Many brands now have two carbon plate running shoes in their lineup, usually at different prices. But Asics does it differently to everyone else, pitching the Asics Metaspeed Edge Paris and Asics Metaspeed Sky Paris as best-suited to different running styles because of the different shape of the carbon plates in their midsoles.
The shoes have similar specs, cost the same, and are both excellent racing shoes, but I still prefer the Asics Metaspeed Sky Paris despite the Edge Paris being theoretically better-suited to my high-cadence running style. Living in the Sky Paris’s shadow doesn’t help the Edge Paris, but it remains a top racing option that some might prefer the feel of to the Sky Paris.
Asics Metaspeed Edge Paris review: Price and availability
The Asics Metaspeed Edge Paris launched in February 2024 and costs $250 in the US, and £220 in the UK. The price is standard for a carbon super-shoe and less than the Nike Alphafly 3 or Hoka Cielo X1, though there are some cheaper options available like the Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 3.
Asics Metaspeed Edge Paris review: Design and fit
The Asics Metaspeed Edge Paris launched in the red color I tested, and is now also available in a yellow color with a unisex fit. I found that the shoe fit me well in my normal running shoe size, with a secure hold for racing, but if you like a lot of room around your toes you could go half a size up.
At 6.9oz in my US size 10, the Metaspeed Edge Paris is one of the lightest racing shoes I’ve tested, with one of the only lighter ones being the Metaspeed Sky Paris at 6.6oz in the same size.
The Edge Paris has the same stack height and drop as the Sky Paris, standing 39.5mm tall at the heel and 34.5mm at the forefoot for a 5mm drop. With past versions of the Metaspeed Sky and Metaspeed Edge, the shoes had different drops and stack heights, with the Metaspeed Edge+ having an 8mm drop, but Asics has made them the same with the Paris generation.
Upper
The Edge Paris has a lightweight and breathable Motion Wrap 2.0 upper, which holds the foot securely around the midfoot and heel without much padding at all. I’ve liked the Motion Wrap uppers on the Asics Metaspeed line since the original because they are barely noticeable at all on the run and don’t cause any rubbing or hot spots, and this remains the case with the 2.0 upper on the Edge Paris.
Midsole
The Metaspeed Edge Paris uses Asics’s FF Turbo+ foam for its midsole, which is lighter, bouncier and softer than the FF Turbo foam used on the previous versions of the shoe. Running through the midsole foam is a full length carbon plate.
This plate is more scooped and sits deeper in the midsole than the plate on the Sky Paris, and this is the key design difference in the shoes. The higher, flatter plate in the Sky Paris is meant to create a bouncier feeling for runners with a long stride, while the more scooped plate in the Edge Paris is meant to deliver more propulsion to runners with a high cadence who take more steps when they run fast.
You can feel a difference in the ride between the shoes, but whether they actually suit those running styles better is up for debate in my mind, because I’m certainly a high cadence runner who doesn’t bound at all. But I’ve preferred the Metaspeed Sky since the original, and that remains the case with the Sky Paris vs Edge Paris.
Outsole
The Metaspeed Edge Paris has an Asicsgrip rubber outsole that covers most of the forefoot with strips then extending back along the sides of the shoe. The back part of the heel is left exposed through, and this can get roughed up if you are a heel striker like myself.
I’ve not experienced any drop in performance as a result of this. I’ve run 50 miles in the Edge Paris and more than 100 miles in the Sky Paris and while the foam at the back of the heel is now discolored and has worn a little, the damage is only cosmetic, both shoes still feel as propulsive as ever.
Asics Metaspeed Edge Paris review: Running performance
I ran my marathon PR of 2:27 in the Asics Metaspeed Sky Paris earlier this year, and given the Metaspeed Edge Paris seems a similar shoe that should suit my running style better, I was very excited to test it out.
It’s a definite improvement on past models of the Metaspeed Edge, with a softer, springier ride thanks to the new midsole foam and higher forefoot stack height. It’s also lighter, and picking my feet up for fast reps and in shot races felt effortless. It’s also more comfortable now, and I noticed and benefitted from the extra forefoot cushioning on longer runs in the shoe.
I raced a 5K during my testing of the shoe, clocking 15:50, and the light, propulsive feel of the Metaspeed Edge Paris was perfect for the race. There’s probably only one other shoe I’d have preferred to be in, which is the Asics Metaspeed Sky Paris.
This is the problem for the Edge Paris; the Sky Paris is similar, but a little better. I did a track session using both shoes for three mile reps apiece, and this helped me to distinguish the difference in ride feel. The Sky Paris feels bouncier and gives me more uplift from the forefoot, while the bounce from the Edge Paris kicks in more around the midfoot for me, and the toe-off feels less explosive than on the Metaspeed Sky Paris.
Should you buy Asics Metaspeed Edge Paris?
The Asics Metaspeed Edge Paris is a fantastic racing shoe and an improvement on previous models in the line. However, one of the reasons for that improvement is that Asics has made it more like the Metaspeed Sky line, and I wonder if two shoes are really needed at this point.
I consider the Asics Metaspeed Sky Paris the best racer available, and even though I should get even more from the Edge Paris based on Asics’s claims about running style, I still enjoy the Sky Paris more and would recommend it ahead of the Edge Paris. If you can test both shoes, you might find the feel of the Edge Paris suits you better, but I think the Sky Paris is the one most runners will prefer.
Compared with other brands the Metaspeed Edge Paris competes with anything on performance, and has a similar feel to shoes like the Puma Deviate Nitro Elite 3 and Nike Vaporfly 3. The Nike Alphafly 3 is a softer, springer shoe that some might prefer for long events in particular, while the Hoka Cielo X1 is another high-bouncy and fun option, though expensive and much heavier than the Edge Paris.
