Asics Metaracer Multi-Tester Review
Asics often waits to jump onto new trends until they ready to put their own spin on it. The Metaracer is just that. The lightweight, carbon fiber plated racer is Asics answer to the direction many racing shoes are going in the current market. As with tradition though, they have stuck to what they know best: creating lightweight fast racing shoes that tend to be a little closer to the ground. The Metaracer features plenty of cushioning for a light racing shoe, features a unique upper designed for performance and a bottom loaded plate. A great racing shoe, but very different from the other max cushioned distance racers worth talking about.
$139.99 at Running Warehouse
Weight: 6.6 oz (men's size 9), 5.7 oz (women's size 8)
Stack Height: 30 mm / 21 mm
Drop: 9 mm
Classification: Mid Distance Carbon Fiber Plated Racing Flat
HIGHLIGHTS
Matt: The Asics Metaracer is a carbon fiber plated, lightweight racing flat featuring a snug fit and very breathable upper. The lightweight, lower density Flytefoam midsole provides plenty of cushioning, but the lower the ground ride makes this shoe best for the 5k to half marathon. A snugger fitting Japanese style take on the recent racing shoe design revolution, this one may be worth a look.
David: The Asics Metaracer is a lower stack carbon plated racing shoe that runs much lighter and quicker at top speeds than much of the competition. The Flytefoam midsole provides enough cushioning for longer efforts, though the lower amount of it makes it ideal from 5k to half marathon for most. Those who like lower profile shoes can take this to the full marathon. Overall a snug performance fit that with a design dialed in to go fast.
FIT
Matt: The Asics Metaracer fits true to size in my men's size 10. In typical Asics fashion, the fit is slightly long and narrow throughout. While running the shoe feels like it fits true as the upper fits comfortably. The forefoot and midfoot fit a bit snug, while the heel has a fairly average fit. There is an very small and flexible heel counter with a narrow strip up the back and two very low components circling the heel. It is small enough that I almost did not notice this shoe had one, so for those sensitive to this, the Metaracer is a great option. The weave around the heel collar is super comfortable against bare skin and while I would not suggest this for longer races, the upper does fit nicely against bare skin. This is one of the most breathable uppers I have experienced. Running in very hot weather (+100 degrees here in Southern California) has not been a problem and my feet have stayed cool. No that is not a USB port at the front, it is an additional vent for cooling. The upper is hydrophobic, meaning it repels water and sweat. There are very few if any reinforcements of the upper, so any direction other than running straight was a little concerning. Turning was not the most stable until I locked down the laces, which interact well with the upper. I did have to lace lock the shoe as the heel fit wider. Thus this shoe will easily stretch to accommodate narrow, medium and slightly wider feet. For wide feet though, it may be too snug and I have yet to find a 2E size on Asics Japan website.
David: The Asics Metaracer appears to fit true to size. I am a half size up and the shoe is a tad bit long because of this. The fit throughout is on the snug side like most performance type shoes. The heel is designed with minimal reinforcement with a strip to hold it together down the midline of the calcaneus. The width of the heel is normal, to perhaps slightly wide compared to traditional racers. I did not have any slippage and the upper held together just fine around the heel. The midfoot has a good lockdown and is normal to slightly narrow in width. The toebox is a little on the narrow side but of normal width for traditional low profile racing flats. The upper is breathable throughout and honestly feels pretty minimal. The tongue holds the dorsum of the foot well and spreads across pretty wide as it rises up the foot which seems to help with pressure when lacing the shoe tighter. The upper is very impressive and hard to beat, though the toebox might be a problem for some.
