ASICS Metaspeed Edge Review: A Racer for the Middle Distance
By Chief Editor/Founder Matt Klein & Senior Contributor David Salas
Editors Note: Our review of the new update, the Metaspeed Edge+ is out now. Read here.
ASICS has been aggressively innovating pushing their product forward the last few years. Our team found the ASICS Metaspeed Sky (Review) to be a top contender among carbon plated racing shoes in 2021. I (Matt) have used them for almost all races this year, including several off road events (which I would not normally suggest). The ride took some getting used to, but is extremely fast over a variety of distances once the shoe breaks in. Combined with incredible durability (mine are still going strong at 130 miles), I was excited to get my hands on the Metaspeed Edge. However, while the ride is interesting and fills the spaces not touched by the Metaspeed Sky, some sizing issues keep the Edge from being as good as it could be.
Specifications for the Asics Metaspeed Edge (per Running Warehouse)
Weight: 6.5 oz (men's size 9) 5.7 oz (women's size 8)
Stack Height: 34 mm / 26 mm
Drop: 8 mm
Classification: Carbon Plated Racing Shoe
RUNNING SHOE SUMMARY
Matt: The ASICS Metaspeed Edge is smooth carbon fiber plated racing shoe for those that want the same technology as other super shoes in a slightly lower stack option. Featuring full length FlyteFoam Blast Turbo, a well rockered sole and a carbon plate, the Metaspeed Edge works best for faster and shorter workouts/races. Although it features a similar upper to the Metaspeed Sky, the Metaspeed Edge clearly fits a half size small. Those interested in one of the lightest super shoes out there should go a half size up, but once the sizing is figured out you will have a comfortable but aggressive mile to 10k racing shoe.
David: The ASICS Metaspeed Edge is the competition footwear sibling to the Metaspeed Sky. In this conversation of stride versus cadence runner, the Edge is aimed at the cadence runner. For whatever the verbiage is worth, it can be noted they have unique rides. The Metaspeed Edge feels much closer to the ground with less reliance on the bounciness of the midsole for the transitions. The edge has a lot of responsiveness but it is dependent on the speed and force you put into the shoe through the midfoot and forefoot. The heel mechanics seem to be much less involved with edge. In some ways it seems like a 5k/10k counterpart that has worked quite well for me on the track or shorter speedier sessions.
FIT
Matt: The ASICS Metaspeed Edge fits me a half size small in my normal men's US size 10. I would encourage anyone interested in this shoe unless you are between sizes (note: I will be sending these to David, who is a size 9.5 for further review). Despite being a racing flat and fitting short, the Metaspeed Edge has a surprising amount of room for this type of shoe. The fit is slightly wider for a racing flat, particularly in the heel and forefoot. The midfoot is more normal width, although the laces make this adjustable. The tongue is free floating and like the Metaspeed Sky must be laid down before you start running. The laces are normal to slightly thin, so tying them too tight can put a little extra pressure right at the talocrural joint/ankle. Like the Metaspeed Sky, there is a light toe guard up front. While I have worn the Edge sockless, I would not recommend this due to the toe guard, which did give me blisters. This me be different if I had a 1/2 size up, but I would encourage most people to use socks with this shoe (and go up a half size). That being said, the heel collar is extremely comfortable against bare skin and gave me no issues. There is a very minimal heel counter in the rearfoot. It is very flexible and did not cause any problems despite my right Achilles insertion being flared up right now. Outside of the sizing issue, the upper is thin and very comfortable for being a faster racing shoe.
David: Disclaimer: I am wearing Matt's size 10. The shoe definitely runs at least a half size small fitting my normal 9.5/9 foot quite well with length and still having a performance fit throughout. The heel and midfoot are normal width throughout with a forefoot region relatively wide for a racing shoe. The mesh upper does not have much stretch to it but stays breathable and locks the foot down well throughout. There is a flexible heel counter that really just holds material and the security is pretty good in that region. The tongue is thin with minimal padding and definitely race ready. The toe guard is integrated well and did not provide any problems or irritation. The material itself is a synthetic feeling mesh that has a very small amount of stretch to it after a use or two but really holds its shape well. Overall I am a really big fan of the fit and upper outside of the obvious length issue. If they clean up the length issue I think they hit the racing upper on the money with the Edge.
