Asics Solution Speed FF 4 Men's Review

When it came to underfoot cushioning and overall comfort, the Solution Speed FF 4s were beloved by our team, offering plush sensations from heel to toe. Because these shoes are available all the way up to men's size 15, Munish was able to find a good fit for his feet, which isn't always the case. He said, "I found the Solution Speed FF 4s very comfortable once I went up an entire size. I tried my regular size, and it was just too narrow for me. Luckily, Asics makes a size bigger than men's US 14, so I wore size 15 instead. I loved the heel cushioning, and the forefoot was still giving me a decent amount of court feel, which I loved. I didn't feel like I was overheating in these shoes, but I did get sweatier than usual in them."

Despite having wider feet, Jason was able to find a good fit in the Solution Speed FF 4s, and he was especially appreciative of the update's increased comfort. He said, "I could immediately feel the more substantial underfoot cushioning, which was especially noticeable under my heels. I think this area is what really makes the Solution Speed FF 4s stand out from the 3s. As for the fit, it was very similar to the previous version, with a medium width and a slightly lower arch. I would've liked a slightly wider toe box, but it wasn't so narrow that I was getting significant rubbing on my toes."

Oak also found the Solution Speed FF 4s to offer phenomenal comfort. He explained, "My first impression of these Solution Speed FF 4s took me back to my first pair of Asics court shoes, the Gel Resolution 7s. These Solution Speed FF 4s are definitely beefier than their predecessors, but I actually think that's a good thing, adding some stability for one of the fastest footwear options out there. The cushioning underfoot is excellent, providing good step-in comfort, a plush ride from heel to toe and a soft yet responsive feel. The arch support felt more cushioned than I'm accustomed to, and the overall fit was good, although a little snug if I was wearing thicker socks."

The Solution Speed FF 4s felt comfortable to Chris from the get-go, moving. He described, "I was playing very comfortably in the Solution Speed FF 4s on the very first wear, and they were flexing nicely and moving with my feet by the end of my first hour of hitting. My level of comfort in these shoes just got better from there. I found the uppers to breathe well, and my feet never go overheated. Underfoot, the Solution Speed FF 4s did a solid job of taking the sting out of tough landings. And the midsoles felt very responsive, which added to the overall light and comfortable feel of the shoes. I stayed in my regular size in these shoes and found a good fit for my narrow feet. I didn't have any excessive sliding around inside the shoes, which limited the rubbing on the bottom of my feet nicely."

While some lightweight tennis shoes sacrifice lateral stability and support in favor of increased speed, the Solution Speed FF 4s challenge that narrative by being thoroughly supportive during side-to-side and front-to-back movements. Chris felt completely comfortable moving around the court, regardless of the specific movement required. He explained, “The Solution Speed FF 4s feel beefed up in both support and stability compared to earlier versions. I think these shoes have closed the gap to the Court FF 3s, in that they offer support and stability with a speed-oriented ride. I also liked the way the shoes positioned me up on my toes and ready to sprint to the next ball. I was moving around the court very well in these shoes, and I felt fast and very secure on every lateral cut, pivot and quick stop."

Oak found the Solution Speed FF 4s to be conducive to his style of court coverage, letting him turn and burn with extra efficiency. He said, "As expected, the support and stability are excellent. I can fully trust planting and pushing off to effectively maneuver around the court. The Solution Speed FF 4s are some of the fastest shoes I've had the fortune of playing in, and I don't really think about them when I'm playing, which is always a good sign. I can trust pivots and know that the shoes will do a little bit of extra work to make my more extreme movements viable."

Munish also found the Solution Speed FF 4s to be quite supportive, which surprised him given their lightweight, speed-oriented construction. He said, "These Solution Speed FF 4s might be the most stable speed shoes I have ever tested. I was a bit worried at first because I was wearing an entire size bigger than usual and the shoes also have so much give, and that made me nervous. The laces give me a locked-in feel at the heel, and there is very limited movement in the forefoot, which I love."

The Solution Speed FF 4s helped Jason cover the court with ease. He noted, "Even though this is Asics' lightweight offering, I still felt like it had plenty of support and stability. The uppers aren't as rigid and stable as the Gel Resolutions or Court FFs, but I still felt confident moving around the court aggressively."

