ASICS Metaspeed Sky+ Review: Better than the Nike Vaporfly Next% 2 and Adidas Adios Pro 2?

[@bev9708]

VERY interesting and thorough!!! Thanks so much!! Definitely looking forward to your comparisons with the Edge 2 and the Alphafly!!!

[@Manvmiles]

Thanks Bev. Got to get my hands in the Edge+ first 😂

[@dilly6438]

Awesome amount of testing with the Sky+ and comparing to the Next% 2! Looking forward to seeing your review on the Edge+ someday!

[@Manvmiles]

Hopefully that’ll be soon! Thanks Dilly.

[@delfino19777]

Looking forward to your review of the edge all reviews are always for the sky.

[@mitchyruns7818]

Great review, Kieran. I ran Manchester in the Skys, coming back from injury I ran it at 7:10 miles what was a reasonably comfortable pace and I wasn’t gunning it, can definitely tell on the first version that the skys will let you run at what pace you want and that’s where I think you nailed it with saying he Vaporfly gets you up on your toes more. I think I’ll get the edge now it’s got more stack and stats that seem to put it right up against the Vaporfly. I like an 8-10mm drop so as much as I love the sky, I think I’ll be eying up the edge this time! Have got to say though, the skys have been the most comfortable plated fast shoe going past 20 miles compared the the adios pro 2, alphafly, Vaporfly and rc elite 2 that I tried, very foot friendly and not too stiff. Great review again mate, liked and subscribed 👊🏼

[@Manvmiles]

Hi Mitchy, glad you enjoyed it. I think the Metaspeed Sky+ definitely accommodate different paces / and levels of running form more than the Vapors. If I was gambling on hitting time or a potential blow up, I'd probably lace them up.

[@benjaminhunt4901]

Good review, thanks!

[@pauldelaney4186]

I had the same feeling with the Sen 8, had to find the best way to run to enjoy them. When I did they seemed a great fun shoe. Just a bit reluctant to get these as two choices and already have Vapourfly AND Alphafly!

[@Manvmiles]

If you have the Vapor and Alpha and Takumi these aren’t going to add much.

[@stuartmutch9562]

MSS all the way for, I’ve made a full switch to ASICS with all my shoes 😁 good review cheers

[@Manvmiles]

What else you got in the rotation?

[@stuartmutch9562]

@@Manvmiles Gel nimbus 24 which I find great from treadmill use while I’m offshore working. Also got the Novablast and Magicspeed.

[@swiftcolin]

Great review and comparisons!

[@Manvmiles]

Thanks Colin. Glad you liked it.

[@isidrotormogarcia4879]

You are in love with Vaporfly (I too hahahah) but I think that Pro or Sky perhaps are in the same level that Vaporfly in a half marathon distance. I really interested if the real rival of Next% is Edge+ for the new plate and foam distribution under the forefoot.

[@Manvmiles]

It's fine margins between these shoes for sure. The real key is finding the one that works best for you.

[@isidrotormogarcia4879]

@@Manvmiles yes 😉

[@jackrundkvist1899]

Great video 👍👍

[@Manvmiles]

Thanks Jack 👍👍

[@veld66]

Top shoes & direct rival to the Next%

[@frankhenning6978]

I have question maybe you can help me? Is the insole glued to the shoe just like vaporfly? I want to put my own insole in the metaspeed sky plus because I have a injury. Also I am gonna use it in a triathlon when my legs are smoked. But also I have filmed my run in the vaporfly next2% but it is not really looking good. I did a 37:14 10km but even there we noticed a bad footstrike. Good video please help me

[@JohnBirtchetSharpe]

Liked and subscribed, not sure if these are meant for 53 years old sub 4 plodder (well they are not) , but enjoyed the review anyhow :), the vaporfly's can bug me a bit as I find them too soft.. and I feel they slam my forefoot a little bit too much)

[@Manvmiles]

Hi John, well they're designed based on research that looked at sub-3-hour runners but they're absolutely no reason runners moving at sub-4 pace can't run happily in them. For me, it's as much about form as pace. Vapors aren't as forgiving on the cushioning. I once walked 37km of the Paris Marathon in Vapors after pulling up with a knee issue and they're not much good for walking either 😂

[@tommyrunsfar]

Great review guys. A great looking shoe, obviously a good performer...but my heart sank at the price point. If I gave you £220 to buy any marathon shoe you wanted..would you buy these?