PERFORMANCE
Matt: The ASICS Metaspeed Edge is a racing shoe with a unique twist. There is a full Flytefoam Blast Turbo midsole and with a carbon plate embedded within. Unlike some of the other super shoes, the Edge has a slightly lower stack height. Despite the lower stack height, there is a more traditional (now) 8 mm drop. I did not really notice this due to the solid heel bevel and toe spring. There is a well integrated rocker, with both a solid heel bevel and what feels like a slightly earlier and more gradual toe spring compared to the Metaspeed Sky. While the Sky has a very aggressive ride, the well integrated rocker makes the Edge comfortable during easy running (something the Sky does not do for me). Despite the short fit mentioned above, warm ups and cool downs have been very comfortable in the Edge due to smooth ride and more normal midsole height. I have taken the Edge on several easy shorter runs and the ride does well at the pace, which is rare and surprising for this type of shoe.
The other area it shines is during fast workouts. Short reps, strides and shorter time trials are where the extremely light weight and responsive ride come alive. I have used this shoe for all of the above and the midsole, geometry and plate work best there. It feels like some of the older, super light racing flats, but with a bit more protection and speed. The rocker and plate makes for a quick transition while the more "normal" stack height does not get in the way at high speeds. At longer sustained efforts this shoe starts to struggle. Anything higher than 5k-10k pace I have a difficult time maintaining a consistent pace. Uptempo paces are ok, but make me want to slow down to an easy pace or run all out. Why this happens I am not sure, but the ASICS Metaspeed Edge appears to do all the things the Sky does not. It works well as an all out speedster from mile pace to 5k to 10k and is comfortable enough for easy running. The outsole appears to be just as durable as the Sky, with almost no wear except in my usual spot after 25 miles. The forefoot outsole has decent traction for a road shoe and those interesting in an XC flat may find that this is the best option of the carbon plated super shoes to use on dirt. I have run some trail in the Edge and found that while it does not have as good of traction compared to trail or XC shoes, the relatively lower stack height and traction in the forefoot grips well enough to be used on well groomed XC courses. So those people discovering that XC flats are a bit too much for their legs may want to try this one for the Fall season.
David: The Metaspeed Edge has a unique ride to it compared to other "super shoes". The Metaspeed Edge right off the bat sits a little bit closer to the ground and seems to have a less aggressive rocker design than many other models. It still has a beveled heel and toe spring, but the angles and apex's seem to be much less rounded. The close to ground feeling is also consistent with the plate. The transitions throughout seem much less influenced by the loading of the foam and midsole, but rather how fast and hard you push into the shoe. For me the rearfoot mechanics almost felt negligible where there was a small amount of foam deformation and floating sensation during the transition. You really don't notice anything about the shoe until you hit the midfoot. Once you hit the midfoot there is a noticeable firmness and bounciness through the forefoot as long as you load it. The shoe may feel a little flat at slower paces, but when the pace heats up and your legs are moving quicker and pushing harder the shoe's responsiveness really shows its colors. For me I had a little bit of a hard time with the Edge when doing longer road workout or tempo type efforts but really enjoyed it for the track. When running more around my 5k-10k paces and down the shoe actually has worked really well because I think I'm loading the midfoot and forefoot a little closer to what they wanted for the design. The lever and flex design of the shoe seems to be through the midfoot and forefoot whereas in the Metaspeed Sky there is a noticeable bounce and loading that comes from the heel. The midsole material in the Sky and Edge are both the same but the integration is very much different. With the increased ground connectivity I see the Edge being more that shorter distance companion for track workouts/races, potentially some XC action and racing as well whereas I see the Metaspeed Sky ranging for the longer distance efforts and road races. Of course you can still use either shoe for your desired distance and the Edge still has some protection for longer races as well, but for my preferred usage I wrote it out above.
STABILITY
Matt: The ASICS Metaspeed Edge is a neutral racing flat. As with most carbon fiber plated racers, the forefoot is extremely stable. The plate combined with the outsole flare makes for a very stable toe off and transition through the forefoot. There is a slight sidewall on the lateral aspect, so those supinating will have a little bit of guidance. The heel bevel and foam are very well integrated, which combined with heel flare make for a relatively stable rearfoot. The midfoot narrows, but isn't unstable. What helps the edge is that the transition through the midfoot is so quick I did not notice any issues with it. Those with mild stability needs will do well the Edge, particularly with it being closer to the ground. The overall sole flare does make it more stable, but unlike the Sky, the heel is closer to the ground and is far better grounded. So while this is a neutral shoe, the heel has better stability for those who did not find enough in the Sky.
