ASICS - FUJI LITE 5

If you want to stick with Asics, I love my Fuji Lite 5s. I wear the Gel Nimbus 27 for road/flat packed and find that even though the drop and stack aren’t the same, they are complementary shoes and I’ve had no issues in them for three years now as a combo! I’m usually pretty injury prone so it’s been nice not dealing with that.

I usually find discount for these at 90 EUR, ran up to 800k in Trabuco 11, midsole worn out as similar for other brands, now bought 12 until it's sold out, probably skipping version 13 as it's more narrow. Stack height is fine, maybe couple mm less would be great, rolled ankle once in technical terrain. Anyway, stability is good. Outsole is great... for that discount price, it's great shoe. Also running Fuji Lite 5, but one has probably badly manufactured area around insole.. or insole itself and got blister from it after long run. Similar to Saucony Xodus Ultra I had before, but better price and more durable upper, comfortable tongue - lock for sure. Maybe better energy return in Saucony, not sure about weight. Ran 80k in Trabuco 11, no issue.

I had Scott Supertrac RCs, Hoka Speedgoats and LaSportiva Bushidos before, last year I had the opportunity to take part in an Asics shoe test event and really liked them. I got a pair of Asics FujiLite 5s and really, really loved them. Ran over 600km in them last year and would say they are a wonderful versatile shoe. Used them in alpine terrain as well as chill forest trails, never had a Problem, was especially surprised with their sole/grip on wet trails. Would 100% recommend the FujiLites, i did not enjoy the other Asics trail shoes too much though, the Gel trabuco etc. felt weird for my taste...

Hey, I am training for a K65 (2.8km vert) next year and currently still using my Asics Fuji Lite. I feel that for every day training they are perfectly fine but am worried that they wont be ideal for anything >40km because cushioning etc not necessarily build for that? On rocky trails they feel a bit thin as well if that makes sense. Anyone has experience with this particular setup? I do like Asics because of wide toe box. On road days I just recently got the Asics Kayano. Any other recommendations - happy to hear! NB: The K65 is in Innsbruck/Austria in May, trails, rocks, no need for GTX. NBB: I am not a fast runner, I need something which is reliable and comfortable for longer distances.

But is the FujiSpeed 4 stable enough (hope that makes sense)? FujiLite is really great, but sometimes it feels like not enough cushioned, stable, firm, if that makes sense? Like a typical shoe you would get when u want to get started with trail running (so it was perfect for me at that time haha). Now I feel like I could use something more.. "advanced".

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

I've hit about 100 miles on these so far and I'm loving them!!! Love a minimalistic feeling shoe too

I really like my ASICS Fuji Lites but also my Saucony Peregrines! Though I find myself reaching for the ASICS first (if they are dry)

Hello. I come from the same issue. I had major issues with Plantar Fasciitis after running in the Speedcross and S/Lab Speed for many years. My first shoe was the Hoka Speedgoat Evo. That was an epic shoe, but sold out everywhere so quickly I only ever ran in one pair. Since then I’ve tried many similar shoes, looking for great grip, soft and bouncy ride, but good stability as I over-pronate, plus I recently developed osteoarthritisin my big toes. So, I really rate the following: - Hoka Mafate Speed 4. Good all rounder - Salomon S/lab genesis. A little narrow and unstable but speedy and shed mud quickly - La Sportiva Prodigeo Pro - great foam and good grip, lightweight. - Saucony Xodus Ultra - 1 and 3 are pretty good, ignore the 2. - Hoka Tecton X 3 - my go-to race shoe for hard packed trails and gravel I like the Speedgoat, Catamount, Fuji Lite, Ultra Glide too but they all have compromises that the shoes above don’t have in the same way.

