REASONS TO BUY
Explosive responsiveness
Extremely well-cushioned
Super light
REASONS TO AVOID
Rough upper material
Lacks stability
Narrow toe box
Asics Metaspeed Sky Tokyo Review
An extremely fast and enjoyable shoe for race day and the hardest efforts, but it lacks stability and has a narrow toe box
Credit: Nathaniel Bailey
By Nathaniel Bailey ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ October 10, 2025
RELATED: The Best Running Shoes for Men
Our Verdict
On race day, the Asics Metaspeed Sky Tokyo is the shoe we recommend most. Thanks to a new dual-density midsole, this model adds a more energetic ride and noticeably improved cushioning compared to the last version. Compared to many other super shoes, these feel lighter, more explosive, and more directly engaged with the ground as you accelerate. Conversely, while incredibly light, the upper materials are somewhat rough and cause rubbing at the back of the Achilles tendon. Also, the toe box is narrower than that of key competitors, causing some unfortunate rubbing. While they may not work for every runner, we think this shoe is the best choice for race day.
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Asics Metaspeed Sky Tokyo is designed to be an extremely fast long-distance race shoe. The last version was our favorite super shoe thanks to its lightweight, propulsive ride, and ease of use. This version brings significant changes that make the shoe somewhat harder to run in, but significantly faster and more cushioned.
The Metaspeed Sky Tokyo is our go-to race day shoe.
Credit: Nathaniel Bailey
Cushioning
The Metaspeed Sky Tokyo's standout feature is its cushioning, thanks to a new, dual-density midsole. The top layer, closest to the foot, is the same foam as the previous version, Asics' FF Turbo Plus. Under that is a new foam, FF Leap, which is lighter, bouncier, and softer. The combination creates a shoe that feels very soft underfoot but explodes back as you push into it.
Although the Sky Tokyo is optimized for speed, the midsole compresses well under load. That saves your legs during long races.
Credit: Nathaniel Bailey
Our first impressions focused on three differences from the previous version: a significantly softer feel underfoot, a bouncier ride, and a more wobbly landing on turns. These differences are easily attributable to the new midsole. Overall, we think this is a step forward, and the cushioning of this shoe is seriously impressive.
Thanks to the 39 mm of stack height, there is a lot of insulation from the ground. This makes this shoe an excellent option for longer races. Anecdotally, we noticed less soreness at the end of long, hard sessions in this shoe compared to the previous version.
You can see how much the outside of our feet are pressed up against the upper in these shoes, which led to some bleeding over the course of testing.
Credit: Nathaniel Bailey
Upper Comfort
While it's extremely lightweight and supportive, the Metaspeed Sky Tokyo's upper is the shoe's weak point. That's largely due to the material choice and toebox fit, which caused some rubbing throughout testing.
Specifically, we noticed rubbing on the outside of the pinky toe on both feet. After a few runs in the shoe, we were able to find a sock and lacing combination that worked to prevent the rubbing. However, this is not a common issue in our testing and is easily attributed to the width and shape of the toebox. Other users also note this issue. Similarly, we did have some minor rubbing on the back of the Achilles tendon when wearing thin socks.
On the positive side, the rigid upper structure provides good support when cornering, and the insanely low weight is very noticeable as soon as you put the shoe on. It's pared down for peak performance, which is great, but may cause issues for some runners.
These shoes feel phenomenal in a straight line, but pretty sketchy on tight turns or on uneven grass.
Credit: Nathaniel Bailey
Stability
Most super shoes have a noticeable lack of stability, and the Metaspeed Sky Tokyo is no exception. Thanks to the soft and high midsole, this shoe does not offer much in terms of support or lateral stability. In fact, taking corners at high speeds in this shoe is unpleasant, and running on uneven surfaces feels a little risky. On the other hand, this is a super shoe meant to go fast in a straight line on pavement. We do not recommend this shoe for runners who struggle with weak ankles, pronation-related injuries, or who plan to race on uneven surfaces.
The Sky Tokyo is lighter than some track spikes, with far more midsole.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Weight
The Metaspeed Sky Tokyo weighs 6.11 ounces in a US Men's 10.5.
That makes it the lightest shoe we've ever tested, and it's noticeable on the run. It feels light, nimble, and fast.
We had no issues with grip across a range of conditions while testing the Tokyo.
Credit: Nathaniel Bailey
Traction
The ASICSGRIP outsole rubber is seriously impressive on tarmac. It can bite on cold, wet asphalt as well as dry ground, which isn't normal for a race shoe. However, the lack of lugs and road focus makes the traction less than impressive on crushed gravel paths or dirt roads.
Our lead tester loves the Tokyo for his most challenging workouts and races of any distance.
Credit: Nathaniel Bailey
Responsiveness
Responsiveness is one of the most important features in a super shoe, and the Metaspeed Sky Tokyo nails it. Thanks to explosive propulsion off the forefoot, increasing speed is easy. While it doesn't have quite as much road feel as the previous version, it compensates by giving back more energy as the foam compresses.
Overall, this shoe is ideal for racing at fast paces, feeling best when running faster than marathon pace. While we'd choose it for a marathon, the propulsive ride and low weight also make it an excellent choice for a 5K on the road or track.
Should You Buy the Asics Metaspeed Sky Tokyo?
If you're looking for a fast, no-holds-barred shoe for race day, then we highly recommend this shoe. It's the fastest shoe we've tested, and offers best-in-class performance. On the other hand, if you value support and stability in your race shoes, or are looking for a shoe that is equally capable of daily runs, we think there are better options.
What Other Running Shoes Should You Consider?
The Saucony Endorphin Pro 4 offers significantly more stability in a race-day package and will be a better choice for runners who value that support. If you're looking for a daily trainer that can handle fast running and easy mileage, then you should check out the Adidas Adizero Evo SL or the New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Compare Asics Metaspeed Sky Tokyo versus top competing products:
—Nathaniel Bailey
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