ASICS – MetaSpeed Sky Paris Review – The Lightweight Race Shoe

Stack Height, Drop, Weight and Price

The first noticeable difference about the new Metaspeed Sky Paris is the weight. It’s down by 22g and whilst that is down by around 10% from the previous version, the shoe simply feels incredibly light in your hands and more importantly, on your feet!

Most of the weight saving comes from the new Motion Wrap upper 2.0, an open-knit design which ASICS say not only reduces weight but makes the shoe 8% more breathable. This is noticeable, although perhaps more so because it’s been rather cold and very windy here in the UK and I was very aware of the wind blowing in through the mesh!

The upper is light and breathable, but as is sometimes the case with similar uppers I found it to bunch a little in the forefoot. The overall fit is true to size and the fit in the heel and midfoot area is superb. I also like the laces, which are a flat, ‘bobbled’ design similar to those found on the Nike Vaporfly. They sit neatly across the instep and tie very securely.

Of course, the main part of the shoe is the midsole and carbon plate combination and here, it’s the best yet from ASICS. Compared to other top-tier contenders in this segment, the previous version of the Metaspeed Sky was a little firm, but here it’s a different story.

The new FF BLAST TURBO PLUS midsole foam is softer, lighter and bouncier than before. From the moment you pull the shoes on it’s a noticeably improved fit and for me, I simply couldn’t wait to try them.

The full-length carbon-fibre plate has been made wider in the forefoot to improve toe-off and again, it’s instantly noticeable. It feels more stable and planted at toe-off, giving a balanced footing and somewhat stronger take-off.

Performance

After reading about the new Metaspeed Paris I was eager to run in them as soon as possible after they arrived. As is usually the case nowadays, particularly around carbon-plated racing shoes, we hear about the shoes weeks or even months in advance and there’s usually plenty of speculation about how a new model might be different and improved. That was the case with the Metaspeed Paris and images appeared online several weeks before their release.

On taking the shoes from the box and giving the midsole the initial ‘squeeze test’, they felt softer and springier as well as lighter.

The fit was great, true to size in length and as mentioned earlier, felt perfect in the rear and midfoot, hugging it perfectly. The volume of the shoe in the upper was a little big and caused a slight bunching in the mesh, but I find this to be the case quite a lot. Maybe I have a slimmer or low-volume foot or maybe it’s the nature of the mesh, but there is a little bunching around the bottom of the laces. It’s not a deal breaker and I usually solve the issue by wearing a slightly thicker sock.

My first run in the shoes was a Parkrun (weekly 5k timed event) at Morecambe, a seaside town on the West coast of Northwest England. It’s an event I’ve run a few times, but I usually watch the weather conditions when heading there as, being on the coast the wind can be strong at times. On this occasion, conditions were great and with the course taking place on the seafront promenade, it’s a smooth and flat surface that’s perfect for testing racing shoes.

After an easy jog in the shoes (straight from the box), I lined up and awaited the start. As we surged away the shoes experienced their first taste of speed. They delivered straightaway. They felt incredibly springy. The soft midsole foam gave a great balance of cushioning and response with the forefoot combination of the FF BLAST TURBO PLUS foam and carbon plate feeling stable and giving a very positive toe-off.

 As I went through the opening mile in 5 minutes and 30 seconds I was enjoying the ride enormously. The middle mile in a 5k is all about settling down and waiting for the long final push. Here we reached a turnaround point and with the wind now behind us, the pace increased. 

I lengthened my stride and picked up the speed another notch. The shoes responded perfectly and after another 5:30 for mile 2, I covered the last mile in 5:20 with the final time being 16:59, one I was very happy with, not having raced since the Berlin Marathon in September.

Throughout the 5k I couldn’t help but be impressed by the shoes, the springiness was almost bringing a broad grin to my face, such was its effect.

With a Marathon looming on my horizon (Manchester Marathon, UK, 14th April) my thoughts turned to my marathon shoe choice and the METASPEED SKY PARIS jumped right to the top of current contenders.

