Asics Metafuji Trail Running Shoe Review

Holy dooly. If you haven’t gotten your feet into the ASICS Metafuji Trails yet, I really don’t know what you’re waiting for.

These are insane. 

I cannot get over the super stack height – 45mm of stack in the heel, 5mm drop, and it’s all ‘go’ from here on out. It’s probably the fastest shoe I’ve ever run with on the trails with an incredible bounce and push, amazing cushioning, and just responsive to everything I wanted to do. 

The ASICS Metafuji Trails are designed for performance at speed thanks to combining a full length carbon plate with the high stack of both the Flight Foam (FF) Turbo and FF Blast PLUS cushioning. This balance between two dynamic foams sees a workable combination of energy return and comfort, resulting in a shoe that helps to propel you forward. 

As we look further up the shoe, the upper is extremely lightweight, made from a breathable mesh which locks the foot securely. The ASICS Metafuji Trails are true to size, with my fit (W9.5) providing enough room in the toebox. Extra security is added with a great lace lock system thanks to an ASICS-designed lacing chain system pulling the upper in and across the midfoot section and atop the tongue – I had no slipping throughout my runs and felt no pressure on the top of my foot. The laces are the best crinkle cut design I’ve tested thus far, but I could have done with them being a little bit longer. 

In the middle of the lacing chain system is a loop for gaiter hooks, however there is no Velcro at the heel of the shoe so ensure to stick your own in its place. While we’re looking at the back of the design, the heel and ankle is padded well enough for either style of sock, ankle or crew, and there is a very high level of grip when it comes to the 4.5mm lugs to get traction through dirt, pebbles and compacted mud. 

I took the ASICS Metafuji Trails along the trails from the end of winter to mid-spring so I got to test them in both wet and dry conditions along fire trails, single track, grass, pea gravel and crushed gravel. This is a shoe that wants to make you go fast, pushing you forward with secure grip, stability and energy without being overly ambitious, so with that in mind it’s best suited for a trail race between 5k and marathon rather than an ultra. Because the upper is so lightweight, I wouldn’t take the shoes through any tumultuous terrain where there are lots of sharp hazards or branches, but that’s okay because the ASICS Metafuji Trails are all about fast, speedy trails on softer terrain which for me works to a tee. Some have even suggested it’s a great road-to-trail transitional shoe because of the lightweight upper. 

The ASICS Metafuji Trails are perfect if you’re looking for a shoe that is fast and bouncy on PB-type terrain. Overall, I would suggest there is no need to go up a size if you look for extra room in a shoe because there’s plenty of it when you get it in your size. 

This is the race day performance shoe you’ve been waiting for.