You may have heard the series names TRABUCO and FUJI a few years ago. On mountain trails in the past, it was relatively rare to see a pair of trail shoes bearing the "tiger-claw" logo.

But after Tom Evans and Ben Dhiman finished first and second at UTMB last year wearing the same "prototype shoe," ASICS was pushed back into the center of the trail-running gear conversation. Today we'll take stock of ASICS's current trail-running shoes.

The "prototype shoe" from this time last year has now appeared in stores as the METAFUJI TRAIL 2. As ASICS's top trail-racing shoe, this generation's main updates are in the midsole.

A lighter, more responsive upper midsole foam now contributes to the Gen 2's weight savings.

The Gen 2 carbon plate has been made into a more stable "H" shape, unlike Gen 1's front/rear split-toe structure. The goal is to balance flexibility demands across different surfaces.

It also follows the trend toward mid-cut trail-racing shoes. The mid-cut, sock-like collar removes the tongue and reduces stone ingress; a quick-lacing system across the instep replaces the previous generation's traditional laces.

ASICS has figured out the formula for making "thicker" trail shoes.

The TRABUCO MAX 5 delivers a "bottomless" cushioning feel thanks to exaggerated midsole thickness in both the forefoot and heel.

Its arrangement of "M-shaped" lugs in the forefoot and heel is somewhat different from the 4th generation. Apart from an upgraded upper, the MAX 5 hasn't seen major changes.

By contrast, the mainline TRABUCO 14 made breakthroughs that drew more runners' attention.

The midsole was upgraded to lighter, more responsive foam, and the shoe received a dynamically adaptive last, boosting the comfort that's most important in trail running.

Compared with "thin-soled" designs, it's friendlier in terms of controllability and ease of handling. Its lug shapes and arrangement also make traction more reliable across varied terrain.

As a traditional thin-soled running-shoe heavyweight, the brand still offers two lesser-known trail shoes that retain 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 rebound after deformation.

A bit like a spiked shoe, this makes the SPEED 4 harder to handle and more oriented toward elite racing. At the same time, reverse-oriented lugs pre-positioned in the forefoot give 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 lugs in the forefoot are arranged to provide outward reverse braking on the lateral side and forward traction on the medial side — a thoughtful design.

For trail beginners and lightweight trail runners, this shoe offers excellent technical and strength training, and the current price is attractive.

Would you still choose thin-soled trail shoes?