RIDE
Matt: Featuring lower density Flytefoam, a fully rockered sole and a bottom loaded carbon fiber plate, the Metaracer has a unique ride for an Asics shoe. This is the smoothest heel I have ever experienced from Asics. Called "Guidesole", the heel is rockered very well and provides a smooth place to land. The toe spring starts very early and facilitates both the ankle and forefoot rocker. The sole is very stiff thanks to the bottom loaded plate, but the overall rocker is very smooth. The lower density Flytefoam provides plenty of cushioning, although the ride does feel a little closer to the ground. The heel is very bouncy and smooth, which transitions into a slightly firmer and quick rolling forefoot. There is a 9mm heel drop listed, although this feels far lower thanks to the early stage rocker and significant heel bevel, so those sensitive to drop should not be worried.
David: I'd be lying if I didn't say it is unique. The shoe is very rockered and that is noticeable immediately whether walking or running. The plate is pretty prominent in the forefoot, but the rocker is so present that you feel the firmness and then just roll off of it. The heel is beveled well and has exposed midsole that helps with cushioning in that region. Like Matt said, the toe spring is very long and starts early. I really felt that and the shoe almost felt best from a heel to midfoot striking perspective. At controlled paces the shoe is very fluid through transition points, but for those going up onto their forefoots the shoe almost feels absent because of how large the toe spring is. I had no problem running 5k to marathon pace in these shoes, but when I got down to mile pace or "kicking" pace I started having a hard time driving. I also tend to run more anterior in the midfoot/forefoot. The ride is smooth and should work well for most, but a little awkward for those who land further up front.
STABILITY
Matt: Although the "Guidesole" rocker and the plate provide some guidance, the Asics Metaracer is a neutral shoe with no true methods of stability. The narrow sole/last and lower density/softer Flytefoam create more instability than anything and I could feel my midfoot hanging over the medial side of the shoe. The heel and midfoot are not the most stable due to those above factors. The forefoot is far better given the significant rocker, slightly firmer ride and slightly wider shape compared to the heel and midfoot. However, this is not a shoe for those who need even mild stability. For those with more narrow feet that fit the last, the platform may fit better and thus may be a bit more stable.
David: The "Guidesole" rocker that Asics created does a pretty good job of keeping the pathway linear. With that said the Metaracer is a racing shoe and there aren't necessarily any formal methods of stability implemented here. However, the lower profile of the shoe coupled with the really firm plate and midsole in the forefoot do create a more stable platform to lever from. This is most noticeable in the forefoot region though. The heel and midfoot are of normal stability and if someone requires more stability, this shoe is pretty minimal in those regions. The heel especially could be potentially problematic with the exposed midsole and really soft transition into the remainder of the firm shoe if someone is sensitive to heel stability.
SPEED
Matt: The Asics Metaracer is a fast shoe. The light weight, snug fit and closer to the ground ride makes this shoe best for workouts like fast intervals and tempo runs at the longest. The low density Flytefoam has some decent bounce that combined with the low plate and lower ride (compared to other recent distance racing shoes) makes it excel during faster and shorter distances. Race wise the Asics Metaracer will be best for most people from 5k to half marathon. Only the elite or experienced will be able to take this shoe up to the marathon given the lower to the ground ride. For me, the Metaracer is limited at longer distances due not being the most stable, but the speed is definitely there for shorter distances.
David: The Asics Metaracer is definitely one of the faster options out there due to its minimal yet protective build. The shoe would be a good option ranging from 5k to half marathon for me, and potentially marathon for those who like minimal shoes. At easier paces the shoe did not ride as well for me, but is just ok enough to warm up and cool down in, though if you have a trainer at hand I'd perhaps use those for those purposes. The shoe actually felt a little deterring at top speeds for me. When running around 60 second 400m speed or faster (which would be "kicking" speed for me at the end of a race) the toe spring felt like it got in my way. The shoe felt a little awkward when running 150's in them as well. Everything above 5k pace though the shoe was good.