David: The Metaspeed Edge isn't necessarily designed for stability but does provide a decent amount for a next generation running shoe. Because the shoe rides a little bit lower to the ground and has much more ground feel than many of the other counterparts it does give a greater sense of stability. The upper locks down well throughout and I had no problems with translation. The outsole is grippy enough to feel secure in most situations and I have had no problems with slipping. The heel still feels a little "rolly" but the rest of the platform is solid. There is also a lot of sole flaring through the forefoot widening that platform out and I actually really appreciated that. At faster paces I felt very stable transitioning through the forefoot.
THOUGHTS AS A DPT / FOOTWEAR SCIENCE
I am interested to hear more about ASICS's concept of Cadence vs Stride runners. There is supposedly some actual research studies coming out that will be submitted to peer reviewed journals that I am interested to read. However, this concept isn't completely new. One of the long standing "equations" for speed has been that it is a product of a runner's stride frequency x stride length. Essentially that those with a longer stride and a faster cadence should have the greatest speed. My understanding is that ASICS is classifying runners based on which one they tend to use more of. The exact language is that "Stride' runners tend to utilized a longer stride and more vertical oscillation to achieve their pace, thus they need a more cushioned and aggressively rockered shoe. Whereas those that are "cadence" runners tend to increase both their stride rate and length at the same time. With a higher cadence, they need less weight/shoe on their feet and a differently shaped plate to optimize their mechanics.
Image from Reddit
What is missing here is that the "speed" calculation is far more complicated than that. Just looking at stride frequency and length tells us nothing about the athlete's power production during the stance phase of gait, does not address mechanics, stability, aerobic/anaerobic capacity (depending on the race distance) and does not address the fact different runners that look the same at one point may completed change their motor pattern when you put them in a race situation or different environment. Also, just because you see a movement does NOT mean you can accurately predict anything else. Kinetics and kinematics are often two separate entities that are not always related. This comes from years of experience as a physical therapist where during a gait/movement evaluation I see something that makes me think there is weakness. Upon further testing I sometimes find that the person is not weak but may have a faulty movement pattern. Movement and strength are not always related, so treating this person with just strengthening may not change the faulty movement pattern (Willy & Davis, 2011). Changing the movement requires movement retraining. Of course if there are also underlying strength deficits those must be addressed first so the person can actually perform the movement in the first place.
This is not a criticism as it is a warning that life is not that simple. I do however appreciate that ASICS has create two very unique shoes that compliment each other well. May people are going to want a carbon plated, super foam racing shoe that doesn't have a high stack height. The only shoe to do this thus far is the Metaspeed Edge. Other runners may want a shoe that has decent traction and works well over the 5k distance and below. In my opinion, most of the super shoes out there are designed for longer distance races. The Edge is light and responsive enough actually be an effective short distance racing shoe. Additionally, many people are not doing well in the higher stack height shoes due to instability. The Metaspeed Edge is a great option for those people who don't want to be extremely high off the ground and want a slightly more traditional stack height (it is still 34/26 mm).
(For a more detailed description of I interpret "Stride vs Cadence" running as a "Hip vs Ankle strategy" please see my Thoughts as a DPT for the Metaspeed Sky HERE)
References
Willy, R. W., & Davis, I. S. (2011). The effect of a hip-strengthening program on mechanics during running and during a single-leg squat. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 41(9), 625-632.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Matt: My only major suggestion for the Metaspeed Edge is to fix the sizing issue. The lower to the ground ride solves the mild instability issues at the heel in the Metaspeed Sky. Additionally, the Edge does compliment the Sky in that it can do the things the Sky does not do nearly as well at. However, for $250 I expect sizing to be on point. The other minor suggestion like the Sky is to add a medial sidewall to compliment the lateral one.
