Me: Offline from youtube for a few days After coming back, RU-vid: Kofuzi metaracer Sethjames metaracer Believeintherun metaracer Runningwarehouse metaracer Jamison metaracer Whattttt
Seth love the old school Reebok sweater. The theory for the USB hole in toe is that Asics say their research shows that reduced foot heat while running will keep heart rate down therefore you can run longer. Carbon plate I have heard is a wishbone shape on the fore foot bottom mounted between outer and flytfoam. Saw that Asics in this line also are releasing a sprinters spike that don’t have spikes!!! Some sort of honeycomb to grip and propel like spikes do on the track. Thought that was definitely out there that no other company has done ( to the best of my knowledge). QD. I agree Seth. Alphafly will be old edition for Nike at Tokyo 2021 and all other shoe companies will also release generation 2 shoes for the carbon plate shoes being released now. I think the postponement of the Olympics is a good thing firstly because it was too risky to have athletes competing with current global situation and secondly it makes for a more level playing field in that non Nike sponsored athletes will have shoes that will have caught up to Nike by Tokyo Olympics. This hopefully means better/equal racing with no athlete with an unfair advantage because of the type of shoe they are wearing. With the IAAF’s rules now on shoe specifications in competition that also promotes parity however I would not be surprised to see Nike around this time next year release the next shoe on from the Alphafly that again pushes the boundaries and concepts and possibly gives Nike sponsored athletes another edge like has been the case over the last few years. Hope everyone is staying safe. Stay positive and keep running (even if it has to be laps of your yard or living room). Onwards and upwards.
Racer Rant: (I am no expert, whatsoever.) I think Asics have gone a slightly different route than some other brands regarding the carbon racer. It's not necessarily 'purist' but its closer to a classic racer style in some respects from what I am hearing: balanced midsole density and feel, smaller stack height (when compared to the fluffy Nike approach), and more geared to allow a natural running for compared to springy, tall-stack, air-zoom-boost-jump-hop racers. The other thing I'm thinking is that asics are a very accessible brand for ALL runners: this year more than ever. The metaracer from what I'm gathering is combing simplicity and some effective tech with a more standard, potentially MUCH LONGER LASTING racer which non-elties/sponsored athletes who appreciate value might favour. I think the approach is refreshing and will serve them well in the long term. I say let Nike fight for the start line and the advancements that maybe push the limits of fairness, and saucony and asics etc. find the balance. HEHE.
It seems all that rubber also serves to hold the bottom loaded plate, so they can’t just shave it to lower the weight... It’s kind of a trade off to build this kind of geometry with this foam. I like the high stack shoes for Marathon racing, as I feel they really save the legs for those last miles. But I also like the fact that Asics is bringing in some innovation and not just doing a Vaporfly-like shoe.
QD: If Nike keeps their foot on the gas, then they already have the 'next' AlphaFly in the pipeline for 2021. They're streaks ahead of any other running shoe company at this stage in the game. Adidas are no longer just a running brand, they're a lifestyle brand and their ambassadors reflect that, most are artists and musicians. Nothing wrong with that. I just don't think performance foot wear is at the top of Adidas priority in 2020-2021. I wouldn't be surprised to see faster and better performance out of Skechers, Brooks, Hoka etc.
The Metaracer has to be the best looking running shoe ever (sans some Mizuno flats), dude! It has that classic Onitsuka look that many started running with.
This is what running magazine printed, “Like many other carbon-plated shoes, ASICS uses a plate that runs through the entire shoe to give Flytefoam the structure it needs to perform.” Where did you see that it’s not a full plate? I couldn’t find anything on the ASICS website that said either way.
Seth, I've read that the carbon plate is between the midsole and outsole. They wanted the energy from the carbon plate to be close to the road and it allowed them to have a lower stack height apparently. They've said they needed the full outsole to keep the plate in place.
Been really enjoying these reviews, I’m currently ramping my running up 45-55 kms a week and need some new runners what things should I look for in a runner? Weight, drop? I’m a little lost as to the main aspects an everyday person should look for. For regency I’ve always loved Asics but would like to try something else. Cheers if you see this, Jake
Just wanted to commend you on your great honest review's of shoes. You really give the shoes a chance to show themselves. On a side note saw your haters hatin' on Letsrun the other day. Pay no mind and keep doing what your doing!!!
At the end of every running shoe review I would love if you put a rating like 1-10 or 1-5 and say would recommend or not. Just a small thing but I think it would be a nice add.
I don't necessarily expect the MR to be lighter just because it has a lower stack height. On a lower stack, the foam has to be denser to keep from bottoming out on strike, which it would do if it used foam like that of the AF, at half the height. Don't think I'm concerned that much about slight weight differences either. I think a little weight (think pendulum, lower leg) does encounter gravity resistance on load, but it uses gravity to it's advantage to unload. Maybe there's a sweet spot between light and heavy? Just my hypothesis! ;-) Thanks for the review!
Super accurate review. I really want to see ASICS creating a shoe that can truly compete with Nike. I’m sick of seeing Nike I’m everyone’s shoe reviews (not yours!!, you spread the love to other companies). Thank you for doing such well rounded reviews of all the companies by the way. I rely on your reviews for what shoes I buy next!
My first pair of running shoes were Tiger Bostons. Ran in them daily until Nike came out with the Moon shoes and then the waffle trainer. Been a Nike runner ever since. Most recently I purchased the zoom fly 3 which is my favorite Nike training shoe of all time. I just haven’t seen anything that would make me move away from Nike. I use Vapor Fly for long runs, Zoom fly for medium to long tempo runs and Pegasus for recovery runs.
I really hope that the the 3 medalists at the Olympics next year will all be wearing different shoes. I know that this probably won't happen, but that would be awesome!