DURABILITY
Matt: After >20 miles of both hard and easy runs, I am only seeing some light wear only on the exposed Flytefoam in the heel. The outsole material is very durable and should be handle a higher number of miles than most 5k-10k type racing flats. The Flytefoam has not changed in terms of responsiveness, although there are some theoretical concerns that the lower density may compress early. The upper has no signs of wear outside of a little dirt. I expect a very high number of miles out of the Metaracer on roads. The outsole has a great amount of traction on road (although make sure to lock down the upper). However, the smooth outsole limits this shoe to road only running/racing.
David: I have 20 miles to add to Matt's mileage. The shoe is holding up pretty well. There is some noticeable wear in the heel at the exposed section, but the forefoot appears to be holding up ok. There is some noticeable abrasion in the outsole, but nothing overly concerning. I would be more curious to see how traction holds up with mileage than the actual presence of the rubber since the grooves aren't very deep. Overall pretty good durability for a racing shoe though.
THOUGHTS AS A DPT
The full length rockered sole is very different for an Asics shoe, let alone a racing flat from them. While a few have begun to surface recently, this is the most pronounced example. The heel bevel feels so much smoother than the traditional Asics ride, while the toe spring starts early and is less aggressive than some of the earlier shoes like the Metaride, Glideride and others. The toespring in the Metaracer starts a little farther back compared to others, which means it may facilitate not just the forefoot rocker (toes) but also the ankle rocker (talocrural/ankle joint). For those with very stiff ankles, this component combined with the higher drop (although it still feels lower than 9mm to me) may be a great racing option for those with stiff ankles looking for a lightweight racing shoe.
The design of the upper is particularly airy. Several comments have been made that the goal of the design is to keep the temperature of the feet cool to improve efficiency. It is certainly true that as temperatures rise, running performances tend to suffer (El Helou et al., 2012). It is also well known that heat training can be just as difficult as altitude training, although the exact mechanisms are different (Saunders et al., 2019). The body certainly has to work harder in the heat as it performs best at certain temperatures, pH levels, etc (Homeostasis). What is not clear in the research is if keeping your feet cool during the heat or in normal temperatures can actually maintain or improve performances. This makes sense theoretically with high temperatures, but negates the fact that the feet only make up a small portion of the body's surface area and mass (this is the exact same issue we had with the barefoot/footstrike debate). In regards to internal body temperature and efficiency, some of the evidence suggests that runners may slow down toward the end of marathons regardless of internal body temperature (Lee et al., 2010). So while internal temperature and cooling may be important variables, how important they are compared to other factors like fueling, pacing, footwear mechanics, etc are unknown. Even more unknown is whether having an upper that supposedly keeps the foot cooler provides an advantage in anything but hot temperatures. In normal or cold temperatures there may be no (or a negative effect). So while I think this is interesting, I caution those thinking that cooling the feet will provide a distinct advantage, particularly in normal and stable weather conditions.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Matt: My major recommendations for this shoe are to improve the stability and to reconsider the midsole material and stack height for the general consumer. The Asics Metaracer is a great shoe, but for anyone except those with narrow, stable feet, this instability may cause some issues over longer miles. Hence the limitation to shorter distance races. If Asics wants to reach a larger consumer base, they need to improve the stability of the sole and potentially think about widening that base (particularly in the midfoot and heel). The other component is that higher stack is in right now. I personally like low to the ground racing flats and am happy to see one after it seems like most companies are moving away from them. However, if the Metaracer is to compete with other brands and appeal to consumers that seem to prefer more cushioning, they may want to think about increasing the stack height AND using a lighter and more resilient foam than Flytefoam (even if it is lower density). Otherwise this is a great shoe.
David: My recommendations for the Metaracer come from the fit and the geometry/build of the shoe. The upper is very snug throughout and has a toebox that will not agree with the masses. For those who like snug performance racers, yes, just not the everyday consumer. I also felt that with how stiff the forefoot midsole is, the toe spring did not need to be so large. If the foam was softer or had higher stack up front the shoe would have much more "pop" in that region on landing, but with it so low profile it ends up being a quick "roll". That isn't a bad thing, but the shoe ends up coming off very firm and a little difficult at top end type speeds faster than 5k speeds. I don't mind that it's low profile, I would just like the platform softened slightly in the forefoot, or to make it a little less long of a toe spring with a tad bit more of flexibility. The former would probably have the most noticeable effect though.
