Technologies such as FlyteFoam, Flexion Fit and Personal Heel Fit all contribute to the overall comfort of the Asics Solution Speed FF 3s. As a longtime fan of Asics tennis shoes, Zsofi couldn't wait to see how the latest Solution Speeds would perform. She said, "This update did not let me down! When I first put them on, I was super impressed by how comfortable these shoes were and by how nicely cushioned they felt, both under my heel and in the midsole. Cushioning was absolutely top-notch! I also loved the padding around the heel area; I thought that contributed to the great comfort levels as well." 

"It is crazy to me to see brands updating their speed shoes to be lighter and quicker without sacrificing comfort, and thankfully, these shoes continue to offer good comfort!" added Michelle. "I was unsure if I should go up a half size when I first tried them on, but I decided to stay in my true size and am glad I did because the shoes did open a bit as the test went on. The upper is significantly more breathable and has a bit less TPU and structure, so it is super comfy and offers step-in comfort with light support. The cushioning underfoot is light, but it’s still comfortable, and the heel collar is nice and plush. I didn't have any issues with break-in or any discomfort from the Solution Speed FF 3s throughout this playtest."

Ana was impressed by the Solution Speed FF 3s’ combination of cushioning and light weight. She said, "I thought these shoes were comfortable, with a good amount of cushioning for such light shoes. I was very impressed with this new Asics Solution Speed. The shoes not only felt supportive, but also incredibly light. The fit of the shoes is narrow in the forefoot, but the materials aren’t stiff enough to make wearing them painful or uncomfortable. It did take me some time to get used to the feel of the midfoot area, but after playing in them for a bit, I enjoyed the glove-like fit. The shoes were breathable, with great ventilation. My biggest issue with the comfort of these shoes was how the low cut of the ankle collars felt around my ankles.  The shoes were rubbing on the inside of my ankles right around the bone area, causing some pain."

When Brittany slipped into the Solution Speeds she felt like Asics had made them specifically to fit her feet. She said, "I have narrow feet, and the Solution Speed FF 3s definitely feel snug, without too much extra room. I did notice the arch support (maybe a little higher than other shoes), but it hit my medium arches in the correct spot and fully supported them. I also found the length to be true to size. While there wasn't necessarily a break-in period, I did find that the mesh uppers opened up a little bit as the playtest wore on and were definitely well ventilated. The cushioning was superb — most noticeably underfoot, but also around the ankle collar and tongue. If I had one knock on these shoes, it would be the plastic piece that pressed down on the uppers, causing some discomfort."

For the most part, the Solution Speed FF 3s’ high levels of support and stability surprised our playtesters. Although they're known as lightweight shoes, the Solution Speed FF 3s met Brittany's high standards in this category. She said, "I am a pretty big stickler when it comes to support and stability because I need more than the average tennis player due to a major ankle injury. I think these shoes were successful in this category thanks to two things. The first is there wasn't a lot of extra room within the shoes, so my feet weren't sliding around. The second is that I sat deep within the shoes, so my feet felt like they were part of the shoes versus sitting on top of them. I did use the last eyelet just to get a nice locked-in feel around my ankles."

It took some time for Zsofi to feel right at home in the Solution Speed FF 3s. She described, "I did need a bit of break-in time on court, and I quickly realized that I needed to utilize that second eyelet to really feel locked-in, because initially I had the feeling that my ankles were not supported enough. The ankle collar is pretty low, and it probably contributed to that. Once I started using the second eyelet and cinched up the laces tightly, I did feel much more confident moving around. It was more about finding the right amount of tightness with the lacing and breaking the shoes in a bit so they would mold around my feet better." 

Michelle is no stranger to Asics shoes and is pretty familiar with their strengths and weaknesses. She said, "Having worn and tested many Asics shoes, I know these aren't the most supportive and stable shoes in the lineup, but they feel more supportive and stable than other shoes in this category. I wasn't sure if the Solution Speed FF 3s would be supportive, but I felt really good moving laterally and aggressively in these shoes."

