Nike Vaporfly 4 vs Asics Metaspeed Sky Tokyo
Two shoes people weigh up against each other constantly. Here is what actually separates them, taken from the same database that drives the Shoe Finder quiz, with nothing added by hand. The short version: the Nike Vaporfly 4 has the higher heel at 8mm against 5mm, only the Nike Vaporfly 4 comes in a wide fitting.
Side by side
| Nike Vaporfly 4 | Asics Metaspeed Sky Tokyo | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £239.99 RRP | £239.99 RRP |
| Type | Race day | Race day |
| Support | Neutral | Neutral |
| Weight | 166g | 169g |
| Heel drop | 8mm | 5mm |
| Heel stack | 40mm | 39mm |
| Widths | Standard and wide | Standard only |
| Plate | carbon | carbon |
What the differences mean
Weight
There is almost nothing in it, 166g against 169g. Weight is not the deciding factor between these two.
Heel drop
This is the real difference. The Nike Vaporfly 4 has a 8mm drop and the Asics Metaspeed Sky Tokyo has 5mm. A higher heel asks less of your achilles and calf and more of your knee, and a lower one does the opposite. If you get regular trouble at one of those, pick accordingly. If you get none, pick whichever is closer to what you already run in, because changing drop suddenly is the most reliable way to give yourself a new problem.
Width fittings
The Nike Vaporfly 4 comes in a wide fitting and the Asics Metaspeed Sky Tokyo is standard width only. If your feet are broad this is likely to settle it on its own, because no amount of cushioning makes up for a shoe that squeezes. Sizing up does not fix width, it just makes the shoe longer.
Price
Effectively the same price at full price, so this is not the thing to decide on. Whichever happens to be discounted on the day is the better buy.
Which should you buy?
Neither, until you have tried both on. Fit decides more than any specification on this page, and the two shoes above are close enough that a foot shape will separate them faster than a spreadsheet will.
Nike Vaporfly 4
Feather light race shoe for 5k up to marathon. Save it for the big days.
Asics Metaspeed Sky Tokyo
Very light racing shoe built for runners who lengthen their stride at speed.
Or let the quiz decide
This page compares two shoes. The shoe finder compares all 104 of them against your width, your weight, where you run, your budget and any recurring niggles, then gives you three and tells you why each one made it. It takes about a minute.