Yan Kai Tan They are a big sponsor in Ironman events. The run courses are all called “The Hoke One One Run Course”. Big banners at the start and end of the courses. I won’t say “all” courses, because I haven’t seen them all. But all the ones I’ve seen and participated in have been sponsored by Hoka.
Hi Seth the carbon plate is actually just under the rubber outsole that's why there is so much outsole. The plate is in the forefront section a shape a bit like a wish bone according to other articles on the shoe.
I heard that the reason that the outsole has one big flat piece of rubber is because the carbon plate is directly under it, instead of inside the midsole
This shoe looks amazing - I would love to check these out for sure and for me would 100% look to the marathon in these but I would also run shoreterstuff as well. I know it doesnt matter to racing but wow what a gorgeous shoe...
The other brands won’t catch up because Nike aren’t sleeping. Yeah we have the alphafly but trust me that innovation kitchen doesn’t stop working and they will already be working towards a new update
I think it will be competitive in Tokyo but there still isn't a shoe that comes close to the Vaporfly line. I'm really hoping there is one. Granted I havent ran in anything other than that, but no one has really said it comes close. Have a good one Seth!
Thanks Seth - hang in there mate! QD: Nike leans back into the design files and pull out the next (no pun intended) shoe. Maybe some breathing space for others to develop.
The rubber that ASICS uses for their outsoles is gripping great in wet surfaces better than any other that I’ve used.. so I think the grip comes mainly from the material and not only from the grooves.
Hey Seth! I love the channel. I was wondering if you could give a quick first impressions on the brooks glycerin 18 and the ASICS gt 2000-8 or even after 50 miles. If so that would be a blessing! Thank you so much! I watch you daily! Stay safe.
Hi Seth. Amazing review! I'm a mid-foot strike runner, and I love asics a lot (ran on DS Trainer 16, 19, and Tarther). I tried Evoride and Glideride in the store but I don't seem be adapt to this Guide-sole. I felt a lot of pressure was on my mid foot when landing the feet. I also prefer lower stack-height shoes with some ground contact feel. Metaracer is not available in my country (Singapore) yet. Just wondering if this Metaracer also have the same feeling of Evoride / Glideride? Will it be suitable for me?
Oooh.. 15mm forefoot stack. I did my only marathon in the Saucony Freedom ISO, which is also 15mm and found it to be - for my novice feet - too little. I had done training runs up to 18/19 mi in them, and it was fine. But that full 26.2 for the stack really ended up hurting my feet.
I'm hoping the weight translates into longevity. If it lasts while providing energy return, the weight is justified. It still feels categorically lightweight, not featherlight, but still light enough to overcome. I like a decent amount of rubber so I don't want that to be sacrificed. In terms of ride, it could use some structure and stability to match the drop. The foam could also be engineered to allow better energy return by way of gradient density and selectively distributed responsiveness. I'm most interested in this shoe of all the carbon racers because the plate seems to be the least disruptive. I would definitely elect to use it for marathons, your hesitancy seems to primarily based on the existence of competition and not based on the merits of the shoe. It appears fully capable, and miles ahead of anything that was out 5 years ago.
Hey Seth I watch your videos everyday. Keep up the good work. I just barely got into running and am looking for a carbon plate shoe. I am doing road running and getting ready for a half this year hopefully. What would you recommend if you don’t have a ton of money to spend.
The weight and midsole stack height is similar to the Tartheredge. The carbonfiber plate makes the shoe stiff compared to the Tartheredge. The Tartheredge appears to bei mir stable with its heel clutch and Trustic torsion bridge to avoid twisting. So what is the big differentiator given the twice as high price ?
Is the high end price point difference between a half and a marathon shoe due to the preeminence of the event (there's no half in the Olympics) or something intrinsic to the requirements of the race (e.g., running fast at threshold vs. near threshold pace)?
Hey Seth is there a chance that you will be doing or have done a reveiw on the Hoka Rocket X? They release soon and I am deciding between them and the Carbon X for my marathon in Sept.? You and yours have a great day and stay safe.🏃♂️
QOD: I believe all companies were going to release all their carbon plated racing flats at the Olympics to even competition. The fact that now the shoes had to be out 4 months before using in competition,many companies just went ahead and released them. BUT, now all othe companies now have an extra year to improve their shoes. Even the playing field.
Question: How stable is the heel counter and the midsole to avoid lateral lean from mild overpronation? It looks like the heel counter is soft, lacking stability compared to the heel clutch of the Asics Tartheredge. Also the flytefoam in the heel appears to bei soft, and thus offering little lateral stability. Is this correct so far?
Is it worth for a casual runner (up to 40 km per week, 10 km per run, tempo 5 min/km) to buy new racing shoes for occasional 5k or 10k races or should i just stick to my daily trainer (Asics GEL-Nimbus Lite).
My view would be not unless you are particularly interested in the shoes themselves. The performance gains will be relatively small. I have never used racing shoes. Recently (a half marathon last year) I raced in a fairly fast light trainer (NB Zante Pursuit). But all my fastest performances when I was a bit younger and training a bit harder were in regular daily trainers like the Saucony Jazz.
Seth! Yesterday you wanted more rubber on the Mach 3 and now you want less rubber on the Metaracer? I'm so confused! I personally like more rubber than not!
I've been undecided on these shoes, but after several runs in them now around 70 miles I really don't like them. I don't find them aggressive at all really, they're like a racing flat except they're quite heavy for a racer. So they're flats, with the weight of higher stack shoes, and a plate I cant even feel. Also, I really hate the outsole. Like you said, the rubber is far too thick and covering, plus I Like forefoot only rubber in my racers to promote a nice forefoot strike (for me personally), and these don't promote that for me as it's so smooth and throughout the whole outsole.
