Quick Answer: ASICS discontinued the Metaracer after its 2020 debut, and there is no official direct successor. The closest current ASICS equivalent is the METASPEED EDGE TOKYO because it fills the same carbon-plated race-day role for runners who gain speed through faster cadence. The two shoes are very different generations: the Metaracer used a low 24/15 mm stack, 9 mm drop and a bottom-loaded forefoot carbon plate, while the EDGE TOKYO uses a 39.5/34.5 mm stack, 5 mm drop, FF LEAP/FF TURBO PLUS cushioning and a full-length carbon plate.
Replacement confidence: Closest current equivalent. ASICS did not rename the Metaracer or designate a direct successor.
Model dates: The ASICS Metaracer launched in 2020 at about $200. It was ASICS’ first carbon-plated road racing shoe and used a 9 mm drop, roughly 24 mm of heel stack and a 15 mm forefoot stack.
See our running shoe replacements hub for other discontinued models and their closest current equivalents.
Still want the old shoe? Check remaining ASICS Metaracer inventory.
What Happened to the ASICS Metaracer?
The Metaracer was ASICS’ first serious entry into the carbon-plated road-racing category. It arrived in 2020 as a hybrid between a traditional racing flat and the new generation of plated super shoes. Instead of using a towering midsole, ASICS kept the shoe low and light, with a carbon plate positioned beneath the forefoot section of the FLYTEFOAM midsole.
That made the Metaracer unusually nimble for a plated shoe. It weighed roughly 6.7 ounces in a men’s size 9, used a 9 mm drop and had a 24 mm heel stack with only 15 mm in the forefoot. The result was quick, firm and very different from the deep, bouncy super shoes that came to dominate marathon racing.
ASICS did not continue the Metaracer as a long-running numbered family. Instead, it introduced the METASPEED SKY and METASPEED EDGE in 2021 and shifted its elite road-racing development into the METASPEED line. The current TOKYO versions are several generations removed from the original Metaracer concept.
What Replaced the ASICS Metaracer?
There is no direct successor, but the METASPEED EDGE TOKYO is the closest current match for the Metaracer’s role. ASICS designs the EDGE specifically for cadence-style runners — athletes who increase speed primarily by increasing step frequency. That makes it the more natural modern comparison to the Metaracer’s quick, turnover-oriented racing feel.
The current EDGE TOKYO is a completely different kind of shoe underfoot. It uses FF LEAP and FF TURBO PLUS cushioning, a 5 mm drop and a much taller 39.5 mm heel stack. Its carbon plate is also positioned to promote forward propulsion for cadence-oriented runners rather than simply stiffening the forefoot.
So the EDGE TOKYO should not be treated as a Metaracer 2. It is better understood as the current ASICS race-day shoe for the type of runner the Metaracer was trying to serve. Check METASPEED EDGE TOKYO availability.
ASICS Metaracer Replacement Timeline
- 2020: ASICS launches the Metaracer as its first carbon-plated road racing shoe.
- 2021: ASICS introduces METASPEED SKY and METASPEED EDGE as separate race shoes for stride-style and cadence-style runners.
- 2025: ASICS launches the METASPEED SKY TOKYO and EDGE TOKYO, plus the ultralight METASPEED RAY.
- Current closest equivalent: METASPEED EDGE TOKYO for cadence-style racing.
This is a functional replacement, not a direct lineage. The Metaracer was a one-generation experiment that helped establish ASICS’ modern plated-racing direction. The METASPEED family became the company’s long-term elite racing platform.
ASICS Metaracer vs. METASPEED EDGE TOKYO
Feature | ASICS Metaracer | METASPEED EDGE TOKYO |
|---|---|---|
Status | Discontinued | Current |
Replacement relationship | Original model | Closest current ASICS equivalent |
Launch era | 2020 | 2025 generation |
Heel-to-toe drop | 9 mm | 5 mm |
Stack height | 24 mm / 15 mm | 39.5 mm / 34.5 mm |
Weight | About 6.7 oz. / 190 g | About 170 g |
Cushioning | FLYTEFOAM | FF LEAP + FF TURBO PLUS |
Plate | Bottom-loaded forefoot carbon plate | Full-length carbon plate tuned for cadence runners |
Best use | 5K to marathon racing | Elite road racing, cadence-style runners |
The biggest difference is stack height. The Metaracer was essentially a plated racing flat. The EDGE TOKYO is a modern super shoe with nearly 40 mm of heel stack. That gives the current shoe far more cushioning and energy storage, but it also means former Metaracer users should expect a very different sensation underfoot.
Who Should Try the METASPEED EDGE TOKYO?
Start with the EDGE TOKYO if you liked the Metaracer because it rewarded fast turnover and you want the closest current ASICS race-day option. ASICS specifically designs the EDGE for runners who gain speed by increasing cadence rather than dramatically extending stride length.
If you loved the Metaracer because it was low to the ground and felt like a traditional racing flat, the EDGE TOKYO will feel much taller and more cushioned. There is no current ASICS race shoe that reproduces the exact low-stack Metaracer formula.
Check current METASPEED EDGE TOKYO availability.
Three Alternatives for Former Metaracer Runners
The EDGE TOKYO is the closest current ASICS match, but the Metaracer’s low-stack, lightweight personality no longer maps neatly onto one modern shoe.
- ASICS METASPEED SKY TOKYO: Choose the SKY if you generate speed mainly by increasing stride length rather than cadence. It uses the same 5 mm drop and FF LEAP/FF TURBO PLUS cushioning as the EDGE, but the carbon-plate geometry is tuned differently.
- ASICS METASPEED RAY: Consider the RAY if ultralight weight matters most. At about 129 g, it is dramatically lighter than the original Metaracer and is designed for elite forefoot runners.
- ASICS MAGIC SPEED: Consider the MAGIC SPEED family if you want a plated shoe for training and racing but do not need the full price or specialization of the METASPEED line.
You can also browse our running shoe directory for current racing and speed-training options.
Can You Still Buy the ASICS Metaracer?
Sometimes. Old stock and resale listings still appear, but the shoe dates to 2020. That means even unworn pairs may have spent years in storage, and foam, rubber and adhesives can age over time.
For collecting or occasional use, that may be acceptable. For serious racing, a current METASPEED model is the more practical choice because it uses newer foams, current plate geometry and materials designed around today’s racing standards.
Check remaining ASICS Metaracer listings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. The Metaracer was a one-generation carbon-plated racing shoe launched in 2020. ASICS later moved its elite road-racing development into the METASPEED family.
ASICS did not name a direct successor. The METASPEED EDGE TOKYO is the closest current equivalent for cadence-style runners looking for a carbon-plated race-day shoe.
Yes. It used a carbon plate positioned beneath the forefoot portion of the FLYTEFOAM midsole.
The ASICS Metaracer used a 9 mm heel-to-toe drop, with approximately 24 mm of heel stack and 15 mm in the forefoot.
The EDGE TOKYO is much taller and uses newer FF LEAP and FF TURBO PLUS foams, a 5 mm drop and a full-length carbon plate. The Metaracer was a low-stack plated racing flat with a 9 mm drop.
ASICS recommends the EDGE TOKYO for runners who increase speed mainly through faster cadence and the SKY TOKYO for runners who increase speed primarily by lengthening their stride.
Sometimes. Old stock and resale pairs still appear, but the model dates to 2020 and buyers should consider the age of the foam, rubber and adhesives before racing seriously in an old pair.