[@Manvmiles]

No. I’d buy the Vaporfly if I could find a deal.

[@Mike-wm6he]

Kieran, that is a brilliant video. Thank you. Can I please ask why you think you would prefer the Edge+? Is it because you think of yourself as landing more forefoot?

[@Manvmiles]

That and I’m more of a high cadence runner when I’m moving at marathon pace.

[@leonal2680]

Good analysis, based on multiple reviews this doesn't seem to be a major improvement over version 1 hence I'm skipping it also taking into account the high price tag and relatively poor durability of the outsole. There are plenty of other options in the market that seem more attractive

[@Manvmiles]

If you already have the 1 I don't think there's much need for the 2.

[@ryanveale4432]

What a shoe

[@yeetiesandwheaties]

A lot of the super shoes kinda force you to be fast / demand that you hold a fast pace (they feel like they are fighting against you at slower paces). Could you do a video on the best shoes for the marathon distance for slower runners? I want a lot of protection, assistance, efficiency, and all of that like everyone else, but I just can't hold anything close to a sub-3 hour marathon, which is what I feel most (not all) of these super shoes are designed for.

[@Manvmiles]

Hi Sully, I think that'd make a good vid for sure. I'll add it to the list.

[@thereareese592]

The longevity in any racing shoe is always a concern for me. I have not had good luck with the Vaporfly holding up well, have you had similar issues with Nike? Have the Asics given you any reason to believe that durability is going to be a real concern? How does the midsole look after your testing so far? The durability and the cost are things I have to consider.

[@Manvmiles]

Midsole looks good so far on the test is I’ve done.

[@gudboyngdisyerto]

i don't know about comfort and performance because that's subjective to individuals. but durability wise endorphin pro beats them all supershoes

[@benbrindle8165]

Hey got a few mins in and there’s tons of confusion around stride and cadence from a ton of reviews out there. They’ve got a great idea which seem to go up against the adidas and the Nike. I think they should have called cadence runners those that have fixed high cadence, and stride runners those with fixed long stride. But they did the opposite. But based off the what ASICS say “stride” and “cadence” runners for the Sky and edge are for respectively is opposite what we’d think. Cadence runners have a long fixed length stride and change their cadence from slow to fast. The stride runners (like me) have a more fixed fast cadence and increase stride length with speed. They’ve labelled it as what you change not what’s fixed stat. I haven’t tried them but it sounds like the vaporfly (edge) vs the adios pro 2 (sky). The vapourfly is steeper and flatter plate that bounds me forward with a lower cadence. The adios pro 2 seems to have less steep but very curved forefoot that promotes shorter stride high cadence.

[@benbrindle8165]

TL;dr: I think the sky competes with the adios pro 2, the edge competes with the vaporfly

[@AGC828]

Could it be that people are buying into Asic's marketing wrong? That it's NOT about whether we increase our stride more than others runners when running faster? ANd, that it IS MORE about HOW we run faster? How our feet hit and leave the ground? How strong our legs are? Do we need our feet to be "encouraged" to be in a "better position for speed" (e.g. Edge Plus....as the plaste is sloped downward at the forefoot).? Also begs the other question....are "forefoot strikers" just runners with bad form? Seems to me when you "run" and land mostly on the balls of your feet/toes you're actually "jogging faster". Is that not how most people "jog"? Whereas, if you're trying to buld speed you would want to hit the ground first with your heel, roll forward and push off with the bals of foot/toes?? Like a sprinter. Notice how a "sprinter" positions at the starting block...their feet and body....for that BURST of power. They're never standing upright. But since there ARE lots of runners who "jog when they RUN"....Asics will be releasing a "stride shoe" ...the Sky+ :) I mean if no other comapny is doing the same thing.... Are you a "heel striker" or do you "JOG when you run faster"?

[@vegarweiseth8978]

Really enjoying all of your review, this one too! But i have a lot of the "best" race running shoes and cannot see why the Next%2 is better than this. Are you guys overrating the Next%2 a little?

