ASICS - Gel-Trabuco 12

My personal thoughts about the three. I am far from being an expert and these are just my impressions :-) - Fuji Lite 4: my favourite when it comes to shorter runs. Snappy, light and fun shoe, with great feeling on the foot. I think their limit is probably (for me) around 15/20k runs. - Trabuco 12: It's the shoes that "convinced" me to move from Hoka to Asics. Light, very well-rounded shoe, with the right amount of cushioning. However, it lacked in my opinion a bit of stability (especially on the arches) and is quite "flat". Often I ended up hoping it would give me some more energy in return. I absolutely loved the sole. The drop, in my opinion, is right on point. - Trabuco 13: Honestly, it feels like a brand new shoe rather than an evolution of the 12. I feel the whole geometry of the shoe has changed, while keeping the same drop. It is a glove, with a more comfortable toe box, great feeling on the foot overall and tremendous improvement on the two things that I felt the 12 missed the most, stability and energy return. All this while keeping a great cushioning. They also changed the geometry of the sole, making it slightly more flat at the center. Very impressed with them. Overall, I am very satisfied of all three and they are in my rotation. As someone said in the comments, I am absolutely impressed by the durability overall: coming from Hokas, where the sole was gone super quickly (disappointingly), it is a huge improvement. I ran the entire summer of 2024 in the Trabuco 12 and the lugs are still in great conditions. I am a fan of Vibram soles, and probably the Asics' is the only proprietary sole at the same level but (at least in my experience) with a much much better durability. I also tried the Trabuco Max 2 and hated them to the guts (😅) but I am planning to try the new Trabuco Max 4 at some point. However, I think the Trabuco 13 are the sweet spot between comfort and performance.

asics trabuco 12 - best trail running shoe imo, super comfy, long lasting and great grip. Check the reviews on these 10/10

I was pleasantly surprised by Asics Grip on the Trabuco 12. They performed miles better than my Vibram shoes in both very dry (going down a 45% incline rock face) and very wet conditions (pouring rain on smooth rock).

I'm on my second pair of Trabuco 12s and I love these shoes. I think the 13 is a tiny bit firmer (and more stable). If have used them for both trail running and pretty technical hiking. I was really impressed with the durability and the traction on these shoes. The traction is way better than my heavy hiking boots with Vibram outsoles. In fact, I have had a couple pretty scary hikes where I picked the Trabuco over my cat. C/D hiking boots, simply because the traction is so much better.

I would go with something that’s less squishy, I tried the AP5s and I felt I would roll my ankle. I went with asics trabuco 12s, did a couple of races in them. they’re pretty stable, and I over pronate a lot. my road shoes are. asics gel kayanos

I’ve ran shorter trail races in asics trabuco 12, and I do my runs in a nimbus 27. I would actually recommend a trabuco max 4 if you can try it in a store. I tried it recently and still debating if I should get it for my race next year(half marathon tho not a 50k, i’m not that brave like you lol)

I have flat feet and overpronate. My road to trail shoes are the north face altamesa 500s. I highly recommend it, wide forefoot too. I have a wide fore foot🥲okay they do not do that well on mud. for technical and some mud I recommend asics trabuco, I have the 12 and I run trail races in them

yeah go to a good local running store, they will get a proper fit for you. I have the same problem, I went to a local place they let me try a bunch of different shoes. I ended up with asics trabuco 12 from the store. I hike and run in them. Great traction, but the padding could be better. Decent ground feel though. I also run lighter trails with gravel in northface altamesa 500, it’s higher stack but it’s more comfortable as I am pretty heavy.

I have the 12s and they are really comfortable and have around them like 300km in. Everything is still good but the front outsole start to tear out. Maybe because I always find myself bumping to rocks, roots and dirts. I really want the 13s but they made it narrower. They updated the midsole and the outsole really suitable for longer distances !

I run in Gel Trabuco 12 and would say it doesn’t sound like what you’re looking for. It’s got a bit of cushion, but definitely not a lot. Maybe the Trabuco Max? I haven’t tried that version though.

