ASICS Trabuco 13

𝐓𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐚: Initial thoughts + over 600km total distance, including the Delirious West 200 miler⁣ & Cape 2 Cape 100 miler

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𝐀 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐭-𝐈𝐧𝐣𝐮𝐫𝐲⁣

My prep coming into the Delirious West 200 Miler this year was far from ideal. Due to a significant foot injury after a trip in my garage, my running over the previous few months had been almost non-existent. I’d been keeping up the training on my smart trainer but unable to run for the majority of the lead up. This led me to reconsider my usual footwear strategy for such a long event. My recent go-to choices for Delirious, the Asics Trabuco Max 2 and the New Balance Fresh Foam More Trail v2, while offering fantastic cushioning, suddenly felt like they might present too much instability on tired legs working with an incompletely recovered foot. The Asics Trabuco 13 struck me as a great choice – its lower stack height suggested a more grounded and stable platform, and the 8mm drop felt biomechanically sensible given my recent injury history. Furthermore, knowing that five of my last six pairs of Asics shoes had comfortably carried me through ultra distance runs gave me confidence in the shoes suitability for the task. So, a few weeks before Delirious, I ordered a pair and although I only managed a few short run/walks in the Trabuco 13s before race day, those initial outings were enough to make me feel cautiously optimistic about my choice.⁣

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𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐄𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫: 𝐎𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐱 ⁣

Could this be the shoe that comfortable carries you through 300+ kilometres of relentless trails, especially after minimal preparation? Straight out of the box, the Asics Trabuco 13 felt comfortable and secure, clearly built for business on tough terrain. But the real test wasn't going to be just a quick jog around the block. It would be in the crucible of the Delirious West 200 Miler. ⁣

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- 𝐈𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐢𝐭 & 𝐅𝐞𝐞𝐥: Lace-up impressions. Any immediate comfort points or potential flags?⁣

   * Felt secure immediately, especially with the very solid heel counter and plush ankle collar locking the foot in. The step-in is comfortable, though the overall structure feels quite rigid initially. The toe box has decent width, but the height right at the very front feels a bit low due to the rigid toe bumper – might be something to watch for long descents or swelling.⁣

- 𝐀𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐬 & 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧: ⁣

   * The robust construction of this shoe is obvious. The engineered mesh upper feels pliable yet durable, and it's fully lined. The Nova Orange/Pure Aqua colour way looks fantastic , and the overall build quality appears high. ⁣

- 𝐖𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 & 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐍𝐢𝐦𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬:

   * Weighing in around 285g (US M9), it's slightly lighter than previous versions but still has a substantial, protective feel. Definitely balanced rather than nimble, clearly prioritising stability and protection over agility.⁣

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𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐇𝐚𝐮𝐥: 𝟑𝟗𝟓𝐤𝐦+ 𝐋𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 & 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫 & 𝐏𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭'𝐬 𝐕𝐞𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐭⁣

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On completion of the Delirious West 200, the Trabuco 13 was a critical piece of equipment, particularly given the pre-race circumstances. This brought the total distance run in them up to 395km, so what are they like?�Here’s the breakdown:⁣

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𝟏. 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 (𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐥𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫'𝐬 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞):⁣

- 𝐂𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 & 𝐑𝐢𝐝𝐞: ⁣

   * The FF Blast+ ECO midsole (stack heights approx. 34mm heel / 26mm forefoot) provides ample protection and impact absorption, leaning towards a balanced-to-firm feel rather than plush softness. As most of Delirious is run on sand trails, you can get away with less cushioning.  It offered consistent performance over most of 200 miles, preventing that 'beat up' feeling underfoot, with decent responsiveness. However, towards the end of the race I was noticing the firmer midsole and was wishing for something with more cushioning. That’s possibly due to a slightly altered gait at times when my foot was more painful due to the injury. I was actually expecting to notice the firmness much earlier due to my usual choice being much more cushioned. The ride is smooth and felt very controlled.⁣

- 𝐆𝐫𝐢𝐩 & 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 (𝐀𝐒𝐈𝐂𝐒𝐆𝐑𝐈𝐏™)

   * ASICSGRIP outsole with its 3-4mm multi-directional lugs delivered exceptional traction. It was incredibly reliable on the varied Delirious terrain . No loss of confidence on loose gravel, sticky on rock slabs, and handled moderate mud well. One of the shoe's definite highlights, providing real confidence, though can be noisy on pavement sections. It lived up to my previous experience with ASICGRIP outsoles. It is definitely one of my favourite outsoles, on par with Virbram outsoles. ⁣

- 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 & 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭

   * The stability was outstanding, even better than expected. The wide base, rigid heel counter, and overall geometry make it feel incredibly planted, even on highly technical, off-camber trails. Minimal foot roll, a massive plus when fatigue sets in deep into a 200-miler. This is a shoe that guides your foot securely. Considering that was the main feature I was after due to my injury, I was extremely pleased. ⁣

- 𝐔𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐫 & 𝐅𝐢𝐭

   * The engineered mesh upper provided a secure and comfortable lockdown, especially through the midfoot, aided by the well-padded (though not gusseted, stitched-in) tongue. It also prevented any sand from entering the shoes when paired with some gaiters. Some shoes still let some sand in through the upper but these kept it all out. Breathability was adequate (I don’t usually notice a problem with breathability in shoes). While generally true-to-size, the rigid toe bumper creates a low ceiling at the very front which, combined with potential swelling over an ultra, this, when combined with a slightly altered gain did mean that I had a few blister and toenail problems during the race. With some careful lace management or potentially sizing up half a size, this may be avoided. Although, at one point when I decided a change in shoes might be a good idea, none of the options I tried felt as comfortable so I’ll put down the pain as more from running a stupid long way than from the shoe. ⁣

- 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: ⁣

   * Foot protection is top-notch. The flexible woven rock plate effectively neutralised any sharp rocks and roots underfoot. The very rigid toe bumper offers significant impact protection, though its shape influences the fit as noted above.

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- 𝐃𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 & 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞:

   * After 395km including the race, durability appears excellent.  The ASICSGRIP outsole is holding up extremely well, upper integrity is high, and the FF Blast+ ECO midsole feels consistent. Represents good value considering the build quality, protection, and expected lifespan for high mileage use.⁣

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𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐕𝐞𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐭: 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐓𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝, 𝐏𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝?⁣

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- 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐬:⁣

   * Class-leading stability for technical terrain and fatigue management.⁣

   * Exceptional ASICSGRIP traction provides confidence on almost any surface.⁣

   * High levels of protection (rock plate, toe bumper, cushioning).⁣

   * Durable construction built for high mileage and rugged use.⁣

   * Secure and comfortable upper lockdown (heel/midfoot).⁣

   * Excellent option for hiking and trekking due to stability and protection.⁣

   * Sensible geometry (8mm drop) for managing certain biomechanical needs/injuries.⁣

- 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬/𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬:⁣

   * Noticeable weight and bulk compared to some more agile trail shoes.⁣

   * Ride can initially feel a bit stiff and lacking  flexibility.⁣

   * Cushioning is balanced/firm, not plush or highly energetic.⁣

   * Fit at the very front (toe bumper height/shape) requires careful attention and potential sizing adjustments for some feet/ultra distances.⁣

- 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐨𝐦 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐞:⁣

   * The Asics Trabuco 13 is an absolute tank of a trail shoe, delivering uncompromising stability and protection, which proved invaluable during my Delirious West 200 Miler, especially given my limited preparation due to injury. Its grip is phenomenal, and it provides a secure, locked-in feel for navigating challenging terrain at varied paces. ⁣

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