The Fast-R Elite 3 is PUMA'S top of the range, long-distance marathon super shoe. It's ultra light, it's made of PUMA'S most advanced midsole foam and it has a full-length carbon plate. It costs $300.
The Metaspeed Edge Tokyo is one of ASICS’ long-distance marathon super shoes. It also has ASICS’ best midsole foams and a full-length carbon plate. It costs $270.
This comparison will tell you which of these racers you should buy.
The midsole of the Fast-R 3 is made of NITRO ELITE foam, an A-TPU foam that’s incredibly lightweight. It compresses and it decompresses very fast. It has a soft, energetic ride.
The Metaspeed Edge’s midsole is dual-density- it’s made of FF Leap (A-TPU) on the top and FF Turbo+ (PEBA) on the bottom. The softer top layer is for energy return and comfort while the firmer bottom layer is for stability and durability. It has a medium soft, energetic ride.
Both of them have full-length carbon plates. The Fast-R’s plate is exposed in the midfoot to save weight while the Metaspeed Edge plate is hidden in the midsole. The plate of the Metaspeed Edge is stiffer than the Fast-R 3’ plate.
The Fast-R has a small rearfoot landing area so it’s better for midfoot or forefoot strikers. The Metaspeed Edge has a much bigger rearfoot landing area so it’s suitable for heel, midfoot or forefoot strikers.
Transitions are smoother in the Metaspeed than the Fast-R. The Metaspeed has a full ground contact outsole compared to the Fast-R that doesn’t have a midfoot.
If you need stability, the Metaspeed Edge is much more stable. It has a wider base and it has the midfoot section that the Fast-R doesn’t have. The Metaspeed is also better suited to courses with a lot of twists and turns.
The Fast-R is better suited to short distance races such as half marathons or 10K’s whereas the Metaspeed is better suited to longer races such as marathons because it offers more stability and support.
The Metaspeed Edge has better durability than the Fast-R. It has a more robust build and it has more rubber coverage so you can get more mileage out of the Metaspeed. Both racers have excellent traction.
The uppers of both trainers are very thin and lightweight. The Metaspeed has more padding in the heel but the Fast-R has more padding in the collar.
The Fast-R has a thinner tongue than the Metaspeed but both tongues are not gusseted so some tongue slide occurs during running. Heel lock down is great in both.
They both fit true to size but the Metaspeed Edge has the more spacious interior that’s better suited to high volume or wide feet. The Fast-R upper is a bit narrower and lower volume.
If you’re looking for a 10K or half marathon racer, the Fast-R Elite 3 is the better option. It requires very strong ankles and calves due to its streamlined design. If you’re a midfoot or forefoot striker, the Fast-R’s design is also better suited to you. It has a full A-TPU midsole so it provides an exceptionally high level of energy return.
If you’re looking for a marathon or ultra marathon racer, the Metaspeed Edge Tokyo is the better choice. It has more stability and support for when your form breaks down deep into a marathon. If you’re a heel striker, it’s also the better option. It has a more durable outsole and it’s $30 cheaper.