Ana was left wanting a little more in this department. She said, "As I mentioned above, these shoes have a narrow fit and a lower cut around the ankles. They do wrap around my feet securely and offer great support in the forefoot. I felt secure when moving around the court quickly and changing directions. On the other hand, the ankle support was not great. Not only did I have to use the last eyelet to tie the shoes so my feet would not slip out, but the shoelaces run too short when using that extra hole. The laces were also thin, and I was worried that the laces might break when I slid in these shoes. I’m not a big fan of the laces.”

If there was one downside, the Asics Solution Speed FF 3s struggled a bit in the durability department. It wasn't long before Michelle could tell that these shoes were not going to be especially durable. She said, "I wasn't expecting them to be durable, but this will be the Achilles heel of the Solution Speed FF 3s. We've been playtesting a lot of shoes, and after a couple weeks of wear, I'm already seeing some smoothing on the outsole. If I were training a bunch and competing every weekend, I would reserve these for match-day use while training in the much more durable Asics Gel Resolution 9s."

Zsofi wasn't bothered by the wear she was seeing on her pair. She said, "I did see some light wear on the outsole, but it wasn't too significant for me." 

"For lightweight shoes, the Solution Speed FF 3s offer average durability," added Brittany. "Compared to all tennis shoes on the market, I would say they are lower than average. I wore them easily 10-plus hours on court and am starting to see some smoothing in high-wear areas. However, the toe bumpers are holding up well and will last way past the life of the shoes." 

Ana found the level of durability she expected from these Solution Speed FF 3s. She explained, "The durability of the Solution Speed FF 3s seems average. I would not say these are the most durable shoes I've worn, but after some playing and coaching hours, they seem to resist wear better than expected, and the cushioning still feels great. However, due to the shoes being so light, I expected a trade-off with the durability."

With a technically designed outsole based on players' movements, the Solution Speed FF 3s met the needs of our playtest team. One of our resident sliders, Ana, put the traction to the test. She said, "The traction felt great. I felt comfortable when moving around and changing directions, and I didn’t feel like the Solution Speed FF 3s slipped around too much on the court. I had great grip on the ground and was not afraid to move in them and slide around the court." 

Before the playtest, Brittany was intrigued by the tread pattern's unique and organic look. She described, "I will start by saying that I felt low to the ground in these shoes, which translated to feeling very connected to the court. As far as traction goes, I would say they offered grip, but with some give, and that's exactly what I look for. I was able to transition in and out of my shots without feeling stuck. While I don’t slide on hard courts, I could feel that there was some slip for those who do."

"I thought the pattern of the outsole was super cool with a unique design," Zsofi added. "It also seems very durable and performed well traction-wise. I enjoyed the balance between grip and give for sure."

The outsole pattern also caught Michelle's attention. She said, "When hearing about the new AI-generated outsole, I was already curious how they would perform, and being old school, I did doubt the pattern just a bit. Luckily, this outsole pattern offered a great amount of traction without too much slickness underfoot. I was worried I'd feel like I was on ice skates, but I felt comfortable moving in these."

Our playtesters had high praise for the light weight of the Solution Speed FF 3s. The weight of the shoes was easily the highlight for Brittany. She said, "These shoes feel so light and fast, but not flimsy. I felt like I could move smoothly around the court, and I trusted the Solution Speed FF 3s when making quick stops and changes of direction."

Michelle was equally dazzled. She said, "These shoes are light — some of the lightest top-performing shoes right now! I was expecting them to feel light, but I was still impressed by the technology and how well these shoes perform despite the lighter weight."

The Solution Speed FF 3s offered the perfect mix of speed and comfort for Zsofi. She described, "Like I mentioned earlier, I think Asics did an amazing job making shoes that are not only nicely cushioned but also super lightweight. I found it very impressive just how light the Solution Speed FF 3s feel on my feet!"

Ana concluded the playtest on a high note, saying, "The weight was probably the most impressive trait of the new Asics Speed Solution FF 3s. I can barely tell I'm wearing shoes when I have them on. They are super light. They made it easier to move around quickly, and I never felt held down by the shoes. However, the weight does compromise the durability of the shoes."