ASICS Metaspeed Sky Tokyo Running Shoes

ASICS Metaspeed Sky Tokyo Upper

The ASICS Metaspeed Sky Tokyo running shoe has an upper made of a very thin, translucent, mesh fabric that is highly breathable. It is made with MOTION WRAP™ 3.0 technology that clearly prioritizes performance over comfort. The rough, non-stretchy mesh fabric holds the foot tightly and securely. It fits true to size, but I bought a half size larger than my usual running shoe size, and I don’t regret it. The narrow design of the upper does not press on my feet anywhere. There is cross-reinforcement in the bottom line of the lace holes, which provides safer, more secure foot support. The tongue of the shoe is made of a thin, soft material with no padding and is not fixed. While running, it does not slip sideways, but it is worth spending some time adjusting it correctly beforehand. The minimally padded, moderately stiff heel collar provides good, secure support for the foot. I wouldn’t say it’s comfortable; rather, it’s unnoticeable while running. I didn’t experience any irritation or discomfort. It did its job: my feet didn’t get hot, and the shoe held my feet well, even during sharp turns.

ASICS Metaspeed Sky Tokyo midsole

The ASICS Metaspeed Sky Tokyo running shoe midsole consists of three layers. The top layer is FlyteFoam Turbo Plus, which makes up about 40% of the front of the midsole and 10% of the heel. This foam is soft, light, and bouncy but harder and more stable than the FlyteFoam Leap foam beneath it. Between these two foams is a slightly curved, very stiff carbon plate. The FF Leap foam is very thick at the rear heel and tapers toward the front of the shoe. It is 15% lighter, 14% more responsive, and 30% softer than the FF Turbo+ foam. Because the ratio of the two foams is not uniform, the midsole behaves differently at the front than at the rear. It feels bouncy at the front and soft at the rear. The heel section is narrow and soft, so it is not stable when you land there. It feels hard at the front. I was surprised that when I stepped into the shoe, it felt like there was a flat foot insole inside. There is an arch support in the middle section that I could clearly feel when I first put the shoe on, but I quickly got used to it while running. At lower intensities, the shoe feels stiff, but this is somewhat mitigated by the soft midsole. As I picked up the pace to 4 minutes per kilometer, the shoe’s capabilities became apparent. I was able to keep up easily and felt like I was flying, with a noticeable increase in my stride length. This was different from how I usually feel in other shoes. I was confident that I could maintain the pace, and I did.

The midsole geometry was curved but not too aggressively. However, the carbon plate keeps this curve rigid, making transitions fast. However, the midsole was flat at the heel, which makes me worried that the edge will be exposed to greater stress.

ASICS has made two versions of the Metaspeed Tokyo shoe: the Metaspeed Sky Tokyo, which is the subject of this review, and the Metaspeed Sky Edge. Here are the differences in a nutshell:

ASICS Metaspeed Edge Tokyo

The Sky Tokyo is designed for runners who increase their speed with bigger, longer strides. In contrast, the ASICS Metaspeed Edge Tokyo running shoe is designed for runners who increase their speed by raising their stride rate. Accordingly, the Edge Tokyo’s midsole design is different. The softer FF Leap foam is on top, and the harder, more stable FF Turbo+ foam is underneath. A carbon plate sits between the two foams, but it is much more curved than the carbon plate in the Metaspeed Sky Tokyo. This sole structure propels you forward more efficiently and quickly, allowing you to take faster steps. Unlike the Sky version, it doesn’t propel you upwards to take longer strides.

ASICS Metaspeed Sky Tokyo outsole

The ASICS Metaspeed Sky Tokyo running shoe outsole is made from ASICSGRIP rubber, ASICS’s most grippy outsole material. It almost sticks to the ground, as if you stepped into syrup. Good traction helps you push off efficiently and without slipping. The outsole is so soft that, when pressed from below, it does not stiffen the midsole. Due to weight reduction, the outsole is thin and minimally covers the midsole. Its wear resistance is decent, but since it is thin, it cannot be considered durable. I’m not concerned that the outsole will wear out quickly; rather, I’m concerned that the midsole will wear out faster where it is not covered by the outsole. I don’t understand why there is such a large cutout in the outsole right where you push off. I’m used to the minimal amount of outsole rubber covering the heel, but I don’t understand why there is such a large cutout right where you push off. Even after my first test run, the midsole was worn down in two places. I don’t know how much moisture it will absorb, which will reduce its durability and increase its otherwise very low weight.

Who are the ASICS Metaspeed Sky Tokyo running shoes for and what kind of runs are they suitable for?

The ASICS Metaspeed Sky Tokyo running shoe is a lightweight, neutral shoe designed for racing and fast runs. They have a very thin and narrow upper that was designed with low weight in mind rather than comfort. The midsole consists of two soft, dynamic foams; however, the carbon plate between them provides a lot of stiffness. The outsole provides excellent grip but only minimally covers the midsole. The shoes are very dynamic and bouncy, almost making you fly. I do not recommend them for beginner runners because they are expensive, lack stability, and have a stiff, low-drop midsole that puts significant strain on the muscles around the foot and ankle. Therefore, they are only a good choice for those who have well-developed muscles in this area. It is designed for fast, experienced runners who run marathons in under four minutes per kilometer and are looking for a fast shoe for marathons and half marathons.

How has the ASICS Metaspeed Sky Tokyo running shoe changed compared to the previous version?

The ASICS Metaspeed Sky Tokyo running shoe has changed significantly from the previous version, the Asics Metaspeed Sky Paris running shoe, making it 7 grams lighter:

Upper

• Slightly wider
• Improved foot support

Midsole:

• The heel is not curved, but flat
• The midsole consists of two foams: in addition to the previous FlyteFoam Turbo+ foam, the new Tokyo also features FlyteFoam Leap foam, which is lighter, more responsive, and softer.
• The ratio of foam above and below the plate has also changed, with the plate higher at the rear, giving the shoe more forward propulsion.
• The midsole has become slightly wider.

The outsole has not changed.