In the modern competitive running shoe landscape, brands are constantly working to create lighter, faster, and more advanced shoes. And with the Metaspeed Ray, Asics proves that it’s a brand to watch when it comes to elite-level racing shoes.
Super shoes are a relatively new phenomenon. In fact, the first high-performance, carbon-plated super shoe only dates back to 2017 with the Nike Vaporfly 4%. Today, a huge variety of brands have put their hats in the ring, designing super shoes that increase energy return and improve efficiency during races.
Asics doesn’t offer just one carbon-plated racing option. Instead, the brand has three options for runners looking for a snappier ride – the Metaspeed Sky, Metaspeed Edge, and the Metaspeed Ray. In this review, we’ll be covering the Metaspeed Ray, the lightest, fastest, and most elite option in the Asics racing lineup.
This featherlight super shoe had a ton of hype and excitement surrounding its release, and at Marathon Sports, we couldn’t wait to lace up the Metaspeed Ray and take them for our spin ourselves. So how did this elite, high-performance shoe live up to expectations? And is it really worth the $300 price tag?
If you’re asking yourself these questions, this review is for you. Keep reading for an in-depth look at the features that make this super shoe so super, all the pros and cons, and how it stacks up next to the saturated racing shoe market.
Our Review Process
Our dedicated review team at Marathon Sports eats, sleeps, and breathes running shoes. With such an anticipated shoe like the Metaspeed Ray, we couldn’t wait to try it out ourselves.
We took the Metaspeed Ray on a variety of different runs, testing it out during daily mileage, speed workouts, long runs, and more. Between different types of runs and a variety of different terrains, we can gain as much insight as possible into everything a shoe has to offer. Along with going over all the technical details of a shoe, we’ll cover our road test results so you’ll know exactly what to expect when you lace up these shoes for the first time.
Asics Metaspeed Ray: A Brief Overview
Before we dive into all the details, here are some fast facts and highlights about the newest addition to Asics’ carbon-plated racing line.
- Designed as an elite-level racing shoe
- Stack height: 39.5mm in the heel, 34.5mm in the forefoot
- 5mm drop
- Weight: 4.5oz
- Midsole is made up of new FF Leap foam, the lightest and bounciest cushioning in Asics’ lineup
- ¾ length carbon plate adds energy return without sacrificing flexibility and softness
- Matryx upper uses a breathable and lightweight mesh
- Curved rocker geometry in the sole adds propulsion and guidance
- ASICSGRIP outsole adds traction and grip on various terrains
- Unisex sizing
- Price: $300
Asics Metaspeed Ray: A Closer Look
Now that you have the highlights, let’s take a closer look at all the features that make the Asics Metaspeed Ray one of the most exciting and speedy shoes on the market today.
FF Leap Midsole Foam
Asics claims one of its newest foams, FF Leap, is a huge leap forward in cushioning, and with a remarkably soft and bouncy underfoot feel, we couldn’t agree more. The shoe features a high stack height of this remarkably lightweight cushioning – 39.5mm in the heel and 34.5mm in the forefoot, offering unparalleled cushioning and comfort every step of the way.
Along with feeling soft and comfortable, this full-length FF Leap midsole is designed to help you move faster and more efficiently. The softness is balanced with exceptional bounce, responsiveness, and energy return, improving efficiency in each stride to help you reach a new PR.
Energetic Carbon Plate
The FF Leap foam feels fantastic underfoot when it comes to picking up the pace, but that’s not the only feature of the shoe meant to propel you forward and keep you moving faster. Embedded in the midsole is a ¾ length carbon plate that provides extra bounce and maximizes energy return throughout your run.
The carbon plate uses strategic placement to boost energy return, sitting higher up in the forefoot to drive as much propulsion and responsiveness as possible.
The plate is also lighter and more minimal than the carbon plates found in many other racing shoes. This helps the shoe maintain a lightweight feel without sacrificing any softness, flexibility, and cushioning.