Best cheap trail shoe I’ve run in was the ASICS Fujilite - great simple and fun, and I usually find a pair going for €75-90…

Hello - I would say that the Prodigio Pro will feel a bit too squishy for general walking around. I walk the dogs in a pair of Salomon GTX Thundercross. They’re stable enough, comfy, and waterproof. The Ultraglide are also a good option. I’ve also had numerous Inov8 Roclite, Trailfly which are also good for hiking if you like zero drop. Hoka are also comfy if you stay clear of the racing shoes - Challenger ATR or Speedgoat. I also like the ASICS Fujilite for walking. I’d suggest avoiding the S/Lab Genesis, Tecton X3, Mafate 5, Prodigio Pro, Nike Trail Ultra, or anything with a PEBA Foam or really pronounced rocker. They will be too squishy, unstable and wobbly underfoot.

ASICS Fuji Lite, on the road I use support shoes but I really like that feel of these on the trails. Very minimal shoes.

If you want better rock protection check out the FujiSpeed 4. Similar fit, but has a nylon plate that protects the foot much better. I am using it for a 50k in about a month, and it will be fine for that distance. The FujiLite is a great shoe, my only complaint is the lack of a rock plate, so your concerns are warranted.

Go into a store where you can try on a few options. Brooks makes great options, I’d start with the cascadia and catamount. Something to help guide you (and the sales associate)—you’re looking for something “light trail” but “technical” to help you through the rocks. Something “responsive” and let them know you’re running a race on some mixed terrain. Trail shoes will feel stiffer than your road shoes; there are varying amounts of tread, and that’s what I mean by light. You don’t need a super chunky tread, the suggestion for road-to-trail is this style. Good options besides the Brooks: hoka challenger, saucony endorphin edge, asics fuji lite.

I’ve tried on a few shoes with higher stacks while looking for a softer and foamier ride and it feels really unstable to me. I’ve been rocking the ASICS Fuji Lite Trails and Topo Mtn Racer 3s which have nice cushion but not the aggressive drop and I like that middle ground. I tried on the Salomon “GRVL” shoe recently (idk the model) and I’m feeling like this style is going to get more popular. The stack was massive. It was kinda fun but I only tested it out of the door on the road and can’t imagine it working for me. Even the two-track I regularly run is steeper and rockier than they feel stable on.

Hi. I live in Japan and I have big feet so my options are limited. My first ever shoes were the asics Fujilite. I bought them because they fitted the best for the limited options I could get (I fully agree with everyone’s opinion that the best shoes for you are the ones that fit the best). They worked well but after a while I started running further and I felt that I needed more cushioning so I went with the ASICS Gel Trabuco 12 and I loved them, good cushioning for long runs. A few weeks ago I bought the Trabuco 13 for this race but after 2 runs a small hole was appearing and the outsole in the toe area was coming of so I didn’t have any confidence in them for my race so I kept with my Trabuco 12. All I can say is that I used the Trabuco 12 and love them and they held up very well in almost 10 hours of non stop running.

S-tier: Asicsgrip. Tested it on mossy wet rocks by the waterfall. Beats megagrip

Asicsgrip is amazing. I have a pair of old Fujilyte 2 to walk the dog and these MFs still stick to the ground as fairly new. I've done super fast series on technical terrain where at first I would've swear I was about to kill myself but nope. On the other hand I have always Found LaSportiva Akasha awesome, I guess the rest of the lineup will be similar regarding the proper sole/terrains intended. Once you've run a few miles to get rid of that "new sole coating" they move incredible. Less over wet rock/soils but very nice anyways, slipped just two or three times in a +1000kms distance span.

For me in wet terrain with rocks, the best is Asicsgrip (6). After that, probably Vibram (tried in Hoka and Nike shoes), Contagrip in Salomon Speedcross 4 and Continental in various Adidas models. Here, some variation between them (for example, Continental in Adidas Terrex Two Flow is better than in Adidas Terrex Agravic Flow 2.0 (so a 4 for them). After those, probably the outsole by La Sportiva (in Jackal model) and various Nike outsoles (Kiger 8, Wildhorse 6, Pegasus 4 TR) in wet terrain (btw, in mid Spring to mid Autumn, Nike are pretty nice shoes here)

I brought these as a dressier option for a 3-week UK trip, intending to wear some newish Asics trail runners as an outdoorsy shoe. Asics is usually my go-to comfortable shoe brand, but that pair wrecked my feet within the first week. The Mizzles took on full duty and were a godsend.