Asics Metaspeed Sky Tokyo Review

The FF Leap foam of the Asics Metaspeed Sky Tokyo is ultralight and springy, pairing well with a geometrically sculpted heel cup for an anatomically profound ride. Built for racing, the updates to the Asics Metaspeed Sky help runners channel power into their strides for optimal speed.

Cushioning

With a 35 mm heel stack and a 5 mm drop, the Asics Metaspeed Sky Tokyo's forefoot offers cushioning primed to rebound.

The Asics Metaspeed Tokyo is equipped with Asics' FF Leap cushioning that spans the entire midsole and serves a dual purpose. It acts as a springy launchpad for takeoff while also providing a soft crashpad for smooth and controlled landings. This cushioning is layered with Asics' FF Turbo Plus foam, creating a highly responsive undercarriage engineered specifically for speed and performance. Unlike the plush, forgiving cushioning found in everyday trainers, this system is stripped-down and high-octane, absorbing impact efficiently without slowing you down.

The shoe's lightweight geometry is designed to channel energy forward with every stride, softening each footfall while preparing your legs for explosive propulsion. The result is a running experience that feels fast, agile, and precise, making the Metaspeed Tokyo ideal for racers or runners seeking a performance-focused shoe. Every element of the midsole is tuned to enhance forward momentum, giving a sensation of effortless speed from start to finish.

Upper Comfort

The Metaspeed Tokyo features a whisper-light, highly breathable Asics' MotionWrap 3.0 upper that's remarkably airy yet retains secure lockdown and integrity.

The ultra-thin mesh is perforated, promoting airflow from heel to toe while maintaining seemingly invisible comfort. Though undeniably minimal, it hugs your foot with precision, offering a snug, race-day fit that lacks unnecessary bulk or cushion. Runners with narrower feet will appreciate its tailor-made feel. We enjoyed the secure midfoot and heel lockdown. The non-existent heel slippage helps deliver a secure, lightweight, and breathable ideal for shattering personal bests, not easing off on comfort.

Stability

The Asics Metaspeed Sky Tokyo introduces several tweaks aimed at enhancing stability without compromising its racing agility.

The dual-foam configuration helps create a more stable landing phase by anchoring the foot during impact. The Tokyo's wider platform, complete with a significant sole flare, works to resist unwanted, superfluous ankle motion, while the solid upper lockdown further reinforces stability. The FF Leap foam is squishier than the foams used in some racing shoes, and it softens the heel slightly. This can lead to a slight feeling of squirreliness in the rearfoot at slower paces. The plush foam can produce a somewhat unstable feeling ride in the heel for some runners, though we never had a true issue with this during our testing runs. Runners who want a true stability shoe will find the Metaspeed Sky Tokyo lacking, but runners who want a serious, race-ready powerhouse with a side of comfort will find as much ease and joy as we did in this shoe.

Weight

At just 4.44 ounces per women's size 6.5 shoe, the Metaspeed Sky Tokyo is incredibly light underfoot.

The updated Metaspeed Tokyo redefines lightweight racing shoes, shedding several ounces to become the lightest option in our entire roundup. This weight reduction enhances speed and agility, allowing runners to feel quicker and more explosive with every stride. The shoe's streamlined design combines performance-focused engineering with minimal bulk for racing efficiency.

Traction

To keep the weight of the Metaspeed Sky Tokyo low, Asics minimized the traction pattern.

While not a standout shoe on any variable surface, we experienced no issues with traction during our testing runs. We always recommend using racing shoes cautiously when ripping around street corners, but we have never had any close calls on dry roads. Wet roads and grass can be a bit more treacherous in a shoe with a fairly flat outsole, so we recommend running with care on those surfaces.

Responsiveness

The Metaspeed Sky Tokyo is a fun, well-cushioned, and powerfully responsive road racing shoe that excels in propelling runners forward. While slightly softer than the snappier, firmer plated options, it still ranks among the top picks for racing, thanks to its explosive forefoot propulsion that makes increasing speed effortless.

Though it offers slightly less road feel than its predecessor, the updated foam now delivers significantly more energy ballistic return, creating a trampoline-like ride that rivals the best supershoes on the market. Some pace-focused runners may appreciate a snappier approach to energy return, more like what was present in the prior version. The prior version was designed to increase leg turnover to create speed, while the Tokyo is primed to help runners elongate their strides as they up the ante.

Ideal for fast-paced runs, the Sky Tokyo shines at paces faster than marathon pace, but its combination of cushioning, low weight, and powerful energy return makes it equally suitable for road marathons, 5Ks, or track sessions. This shoe blends comfort, responsiveness, and high-octane performance into one thrilling package.

Should You Buy the Asics Metaspeed Sky Tokyo?

While the Asics Metaspeed Sky Tokyo is a top-contending racing shoe, it is not a shoe that is going to fit everyone's running style or budget. Sitting near the top of the pack in terms of price, the Metaspeed Tokyo is a worthy purchase if you are changing a personal record. If you want a women's road running shoe for friendly neighborhood runs, chasing your dog around the park, and maybe jumping into a local 5k, we have other recommendations that would make more sense for your lifestyle. Runners ready to up their running game and want a carbon-plated powerhouse will likely enjoy the tech-focused pep and prowess that the updated Asics Metaspeed Sky Tokyo offers.

What Other Road Running Shoes Should You Consider?

The most notable comparison in the world of racing shoes is the Nike Vaporfly 4. The Vaporfly weighs around the same and is outfitted with a powerful carbon plate. The Vaporfly rides slightly lower than the Metaspeed Sky Tokyo and offers a more forgiving profile. If a peppy shoe that is a bit more appropriate for daily training is what you're after, the New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5 is an energetic and more approachable option. Runners who want a balance of energy return and comfort needn't look beyond the Asics Novablast 5. The Novablast is a versatile runner that stays strong and full of pep from the first training run through race day.