ASICS METASPEED Sky+ Shoe Review
Updated July 4, 2022
ASICS' Innovative Tech Gives the Sky More Than Just a +
Likes
- Comfortable and light on-foot
- Smooth transitions at a variety of paces
- Sleek, stylish aesthetic
Dislikes
- Elite racing shoe that may not work for beginners
What's New
Although the name is only highlighted by a +, the METASPEED Sky+ is almost an entirely new shoe. Notable updates include an increased amount of FLYTEFOAM Turbo foam in the midsole, a reconfigured carbon-plate geometry with the plate relocated closer to the foot, a dialed-in upper, and an updated ASICSGRIP rubber outsole, which all work together to create an incredible on-foot experience that very few shoes on the market can rival.
The Bottom Line
The original METASPEED Sky took the running world by storm as ASICS' first true super shoe, and with a supercritical foam midsole, the Sky had everything it needed to compete with the best of the best. Despite its success on the world stage, ASICS wasn't finished innovating, and immediately fine-tuned its headline act, making the new METASPEED Sky+ a speed machine poised for the podium.
For those who are not familiar with the METASPEED Sky and Edge series, the Sky was specifically crafted to help runners who produce a longer stride and tend to exert more force at toe-off. The Edge, on the other hand, was designed for runners with a higher stride frequency. Anyways, back to the juicy stuff.
The METASPEED Sky+ is electric on foot, and the shoe's impressive ride can be attributed to two things: the increased amount of FLYTEFOAM Turbo and the relocated embedded carbon plate. The updated midsole configuration allows the FLYETFOAM compound to compress more, unlocking new levels of responsiveness from the Sky. The shoe's efficiency through the gait cycle is also impressive, creating a smooth yet aggressively propulsive running experience that produces quite the pop at toe-off.
Furthermore, protection is not an issue, and runners can confidently wear the Sky+ to help them conquer any distance. That said, beginner runners beware, as the Sky+ is an elite racing shoe engineered for speed rather than comfort, and the underfoot feel is relatively aggressive, so those without an abundance of experience in modern marathon racing shoes may want to look elsewhere.
The ASICS METASPEED Sky+ is a fine-tuned evolution of the original, building and improving upon the fantastic foundation that the FLYTEFOAM Turbo super foam created. Again, these shoes are all business and may sacrifice a bit of comfort to lock in their performance, but runners familiar with modern marathon racing shoes will have no qualms with the shoe's locked-and-loaded feel. The METASPEED Sky+ has made an early claim for favourite marathon racer of 2022, and ASICS is nipping at the heels of the top dogs with their innovative, high-performing shoes.
Specifications & Fit
How It Fits
| Toe Box | Width: Medium | Height: Medium |
| Midfoot Volume | Medium |
| Heel Width | Medium |
| Arch Height | Medium |
Shoe Specs
| Weight | Men's: 7.2 oz (size 9) | Women's: 8.3 oz (size 8) |
| Stack Height | 32 mm (Heel), 27 mm (Forefoot) |
| Terrain | Road |
| Stability | Neutral |
| Sizing | True to Size |
Our In-Depth Look
Shoe Softnessi
Connor: "The FLYTEFOAM Turbo midsole was a game-changer in the original METASPEED Sky, and this awesome foam continues to deliver in the Sky+. With the max legal heel stack height and even more FLYTEFOAM Turbo packed into the forefoot, this update feels slightly softer while retaining all the benefits of v1. The carbon fibre plate has been situated higher in the midsole, and even with the firmer plate being closer to the foot, I didn't feel this had any noticeable effect on firmness."
Ride/Energy Returni
Connor: "You can't get much better in the energy return department than FLYTEFOAM Turbo. There are a lot of excellent super foams on the market, yet a few stand out over the rest, and FLYTEFOAM Turbo definitely contends with the best. The Sky+ is designed with even more foam underfoot, and the shoe seems to provide more pop. I am a runner with a longer 'stride' style running form and exert a higher force in my toe-off. For this reason, I've always leaned toward the METASPEED Sky versus the Edge, and with this update, I feel even more energy return than version 1. I was a little unsure how the higher plate would feel underfoot, but I was pleasantly surprised when out on the run. The new location seems to allow for greater compression of the midsole foam, which created an even more bouncy underfoot experience at toe-off."
Underfoot Protectioni
Connor: "From inception, the METASPEED Sky has always been a highly stacked shoe, so protection was never an issue. Now, with even more FLYTEFOAM Turbo, the Sky+ feels more protective while managing to shed a little weight. I tend to believe the more foam the better, especially if the weight remains light, so the METASPEED Sky's new foam setup is an upgrade for my own marathon racing needs, and I think most runners will feel the same."
Upper Supporti
Connor: "The Sky+'s upper is lighter and more stripped-down, and the new wrap felt more comfortable, more supportive, and more secure. At the end of the day, this is an elite racing shoe, so it's built to be as light as possible, and it has just enough support to get you through your race."
Individual Thoughts
ConnorOverall Score: 9/10
The METASPEED Sky series has been a favourite of mine for a while, and when I heard we had an updated version arriving in 2022, I was excited to test it out. There have been a lot of excellent super shoes hitting the market over the past few years, and in my opinion, the original METASPEED Sky put ASICS back on the map as one of the leaders in the race for super shoe supremacy. ASICS had played around with carbon-plated options in 2020 with the METARACER, and while it was a solid racing shoe, it was missing one key component to make it a top contender: a supercritical foam compound. ASICS hit the drawing board and quickly returned with the METASPEED Sky and the highly coveted FLYTEFOAM Turbo midsole foam. The new midsole delivered that magically bouncy underfoot experience that wasn't present in the METARACER, and that's what initially got me hooked on the Sky.
Fast forward to the METASPEED Sky+, and there's even more FLYTEFOAM Turbo, a modified plate location, and a dialed-in upper that all work together to make what was already a great racer even better. ASICS designed this shoe as the marathon racer geared toward runners with a longer stride (higher height oscillation, typically exerting more force at toe-off), as opposed to the METASPEED Edge+, which is built for runners with a faster cadence and shorter stride length.
I've tested both the METASPEED Sky+ and Edge+, and my preferences still lean toward the Sky given my stride style. Ultimately, both shoes are excellent, and I think preferences will likely come down to the wearer's specific stride characteristics. I've only had the METASPEED Sky+ for about a month, but I've run in the shoe quite a bit, and I found myself reaching for it when a speed workout or tempo run was on the schedule. I also have some races coming soon, and the Sky+ will likely be my shoe of choice regardless of distance.
The high level of protection and impressive efficiency make it an obvious choice for marathon distances, but given its level of speed and responsiveness, I'd consider the Sky+ for my shorter races as well. Overall, the METASPEED Sky+ has met all my expectations. ASICS took all the best parts of the original while fine-tuning the midsole and upper to deliver the extra efficiency benefits that truly make a difference on race day.
