who is not racing. It sits in the super trainer slot: a plated, well cushioned road shoe built to handle tempo work, long runs and the odd race without the price or the fragility of a true marathon flat. At 265g it is no featherweight, and that is the point. Nike has traded the raw speed of its race line for durability and a more forgiving daily ride, so you get the snap of a full length carbon plate stacked on a soft, bouncy midsole that holds up over the miles. If you want the actual race rocket the Vaporfly 4 is lighter and faster, but the Zoom Fly 6 is the one you can train in week after week. We rate it as one of the best value carbon trainers around for runners who want one shoe to cover their faster days.