| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| + Featherlight + FF LEAP & FF TURBO+ + Most propulsive and bouncy + Very breathable upper | – Slight heel instability |
Introduction
Big news for big-footed runners: the Metaspeed Sky Tokyo marks the first time ASICS has produced a Metaspeed in size 15 in the shoe line’s 4-year history. How did my first experience with an ASICS super shoe go? I put the pair to the test, through 40+ extremely speedy miles, in this ASICS Metaspeed Sky Tokyo review.
First off, I have to commend ASICS for finally breaking down and making a Metaspeed in my size. Or perhaps I should take the credit? After all, I did whine that one time to ASICS about the limited sizing of their more premium pairs. Still hoping I’ll get to run in the Superblast and Megablast someday. (I’m not holding my breath.) At least there’s the Sonicblast.
Or maybe they finally realized it’s simply a smart business move to gain market share of an underserved population of consumers. Because, previously, Nike (Vaporfly and Alphafly) and Saucony (Endorphin Pro) were the only two brands to produce a size 15 super shoe. Crazy, right? Ok, it’s not that crazy. How many size 15 runners are there, really? Well, there’s only one “The Size 15 Runner.” It’s me, I’m The Size 15 Runner, remember?
ASICS Metaspeed Sky Tokyo Review
| STACK HEIGHT | WEIGHT | PRICE |
|---|---|---|
| 39.5/34.5 mm (5 mm drop) | M9: 6.0 oz/190 g) W7: 5.1 oz/(145 g) | $270 |
Metaspeed Sky vs Metaspeed Edge
The Metaspeed Sky Tokyo isn’t the only ASICS super shoe made in size 15. That’s right, there’s also the Metaspeed Edge Tokyo. I’ll excuse the unoriginal naming convention, as the two shoes are quite similar. No, seriously: they have the same light weight, midsole foams, upper, and outsole. But there is one major difference: the position of the carbon plate.
The Metaspeed Sky has a flatter plate that helps propel you vertically for extended strides, while the Metaspeed Edge’s angled plate propels you forward to accelerate your cadence. The Sky has a higher plate position and a thicker midsole thickness through the toe area, supporting an extended stride length.
There’s also the $300 Metaspeed Ray, but it’s not produced in size 15 so it might as well not exist.
ASICS outlines the differences:
So, which shoe is right for you? Essentially, it’s all about your running style on race day. No, not your tacky, obnoxious racing outfit. Rather, how you run.
ASICS says the Sky is best for runners who speed up by extending their stride, while the Edge is designed for runners with a higher cadence (i.e. a higher number of foot strikes per minute). Confused yet? This won’t help: ASICS adds that the Sky is for stride-style runners “looking to start fast and finish faster.” Disregard the second part of that sentence about wanting to run fast—that describes literally every racer.
Look, it’s simple: when I run “fast” (you should really see me book it) I take longer strides (and fewer steps) than when running at a normal pace. Therefore, the Sky is more suitable to my flawless biomechanics.
Midsole
Is there anything better than a dual-density midsole? Yes! Yes, there is! A dual-density midsole with a carbon fiber plate! The Metaspeed Sky Tokyo boasts two excellent foams—the extremely bouncy and light FF LEAP, and FF TURBO+, which is also extremely bouncy and light. Talk about a win-win.
FF LEAP is ASICS’ newest and most energetic foam, to date. Made of Aliphatic TPU, it’s 15 percent lighter, 13.7 percent bouncier, and 30 percent softer than FF Turbo+, according to ASICS. Their “top” foam is found on the bottom layer of the midsole, with FF TURBO+ on top, helping create better stability upon landings. FF TURBO+ is made of Peba.
I’m glad to see dual-density midsoles continue to rise in popularity, as they provide a more dynamic and unique ride compared to just one foam. It’s basic math: 2 > 1. It’s rare to see a dual-density midsole in a super shoe. Typically, brands stuff only their most premium “super foam” to complement the carbon plate. Speaking of, there’s a ¾-length carbon fiber plate sandwiched in between the foams.
Ride
I’m absolutely blown away by this shoe. I think this may be the fastest pair I’ve ever run in. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but it feels even more propulsive than Nike’s Vaporfly—my go-to race day pair the past few years, including six marathons. The Sky is definitely the lightest pair I’ve ever laced up, and it’s not close. The stellar weight of 6 oz (170 grams) for a men’s size 9 makes me feel featherlight, with each stride easily transitioning to the next.
The level of energy return here is insane. FF LEAP is far and away one of the liveliest foams around, and FF TURBO+ helps stabilize the bouncy ride while adding even more energy return.
