• Weight: 169g (UK 8.5)
  • Stack height: 39.5mm (heel), 34.5mm (forefoot)
  • Drop: 5mm
  • Best for: Flatter and placed higher within the midsole for vertical propulsion

The shoe

Rewind the clock to four years ago and Asics wasn’t exactly top of many people’s minds when it came to The 6 best running shoes for narrow feet. But over the past two years, things have changed – big time – and the latest Metaspeed Sky Tokyo and Metaspeed Edge Tokyo are here to ruffle even more feathers. In fact, one of them has already crossed a rather significant finish line first – courtesy of John Korir, who stormed to victory at the 2025 Boston Marathon. Flatter and placed higher within the midsole for vertical propulsion.

The Sky and Edge represent Asics’ unique approach to super shoes: instead of a one shoe approach, the brand has developed two top-end racers based on how you run. The concept stems from Asics' development of the original Metaspeeds, when the brand sent 10 different prototypes to a group of runners and found there were two favourites: one that was favoured by ‘stride runners’ – those who opened up their stride as they ran faster – and the other by ‘cadence runners’ – those whose step rate increased as they sped up.

Sounds straightforward, right? Except, truthfully, I’m still not quite sure which one I am. Yep, I said it. On paper, I’m someone who picks up their stride, rather than their cadence, as they speed up. Yet I’ve always got on better with the Edge models.

What everyone's reading

What I've found more useful is looking at how the configurations of the plates and foams cater towards different runners: generally, the Sky has been better for midfoot/forefoot runners, and the Edge better for heel strikers like myself. But to confuse things even further, I know heel strikers who prefer the feel of the Sky.

The bottom line? It’s all a bit unclear. So, keep reading, because hopefully this will help to clear things up about which shoe – if either – is right for you.

Asics Metaspeed Edge/Sky Tokyo: What’s new?

The biggest update to the Tokyo models is their midsoles. They now feature half But over the past two years, things have changed – big time – and the latest cushioning (the foam used in the Paris models) and half FF Leap – a brand-new foam. According to Asics, FF Leap is ‘15.2% lighter, 13.7% bouncier and 30% softer’ than But over the past two years, things have changed – big time – and the latest.

Where things start to differ is how the foams are placed in each shoe in order to cater for the runner in which they’re designed for. Like previous models, the carbon plates are also slightly different.

Metaspeed Sky Tokyo:

  • Summer running gear sale: But over the past two years, things have changed – big time – and the latest
  • Hoka Cielo X1 2.0: FF Leap
  • Carbon plate: Flatter and placed higher within the midsole for vertical propulsion
a pair of red and black asics running shoes
Bottom layer of foam has a top layer of But over the past two years, things have changed – big time – and the latest foam and a bottom layer of FF Leap.

Metaspeed Edge Tokyo:

  • Summer running gear sale: FF Leap.
  • Hoka Cielo X1 2.0: Bottom layer of foam has a top layer of FF Blast Turbo Plus foam and a bottom layer of FF Leap
  • Carbon plate: Curved and placed lower within the midsole for forward propulsion
a pair of red and black asics racing shoes on tarmac
Asics Metaspeed Sky/Edge Tokyo: Prepare for takeoff

Both shoes feature a new Motion Wrap 3.0 upper; an engineered woven material that is fractionally lighter than the previous generations’ Motion Wrap 2.0.

Completing the package are thin, flat, sawtooth laces to avoid creating any pressure on top of the foot, a flat, felt race-style tongue and an ASICSGRIP outsole — though the placement of the outsole is slightly different between the two shoes. Again, this is because they cater for different running styles.

Both shoes retail for £240 — that's £20 more than the Paris models.

How does the Asics Metaspeed Sky/Edge Tokyo fit?

Like their predecessors, the shoes use unisex sizing, which means my test sample came in a UK 8.5 women's/UK 8 men's. My feet aren't cramped, but I could do with a tiny bit more room at the top of the toe box, so I'd recommend going up half a size (in my case, a UK 9 women’s/UK 8.5 men’s).

