ASICS Metaspeed Edge Tokyo review

The ASICS Metaspeed Edge Tokyo is a remarkable step forward and a smart choice for:

• Heel strikers who find the Sky series unstable and want smoother heel-to-toe transitions.
• Those seeking a more traditional supershoe with a curved carbon plate and excellent grip.
• Vaporfly fans looking for even lighter weight, a better upper and more shock absorption.
• Neutral-gait runners needing a versatile supershoe that's explosive for a 5K yet cushioned enough for a marathon.

The Metaspeed Edge Tokyo is not built for everyone, and we think that it may feel too unstable for marathoners seeking control and an easy ride. For those runners, the Adidas Adizero Adios Pro 4 or Nike Alphafly 3 are much better picks.

Another drawback is the rising price tag. This shoe is expensive, and the Saucony Endorphin Pro 4 offers a more affordable alternative without losing the essence of a fast supershoe.

We discovered good cushioning results in the Metaspeed Edge Tokyo here in the lab: 146 SA in the heel and an impressive 132 SA in the forefoot.

These solid numbers sit far above our lab average, showing how much protection the shoe provides. They give runners extra support to handle not only the usual races but also gruelling endurance challenges, even up to a road ultramarathon.

In our lab tests, we discovered that this shoe delivers 78.3% energy return in the heel and 76.8% in the forefoot. That’s slightly lower than the Metaspeed Sky Tokyo in the front, but it makes sense, as the Sky is almost exclusively tailored for midfoot and forefoot strikers.

The introduction of FF Leap foam, crafted from A-TPU, is also a major upgrade. It dramatically boosts rebound compared to earlier Metaspeeds and elevates this shoe into the same league as today’s top-tier supershoes.

World Athletics sets the heel stack limit at 40 mm, and the Metaspeed Edge Tokyo comes in very close at 38.9 mm.

This figure matches what we expect from any modern supershoe built for the marathon, where superior impact absorption is a must-have feature.

The forefoot also comes with a stack height above 30 mm, which is the threshold we now associate with maximalist running shoes. In fact, few supershoes exceed 32.0 mm as of today, so if forefoot cushioning matters to you, the Edge Tokyo delivers.

ASICS lists the drop at 5 mm, the same as the Sky, but we discovered 6.9 mm after repeated measurements, which matched the ride we felt with the Edge.

This shoe rides more like a Vaporfly 4, offering that classic supershoe feel with a rolling transition from heel to toe.

The new FF Leap foam measures ultra-soft at 11.5 HA in our durometer, marking a clear shift from the firmer FF Turbo+. While Turbo+ was also energetic, it felt much firmer underfoot and less plush overall.

In the Metaspeed Edge Tokyo, FF Leap sits above the plate to maximise its presence in the forefoot. Putting it below would reduce cushioning up front and compromise stability for heel strikers, which explains why this setup is inverted compared to the Sky Tokyo.

Under our microscope, a slice of FF Leap displayed a finer, tightly packed cell structure that explains its soft and plush character. FF Turbo+, on the other hand, showed larger and denser cells, revealing its firmer feel.

As you already know, the Metaspeed Edge Tokyo features a dual-foam design. Unlike the Sky, where FF Leap sits beneath the plate, the Edge places this ultra-soft and resilient compound above it.

Placing the firmer FF Turbo+ foam closer to the ground provides extra stability against the cloud-like softness of FF Leap, turning the Edge into a more stable supershoe for heel strikers.

We found that the rocker in the Edge feels modest compared to other supershoes, with the forefoot curve starting quite late—especially noticeable when set against rivals like the Hoka Cielo X1 2.0.

At the heel, the curvature is very subtle, and we believe ASICS could have shaped it a bit more aggressively in the Edge, similar to what they did in the Paris series.

Aside from the foam setup, the biggest difference in the Edge compared to the Sky is its carbon plate.

The design leans toward a classic layout with a curved forefoot, though it’s less dramatic and spoon-shaped than supershoes like the Vaporfly. Its inclined geometry strongly promotes a rolling-forward motion, especially for heel and midfoot strikers, and with FF Leap sitting on top of the plate, the response feels remarkably energetic when reaching the toe-off phase.