David: I am in agreement with Matt here. The sizing is the main thing that needs to get addressed here with length and upper fit. Otherwise the shoe is really nice and does what it is intended to do. I would think maybe from a PR standpoint or a usage standpoint making the Edge different from the Sky by potential distances with both shoes capable of doing 10k and down or above, but specifying where the cadence may work and the stride in another. Like in the DPT section the ideology behind this is still a little muddy but it seems as though the Edge is a little more of a 10k and down shoe that can scale up if you need it to and you like that ride.
WHO THIS SHOE IS FOR
Matt: The ASICS Metaspeed Edge is for those who want a more traditional stack height super shoe with a smooth ride for races 5k-10k (and some easy paces if you really want). While there are sizing issues with the upper that require going up a half size for most, the upper is extremely light, breathable with a slightly wider fit for a racing shoe. There is a well integrate plated and rocker that make for a comfortable ride at easy paces and a very snappy and responsive ride at faster paces. The Edge does struggle at tempo/longer distance uptempo efforts for me, which is where the Metaspeed Sky tends to shine. While expensive, the two shoes do compliment each other well. For me, the Metaspeed Edge will work best for shorter races while the Sky works better for longer ones. Or, if you want less shoe, the Edge will work for you and if you are like me and slam your feet into the ground, the Sky might work better.
David: The ASICS Metaspeed Edge is a new generation racing shoe for those looking to have a super critical foam that still feels more connected to the ground underneath you. If you have a hard time with some of the softer rides out there and want to be a little more connected to the ground with a little less of a sharp rockered ride you will get with the Edge. There is still plenty of responsiveness but it is more dependent on the midfoot and forefoot loading/speed through the shoe. For that reason it has worked really well for me for track workouts and I could see it is an option for 5k/10k racing.
GRADING
Matt
Fit: B- (Very comfortable upper for a racing shoe but sizing issue requires a half size up)
Performance: B+ (Excellent for specific paces. Works best at all out paces and easy paces, but difficulty with those in-between)
Stability: A- (Lower to the ground ride improves stability, along with extensive sole flare and well integrated rocker)
DPT/Footwear Science: B+/A- (Interesting research but not completely sold on it yet. More peer-reviewed data is needed, so this score may change.)
Personal: B- (I really want to like this shoe but the sizing issue killed it for me. I will be sending it to David for a more accurate review on fit/feel)
Overall: B (A solid and comfortable ride for faster efforts and those who want a super shoe with a little less stack height. Definitely a more stable option especially for shorter distances. The sizing is off, so go a half size up unless you are between sizes)
David
Fit: B (Great dialed in upper for racing, but sizing definitely runs 1/2 to full size small. I'd order over normal size.)
Performance: B+ (Works really well for faster and quicker paces, though it is a little niche and feels a tad flat at slower paces and awkward at controlled uptempo paces)
Stability: A- (The heel still gets a little bit of a floaty sensation, but otherwise the connection to the ground is great and the sole flaring is very well integrated especially through the forefoot)
DPT/Footwear Science: B (I think the idea of creating a different shoe for different running strategies is really interesting but it almost seems to be more reliant on a hip v ankle strategy which can change within the same person depending on the pace or terrain. With that said I think it may be wiser to look at the effort level and pacing as this was way smoother at 5k-10k pacing for me than say half marathon or marathon.)
Personal: B+ (I think this shoe is really well done throughout once you get past the sizing issue. The only thing is that it is pretty niched for me with feeling smoother at faster track and road pacing. Even then I think I still may lean Metaspeed Sky if I was racing at that 5k/10k distance anyways. But it is really good for trackwork and you could definitely race in the shoe, I think the bouncy responsiveness may be more alive in the other companion from ASICS. So for shorter distances it could simply just be personal preference since they are both really responsive and done well.)
Overall: B (A well done new generation racing shoe that responds well to faster and harder loading through the midfoot and forefoot. For me, this means it runs really smooth on the track or at 5k//10k type pacing, but it has enough meat on it to take it to longer distances as well. This is definitely for those that want a little less softness and bounce from the foam and rather a connected feeling to the road and ground that responds to the forces they put into the shoe.)
VIDEO REVIEW OF THE METASPEED EDGE
Chief Editor Matt Klein offers his thoughts on the Edge vs. Sky and goes into further detail about his feelings on the shoes.
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