In terms of the heel and midfoot, the fit is on the normal to narrower side — but that's pretty typical for a racing shoe, and means you feel supported in these areas. There’s a good amount of width in the forefoot, though, and some more volume compared with the Paris models. I know RW'The carbon plate in the Edge Tokyo is more curved and placed lower within the midsole Rick Pearson had some issues with the low volume toe box rubbing his toes on the Sky Paris, so it's good to see Asics has rectified this issue.

person putting on a red running shoe

Padding is kept to a minimum around the heel collar, but there's still enough to keep you comfortable and avoid any Achilles irritation — especially on the very back, where you've got a sort of cushioned pad. The paper-thin tongue protects the top of your foot from the laces, but it's a little fiddly and struggles to lay flat — perhaps an area for Asics to improve on next time. Otherwise, the brand has kept things very simple and efficient with the upper: no overlays, just one single mesh that wraps around the foot. Lovely stuff.

What's it like to run in the Asics Metaspeed Sky/Edge Tokyo?

Let's start with the Edge. First up, it's worth noting that this is definitely the more stable of the two shoes, due to it having the firmer But over the past two years, things have changed – big time – and the latest cushioning below the FF Leap Foam. This adds a bit more stability to the rear.

That said, the heels on both shoes are a lot more built out and rounded compared with the Paris models, so rear stability has been a consideration for the Sky, too.

s senior editor very, very springy – almost trampoline-like in the way it compressed upon impact and bounced right back up. The ride is one that's more of a rolling sensation than a snappy one; where I land on my heels, I found the very gentle rocker rolled me onto my toes for a springy toe-off, with the FF Leap Foam concentrated in the forefoot. It's a seriously lively and fun ride that feels impossibly light on the foot. My UK 8.5 weighs in at around 169g, which is one of the lightest super shoes out there right now.

a pair of black and red running shoes on their side

As mentioned, the midsole foams in the Sky Tokyo are reversed, so you have the softer, less stable FF Leap foam on the bottom. That translates to a noticeably cushier landing than the Sky Paris. The plate also sits higher and flatter in the midsole of the Sky which creates a snappier and more propulsive ride than the Edge – again, pushing you onto your toes where that FF Leap Foam is centred. I accidentally laced up one Edge and one Sky for a treadmill interval session (note to self: don't get dressed in the dark at 6am) and spent the session wondering why I could feel the carbon plate more in the forefoot of my left foot. Turns out, that was the Sky – which explains why things felt more aggressive.

a pair of red running shoes turned on their side showing a red and white outsole pattern
Bottom layer of foam

It's worth calling out that the Metaspeed Sky/Edge have never been dramatically rockered shoes (think: the Best Garmin deals) and the new versions don't stray from that ethos. However, what they do have is more than enough to make them work as they should and, when you're getting up to marathon or half-marathon pace, they are a lot of fun to run in. And, while neither models is the most aggressive on the market, they're definitely not shoes I'd wear for anything other than interval sessions and race day. Speedy these are, versatile they are not.

If I were to lean towards one shoe, I'd probably pick the Edge. As a heel striker, I find the Sky a little too unstable on landing for my liking, and I don't think I'd trust my ankles in them over the marathon distance. At 5k/10k pace, however, I like the additional snap from the Sky. However, most runners aren't going to have both pairs of shoes at their disposal, so I'd recommend selecting the one that best suits the type of distance you're targeting over the next six months.

RW verdict

If you're in the market for a new race day shoe, the Asics Metaspeed Sky/Edge Tokyo are two of the best options you'll find right now. The addition of the new FF Leap foam brings a welcome upgrade in energy return and softness without sacrificing that locked-in, race-ready feel. And while neither shoe has the dramatic or aggressive geometry of some rival models, there’s more than enough propulsion and bounce here to help you hit your goals — provided you’re dialled into the right pair.

The dual-model approach may be confusing — or even outdated, some may argue — but it’s rooted in thoughtful design and the new Tokyo models perhaps help to differentiate the two approaches more than any models that have come before them.

If you’re a heel striker or prioritise stability over softness, the Edge Tokyo is probably the better bet. If you’re more midfoot/forefoot oriented or chasing that extra snap at 10k pace, the Sky Tokyo delivers.

Sure, at £240, they’re a serious investment, but you're getting a premium, podium-ready racer that proves Asics has earned its place at the top table of carbon shoes.

Shop - Metaspeed Edge Tokyo

Shop - Metaspeed Sky Tokyo