Metaspeed Sky Paris vs Cielo X1 3

The Metaspeed Sky Paris is ASICS at full race trim: a carbon racing shoe built for one job, chasing a personal best on the road. It is the cadence runner's racer, the half of the Metaspeed line tuned for runners who get faster by keeping their stride length and turning their legs over quicker, while the Metaspeed Edge Tokyo handles those who lengthen their stride. At 215g with a full-length carbon plate and a 5mm drop, it is light, aggressive and unmistakably a marathon shoe rather than a do-everything trainer. The bouncy, springy foam and stiff plate work together to roll you forward and reward a committed effort. Hold goal pace and it comes alive. Jog it easy and you will wonder what the fuss is about. In our view it sits right at the top of the carbon racing shoe pack alongside the Nike Vaporfly 4, and at £260 it is priced like the elite tool it is.

The Hoka Cielo X1 3 is a max-stack carbon racing shoe built for runners who want a big, protective ride without giving up pop at pace. It sits right at the top of the stack rules with a 44mm heel, a carbon plate and a PEBA-based super foam, so it is squarely a marathon and half-marathon shoe rather than a short, snappy 5k racer. The story of this third version is refinement. Earlier Cielo X1 models were brilliant fun but heavy and a handful at slow speeds. This one is billed as the lightest and most stable yet, and that matters because it makes the big platform far easier to actually race in. If you have looked at the Nike Alphafly 3 and wanted something with a broader, more planted feel underfoot, this is the Hoka answer. It is premium at 250 pounds, but for long-distance race day it delivers a genuinely propulsive, cushioned ride.