ASICS Solution Speed FF Women's Shoe Review

Comfort - Score: 4.5

Asics adds the popular FlyteFoam cushioning to the Solution Speed FFs for a plush ride. Brittany ended up wearing these shoes around the office and in the gym for a couple of hours before hitting the court because she was just so excited to try them out. She started, "I had a very short break-in period when I first put these shoes on, which caused a little numbness in my forefoot. Luckily, that feeling disappeared as soon as I hit the court. I was welcomed with even more plush cushioning (thanks to FlyteFoam) than I found in the previous version, and I liked how responsive the shoes felt when I was moving around. The fit still complemented my narrow feet, but the toe box felt just slightly wider than the previous model, which gave me a little wiggle room. The Solution Speed FFs did run a little hot at times, but it wasn't enough to make me want to take them off after a practice. This was a small price to pay for all the other benefits these shoes offer."

"I was lucky enough to receive a sample pair of Solution Speed FFs a few months before starting this playtest," said Hannah. "They quickly became one of my top choices for the court. It's no secret that previous Asics Solutions Speed iterations are among the most popular speed-oriented options on the market. In my opinion, the FlyteFoam cushioning and new uppers take this already beloved model to the next level. The cushioning is pillow-like, and it makes every step feel plush without adding any bulk. The narrow fit of the Solution Speeds stays intact, but I think that the new mesh material on the upper is more generous in width and a bit more forgiving. I only have two grievances with the comfort of the Solution Speed FFs; they're minor, but I think they're worth mentioning. First off, I've always found Asics tennis shoes to be slightly too shallow for my liking. While this update adds a little depth, it's still not enough, especially for players who like to add their own insoles. The only other thing I would change is the laces. It doesn't bother me too much because I don't cinch up my laces that tight, but the Solution Speed FFs' laces are very thin and might not be effective for those who like to tie their laces tighter. All in all, I cannot say enough about the luxurious feeling of the cushioning."

Tiffani found that this update fit her wider feet a little better than previous versions. She said, "If there's one thing Asics knows, it has to be cushioning. I loved the FlyteFoam in the Court FFs, and once again I was impressed with the cushioning in these Solution Speed FFs. It felt comfortable and responsive throughout the playtest. I initially found these shoes to be too narrow for my wider feet. It took me about three hours of court time to get the uppers to stretch enough to give me a comfortable fit in the toe box. During the first few wears the Solution Speed FFs felt super tight around my forefoot, and they caused my feet to go numb. However, the uppers did stretch over time, and I was eventually free to enjoy the benefits of Asics' cushioning."

Like Tiffani, Michelle also experienced an overly tight fit before the Solution Speed FFs had time to break in. She noted, "The Solution Speeds got narrower with the third edition, so it was nice to see the forefoot get a little wider with the Solution Speed FFs. They are still somewhat narrow for wider feet, though, and require a break-in for the uppers to start to loosen up. Until that happened, they felt uncomfortably tight to me. The FF version also feels lower to the ground overall than previous models. Otherwise, these shoes should feel pretty familiar to fans of the Solution Speed series."

Foot Support/Stability - Score: 4.2

With a low-to-the-ground feel, the Asics Solution Speed FFs surprised our playtesters by offering the support and stability they needed to move aggressively on court. Michelle was impressed with the combination of light weight and stability that was offered. She said, "Lightweight shoes don't always offer the best support or stability, but these shoes had plenty! Stability is one of the features I always look for in shoes, and the Solution Speed FFs definitely delivered in this area. The uppers offered nice support without feeling sloppy or overly rigid. These shoes really allowed me to tap into aggressive movements, and I could rely on them to support me and keep me stable. I had no fears of twisting an ankle or rolling over in these shoes."

"The seamless uppers provided the support I needed when I was playing," continued Brittany. "They held my feet firmly in place, and I experienced no slipping or sliding inside the shoes. No matter what direction I was moving, I could trust the shoes to keep my feet supported and secure. I was impressed with the ankle stability given how light these shoes are. The cuffs came up high enough to support my ankles but not high enough to cause any rubbing or discomfort. Even with a prior ankle injury, I felt confident that these shoes offered enough support and stability to allow me to move freely."

Hannah also felt sure footed when moving around in the Asics Solution Speed FFs. She commented, "For how light these shoes are, the support and stability is above average. They're not as bulletproof as the adidas Barricades or as protective as the Gel Resolution 7s, but for speedy shoes, I always felt secure and supported. The narrow fit and low-to-the-ground feel added to my confidence. These shoes also had a very streamlined design, which for me actually added to the stability. There's no excess material on the edges, and I never worried about catching the edge of the shoes or losing my footing during quick movements and transitions."

It took a little tweaking, but Tiffani eventually got a secure fit that allowed her to move with confidence. She described, "Past versions of the Solution Speeds have felt a bit too shallow in the heel cup for my liking, and unfortunately, I found that to be true with the FF version, too. It was an easy issue to fix, though; all I had to do was lace up through the extra eyelet. Once I did that, I could get my heel to sit securely in the footbed. I liked how low to the ground my feet felt — noticeably lower than the previous model — so I felt secure moving in all directions. The uppers also did a nice job of holding my wide feet, even after they loosened up some."