Lightweight MATRYX Upper and Overall Fit
At only 4.5 oz, the Metaspeed Ray is one of the lightest shoes you can buy today. While there are a lot of factors that play a role in this lightweight design, one of the biggest features is the remarkably light, barely-there upper.
The MATRYX upper is made from an incredibly airy technical mesh that securely wraps the foot without adding any additional weight. Along with feeling comfortable and secure on speedy, longer distance runs, this technical mesh is also very breathable, keeping your feet cool and comfortable in any climate.
While there is a touch of extra padding around the heel collar for extra comfort and lockdown, as a whole, the entire upper and tongue are very thin, lightweight, and soft. In fact, the MATRYX upper is so light and thin that it’s basically translucent.
While this is ideal for elite athletes looking to minimize weight and optimize performance, the upper may lack the padding and all-around comfort that more casual runners look for in a long-distance race-day shoe.
Overall, the shoe fits true to size, although it uses unisex sizing, so be sure to order a size and a half up if you’re looking for the equivalent women’s size. The shoe as a whole is relatively narrow, with a tapered toe box for a secure and snug fit, so anyone with wider feet may want to consider sizing up.
Shoe Construction and Geometry
When you’re spending the money on a super shoe for race day, you want a shoe that will feel fast and propel you forward. Fortunately, the Asics Metaspeed Ray is designed to do exactly that.
The curved rocker sole pushes you forward through every stride, guiding you through your race with more efficiency and energy conservation.
The natural 5mm drop adds to the race day experience even more, offering a moderate heel-to-toe offset that adds some natural groundfeel despite the high stack height and ultra soft cushioning.
Durability and Value
Dedicated racing shoes tend to lack the durability and longevity you can expect with daily trainers, and the Metaspeed Ray is no exception. One downside of the soft foam and lightweight design is that you may notice some early wear and compression in the midsole cushioning.
However, Asics does take some steps to increase the value and versatility of the shoe, even with the limited durability. The ASICSGRIP rubber outsole adds traction and grip on various terrains, all while protecting the foam and helping the shoe last longer.
At $300, the Metaspeed Ray has one of the highest price tags when it comes to carbon plated shoes, many of which fall between $250 and $300.
But if you’re looking for a top-of-the-line race day shoe, you’ll likely find this remarkably light and fast shoe worth the extra dollars. It’s one of the lightest and most propulsive shoes you can buy today, and if you’re aiming for a personal best at your next race, the Asics Metaspeed Ray may be the way to go.
Road Test Results
The best part of any review is when we get to hit the road to see how the shoe performs, and this is especially true with an exciting and snappy shoe like the Metaspeed Ray. With so much hype and buildup with this racing shoe, we couldn’t wait to test them out for ourselves.
We knew the shoes were going to be lightweight, but when we first picked up the Asics Metaspeed Ray, we were still shocked by how truly light and minimal they felt. And sliding them on, there were some immediate standouts in this weightless design.
The upper was thin and nearly transparent, but that didn’t take away from any of the security or comfort around the foot. The Matryx mesh upper offered a sock-like, barely-there fit that we couldn’t wait to test out over longer mileage.
Taking to the roads, the high-performance and responsive feel was evident from the first steps. The FF Leap foam felt fantastic underfoot, offering a super soft feel with unmatched energy return and bounce. The carbon plate and rocker geometry added even more propulsion in every step, making this a super fun and efficient shoe during faster runs and uptempo workouts.
However, while this plush foam added some extra comfort on long runs, there are also a few downsides. Runners who prefer a stiff or more stable feel on runs may find the Metaspeed ray too soft or unstable for racing.
While the shoe is meant primarily for speed runs, we also tested it on a variety of different types of runs on different terrains. The shoe felt comfortable and responsive for daily mileage, but we found it truly shines when it comes to speedier workouts when you can feel the full benefits of the propulsive design.
The ASICSGRIP outsole adds some grip and traction on wet terrain or dirt trails, but the high stack of soft foam and minimal outsole coverage means you may want to avoid more technical terrain.