Although durability was never expected to be a standout area of performance for these shoes, the Solution Speed FF 4s proved tougher than expected. Jason had no major expectations for this category, but he found the Solution Speed FF 4s to hold up surprisingly well, and he has continued wearing them long after the playtest concluded. He said, "Are these the most durable shoes out there? No. But did I expect them to be? Also, no. For being the lightweight offering from Asics, I thought the outsoles held up well. I was able to put about 12 to 15 hours on them, and I do see a bit of tread loss, but I think I could get another 15 hours on them no problem."

Munish also put in extensive hours on the Solution Speed FF 4s without any durability issues. He described, "I have been wearing these shoes for a while now, and I have yet to see any wear on them. They’re very impressive for speed shoes. I remember seeing significant wear after a few hits on the last pair of speed shoes I tested."

"So far I've had no issues with the durability of the Solution Speed FF 4s," added Oak. "They've worn in well without breaking down, and the shoes feel sturdy without compromising on their functionality. The area where I normally burn through shoes shows very minimal balding after about 30 hours of wear. I have no complaints durability-wise."

Chris found impressive durability, and he noted that the Solution Speed FF 4s outperform some durability shoes. He said, "The Solution Speed FF 4s held up well for me on both the outsoles and uppers. My high-wear areas on the outsoles survived the month-long test better than some durability-guaranteed shoes. The uppers of this update have been beefed up in key areas and resisted court abrasion well. All in all, I was very impressed at how these shoes lasted, especially for speed shoes."

Continuing their trend of high performance, the Solution Speed FF 4s proved to have excellent traction and connection to the court. Chris found that ideal Goldilocks blend of grip and give, which let him move in any direction with confidence. He said, "The Solution Speed FF4s offer a great level of traction. I found I could pivot and slide easily when changing directions and applying lateral force to the outsoles. I also found lots of grip when sprinting forward. I think Asics has done a great job of giving these shoes a superb blend of grip and give."

Similarly, the Solution Speed FF 4s let Oak move freely. He noted, "The Solution Speed FF 4s provided excellent traction and connection to the court. I loved how easy it was to slide without feeling too slippery. I had no issues here."

Although he experienced some slight sticking initially, Munish found the outsoles of the Solution Speed FF 4s to break in nicely. He said, “These Solution Speeds felt a bit sticky when I first put them on, but that went away after a few hours. After that, I have had no problems when it came to traction. I usually start noticing a bit of slipping when a pair of shoes starts getting slick, but since I haven't reached that stage here, I can't really say much."

Jason was delighted with how the traction on the Solution Speed FF 4s let him slide and sprint with ease. He explained, "I feel like Asics generally nails the blend of grip and give with its outsoles, and the Solution Speed FF 4s are no exception. I loved that I could push off with no hesitation and know that I won't be left spinning my wheels, but when I needed to slide out of a shot, it was easily done."

Despite weighing more than the previous version, these Solution Speed FF 4s still felt lightweight on foot, letting our playtesters move comfortably without ever feeling held back. Jason found a little higher ride compared to the previous version, but he still thought these shoes felt light and fast. He described, "Don't be alarmed by the jump up in weight from the Solution Speed FF 3s. These are still very lightweight, fast-feeling shoes. There is a sense of sitting up slightly higher than the previous version because the ride doesn’t feel as low to the ground, but I didn't mind that. I'd still score these Solution Speed FF 4s as some of the fastest shoes we carry."

No real issues arose when it came to the weight of Munish's shoes (even in a size 15). He said, "I already knew the Solution Speed FF 4s were light, but they still surprised me. I never really got to try the previous version, but I heard that this version was the heaviest yet. Personally, I don't think the Solution Speed FF 4s are heavy at all. They feel super light and comfortable. The Solution Speed FF 4s are the lightest shoes I have ever tested, so for me, these shoes are legit."

This update's increased weight ended up being a positive for Oak. He said, "These Solution Speed FF 4s are about an ounce heavier than the previous version, but I feel like the weight has gone to good use. It's super easy to trust these shoes and push off in them to effectively maneuver around the court. They still feel lightweight enough to accelerate quickly, and I never had any issues running up to retrieve a drop shot or anything along those lines."

Chris thought the additional weight was a noticeable improvement. He explained, "While the Solution Speed FF 4s weigh in heavier than the outgoing version, I think I actually move better in this update. The shoes hold my feet better, I feel more secure and the result is more confidence to go all out with my on-court movement."