There's no doubt that ASICS resides right up at the tippity top of today's Mount Olympus of running brands. The Japanese company has been producing excellent sportswear since the 70s, mainly making splashes with their bouncy and speedy road and track shoes.
However, in recent years, ASICS has made several huge strides (sorry) into the world of trail running, and nothing shows their progress better than the current iteration of their Trail Collection.
First off, let's talk shoes. You'll find 5 key trail running shoes at the core of ASICS' Trail Collection. One of them, the TRABUCO MAX™ 3, won an award with LFTO as the best road to trail running shoe of 2024. It has a gorgeously high stack and super versatile lugs which manage to bite into soft ground while staying squishy and supportive enough for the odd bit of road or hard packed trail.
For racing, you won't find anything more explosive than the FUJI SPEED™3, a speedy and lightweight trainer which has more propulsive power than a labradoodle who just saw a squirrel stealing a biscuit. It's quick, but not quite as nimble as the FUJI LITE™5, which is your ideal companion if you're looking for an airy and distance-ready ride.
Meanwhile the Gel-TRABUCO™ 12 is the latest iteration of ASICS' most developed and tinkered-with model. The lugs on this shoe are aggressive and sharp, they bite through the trail like that labradoodle from earlier, biting down on the very stolen biscuit which he's now rescued (and decided to eat, as a reward). We're big fans of the Gel 12, and we'd almost be ready to call it our favourite shoe in the collection, but there's a new model in town that has everyone talking...
Meet the METAFUJI TRAIL
This shoe is a cushioning king. The METAFUJI™ TRAIL is a culmination of the technology which ASICS has developed and perfected across the rest of their trail running range. Its dual layer midsole combines the FF+ Blast propulsive midsole technology from the Fuji Speed, with a new layer called FF TURBO, producing an energetic ride like nothing you've seen before.
Our contributor, Ben Mounsey, tested the shoe in Chamonix, and had some feedback for us:
[The METAFUJI Trail is...] ideal for maintaining speed on challenging trails. Even with the impressive cushioning, you won't lose ground feel or stability with the 45mm heel stack height and 40mm in the forefoot as the 5mm drop encourages a more forward-leaning posture, perfect for quick transitions and maintaining momentum on the trails.
Whether you’re navigating rocky trails, muddy paths, or loose gravel, the grip remains solid. Despite being lightweight, the outsole is durable enough to handle the wear and tear of tough trail runs, making it a reliable choice for those who tackle varied terrains.
If you’re serious about trail running and want gear that gives you an edge, this shoe is worth the investment.
– Ben Mounsey
The accolades don't stop with the footwear, though. Our tester, Nick Hallissey went on a multi-paragraph praising streak of the FUJITRAIL ZIPPED T SHIRT in our best running shirts article, and I've also gone on record as calling the FUJITRAIL JACKET™ one of the best running waterproofs of 2024.
Whether you want some top quality apparel, or you're looking for a new shoe to get you to that next level, the Trail Collection from ASICS will get you exactly what you need – and more.