Japanese sports firm Asics has tweaked its Metaspeed Sky and Metaspeed Edge running shoes, first launched last spring, following a period of monitoring athletes associated with the brand in competition. 

Two newly “refined” models, the Metaspeed Sky+ and the Metaspeed Edge+, will therefore be released on June 14. 

As before, the Sky+ has been designed to cater to stride runners, with the Edge+ created for those with a cadence style in mind. The brand described how heavier use of FF Blast Turbo foam and more precise placement of both models’ propulsive carbon plates were found by its own researchers at the Asics Institute of Sports Science to boost running economy by over 2% when compared to the company’s earlier racing footwear. 

This increase was observed following analysis of third-party testing conducted during February and March, the company reported.

Specifically, the Metaspeed Sky+ shoe’s carbon plates have been fixed in a way which supports greater bounce-back, Asics said, while the Metaspeed Edge+ style feature an “energetic” midsole foam and carbon plate engineered for more efficient gait motion and, hence, longer strides.  

Both models were unveiled during a Tour de France-inspired racing event in Malaga, Spain. Certified by World Athletics, the Meta: Time: Trials event saw brand athletes endeavour to achieve their fastest ever running times over a series of distances while wearing the shoes. 

Image: Asics.