NewASICS2025 Review
Asics MetaRise 2
In stock at Amazon; you can see the price on their site.
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See price on Amazon (opens in a new tab)We only have it in stock at Amazon.es · Prices updated on 7 November
Asics' most advanced handball model. Elite power and protection.
Fit
Who is it for?
- Position
- PivotGoalkeeperCentre back
- For
- Men
- Player weight
- 90 – 110 kg · > 110 kg
- Level
- Advanced, Professional
We recommend it if…
- Advanced and professional pivots
- Goalkeepers with a heavy training load
- Players with a history of joint injuries
- High-quality courts where maximum stability is required
Pick another if…
- Wings who prioritise speed and lightness
- Players on a tight budget
- Entry level and beginners
- Those looking for a light shoe (<300 g)
Our test
The good and the bad
Pros
- Asics' best cushioning
- Exceptional AHAR+ durability
- Premium lateral support for pivots
- Developed with elite players
Cons
- High-end price
- Heavy for wings or backs
- Price only justified at a high competitive level
Before you order
Sizes and fit
- Fit
- Regular
- Weight
- 335 g
- Drop
- 11 mm
Where to buy
Price at each shop
These are affiliate links; if you buy through them, Liftados may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Amazon.es
WePlay Handball
Out of stock
€149.95Basket-Center
Out of stock
€175.00
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See price on Amazon (opens in a new tab)How we score it
Score by category
- Grip
- 9.0
- Cushioning
- 9.5
- Stability
- 9.4
- Durability
- 9.5
- Value for money
- 8.3
Gorka Cabañas' opinion
Journalist. Former handball player and coach. Co-founder of Liftados
The MetaRise 2 is the most impressive model in Asics' indoor range and one of the best I've analysed for top-level goalkeepers and pivots. 335 grams may seem like a lot, but when you hold it and see how much FF Blast+ Eco the midsole packs, it makes sense.
What I'd highlight most is the PWRTRUSS: a support plate under the arch that distributes impacts on jumps and landings. I've spent years watching brands introduce similar structures in high-cushioning running shoes, and seeing it well implemented in an indoor handball shoe is a real step forward for long-term injury prevention.
The price and weight reserve it for a very specific profile: a goalkeeper or pivot who competes regularly and has the budget to invest in kit. For someone who trains twice a week at a recreational level, the Beyond FF or the Netburner Ballistic offer 85% of the performance at a mid-range price. But if you play in División de Honor or similar, the MetaRise 2 is the best investment you can make in footwear.
Published on 10 January 2026 · Liftados.com
On-court review
Full review
Grip and traction
The AHAR+ outsole of the Asics MetaRise 2 is, technically, the most durable outsole on the handball market. The AHAR (Asian High Abrasion Rubber) compound in its reinforced (+) version combines a hardness of 72 Asker-C with a friction coefficient that holds up throughout the whole season. With 9.0/10 for grip, it's not the highest score in the catalogue, but it is the most consistent: unlike other outsoles that lose grip with use, AHAR+ keeps its performance practically intact over 12-18 months of intensive use. For pivots who train every day, this consistency is more valuable than the peak grip of a less durable compound.
Cushioning and energy return
The full-length FF Blast+ Eco midsole is Asics' most advanced cushioning platform for handball and earns the highest score in the catalogue: 9.5/10. The Eco (biosourced) foam combines top-level joint protection with a more responsive feel than conventional GEL. For a pivot who absorbs hundreds of contact impacts per session, this cushioning isn't a luxury: it's injury prevention. Compared with the Gel-Netburner Ballistic FF 4, the MetaRise 2 has a more generous midsole that translates into clearly superior joint protection.
Stability and support
With 9.4/10 for stability, the Asics MetaRise 2 is the most stable pivot shoe in the Liftados catalogue alongside the Hummel HB Powerstrike Pro (9.5). The integrated external lateral support — a moulded TPU structure that wraps the heel and midfoot — provides unmatched lateral containment. The heel stabilisation system is another differentiator: it reduces movement of the heel bone during pivot footwork and contact, which, according to the physiotherapists of the teams that use it, reduces the load on the lateral collateral ligament. The construction is heavy (335 g), but for a pivot that weight translates into protection.
Who this shoe is for
The Asics MetaRise 2 is the shoe for pivots and goalkeepers who want no compromises on cushioning or stability. Its price is high-end, but consistent with its performance: the best cushioning (9.5/10), the best durability (9.5/10) and first-class lateral support. If you're an advanced-to-professional pivot or goalkeeper who trains 4 or more times a week, the investment in a MetaRise 2 pays for itself through fewer injuries and the shoe's long lifespan.
Liftados verdict · 9.3/10
The Asics MetaRise 2 is the best shoe on the market for pivots in 2025-2026. Number 1 for cushioning, number 1 for durability and among the top for stability: no other shoe combines these three factors with the same coherence. The high price and the 335-gram weight are the only things that might hold you back, but for the inside player who needs it, they're more than justified trade-offs.
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Comparisons
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