[@Manvmiles]

Thanks, glad you enjoy them. Shoes are always going to be subjective and the only perfect running shoe is the one that feels right for you. The Vaporfly fit my style better than anything I've tested so far. We're talking margins here (I also like the Adios Pro 2 and the MetaSpeed Sky+ and would happily race a marathon in them). Every start line I've been on in the past 18 months suggests the Vapor are preferred by a lot of runners. Always more of those than any other shoe.

[@wonkydonkey7899]

Are you going to review the edge plus too?

[@Manvmiles]

I’d like to. But struggling get hold of them.

[@andrewood]

I only use my adios Pro 2 for race efforts, got them for £130 on stock X

[@Manvmiles]

Think that's how I tend to use them as well.

[@tenmisitry]

Is the length and size the same as the first version?

[@tannerbailey2467]

Hey there, which is going to be the most stable out of the Sky + and Edge +

[@Manvmiles]

I’d say the Sky+ but haven’t tested the Edge +

[@forgiveness2670]

Do you know how the fit is? I'm usually a size 11us but I had to go up a half size in the the metaspeed sky v1

[@Manvmiles]

Hi, I ran true to size in this and the original Sky. So that might suggest you'd need to go up half again.

[@samanthawilliamson8359]

What is the material of the tongue made of?

[@Manvmiles]

Hi Samantha, I've asked ASICS this question. There was mention of suede but I'm clarifying if that's actual animal suede or something synthetic. Would be a strange choice if it's the former.

[@briankerr2989]

Are you still doing the Run Testers channel Kieran?

[@Manvmiles]

Hi Brian, I am, yes. Just wanted to do some of my own bits as well at the same time.

[@briankerr2989]

@@Manvmiles thanks Kieran 👍 on topic of the Metaspeed Sky +, I was a great fan of the 1st version and all my PBs are in that shoe over the last year. I have never used the next%2, but always been tempted. My question is how much extra will the next%2 give me, or do I get the Sky+ as my version one is coming to the end of its life span. 🤔

[@jingyuzhang8646]

I really like the Adidas foam. But the energy rod is my worst nightmare. I always feel like I am stepping directly on one of the outer rod. It is really. I think Adidas is trying to be too smart. If they just put carbon plate on lightstrike pro foam, it will a perfect shoe (even better than the Nike's for 10k and below).

[@Manvmiles]

I like the Adidas Pro 2 but they don't feel quite as natural on the foot to me.

[@jacobriis7859]

You misunderstood stride and cadence. It's not your overall running. It is what happens when you increase the speed. But Asics has a hard job explaining it. It's too complicated.

[@Manvmiles]

I don’t think I did.

[@gudboyngdisyerto]

agree. just because someone has 200 steps/minute doesn't mean edge is for him. if going faster he runs at 206 steps/minute but adds a lot more stride length then sky is for him or at least that's what asics meant. i'd say that's just marketing gimmick and go for more comfortable one. i've learned not to get caught by marketing and hype when i bought endorphin speed while everyone was crazy about it and turned out to be meh for me

[@DiegoP.Escouto]

🇧🇷🇧🇷👍

[@Manvmiles]

👍👍👍

[@younssechilihi4070]

I am Younes from Morocco, can you help me

[@kierenkd]

No way I'd pay this money for shoes unless I was either in with a chance of podium / prize money or desperate to get under a qualifying time that hard work had plateaued. I think sub-3 as a 44 year old is possible with reasonable training. I would get a super shoe if I was close to Championship qualifying but no where close yet

[@Manvmiles]

My favourite bit of that comment is the word 'yet'. That's the kind of mindset I like!

[@kierenkd]

@@Manvmiles haha.

[@stevestarr9769]

The stride/cadence thing is BS. Within ~2 years ASICS will drop one of these shoes. It was a marketing thing.

[@Manvmiles]

Saw a lot of research info from the labs in Kobe to back up the theory. One interesting chart though showed that the differences between cadence and stride runners patterns kind of disappeared at paces over sub-3-hour marathon. So for many runners this isn't going to make a huge difference. I'm reserving judgement until I've got my feet in the Edge+ and that's proving quite hard to sort out.

[@JoutarouKuujou1]

1st

[@antonioromulodelcarmen283]

Asics probably have the marginally better spec'd shoe… but the price tag on these 🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️PLUS Nike/Adidas putting their supershoes on various discounts already…🤔🤔🤔 Hard pass.

[@Manvmiles]

The discounts definitely tip the balance.