It’s got an extremely soft ride underfoot (softer than the Vaporfly) and can feel a bit unstable in the heel. Heel strikers who need extra stability might want to look elsewhere, like the Saucony Endorphin Pro.
Due to the heel instability, drop (5 mm) and overall shoe geometry, the Metaspeed Sky Tokyo is perhaps best suited for mid-to-forefoot strikers. Although typically a heel striker at slower efforts, I tend to switch up between a midfoot and heel strike during faster paces. I’m a freak. Regardless, this shoe excelled for me more with midfoot landings.
As marketed, this shoe complements my larger stride lengths extremely well. Each step feels easier than the last, no matter how far along in the run.
The bottom line: there’s less effort required to run faster compared to other super shoes like the Vaporfly and Endorphin Pro. And I find it much easier to maintain a specific pace for an extended length of time.
Uses
I primarily tested the shoe during speed workouts, alternating between paces of 6:10-7:30/mile and everything in between. I did a couple of my early lactate threshold workouts (9-10 miles with 4-5 miles at 15k pace) as part of my spring marathon training plan, and easily nailed the 6:15 pace, with some extra time to spare. I was pleasantly surprised when checking my watch after each mile split.
I also laced the pair up for an 18-mile long run, with 11 miles at 6:45/mile marathon pace. It was the fastest long run I’ve done in my five years training for marathons. After that run, I’m now leaning towards using the Sky for my spring 2026 marathon over the Vaporfly.
But this shoe can tackle any distance or speed workout you throw at it. I wouldn’t hesitate to lace them up for a race of any length, 5k to marathon.
Upper
There’s a motion wrap 3.0 upper, which is an extremely lightweight technical engineered woven material that does an excellent job of securing my feet in place. It’s up there with the most breathable pairs around. Plenty of ventilation holes, even on the sides of the heel, something you rarely see. And this upper is translucent—you can actually see sunlight shine through the sides.
However, as is common among super shoes, the toebox is on the narrow side, leaving wide-foot runners out of luck. Additionally, the flat, non-gusseted tongue is very thin, and needs a bit of care to avoid an awkward lace tie.
I appreciate the decent amount of padding at the top of the heel for a shoe of its minimal nature.
Outsole
There’s a small amount of ASICSGRIP™ rubber on the outsole, their proprietary outsole that provides excellent grip on a variety of terrain. But while traction isn’t an issue, durability may be, due to minimal rubber and some exposed midsole foam on the inner heel and forefoot areas.
Similar to Nike’s Vaporfly 4, I started seeing noticeable wear and tear on the outsole after about 40 miles. The shoe still performs well, but it does make me wonder how many miles they’ll be good for—a valid concern for any super shoe near $300.
But this isn’t a quality issue; it’s just the nature of super shoes. They’re meant strictly for racing, so they aren’t constructed to last hundreds of miles like other running shoes.
Weight
You can’t beat this shoe’s weight. At 6.0 ounces (170 g) for men’s size 9 and 5.1 oz (145 g) for a women’s size 7, it’s easily one of the lightest shoes on the market. And in racing, every tenth of an ounce matters— especially in the marathon, and the last 10k when your running form is deteriorating and you’d give anything to end the pain and suffering, desperately wondering why you’re even running a marathon.
Price
In addition to running a marathon, there’s just certain shit one must endure in life. Like, prepping for a colonoscopy. Or food poisoning. Or severe constipation. As you see, all of these involve “shit,” or lack thereof. Or, in the case of running, paying nearly $300 to race in a super shoe. Well, I suppose you could pay far less to race in a daily trainer, but that’s certainly no way to set a PR, and everyone knows the only point of racing is to PR!
Sadly, $270 for the Metapeed Sky Tokyo is in line with other top-shelf super shoes, like the Vaporfly and Alphafly. Hey, at least it’s not $300, like ASICS’ Metaspeed Ray. Ouch.
Conclusion
Featuring two stellar midsole foams, the featherlight, propulsive Metaspeed Sky Tokyo matches the best super shoes stride for stride. Well suited for any distance, the unbelievably bouncy pair may just have become my new go-to race day pair.
If you’re a stride-style racer, you’re a Metaspeed Sky Tokyo racer.
The shoe is available on the ASICS website.
ASICS graciously provided this shoe to me for wear testing. I was not compensated for this ASICS Metaspeed Sky Tokyo review and they didn’t get an opportunity to see this ASICS Metaspeed Sky Tokyo review before I published.
