Overview

The Edge Tokyo still follows the same basic philosophy as the Edge Paris:

• Very lightweight

• Early-stage rocker

• Low carbon plate configuration

• Fast transition

• Designed to suit runners who increase cadence

But the introduction of a large amount of softer FF Leap foam changes the character of the shoe.

The Paris felt firm, aggressive and immediate.

The Tokyo feels:

softer + less aggressive + less direct + potentially more suitable for longer distances.

That is not necessarily a bad thing.

But it does mean this is a very different shoe from what I expected.

Key Stats

In my UK size 9:

• Weight: around 166g

• Heel stack: approximately 39.5mm

• Forefoot stack: approximately 34.5mm

• Drop: 5mm

• Midsole: FF Leap + FF Turbo

• Plate: Low, scooped carbon plate

• Upper: Lightweight mesh

• Fit: Narrow but adaptable

• Best potential use: 10K, half marathon and possibly marathon

At around 166g, this is an exceptionally lightweight racing shoe.

Upper – 4.5/5

The upper is very similar to the Edge Paris.

It uses a lightweight mesh that wraps around the shape of the foot surprisingly well.

Although it looks narrow, the material gives enough to accommodate wider feet.

Lockdown is good.

I used a runner’s knot and had no major movement issues.

The main downgrade from the Edge Paris is around the heel.

There is less padding and structure around the heel collar, so the lockdown is not quite as snug as the previous version.

The tongue is also still very minimal.

It works, but there is room for improvement.

Upper score: 4.5/5.

Midsole – 4/5

This is where my main issue lies.

The Edge Tokyo uses a large amount of FF Leap underneath the forefoot.

The carbon plate sits relatively low, with a pronounced scoop.

In theory, this should give you:

• More softness

• More bounce

• More energy return

• A smoother transition

But as a lighter forefoot striker, I found it difficult to really engage the plate.

Instead of getting a strong ping forward, I found myself sinking slightly into the softer foam before rolling through.

That makes the shoe less aggressive than the Edge Paris.

And surprisingly, it doesn’t actually feel especially soft underfoot either.

The ride is somewhere around the firmness of the Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 3 for me.

It isn’t harsh, but it isn’t particularly plush.

The biggest problem is that I’m not getting enough plate engagement or rebound to make the shoe feel special.

Midsole score: 4/5.

Rocker

The rocker is still one of the strengths.

It starts early, so midfoot and forefoot runners begin engaging it almost immediately.

That should help runners who rely on cadence and like a strong rolling sensation.

The problem is that the softer foam reduces some of the immediacy.

With the Edge Paris, I landed and was almost instantly thrown forward.

With the Tokyo, I feel a little more sink before transition.

That changes the overall speed sensation.

Outsole – 4/5

Grip is good where there is rubber.

The problem is coverage.

There is a large amount of exposed foam, particularly around the heel.

For forefoot runners, this probably won’t be a major issue.

For heel strikers, durability could become a concern fairly quickly.

The grip itself is very good.

It just needs more rubber coverage.

Outsole score: 4/5.

Stability – 3.5/5

The Edge Tokyo is actually reasonably stable for such a narrow super shoe.

Heel strikers may find it more stable than the Sky Tokyo because the rear section uses firmer foam and the plate sits higher through that area.

Further forward, though, you are standing over a big wedge of soft FF Leap.

That means stability decreases the more heavily you compress the forefoot.

Overall, it is manageable.

But it is still a narrow neutral racing shoe.

Stability score: 3.5/5.

Speed – 4/5

This is where I expected more.

I took the Edge Tokyo to Burgess parkrun and ran around 17:23–17:25.

I wasn’t feeling particularly fresh, so the time itself isn’t the important part.

What mattered was how much assistance I felt from the shoe.

And I didn’t get enough.

On a day when I needed the shoe to give me something extra, it didn’t really do that until late in the run.

That is a very different experience from the Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 3 or Edge Paris.

The Tokyo started to feel better towards the end, which makes me think it may need more time or distance before the foam really comes alive.

For 5K:

Speed score: 4/5.

For longer distances, I think there may be more potential.

Edge Tokyo vs Edge Paris

This is the most important comparison.

For me, the Edge Paris is the faster 5K and 10K shoe.

Edge Paris

• Firmer

• More aggressive

• Faster transition

• Stronger plate engagement

• Better for 5K

• Better for 10K

• More immediate ride

Edge Tokyo

• Softer

• Less aggressive

• More forgiving

• Potentially better for longer distances

• Slightly less direct

• Needs more time to come alive

If you already own the Edge Paris and use it mainly for 5K and 10K racing:

I would not upgrade.

