A standout feature of the upper is a little pouch situated at the top of the tongue that offers storage for the lace knot. This instills some confidence in preventing dust that may serve to loosen a tied lace, and guarantees no flopping around of laces.

The outsole is Asics’ own imaginatively named AsicsGrip which has the very popular 4mm depth lugs. It performs well on all surfaces and I was pleased with the grip on the uphills and downhills too. Some of the lugs are not very widely spaced so I did get a few little stones caught in them, this doesn’t tend to happen with a wider lug pattern, so this could be something for the Gel-Trabuco 11 perhaps. Asics GEL-Trabuco 10 review: Aesthetics If there’s one thing that Asics is very good at, it’s consistency. The Kayano has been around for nearly three decades, and both the Cumulus and Nimbus are over two decades old. Asides from material, another major change to the upper is the toe bumper. The Trabuco 9 utilized an external toe number that was stitched on top of the cloud mesh. In the Trabuco 10, it has been redesigned to be sleeker and more integrated with the main upper through the use of overlays in varying densities, starting with it being dense and structured where the upper meets to midsole before reducing in density and increasing in pliability. These overlays are also used throughout the midfoot on both medial and lateral sides, offering sufficient structure there. Trail runner Mubarak Sheikh, has been busy putting the ASICS Gel-Trabuco 10 Trail Running Shoesto the test;Bryan: The Trabuco 10 is an underrated, underexposed and under-the-radar all purpose trail workhorse. I personally found the toe-box to be the main let down of the shoe for me, although Mike in his review of the Trabuco 9 ( RTR Review ), where there is virtually no difference in terms of volume and fit, but a difference in toe bumper construction, found the toebox to offer a superior all-day experience. Fit aside, I felt that the materials used are great for durability, but less so for performance. The upper is largely constructed from generic-ish mesh, which is water-absorbent. This seems to be a change to the cloud-mesh material that was used in the Trabuco 9. This is an issue when racing long distances in inclement conditions. Having raced in them in constant rain over a few hours, the added weight to the shoe was immense. Breathability is not an issue too, having tested them in 28 degrees C conditions (82.5 F). The ASICS Gel-Trabuco 10 has been re-engineered from top to bottom to assert itself as an all-around trail pioneer. Rugged and comfortable are the two terms that best describe this trail running shoe. It's for the off-road runner seeking excellent durability, protection and grip. ASICS grip on the outsole provides improved traction in both dry and wet conditions so that no matter what the conditions are you can feel prepared to take on the any challenge. The Saucony Peregrine 12 offers a durable, versatile trail shoe which performs well in all weather, and on all terrain. They will protect your feet for longer and cope better in slippery conditions than value footwear. Plus, the Peregrine is much lighter than the GEL-Trabuco 10, although it also offers less support.

To finish, while I found the ride to be cushioned, it is all relative where there are a multitude of cushier trail options out there by Salomon and Hoka for example.

So for some strange reason men get a choice of five colours while women get four… and the men get some lumo lime and orange action while the ladies get the standard turquoise and light blues which seem to have become the new pink in the 2020s. I’m not complaining, I bloomin’ love turquoise, it goes a lot better with my red hair than pink ever did. The changes are mainly in the upper and fit. The air mesh of the Trabuco 9 was fragile and prone to tearing. The v10 has tighter mesh, which makes it more durable on the trail – but more permeable to water, too, which it tends to trap in its mesh.

There are few differences between the T10 and T9. As mentioned in the preamble, the Japanese brand had already made significant improvements to the 9th version. Therefore, the developments on version 10 are minor. I tested a size 7 in these shoes and I must admit they’re true to size and lightweight. They don’t feel too rigid and they offer such versatility in comparison to some of the other trail shoes I have. They’re really breathable even on a very hot day!Bryan: Notwithstanding my issue with the upper, the midsole and outsole work in sync to provide a balanced and cushioned ride. The flexibility afforded is appreciated on technical terrain. As mentioned, it does not ride like a 8mm drop shoe. Any distance runner knows that it's crucial to keep your feet stable while running, and DUOMAX™ system counteracts overpronation while adding essential firmness to the midsole and arch of the foot.