When ASICS introduced the Sky and Edge, it was a bold concept that offered two supershoes built for different running styles instead of a single option. The Sky was aimed at “stride” runners, while the Edge targeted those with a quicker cadence.

The outsole features small changes between the Edge (black) and Sky (red).

Still, we noticed certain overlap. Some Edge models suited stride runners who landed on the heel, while the Sky sometimes worked better for cadence runners striking midfoot. The distinction wasn’t always clear, but with this version ASICS has finally drawn the sharpest line between the two.

From our perspective, the simplest way to decide is this: heel strikers or those who enjoy a smooth heel-to-toe roll should pick the Edge, while runners who love smashing the forefoot and getting catapulted back—like with an Alphafly—will feel right at home in the Sky.

When we first tested its sibling, the Metaspeed Sky Paris, we described the fit as snug, just like stepping into a Ferrari. And the Edge Tokyo delivers a very similar feel.

Our replica of the interior confirmed only 89.4 mm of width. This creates a race-ready sensation and even enhances stability slightly, but it’s clearly not a good match for runners with wide feet.

The Edge sets itself apart from the Sky in the toebox area, measuring 73.0 mm in our callipers. This makes it a slightly roomier option, which comes as welcome news for tackling longer distances.

With 28.1 mm of vertical space, the toebox height offers plenty of room.

This daily-trainer-like clearance helped us to avoid hotspots, and it reflects ASICS’ recent trend of designing shoes with generous vertical clearance to reduce unwanted pressure, like in the Noosa Tri 16.

In the Metaspeed Edge Tokyo, ASICS retained their ASICSGRIP compound and extended rubber coverage along the lateral forefoot compared to the Sky, a detail we highlighted earlier in this lab review.

The result is an outsole that delivers exceptional traction on both dry and wet roads. When we tested it, we measured an impressive 0.74 score (well above the Sky’s 0.66) placing it among the rare supershoes with a truly world-class outsole.

We found that the Metaspeed Edge Tokyo outsole combines a thin layer of ASICSGRIP rubber with exposed foam to reduce weight. The forefoot features a wide black rubber panel with oval-shaped cutouts arranged in a grid. As we noted, the lateral side has more rubber than the Sky, which is the key for its improved traction.

At the heel, most of the foam remains uncovered, except for a small strip of white rubber on the medial side for reinforcement, along with black rubber that extends into the midfoot and heel through the lateral side.

One of the clearest differences between the Metaspeed Edge Tokyo and the Sky Tokyo is stiffness. We discovered in our lab tests that the Sky (21.1N) is 33% more rigid thanks to its flat carbon plate, which is harder to bend than the Edge’s curved plate, which delivered a 15.8N score. 

For runners looking for a more forgiving ride, the Edge feels better underfoot—and this is a good example of our lab testing standing out. Running with both shoes gives impressions, but precise numbers turn them into crystal-clear comparisons, and you get the full picture for better decisions.

The ASICS Metaspeed Sky Tokyo comes in at an ultra-light 5.60 oz (159g), ranking among the lightest supershoes ever made... and it’s even slightly lighter than the Sky Tokyo! This weight reduction from its sibling comes mainly from a narrower forefoot area.

What makes this achievement so remarkable is the balance between its feather-light weight and massive 40 mm stack height. Three years ago, such a combination would have been unthinkable, yet here it is in a supershoe priced on par with its main competitors.

The MOTIONWRAP 3.0 upper may seem like a small update from version 2.0, but we discovered it shaves a bit of weight while unlocking superb airflow across the entire shoe.

During our smoke test, the Edge Tokyo performed flawlessly. It secured a perfect 5/5, proving how effectively the upper manages extreme heat generated during high-intensity racing.

The construction is razor-thin, with ASICS adding perforations not only in the forefoot but also in the tongue and heel. This design channels airflow from multiple angles, unlike most competitors.

We also observed that ASICS extended these features to the insole. By drilling ventilation holes and reducing material, they managed to make it lighter and more airflow-ready than a standard one.