I would buy another pair of Edge Paris instead.

Edge Tokyo vs Sky Tokyo

For me, this is an easier decision.

I prefer the Sky Tokyo.

The Sky gives me:

• More bounce

• More plate engagement

• More energy return

• Stronger toe spring

• A more exciting ride

The Edge gives me a more obvious rocker, but the overall ride feels less special.

The Sky feels smoother and more energetic.

Winner: Sky Tokyo.

Edge Tokyo vs Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 3

This is not particularly close for me.

The Puma is:

• More aggressive

• More responsive

• More propulsive

• Smoother

• Better at high speed

• More confidence inspiring

The Fast-R gives me significantly more back when I hit the ground hard.

The Edge Tokyo feels good.

The Puma feels exceptional.

Winner: Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 3.

Who Is It Good For?

5K – Good

It works, but I don’t think this is its strongest distance.

The Edge Paris is better.

10K – Very Good

This may start to make more sense.

The longer you run, the more the softer foam may begin to work in your favour.

Half Marathon – Potentially Excellent

This could actually be the sweet spot.

The softer ride may become a benefit once you're running for longer.

The rocker should also help maintain rhythm without feeling overly aggressive.

Marathon – Potentially Very Good

I need to test it over longer distances before being certain.

But the Tokyo feels more marathon-friendly than the Edge Paris.

The softer foam could make it easier on the legs while retaining that cadence-oriented rocker.

Best Suited To

The Edge Tokyo should suit runners who:

• Prefer an early-stage rocker

• Increase cadence when running faster

• Like lightweight shoes

• Prefer a slightly firmer ride

• Want something less aggressive than the Edge Paris

• Are looking more towards 10K, half marathon or marathon than 5K

Less Suited To

I would be more cautious if you:

• Want maximum 5K aggression

• Want strong plate engagement

• Prefer lots of bounce

• Already own the Edge Paris

• Expect the Tokyo to feel like a faster Paris

Value

At premium super-shoe pricing, the Edge Tokyo has a problem.

It needs to feel special.

And at the moment, for me, it doesn’t quite.

That doesn’t make it a bad shoe.

It just means there are other shoes I would pick first.

If the Edge Paris is available discounted, that becomes an even stronger argument against paying full price for the Tokyo.

Value score: 3/5.

Burgess Parkrun Performance

The Burgess Park 5K was a useful test because I wasn’t having a particularly good day.

I ran around 17:23.

The first 2.5K felt difficult, but I started to improve towards the end and caught several runners.

Interestingly, the shoe also started to feel better later in the run.

That gives me hope.

It may be that this softer FF Leap setup simply needs more running before it really starts returning energy effectively.

And that is why I’m not writing the shoe off.

My feeling is increasingly that I may simply have been testing it at the wrong distance.

The Edge Paris was a brilliant 5K shoe.

The Edge Tokyo may turn out to be a much better half marathon shoe.

Final Thoughts

The ASICS Metaspeed Edge Tokyo is a good racing shoe, but it isn’t the Edge Paris replacement I expected.

It is softer.

It is lighter.

It potentially has better long-distance credentials.

But it has lost some of the aggression that made the Edge Paris so exciting.

For 5K and probably 10K, I would still choose the Edge Paris.

For half marathon and perhaps marathon, the Tokyo becomes more interesting.

And if I had to choose between the Edge Tokyo and Sky Tokyo today?

I would take the Sky Tokyo.

If I had to choose between the Edge Tokyo and Puma Fast-R Nitro Elite 3?

I would take the Puma every time.

The jury isn’t completely out, because I think this shoe deserves a longer-distance race.

But right now, I like the Edge Tokyo.

I don’t love it.

Runnabl3 Scores

• Upper: 4.5/5

• Midsole: 4/5

• Outsole: 4/5

• Stability: 3.5/5

• Speed: 4/5

• Value: 3/5

Best for: 10K, half marathon and potentially marathon
Ride: Lightweight, rockered, relatively firm and less aggressive than the Edge Paris
Best suited to: Cadence-focused midfoot/forefoot runners
Main weakness: Lacks the energy return and aggression of the Edge Paris and Sky Tokyo
Overall verdict: A good shoe that may prove better over longer distances, but for 5K racing I would still buy the Edge Paris.