WHO THIS SHOE IS FOR (Conclusion)
Matt: For those looking for a 5k to half marathon, low to the ground racer with a snug and airy fit, the Asics Metaracer is a great choice. Featuring a full length rocker and an early toespring that should work well for those with mobility issues at the toes and ankles, the Metaracer has a fairly smooth ride. Although not the most stable shoe and limited at longer distances, those using it for shorter distances and intervals should be fine. A rare low to the ground, carbon fiber plated shoe, the Asics Metaracer is an interesting combination of old and new racing flat design.
David: The Metaracer is a shoe for a specific person. For those who like to run consistently paced quick races around 5k to half marathon, the shoe will deliver. The forefoot is very firm and a has a really long toe spring so the runner would have to like a firm forefoot with a rolling like sensation through toe off. The shoe is lower profile compared to many of the other plated shoes on the market and comes off with a nice weight reduction because of that as well. For those who like a significant rocker like sensation of "rolling" through the transition points, the Metaracer will deliver a consistent ride each step of the way.
GRADING
Matt
Fit 9 /10 (Snug fit, super breathable)
Ride 9.5 /10 (Smoothest Asics heel ever, good roll and bounce)
Stability 7 /10 (Narrow sole not the most stable. Offset slightly by rocker)
Speed 9.5 /10 (Great for 5k-half marathon, limited at longer distances)
Durability 9.5 /10 (Very minimal wear at >20 miles)
David
Fit 9.5/10 (Very breathable, snug toe box)
Ride 9.5 /10 (Smooth at controlled efforts, really long toe spring and extra firm forefoot however)
Stability 8.5 /10 (Forefoot great, heel and midfoot a little less with soft and narrow platform)
Speed 9.5 /10 (Great for 5k-half marathon. Above if experienced. Difficult at top speeds because over involvement from toe spring)
Durability 9 /10 (Noticeable wear though should last well for a racing flat)
Total Score: 90.5 % (M: 8.9 /10, D: 9.2)
Thanks for reading!
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TESTER PROFILES:
Dr. Matthew Klein is a 150 lb male with notable PRs of 14:45 for 5k and
2:32:44 for the full marathon. He typically runs 70-100 miles per week
and trains at a variety of paces from 8min per mile recovery runs to
4:40 per mile 1k repeats. He prefers firmer and responsive shoes with
snug heels and medium to wide toe boxes. He is particular to less
cushioned shoes and close to the ground shoes, but can handle a little
cushion when he gets beat up.
Dr. David Salas is a 135 lb male with notable PRs ranging from 3:54 in the 1500m to 1:08:36 for half marathon. He typically runs 60 miles per week and trains from about 7:30 recovery runs to fast shorter efforts at 4:30 pace. He normally prefers neutral shoes with a firmer ride, but is completely open to other types of shoes. He is a footwear enthusiast at heart and will always appreciate a high quality shoe when it comes around. For updates on training or testing, IG handle: @docsofrundavid
References
1. El Helou, N., Tafflet, M., Berthelot, G., Tolaini, J., Marc, A., Guillaume, M., ... & Toussaint, J. F. (2012). Impact of environmental parameters on marathon running performance. PloS One, 7(5), e37407.
2. Lee, J. K., Nio, A. Q., Lim, C. L., Teo, E. Y., & Byrne, C. (2010). Thermoregulation, pacing and fluid balance during mass participation distance running in a warm and humid environment. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 109(5), 887-898.
3. Saunders, P. U., Garvican-Lewis, L. A., Chapman, R. F., & Périard, J. D. (2019). Special Environments: Altitude and heat. International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, 29(2), 210-219.