ASICS Metaspeed Sky Tokyo vs HOKA Cielo X1 v3

Ride profile: maximal cushion , neutral stability .

• Both reviewers consider the Metaspeed Sky Tokyo one of the top two to three carbon plate racing shoes currently available, praising the improved FF Leap foam for delivering a lighter, bouncier, and more responsive ride than the already-excellent Sky Paris predecessor. Minor downsides include reduced stability compared to the Paris and typical ASICS outsole durability concerns.

  Ride:Dual-layer FF Leap and FF Turbo Plus midsole provides a soft, bouncy, and highly responsive ride with excellent energy return. Lighter and bouncier than the Metaspeed Sky Paris predecessor. Plate engagement is easy and provides strong propulsion off the toes. Not the most stable shoe due to the soft foam wedge at the heel, but not a major concern for most runners.

  Fit:True to size for both reviewers. Good room around the toes and forefoot, slightly more snug than ASICS training shoes like the Nimbus. Comfortable lightweight Motion Wrap upper with good heel and midfoot lockdown. Midfoot has a bit more give than typical race shoes.

  In their words: "great compact race shoe" · "really fast, really fun" · "not a particularly stable shoe"

  — The Run Testers , 87 mi tested , source

• Kofuzi considers the Metaspeed Sky Tokyo an excellent marathon racer that combines cushion and speed effectively, holding up well through 100 miles with consistent ride quality and plenty of life remaining.

  Ride:Two-foam setup (FF Turbo Plus on top, aliphatic TPU on bottom) delivers excellent impact absorption with strong snapback. Good balance of softness and bounciness that has remained consistent through 100 miles. Feels light and fast without sacrificing cushion.

  Fit:Upper feels comfortable for long durations while maintaining a snug, locked-in feel. Most comfortable racing upper from ASICS yet. Slight curling of heel collar edge material but no functional wear.

  In their words: "lightweight and fast yet cushioned racing shoe" · "great combination of cushion and speed" · "balance of softness and bounciness"

  — Kofuzi , 100 mi tested , source

• An ultralight, wildly bouncy racer best suited to lighter runners with good form retention; the reviewer personally would pick it over the Pro 5 given his light build and the shoe's dramatic weight savings.

  Ride:Wild, exciting trampoline-like bounce from compressive, squashy Flight Foam Leap under a flatter plate; bounce engages more with harder foot strikes. Ride is unpredictable and not all that consistent across the foot.

  Fit:Very minimal upper with thin materials, especially on the tongue; no sidewalls and no overlays in the toe box. Narrow shoe, especially in the heel. Serrated laces come as stock and are needed to dial in lockdown. No heel slip.

  In their words: "wild and exciting bounce" · "It's almost like a trampoline" · "much narrower shoe from AS6"

  — EDDBUD , source

• The faster of the two Metaspeed shoes for the reviewer — a genuinely racy, responsive shoe best suited to shorter race distances from 5K up to half marathon.

  Ride:Massive slab of the new ATPU Leap Foam makes it feel extremely bouncy, responsive, light, and fast — designed for stride runners with a flat plate situated higher in the midsole. The more aggressively the reviewer ran, the more the shoe responded.

  In their words: "felt a lot more racy than the Edge" · "faster shoe out of these two"

  — FORDY RUNS , source

Ride profile: maximal cushion , neutral stability .

• The Cielo X1 3.0 is a top-tier race shoe with a wild, squishy, and explosive ride that edges out the Fast R3 on bounce and cushioning; both reviewers would reach for it for races up to the half marathon.

  Ride:Soft, highly compressive and bouncy midsole with an aggressive rocker that throws you forward; more cushioned and forgiving than the Fast R3 but slightly less stable

  Fit:Snug race-hugging fit, narrow toe box with limited clearance at the front; true to size recommended, possibly half size up for marathon distance

  — The Run Testers , 62 mi tested , source

• A lightweight, fully-kitted racer with PEBA and a carbon plate, optimal for midfoot/forefoot strikers.

  Fit:Stripped down, snug upper designed for racing

  — Kofuzi , source

• A pure race-day shoe now (v1 was a fun super-trainer), lighter at 7.5oz and bouncier than ever. Thomas A / Robbie B → green grade. Robbie misses the trainer-ish feel of the original.

  Ride:Both PEBA layers are now the same softness/durometer (vs. soft-over-firm in v2), making this softer and bouncier. Bounce is the magic — feels higher-stacked than 38mm because of the rebound. New plate has cutouts but no wings; less stable than v2 despite removed cutout — fun at faster paces, dicey on slick conditions. Aggressive midfoot/forefoot rocker, no longer fun at easy pace like the original.

  Fit:Offset/asymmetrical sawtooth laces give a secure lockdown. Snug through the midfoot/throat but enough toe space for toe spread. Heel has minimal padding — little nubs don't lock in great. Thomas felt between sizes. Good for triathletes due to hydrophobic upper.

  In their words: "it's a straight racer now" · "rewards you for going out there and having fun" · "like a tennis racket"

  — Believe in the Run , source

• Massively improved over the v2 (which Fordy couldn't run in due to the medial cutout). Bounce, rhythm, and outsole grip all delivered a 7-minute PB. Heel instability and lateral lace pinch are real concerns for the marathon distance.

  Ride:Rode to a 7-minute course PB at a hilly half marathon (1:36) on a muddy, slippery, hilly course. Foam + plate combo gives a great rhythm at marathon goal pace (7:20–7:30/mi). Outsole grip exceeded expectations on terrible road conditions. Heel section is unstable — the cutout/bevel at the back means heel strikers feel unsupported, especially on downhills.

  Fit:Anatomical/angled lacing pinches across the foot — hard to dial in over a marathon distance. Loosen for comfort and it feels too baggy; cinch and it pinches the lateral side. Avoid if wide-footed.

  In their words: "nice rhythm with the shoe" · "took everything that I threw at it" · "incredibly unstable in this heel section"

  — FORDY RUNS , source