This soft foam also makes the shoe more susceptible to early wear and midsole compressions. This early wear is typical of carbon plated shoes – they tend to last closer to 200 miles as opposed to the 350-500 miles you can expect from daily trainers. With that, we would suggest saving this shoe for dedicated uptempo days and races instead of using it for daily mileage.
Heel strikers may also run into some issues with the Asics Metaspeed Ray. The squishy foam, particularly in the heel, drives unstable heel landings, while the minimal outsole protection in the heel causes the cushioning to quickly wear down. Those who tend to heel strike during races may want to consider a different shoe to help them reach their race day goals.
It’s true that the Asics Metaspeed Ray isn’t a shoe for everyone. But if you’re looking for one of the lightest and fastest shoes you can find today, the Metaspeed Ray proved it was a top-notch super shoe option.
Pros and Cons
The road test enlightened our review team to some of the major pros and cons you can expect when trying out a pair of Metaspeed Rays for yourself. Here’s what we found:
Pros:
- Incredibly lightweight design – at only 4.5oz, it’s one of the lightest running shoe you can find today
- Full length FF Leap foam gives the shoe a unique underfoot feel that balances softness and energy return
- Strategically designed and placed carbon plate adds extra energy return without making the shoe too stiff or inflexible
- Technical Matryx upper is lightweight and breathable, while the extra heel padding adds comfort and lock-down over long distance races
Cons:
- Ultra lightweight and soft design may feel unstable for runners who prefer more grounded landings
- Not ideal for heel strikers
- Lacks long-term durability
Asics Metaspeed Ray vs The Competition: How Does This Super Shoe Stack Up in a Crowded Market?
With more and more brands releasing their version of a carbon plated race day shoe, the Metaspeed Ray has a lot of competition in a saturated market. So how does it compare to the competition?
Since its release, the Metaspeed Ray has drawn lots of comparisons to the adidas Adios Pro Evo 1 due to the incredibly lightweight build and top-of-the-line energy return. Both of these shoes are premium, high-performance race day shoes, however, the Asics Metaspeed Ray is significantly cheaper than this $500 adidas racing shoe. If you’re looking for a more affordable first-class racing shoe, the Metaspeed Ray is a fantastic choice.
Runners who want to stick with Asics but don’t love the Metaspeed Ray’s $300 price tag are in luck – Asics has a range of race day shoes that address some of the downsides we mentioned in the Metaspeed Ray.
The Metaspeed Sky and Metaspeed Edge are two other great carbon plated race day options. These two super shoes combine the soft and bouncy FF Leap foam with a responsive layer of FF Turbo Plus foam, creating more stable landings. And while these two shoes are slightly heavier than the Metaspeed Ray, they also ring up at $269.95, putting them in a mid-price range for racing shoes.
Asics Metaspeed Ray: Final Recommendations
The Asics Metaspeed Ray had a lot of hype to live up to, and with the featherlight design, exceptional energy return, and comfortable and efficient ride, this carbon plated shoe certainly lived up to expectations.
The Metaspeed Ray boasts a few key standout features, including the renowned FF Leap cushioning, optimized carbon plate, and propulsive rocker geometry. If you’re aiming to shave seconds or minutes off your time and want every possible advantage, this speedy and dynamic shoe may be the best choice for you.
At $300, however, this shoe is definitely not for the everyday runner. Like all carbon plated shoes, it’s more expensive and less durable, so you can’t expect as much versatility during daily mileage. The Metaspeed Ray works best for high-performing athletes looking to optimize their speed, performance, and energy return on race day.
With carbon plated shoes becoming more popular, there are more and more choices out on the market today. The Metaspeed Ray is a fantastic option, but it doesn’t work for everyone. So how do you know which carbon plated shoe is best for your race day needs?
The best way to answer that question is to stop by your local running store and try out some options. And the best part is that, at your local Marathon Sports, you don’t need to go at it alone. Our dedicated footwear experts will use the Right Fit process to narrow down your options and help you find the perfect shoe to crush all your race-day goals.
