TRABUCO and FUJI — you may have heard these series names a few years ago. Back on the trails, trail running shoes sporting the "tiger claw" logo used to be relatively rare. But when Tom Evans and Ben Dhiman finished first and second at UTMB last year wearing the same "prototype shoe", ASICS was once again pushed to the forefront of trail running gear conversations. Today we'll take a look at ASICS's current trail running shoes. The "prototype shoe" from a year ago has now appeared in stores as the METAFUJI TRAIL 2. As ASICS's top trail racing shoe today, this generation's most significant updates are in the midsole. A lighter, more responsive upper midsole foam has contributed to Gen 2's weight reduction. The Gen 2 carbon plate is also shaped into a more stable "H" form, unlike Gen 1's split fore/aft structure. The aim is to balance the flexibility required across different surfaces. It also follows the broader trend of mid-cut trail racing shoes. The mid-cut design with a built-in gaiter both eliminates the tongue and reduces grit intrusion; a quick-lace system over the instep replaces the previous generation's traditional laces. ASICS has learned the ropes of making "thicker" trail shoes. The TRABUCO MAX 5 delivers an almost bottomless cushioning feel thanks to exaggerated midsole thickness at the fore- and rearfoot. That said, its arrangement of the Gen 4 "M-shaped" lugs at fore- and rearfoot is somewhat different. Aside from an upgraded upper, the MAX 5 hasn't seen major changes. By contrast, the standard TRABUCO 14 has made breakthroughs and drawn more runners' attention. Its midsole is upgraded to a lighter, more responsive foam and it offers a dynamic, adaptive last, boosting the comfort that matters most in trail running. Compared with the "thick-soled" approach, the relatively "thin-soled" design is easier to handle and offers better control. The lug shapes and their layout also make traction more reliable across varied terrain. As a brand traditionally strong in thin-soled running shoes, ASICS still has two lesser-known models that embody the "thin-soled" spirit — the FUJI SPEED 4 and the FUJI LITE 6. Despite its thin sole, the FUJI SPEED 4 actually adds a PEBAX plate in the forefoot to increase the energy return after deformation. A bit like a spike plate, this makes the shoe more demanding to handle and more suited to elite racing. The reverse-oriented lugs are placed early in the forefoot, giving more confidence on technical sections. The FUJI LITE is more like a "no-plate" version of the SPEED 4. It uses the same midsole foam, the same thin sole and low drop. The outsole lug layout in the forefoot has reverse-facing lugs on the outside for braking and forward-facing lugs on the inside for propulsion — a clever design. For trail beginners and lightweight trail athletes, this shoe offers excellent technical and strength training, and the current price is very attractive. Would you still choose thin-soled trail shoes? #ASICS #trailrunning #trailrunningshoes #TrailRunningBigBang