Asics trabucos work for me in highly technical terrain. Enough cushion but still quite stiff, not very high and wide fit. Trabuco 13s upper is not good, it breaks really easy, I'm in my second pair and I won't get more than 400km from any of them (second one is a replacement sent by Asics). 11 and 12 work better for this kind of skyrunning. I was getting around 700/800km put of them.

I also have quite flat and wide feet, give a try to Asics options. Be careful with trabuco 13s upper, it breaks really quick, I would go for 12s. - I use a soft pair for recovery days and long not technical runs. I have being using hierro since V5, but V9 is not wide enough and V8 is not technical enough. I'm using Nike Zegama 2 now. - For high intensity and short fast runs Asics fujilite. Technical or not, they are great shoes. Im on a v4 pair. - mid to long technical runs Asics trabuco 13, I would go with the 12s because of upper issues, but Asics sent me a replacement so I'm with them. - mid to long not highly technical runs merrel agility peak 5. I just throw them with 700km. I'll take another pair soon probably. I have a mafate speed 4 pair, intended to use them for long technical outings in replacemt of trabucos, but they are too narrow and I'm not confortable longer that 2 or 3 hours with them. They are a nice shoe if they fit you

Well I guess that depends on what we call technical and individual adaptation to that technical terrain. I prefer Asics trabucos for this type of terrain, closer to the ground, more grip o wet rock and not soft. I live inside the Zegama course, for this type of terrain AP5 works great for nearly all the course. But if going more rocky high altitude terrain I prefer the Asics. Haven't tried any of the shoes you mention to compare, sorry. All in all, they are a nice shoe for putting km on.

I use Asics trabuco. As gripy as vibrams megagrip if not more, quite close to the ground and not too soft. It also works well for long outings. I guess anything that fits well and is similar would work for me.

Mafate speed 4 is actually 7mm in runrepeat test. I have a pair, and they don't feel as other 4mm drop shoes I use. OP, you could try Asics trabucos. They are 8mm, go for 12th versión, 13th upper is trash

Asics trabucos work for me in highly technical terrain. Enough cushion but still quite stiff, not very high and wide fit. Trabuco 13s upper is not good, it breaks really easy, I'm in my second pair and I won't get more than 400km from any of them (second one is a replacement sent by Asics). 11 and 12 work better for this kind of skyrunning. I was getting around 700/800km put of them.

Asics trabuco is quite wide. Topo MTN racer 3 is too narrow for me too, mostly due to the midfoot

Asics trabucos are wide and roomy. The speedgoats 2E are actually very narrow and low volume. Even the mafate speed 4 in normal width are roomier. I tried topo MTN racer 3. They are wide in the forefoot, but narrow in the arch/midfoot. Can't wear them Agility peak 5 is also wide and high volume.

Have a look at Asics line up. Trabuco and trabuco max. They are plenty wide. I tried speedgoats 2E, they are not any wide. Mafate 4s are actually wider, but still not enough for me if I'm going long.

Asics gel trabuco 12. Super plush trail shoe for all surfaces. Agressive grip and toe protection steel plate protects too.

Agree with this as well. They are very good on wet rock. The Trabuco 12 also drains well.

I have the 12s. They're holding up well, and work well on wet rock. I'd say great grip, but not as good as my speedgoats. The 12 drains well, so if you do a lot of water crossings, it's a good shoe for that.

I don't have experience with the Trabuco 13, but the Trabuco 12 has been a good durable shoe for me, and well suited to mountain races. The outsole works well on wet or dry rock as well.

Asics Trabuco have worked well for me.

I got the 12, and they are awesome. The only thing that they suck about is the mud clearing from the soles. They are mud magnets, and when filled with mud, they get slippery. I hope the 13 are improved in this

That is too subjective. I use the Asics Gel Trabuco 12, but those might not fit you well. I would recommend you check this site and make the comparison yourself https://runrepeat.com/