Overall Sole Durability - Score: 3.8

For the most part, the Asics Solution Speed FFs held up to our playtesters' expectations when it came to durability. Hannah spent a lot of time in these shoes and was able to test the durability to the fullest. She explained, "The Solution Speed FFs are geared toward quick, efficient movements, so they aren't the longest lasting shoes, but the durability is commendable. Like I said, I received a pair of these in advance of the actual playtest, and I wore them a couple times a week for a few months. That pair definitely shows signs of wear by now, and the outsoles are starting to smooth over, but the wear is about what I expected for the amount of use I've gotten out of them. I would say that the FFs lasted about as long as previous iterations of the Solution Speeds."

"This update is on par durability-wise with any other speed shoes out there," Michelle said. "These aren't the most durable shoes out there, but for being so light and comfortable, they wore well. Also, the traction levels remained consistent as the Solution Speed FFs wore, which is another positive."

While her pair was starting to wear down by the end of the playtest, Tiffani was satisfied with the Solution Speed FFs' durability. She said, "These shoes have about the same durability as previous Solution Speeds. I am seeing some wear on the outsoles and the toes after about 10 hours, which is to be expected for such quick feeling shoes. The durability is pretty average for speed-oriented tennis shoes."

Brittany found that the Solution Speed FFs held up about as well she expected them to. She described, "Lightweight shoes are typically not known for their durability. Regardless, I found that the Solution Speed FFs offered similar durability to other lightweight shoes. They're definitely not breaking any durability records, but they held up fine throughout the playtest. I put 15-plus hours on these shoes, and I'm starting to see some smoothing under my high-wear areas, like my big toe. However, the toe bumpers have held up to any toe dragging I subjected them to."

Traction - Score: 4.2

Our playtesters found the traction of the Solution Speed FFs to be a little slicker than average. Tiffani found an excellent balance of grip and give, but she did notice the shoes to be on the squeakier side. She said, "I never noticed any excessive slipping, and I never felt stuck to the court, either. The traction levels were spot on for me. I never really had to think about it on the court, it just felt natural. I did find these shoes to be very squeaky on hard courts, though. I'd get distracted by the noise at times and had to consciously make an effort to stay focused on the game."

As with the previous version, Brittany appreciated the Solution Speed FF's low-traction outsoles. She said, "There's more give than grip, particularly in the forefoot areas. This is something I don't generally mind, and I adjusted to it quickly. I also found that the shoes became more slippery as the playtest went on, especially as the tread wore down. Even though the cushioning was plush, I still felt connected to the court, which gave me the confidence to take quick cuts when needed."

Hannah felt that the looser grip complimented these speedy shoes well. She described, "The traction on these Asics Solution Speed FFs are on the slick side. I actually prefer that, especially for a model of this nature. I think that a slicker outsole is complementary to the performance of speedier shoes, because it makes it easy to transition into and out of shots without too much planning or commitment. For me, this can make a big difference when I'm using speed to my advantage. I would also note that the traction levels got slicker as the outsole smoothed out."

While Michelle generally prefers a stickier outsole, she felt that the Solution Speed FFs still had enough grip to keep her movements confident and controlled. She explained, "I prefer feeling stable and in control of my movement, and I get a little scared when I'm slipping and sliding on the court. That being said, these outsoles were a bit slick, but never in a way that made me afraid of falling or losing my footing. I could still stop on a dime and make the aggressive moves I needed to make."

Weight - Score: 4.6

The standout feature of the Asics Solution Speed FFs had to be their lightweight feel. Each of our playtesters loved the quick, responsive movements that these shoes allowed on the court. Michelle said, "To me, these FFs felt lighter than any other version of the Solution Speed. They were noticeably light, which made them feel fast and nimble on the court. I would put them toward the top of the list for best lightweight shoes of 2018!"

"The Solution Speed FFs felt lower to the ground than the previous version, so I felt even faster in these," said Tiffani. "The older Solution Speeds felt a bit lifted off the ground in the heel, but I felt very sleek in these shoes. The cushioning is still plush and responsive, though; these shoes deliver an impressive blend of cushioning and speed."

Brittany's favorite thing about these shoes was how lightweight they were. She said, "I felt light and quick on my feet when I was moving around. I never felt weighed down, and I even forgot that I was wearing shoes when playing. As I've said in the past, these are some of my favorite match day shoes. I have no complaints!"

Hannah was especially impressed with Asics' ability to blend an ultra-light build with cushiony comfort and reliable stability. She said, "There are few other shoes that offer what these Solution Speed FFs offer in terms of comfort, durability and support. This is a feat in itself, but it's even more impressive when you look at the weight of comparable shoes. These Solutions Speed FFs are even lighter than other popular lightweight options like the Nike Vapor Xs and adidas Ubersonic 3s! And that low weight translates well to the court too; these shoes play super fast and feel extremely agile. The FlyteFoam material feels so nice underfoot that it's almost surprising how lightweight these shoes are. It is truly the best of both worlds. There's no added bulk, the mesh uppers are light, and I feel like I can play on the balls of my feet and make quick cuts in complete comfort."

Overall - Score: 4.6