Next on my plan was a long, marathon effort tempo. I ran a similar session a few weeks before my last couple of marathons and it gave me a good feel for my fitness level. I wore the METASPEED SKY PARIS again for this session and set out with the aim of running just under six-minute mile pace for at least 13 miles and up to 16 miles. 

It was a cold day so I was wearing ‘full gear’ (long tights, hat, gloves and a couple of shirts) but away I went. As has been the case for what feels like months here in the UK, the wind was again very strong (around 17mph) and my initial few miles were into the full force of it.

The shoes again felt soft and springy and almost made the miles feel much easier than they ought to be. A couple of miles in just outside 6 minutes were followed by a couple just under 6 before I turned to have the advantage of the wind at my back. Having settled into a nice rhythm, I lengthened my stride and once again the shoes responded. It’s like these shoes just want to go fast.

I keep abreast of lots of shoe reviews and often find myself amazed when reviewers express their disappointment with a shoe after logging a few easy miles in them. It’s more often the case with racing shoes. Let’s be honest here, the Nike Alphafly for example was designed specifically for Eliud Kipchoge to run a 2-hour marathon. Okay, many people will find some benefit from the shoe, but it’s always going to feel a little different when travelling at half that speed.

With the METASPEED SKY PARIS, it’s a similar story. The shoe simply feels at its best when going fast. In fact, for me, when it’s going faster than 6-minute miles it feels amazing. It’s responsive, springy and bouncy, in fact, it’s everything some people complained about during the development of carbon-plated shoes. It’s like this shoe is the very epitome of a cheat shoe such is the level of spring it provides.

I continued at marathon effort and hit thirteen miles in bang on an hour and 18 minutes, having averaged 6-minute mile pace and then continued for a final three miles to round out my effort. The shoes delivered perfectly. No hot spots, no rubbing, no blisters and moved into the top spot as my possible race day shoe.

Comparisons

We’ve had a lot of carbon racing models launched this spring so as far as comparisons go, I’ll keep things to a simple summary.

The Brooks Hyperion Elite 4 feels a little firmer but as responsive at toe-off. The firmer feel of the Brooks makes it a 5 to 10k shoe whereas I feel the ASICS remains more comfortable over longer distances thanks to a softer ride.

The Mizuno Rebellion Pro is again better at shorter distances purely due to its much more aggressive nature.

The HOKA Cielo X1 is a great, ‘fast’ shoe, but loses out to the ASICS because of the weight, the ASICS being a not insignificant 78g lighter! A closer competitor from HOKA would be the Rocket X2, it has a similar feel to its cushioning and feels pretty close in terms of ride. 

Another very close contender would be the New Balance SC Elite V4. After a couple of runs in both shoes, I’d edge towards the ASICS having the lead but to be perfectly honest I now feel like I need to cover a few more miles in the New Balance before calling a winner between these two.

It’s a similar story to the Nike Vaporfly. I wore the Vaporfly in Berlin last year and had intended to go with them again in April, but having been wearing the new launches from all the other brands I’ve almost forgotten when the Nikes feel like and need to revisit them before making my marathon shoe choice.

My Verdict

In conclusion, it’s the third time lucky for ASICS and for me with the METASPEED series. This update is the best yet and it’s thanks to the new midsole foam and its lighter, softer and bouncier feel.

It always seems a little strange, almost childish to describe shoes as bouncy, but there really is no better way to describe the feel of the METASPEED SKY PARIS. It’s bouncy and as you run it feels incredibly springy. It’s so light are well-fitting that it wraps around the foot like a sock and it creates such an energised feel that it brings a smile to my face every time I wear it!

It's rare that I try a shoe and instantly feel such a connection to it, but that’s the case here. It’s not 100% perfect, that slight bunching in the forefoot upper means I’ve docked it half a point, but it is very nearly a ten out of ten shoe.

My only issue now is do I wear it for my next marathon? Watch this space!