ASICS Metaspeed Sky Tokyo vs Adidas Adios Pro 4: Which Carbon Race Shoe Should You Buy?

Introduction

The ASICS Metaspeed Sky Tokyo and the Adidas Adios Pro 4 are two of the most race-proven carbon plate shoes on the market, and both have spent plenty of time on start lines this season. After running roughly 200 km in the Sky Tokyo and 110 km in the Adios Pro 4 across training, parkruns, long runs, a half marathon and a marathon, the differences between them are now pretty clear. Both are excellent. Which one suits you comes down to ride feel, fit and price.

Quick Specs

	ASICS Metaspeed Sky Tokyo	Adidas Adios Pro 4
Price	£240 / $270	£220 / $250
Weight (men’s UK 8)	158 g / 5.6 oz	196 g / 6.9 oz
Drop	5 mm	6 mm

The ASICS is lighter and a touch more expensive, while the Adidas comes in at a slightly lower price point with a bit more shoe underfoot by weight.

ASICS Metaspeed Sky Tokyo: Built for Stride Runners

The Metaspeed Sky Tokyo is a high-performance race shoe aimed at runners who increase speed by opening up their stride. It is designed to provide more efficiency when you take longer steps, helping you hold pace deeper into a race. Compared with the Metaspeed Edge, which targets high-cadence runners, the Sky has a thicker midsole up front and a higher plate position.

Inside the midsole, two foams work together. On the bottom sits FF Blast, a light and bouncy foam that cushions landings and delivers strong energy return on push-off. On top is FF Turbo Plus, which adds responsiveness and improves the support of the ride. Elsewhere there is a lightweight Motion Wrap 3.0 upper, an ASICS Grip rubber outsole that holds traction on a variety of terrain, and secure-fitting laces.

On the run, the standout trait is pop. The plate sits higher in the midsole under the forefoot, so you get a lot of bounce off the toes, even late in races when you are struggling. Landing at the heel is a massive wedge of FF Blast, which is not the most stable, but the transition is fast and the midfoot feels secure before all that energy rolls out the front. It is super lightweight and clearly excellent for short races, yet it proved protective enough over the downhill-heavy Loch Ness Marathon, finishing comfortably despite heavy impact. A half marathon PB was set in this shoe too.

View more details for ASICS Metaspeed Sky Tokyo

Adidas Adios Pro 4: Bouncier, Softer, Still Sharp

Few series have seen as many race start lines as the Adios Pro line, and the Adios Pro 4 continues that tradition. The most noticeable change is an updated Lightstrike Pro foam sitting either side of Energy Rods 2.0. This lighter formulation aims to improve the bounce of the ride, working with an updated rocker geometry to deliver high energy return at speed.

The outsole combines light traction rubber across most of the shoe with a small patch of Continental rubber on the forefoot to improve toe-off grip, keeping weight low while adding performance where it matters. There is also an updated Lightlock woven mesh upper, designed to be breathable while still locking the foot down supportively.

On the road, the Adios Pro 4 feels a little softer and cushier than the ASICS, and a little more protective. As a heel striker, the back of the shoe gives a reliable landing zone that feels quite stable, followed by a fast transition onto the forefoot and a sharp rocker at the end. It is genuinely fast and turns over quickly, comfortable enough for a 15-mile long run while remaining nippy enough for parkrun. It has not lost any springiness so far, though the foam setup does not quite deliver the same punch as the ASICS combination.

Fit and Sizing: Check Before You Buy

Fit is where these two shoes differ the most. In the ASICS Metaspeed Sky Tokyo, a UK 8 fits true to size with plenty of room in the forefoot, more than you might expect from a performance race shoe. The midfoot is relatively roomy too, so tightening the laces is needed for a full lockdown, but once laced it holds well. Compared with cushioned ASICS shoes like the Novablast, the toe area is slightly more dialed in, which works nicely.

The Adidas Adios Pro 4 runs noticeably small. Even accounting for regional sizing differences, it feels more than half a size smaller than the ASICS. In the same nominal size, toes nearly touch the end of the shoe, causing worry about rubbing on long runs. There have also been cases of the upper lifting toenails, since a small lip inside the forefoot can catch nails. Going up half a size is the safest call, and checking centimetre sizing is wise. Once fit is sorted, heel and midfoot hold is good and the shoe stays comfortable over long distances.

Ride Comparison: Punchy vs Protective

Run side by side, the contrast comes down to character. The ASICS feels racy and aggressive over every distance, with a faster, poppier feeling driven by the foam stack, the higher plate position and its lower weight. Energy flows straight through to the forefoot and bounces you forward, even when tired at the end of hard efforts.

The Adidas is the more comforting shoe to land in, with a slightly more stable feel at the heel for heel strikers. There is a medial cutout in the midfoot that introduces a touch of instability, though the smooth transition means it is rarely a concern. The sharper rocker and responsive foam make it a very quick shoe, and its softer character could make it the better marathon option for some runners, provided you watch that midfoot cutout if you run slower.

Verdict: Which Shoe Should You Buy?

Both are excellent carbon plate race shoes that could carry you to a personal best at any distance. Preference will partly come down to running style, but the ASICS Metaspeed Sky Tokyo edges it: it is lighter, feels faster, turns over quickly and keeps delivering energy return deep into races, while still cushioning well enough for the marathon.

The Adidas Adios Pro 4 has real advantages of its own. It is cheaper at launch, and Adidas has a better record of discounting its top racing shoes, especially in less common sizes. If you find it significantly cheaper than the ASICS, it would be hard to hesitate. Its softer ride may also suit marathoners who want a bit more comfort, though the medial cutout and the small sizing are things to weigh carefully.

If price is no object and speed is the goal, the Metaspeed Sky Tokyo is the stronger all-round package. If value or a cushier ride matters more, the Adios Pro 4 is a genuinely impressive alternative.

Conclusion

The ASICS Metaspeed Sky Tokyo is the pick for runners chasing maximum speed, punch and energy return across all race distances. The Adidas Adios Pro 4 is softer, cheaper and still very capable, making it a smart buy on discount or for runners who prioritize a protective marathon ride. Check sizing carefully on both, and go half a size up in the Adidas.