Asics Metaspeed Sky Tokyo Helped Me Run a Sub-3 Marathon. The Metaspeed Edge Was the Obvious Choice for Conquering 13.1.
- Our editor chose Asics Metaspeed Edge Tokyo for a Chicago half-marathon after success racing in the shoe at the Sydney Marathon, aiming to capitalize on the flat course for a personal record.
- Asics athlete John Korir won Boston Marathon in a Metaspeed Edge prototype, signaling the shoe’s elite performance—and what runners have to look forward to this fall’s shoe releases.
- Tester Trevor Conde praised both Metaspeed Tokyo models for their bouncy FF Leap foam and dynamic ride, with the Edge excelling for cadence runners and the Sky better for power striders.
Choosing to run the Chicago 13.1 was a no-brainer. The course is flat, making it the ideal breeding ground for PRs. Another obvious decision was which shoe I’d race in: the Asics Metaspeed Edge Tokyo. I wore the shoe previously at the Sydney Marathon last August and finished in exactly 3:05, despite a week of sightseeing leading up to the race. I knew it was bound to perform well racing half the distance.
This year’s Boston Marathon also fed the flame. I ran in Asics’s other super shoe, the Metaspeed Sky Tokyo. Finally, at my 13th time running from Hopkinton to Boston in April 2026, I got my sub-3, finishing at 2:57:04. After that, I knew I just had to race in the Sky’s sibling, determined to run my best season yet.
Asics Metaspeed Sky Tokyo
Pros
- Very lightweight
- Plate is less angled, resulting in less midfoot impact for some
- Responsive, bouncy A-TPU FF Leap foam
Cons
- Testers wanted more padding in collar and tongue area
| Best for | Marathon and half marathon racing |
| Weight | 6 oz (M), 4.6 oz (W), unisex |
| Drop | 5 mm |
| Stack Height | 39.5 mm |
Asics Metaspeed Edge Tokyo
Pros
- Very lightweight
- Responsive, bouncy A-TPU FF Leap foam
- More stability compared to other super shoes
Cons
- Angled plate causes some soreness in forefoot over long distances
| Best for | Marathon and half marathon racing |
| Weight | 6 oz (M), 4.6 oz (W), unisex |
| Drop | 5 mm |
| Stack Height | 39.5 mm |
Leaps and Bounds
You could say this write-up is an ode to the Metaspeed Tokyo shoes before they’re phased out this fall, when Asics releases its next batch of super shoes. Considering the Boston Marathon’s results, I’ve no doubt the brand is cooking something that’s faster, fiercer, and smoother. John Korir, who won Boston, wore a Metaspeed Edge prototype, finishing in 2:01:52. Four other Asics-sponsored athletes were also in the top 10. I have a hunch we’ll be seeing more Metaspeed-wearing top finishers at this fall’s major marathons.
The Metaspeed Tokyo shoes are the first Metaspeeds with Asics’s game-changing Leap foam. FF Leap is super bouncy and lightweight aliphatic-thermoplastic polyurethane (A-TPU) foam. We’ve tested this foam in its denser form, FF Turbo², the core of the brand’s Megablast. Where the Megablast delivers an aggressive ride with a volatile bounce, the Metaspeeds feel more controlled yet just as dynamic.
A layer of FF Turbo Plus foam adds that PEBA sauce as well, so you get a super shoe that’s a joy to run in—and race in.
Tester’s Take Running in Both Shoes
My sub-3 marathon time is modest compared to tester Trevor Conde’s speeds. Conde, who ran a wicked fast 2:29:34 at last year’s Philadelphia Marathon, tested both the Metaspeed Sky Tokyo and Metaspeed Edge Tokyo. He praised the former for its springy ride.
“This shoe is a great racing option in the age of super shoes,” he said. “I love the amount of cushioning that the shoe had, and it felt very light and speedy.” He liked the shoe’s smooth, effortless ride.
If Conde had to choose between the two shoes, the Metaspeed Edge Tokyo takes the cake.
“The cushioning is exceptional,” he said. “The hill workouts I used it for were some pretty explosive efforts, and the shoe felt really bouncy and responsive with trying to power up the hill sprints. I like the return and bounce that they have, as it is a strong recoil rather than any sinking feel.”
He performed threshold runs at 5:00 to 5:20 pace and “warmup” miles at 6:40 to 7:15 pace. The sensation was light and bouncy throughout.
But Which Should You Choose?
Conde preferred the Edge to the Sky, but you can use both depending on the kind of race you’re leaning toward. The difference between the shoes is the slope of the plate in the midsole.
The Edge is intended for cadence runners, or those who run with short steps. The plate slopes more downward in the forefoot. The Sky’s plate is sandwiched equally between the FF Leap and FF Turbo Plus foams, making it a good choice for power runners or those who stride out. But a runner can wear either shoe if they know their racing style for certain distances, which is why I chose to run in the Metaspeed Sky Tokyo for hilly Boston, and the Metaspeed Edge Tokyo for flat and fast Chicago.
Why I Like the Metaspeeds
A gear editor’s confession: I have several shoes I should be testing, and a road race is the ideal stage to see how they perform—but an editor has her favorites. The Saucony Endorphin Elite 3 was one such shoe that I should have packed en route to Illinois.
The Endorphin Elite 3 was too tempestuous at a May 5K and 3K; the course was twisty-turny and had patches of slippery gravel. Chicago’s flat pavement would have been the ideal course to really see what this shoe could do. There’s a learning curve when it comes to mastering the Elite 3’s TPEE (thermoplastic polyester elastomer) midsole, which delivers a volatile, pogo-stick-like ride. The shoe is erratic on corners and feels squishy on landings. The more stable platform on the Metaspeed Edge Tokyo was the deciding factor, supporting my case for a tried-and-true model that could help me achieve my ultimate goal.
I chose the Metaspeed Sky Tokyo for Boston because I knew I’d want the plate at less of an angle in the forefoot while running those infamous downhills the first couple of miles. Though the Metaspeed Edge Tokyo caused some soreness in my forefoot when I ran Sydney, it was my shoe of choice because half distance meant less impact and pounding. I knew the Chicago 13.1 had several turns around three parks; the shoe could handle sharp curves, unlike the Endorphin Elite 3. The geometry was also a key player; the more angled plate would encourage my stride to be short and quick-footed. I needed to be fast to clinch my goal time and beat the heat.
Chicago 13.1 Race Result
I ended up beating my personal best half marathon time by almost a minute, finishing at 1:26:45 (a.k.a. Conde’s warmup pace). The heat was discouraging, but the shoe’s stability and high rebound helped me stay on track.
Though I cannot guarantee racing in a Metaspeed pair will earn you a PR, I will say snagging these shoes before they’re discontinued—ushering in the next Metaspeed bundle—is a race worth entering. Put in the training, evaluate your gait to choose your shoes (short steps: Edge; long strides: Sky), and don’t be afraid to set a race goal.
Buy Asics Metaspeed Edge Tokyo at asics.com
Buy Asics Metaspeed Sky Tokyo at asics.com
Amanda Furrer, Editor, Running Reviews, studied journalism at NYU and writing at Emerson College. She has reviewed gear and covered other topics in the running space for almost 10 years. Since 2013, she has consecutively run the Boston Marathon. She also has a master’s degree in gastronomy from Boston University and was formerly a professional baker for two years before hanging up her apron.