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The Asics Metaspeed Sky Paris was our favourite racing shoe of 2024 and it’s successor is a worthy one, with the Asics Metaspeed Sky Tokyo undoubtedly being one of the best carbon plate running shoes available and one of our top-tier options overall alongside the Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 3.
Asics has made the Sky Tokyo lighter and springier than its predecessor thanks to a midsole setup that uses a layer of the FF Leap foam introduced on the Asics Metaspeed Ray along with the FF Turbo+ used in the Metaspeed Paris models. It’s one of the best running shoes for racing you can get, but not the most stable, and still lacks durability on the outsole.
Design & Key Stats
- Price: £240/$270
- Weight: 169g/6oz (men’s UK 9 / US 10)
- Drop: 5mm
- Stack: 39.5mm heel, 34.5mm forefoot
- Upper: Lightweight MotionWrap 3.0 mesh
- Midsole: FF Turbo+ and FF Leap with full length carbon plate
- Outsole: Minimal rubber on forefoot and heel
Asics Metaspeed Sky Tokyo review
How’s The Fit
Nick and Tom tested the Asics Metaspeed Sky Tokyo for our review and we found that it fit well in our normal running shoe size. It’s the same fit as on the Asics Metaspeed Sky Paris, and a little tighter around the toes than cushioned Asics shoes like the Asics Novablast 5, but we still had enough room for long runs and a secure fit around the midfoot and heel.
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The Run Test: Likes
The Asics Metaspeed Sky Tokyo is one of the lightest carbon racers on the market, which is always beneficial when you’re looking to run fast. It still has a full stack of springy foam despite being so light, and it’s an upgrade on the Sky Paris both in terms of being lighter and bouncier.
That’s down to the FF Leap foam in the midsole, which is softer and springier than the FF Turbo+ foam on top. It adds extra bounce to the ride and with the Sky Tokyo you have a full-length plate to add more stability than you get on the Asics Metaspeed Ray, which has a full FF Leap midsole.
The plate sits higher in the Sky Tokyo than on the Asics Metaspeed Edge Tokyo, and as with past version of the two shoes we find this delivers a punchier toe-off. Even though Nick is definitely a cadence runner who should prefer the Edge Tokyo in theory, the Sky Tokyo suits him better, as did the Sky Paris. Nick has run his last two marathon PBs in the Sky Paris, and now has his half marathon PB in the Sky Tokyo, and ran 2:24 at the Loch Ness Marathon in the shoe.
The Run Test: Dislikes
The addition of the soft FF Leap foam to the midsole means that the Sky Tokyo is not as stable as its predecessor, and in general it’s a pretty wobbly option even compared to other carbon plate racing shoes.
It also doesn’t have a lot of rubber on the outsole, and heel-strikers will likely rough up the exposed foam at the back of the shoe with repeated use, though we haven’t found this diminishes the performance of the shoe in any way.
Lastly, this is one of the more aggressive super-shoes on the market, and the Sky Tokyo doesn’t have as accommodating or comfortable a ride as shoes like the Saucony Endorphin Elite 2 or Nike Alphafly 3, which some runners might prefer for longer races as a result.
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Verdict And Alternatives
The Asics Metaspeed Sky Tokyo is an improvement on what was already one of the best racers available, and if you’re in need of a fast racing shoe it’s well worth considering.
Compared to the other Asics Metaspeed racers, the Sky Tokyo is a safer bet than the wild Metaspeed Ray, which is even more unstable and less durable, and only has a half carbon plate. The Edge Tokyo is also outstanding, but we prefer the ride feel of the Sky Tokyo ourselves; others will disagree.
The Puma Fast-R 3 has been our top racing option overall since it launched earlier in 2025, but the Metaspeed Sky Tokyo is every bit as good, and we’re still unsure on which we’d rate more highly. More races in both shoes will shed light on that.
Asics Metaspeed Sky Tokyo vs Asics Metaspeed Edge Tokyo
These are both great racing shoes and the slight differences in ride feel will make one more suited to your running style than the other. We prefer the Metaspeed Sky Tokyo overall, with the higher plate under the forefoot delivering a peppier, faster ride, but the Edge Tokyo is a little softer and more forgiving under the forefoot.
Asics Metaspeed Sky Tokyo vs Nike Alphafly 3
The Asics is a lighter and more dynamic racing shoe, especially for shorter events, while the Alphafly 3 excels in delivering more comfort and bounce for the marathon in particular. If you find the Metaspeed Sky Tokyo comfortable, it’s our preferred pick for all distances, but the Alphafly 3 might suit most runners better for the marathon.
Asics Metaspeed Sky Tokyo vs Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4
The Asics Metaspeed Sky Tokyo is lighter and more responsive than the Adios Pro 4, while the Adidas gives a cushier and more secure feeling when landing at the heel. We rate the Asics more highly, but the Adidas is still a great racer and a little cheaper.