Viewed under our digital microscope, the structure appeared really precise, with evenly distributed gaps that balance ventilation and strength. This meticulous attention to detail makes the high price point feel easier to digest.

Finally, ASICS added some foam padding in the heel, which is cool.

Unlike stripped-down supershoes that sacrifice comfort in this area, this thoughtful touch provides a more comfortable fit without compromising weight.

We believe the Edge Tokyo provides better stability than the Sky Tokyo for heel strikers, largely due to the increased use of firmer FF Turbo+ in that area, which enhances support. The heel also features a new flared design that differs a lot from the Paris version. While it may not look as sleek or refined from behind, it proves far more effective.

On the other hand, we found that the Sky’s wider forefoot and flat plate design could be more appealing for midfoot and forefoot strikers, as our lab data and running experience both suggest it delivers a more stable platform in that area.

The carbon plate in the Edge Tokyo makes it slightly less stiff than the Sky, yet it still earned a perfect 5/5 in our torsional rigidity test after we completed our manual evaluation.

The rear of the shoe shows minimal structural support, scoring only 1/5 in our test. This result is consistent with most supershoes, where a firm heel counter is rarely part of the design.

The Edge delivers slightly less stability yet greater agility up front, thanks to its narrower forefoot measuring only 108.0 mm. In comparison, the Sky offered more room in this same test at 114.9 mm.

ASICS gave both Metaspeed siblings the same ultra-narrow 75.0 mm heel. In the Edge, a touch more width could have helped rearfoot strikers, but instead they just kept it really focused on performance and weight savings above everything else.

After checking the Dremel’s impact on the upper, we gave the Edge Tokyo a 1/5 score. No surprise here, considering the ultra-lightweight build of the upper. And while this outcome makes sense, it remains a poor result nonetheless.

The heel padding tells a very different story than the fragile toebox—it scored a perfect 5/5 for durability. This makes it a solid choice for triathletes who may go sockless without worrying about early wear from friction.

We measured the damage from the Dremel tip at just 0.9 mm. The black ASICSGRIP rubber held up well in our Dremel test, proving it can deliver at least a decent lifespan. 

With just 1.4 mm of rubber, the outsole is clearly thin and not built for maximum durability. But honestly, would either of us trade its super-low weight for extra grammes? Probably not.

We discovered that the insole reflects the shoe’s racing identity, offering a slim profile at only 3.4 mm.

We found that the insole is fully removable, which isn’t always the case with supershoes. Swapping it for a standard option from almost any other shoe, though, would immediately make the toebox feel even tighter.

Alternatively, runners needing more space can remove the insole. This frees up a few millimetres in the forefoot for a roomier fit, though it's a risky move that can lead to blisters or hotspots, so proceed with caution and do a lot of testing before any race.

When we tested the foam’s softness after leaving the Edge Tokyo in our freezer for 20 minutes, we found just a 9% increase in firmness. That highlights one of the main benefits of a premium compound like A-TPU compared to a standard foam like EVA.

The ASICS Metaspeed Edge Tokyo comes with no reflective elements at all.

We discovered that the Metaspeed Edge Tokyo pushes weight savings to the extreme, with its tongue measuring just 0.6 mm and being one of the thinnest ever recorded in our lab.

We also found that the Metaspeed Edge Tokyo uses a traditional lacing setup with evenly spaced eyelets. Its Vaporfly-style laces never slipped during our runs and are on par with the high price of the shoe.

In this shoe, the tongue isn’t gusseted, which may concern runners who often deal with unwanted tongue movement.

If you prefer zero risk of shifting, a supershoe with a sock-like design such as the Saucony Endorphin Elite 2 offers a much more secure fit.

The Sky Paris comes with a £20/€20 price bump compared to the previous Edge, and of course, that’s never the kind of update you want to hear. That said, with the introduction of FF Leap foam, a clear jump in energy return, and a lighter build, we believe that this time, the added cost feels completely justified.

ASICS went minimal in the heel, skipping the finger-loop tab to save weight and stripping back materials to keep the design as lightweight as possible.