The Metaspeed Edge Tokyo is the long-distance, ASICS carbon plated racer that's designed for heel strikers and cadence runners. It has a new midsole, outsole and upper and it costs $270.
The Metaspeed Edge Sky is the long-distance, ASICS carbon plated racer that's designed for forefoot strikers and stride runners. It also has a new midsole, outsole and upper and it costs $270.
This comparison will tell you which of these two racers you should buy.
The Edge Tokyo has a dual-density midsole with FF Leap on the top and FF Turbo+ on the bottom. FF Leap is a super soft and bouncy foam whereas FF Turbo+ is firmer and more supportive. It has a full-length carbon plate between the two foams.
The Sky Tokyo also has a dual-density midsole but the FF Turbo+ is on the top and the FF Leap is on the bottom. The makes the ride of the Sky significantly firmer than that of the Edge. It also has a full-length carbon plate between the foams.
The shape of the carbon plates in these two racers differ. The Edge has a scooped plate design that starts high in the heel and drips down sharply in the forefoot. The Sky has a flat plate design that sits close to the foot.
If you prefer a racer with a more prominent forefoot rocker, the Edge is the better option. The Edge’s scooped plate design makes the transitions feel more rockered. The Sky has a flatter ride due to its carbon plate that isn’t scooped.
The Edge has a more stable, more supportive ride than the Sky. It has the firmer foam at the bottom of its midsole so it has a more supportive base. The Sky has the soft foam at the bottom which makes it significantly more unstable than the Edge.
Heel strikers will prefer the Edge version because of its supportive, more stable heel. Heel to toe transitions in the Edge are faster for heel strikers due to the more prominent forefoot rocker. Forefoot strikers will prefer the Sky because it has a wider forefoot with more midsole foam in the forefoot to create more bounce.
When it comes to outsole durability, the Sky has the more durable outsole. It has exposed FF Leap foam that is softer and conforms to the ground during foot strikes. The Edge has exposed FF Turbo+ foam that’s firmer and chips/scrapes more easily.
The Metaspeed Edge Tokyo and Sky Tokyo have very similar uppers. They are both made of Motion Wrap 3.0 mesh which is super thin and extremely breathable. They have flat tongues with no padding and no gusset so you have to ensure that the tongue lies flat against the top of your foot when putting on the shoe. Foot lockdown is excellent in both of these racers.
They both fit true to size and they have spacious interiors which should be comfortable for even high volume feet. There are no reflective elements on these uppers which tells us that these shoes are designed specifically for racing in.
If you prefer a softer, more stable ride and you’re a heel striker, the Metaspeed Edge Tokyo is the version you should buy. The Edge is also better for you if you’re a cadence runner and you increase your cadence significantly when you pick up the pace. The Edge has a more prominent forefoot rocker if you want a forward tipping sensation during transitions.
If you prefer a firmer ride and you’re a forefoot or midfoot striker, the Metaspeed Sky Tokyo is the version for you. If you increase your stride length significantly when you pick up the pace, the Sky Tokyo is also the version you should pick. The Sky has the more durable outsole but it has a less supportive, less stable ride.
