Asics Metaspeed Ray Review: Featherlight Freak

Introduction to the Asics Metaspeed Ray

MEAGHAN: Again in December 2024 at The Operating Occasion, somebody from the Asics group gave me an opportunity to check a “tremendous secret” shoe slated for 2025. It was a full measurement too large, and for those who’ve ever been to TRE, you recognize the late nights and early mornings don’t precisely make for supreme situations to check an excellent quick racer. Nonetheless, I laced up the featherlight shoe, and even in that less-than-perfect setup, the run was enjoyable and left me desirous to strive the actual factor. That shoe turned out to be the Metaspeed Ray.

Asics’ race-day lineup now options three distinct fashions: the Metaspeed Sky, Metaspeed Edge, and the brand new Metaspeed Ray. This evaluate dives into the latter– the premium choice constructed for professionals and absolutely the quickest of the quick. Consider it as Asics’ reply to the ultralight Adidas’ Professional Evo, however $200 cheaper. As with the Professional Evo, the standout function of this shoe is its insanely mild construct. My pair in girls’s 7.5 weighs simply 3.8 oz (!).

The shoe combines a premium Matryx higher with a full slab of Flytefoam Leap cushioning (39.5 mm / 43.5 mm). A carbon fiber plate sits inside too, although as a substitute of spanning your complete size, it’s a smaller teardrop design positioned within the forefoot and midfoot. Grip comes from a really skinny, sticky layer of Asicsgrip outsole.

So how does the Ray stack up towards the Sky and Edge– and is it price the additional $30? Let’s discover out.

THOMAS: It took Asics years to catch as much as Nike on race day. Between the Metaspeed Sky/Edge Tokyo and the Metaspeed Ray, Asics may be within the lead now.

Store The Shoe – Unisex

What we like in regards to the Asics Metaspeed Ray

MEAGHAN: I can’t let you know how thrilled I’m that Asics went with a white racing shoe for the Ray as a substitute of the normal crimson we’ve seen on the Metaspeed Edge and Sky. Not solely does it make the lineup simpler to differentiate, it’s merely extra aesthetically pleasing.

Slipping them on, the very first thing I seen was simply how smooth they felt– actually smooth. The feeling jogged my memory of the Saucony Endorphin Elite 2, however in a a lot lighter bundle. As soon as laced up, I used to be pleasantly stunned by how accommodating the match was. The Matryx higher hugs the foot properly, but nonetheless leaves room for the toes to splay. The general match felt true to measurement, safe, and irritation-free– no rubbing, no scorching spots.

On the street is the place issues acquired fascinating. I’ve now logged over 50 miles within the Ray, largely exercises starting from 400-meter repeats to tempo classes. The softness carries via to pavement, however it’s paired with a noticeable propulsive response. You sink into the froth, however the shoe offers that power proper again. Hitting purpose paces felt easy, and whereas the shoe isn’t essentially the most steady, the large platform helps handle sooner efforts and sharper turns. Uneven floor, nevertheless, was a unique story.

As I discussed earlier, the Ray does really feel considerably paying homage to the Endorphin Elite 2, as each take a while to regulate to the very smooth, considerably squirrelly underfoot feeling. In comparison with the Adidas Professional Evo, although, the experience is totally totally different. Each footwear are featherlight, however the Ray provides a a lot softer underfoot expertise–  a sinking-in and pop feeling. And one clear benefit: Asicsgrip. The outsole delivers far superior traction and confidence, particularly when situations get slick.

THOMAS: You need featherweight with a great deal of cushion? Look no additional. Whereas sliding this barely there higher onto my ft, I swear I felt the hair on my arms arise. There’s something magical about placing on a shoe that feels lighter than the field it is available in. As quickly as I stood up and felt the FF Leap foam, I knew that this was going to be a enjoyable shoe to evaluate. It seems like having two Magic Erasers strapped to your ft. Robbe met me for a set of mile repeats on a wet moist morning. I’m completely happy to report that the Ray’s Asicgrip outsole is reliable even in slick situations.

Moreover, through the mile repeats, Robbe seen my pure need to exceed the prescribed tempo. The shoe has that giddy-up in its sole. Turnover feels energetic.

Store The Shoe – Unisex

What we don’t like in regards to the Asics Metaspeed Ray

MEAGHAN: For many runners, the Metaspeed Ray is probably going going to really feel a bit of too smooth, a bit of too unstable, and a bit of too dear ($300), even whether it is two Benjamins cheaper than the Adidas Professional Evo. As I discussed earlier, this shoe was constructed for the elites– the professionals clicking off sub-2:30 marathons, the athletes who’re mild, agile, and may actually make the most of its design.

I’ve genuinely loved my time within the Ray, however the put on on the midsole makes it clear: it is a one- or two-race shoe. The plush foam would possibly really feel wonderful round mile 20 of a marathon, however I’m not satisfied it supplies sufficient construction as soon as your kind begins breaking down in these brutal closing miles.

Sturdiness can also be a priority. I’m nonetheless testing how far I can stretch my pair, however at simply 52 miles in, they already look closely worn.

THOMAS: Whereas at race tempo, the shoe feels ridiculously good; any simpler effort, the froth might be unstable.  After I was doing the aforementioned mile repeats, the restoration tempo intervals felt wobbly. For that cause, I’d not advocate the Ray for mid-pack marathoners, together with myself. All that to say, if you’d like it and also you aren’t aiming for a podium spot, you’ll nonetheless have enjoyable within the shoe. For me, I’ll go along with the Metaspeed Edge Tokyo, if just for the additional stability.

Store The Shoe – Unisex

Last ideas on the Asics Metaspeed Ray

MEAGHAN: Testing the Metaspeed Ray has been a blast, the type of enjoyable that undoubtedly leans into “Sort 2.” What’s been simply as thrilling is seeing how manufacturers proceed to push the boundaries of race-day footwear: daring designs, new supplies, and innovation packed into each element. Actually, who would’ve thought we’d ever be racing in footwear that weigh lower than 4 ounces?

For my very own race-day lineup, I’ll nonetheless be reaching for the Metaspeed Edge Tokyo, particularly in relation to the marathon. However I can completely see why sooner, extra agile runners will benefit from the distinctive experience of the Ray.

THOMAS: So the query is: What’s higher, the Adidas Adizero Professional Evo 2 or the Metaspeed Ray? Fingers down, the Metaspeed Ray. It wins on worth, weight, and outsole. Of the light-weight racers, the Ray sits on the prime of the heap. I gave the Ray a 3 for perform primarily based on my wants. Nonetheless, if I’m being goal, Asics nailed this shoe.

For the precise runner, the Perform must be scored a 5. Right here is my purchaser beware disclaimer: This shoe is a weapon on the precise ft. You will not be the precise runner for this one. In actual fact, this isn’t a shoe for most individuals. Sometimes, I prefer to say that footwear don’t know tempo and everybody can profit from a lighter cushioned race shoe. Nonetheless, that is the case of a model laser focusing its top-tier shoe for its top-tier athletes. We live in a golden period of shoe specificity. The Metaspeed Ray is explicitly designed for the quick Marathon end, that’s it.

You possibly can choose up the Asics Metaspeed Ray for $300 from Operating Warehouse (that includes free transport and 90-day returns) through the use of the buttons beneath.

Store The Shoe – Unisex