I would recommend using these shoes for daily training runs on trails or grass. If we are talking about races then I would say, use them for a race that is marathon distance or under. Additionally, this design has a slightly narrow forefoot without a lot of room to make micro-adjustments in the shallow lacing system. While this shoe works for most, it’s important to note that it may not be right for others. I suggest trying it on first at your local shoe store before you take the plunge!

It’s no secret that I always seem to be impressed by ASICS trail shoes. For a brand with roots in the road market, I think in the past few years in particular they have really created quite a lot of noise within the trail community. Every time a new trail shoe comes out, I am eager to give them a try and that is exactly how I felt when the new Gel-Trabuco 9 landed. Now, first off, like all ASICS trail shoes, the style in eye-catching, vivid and beautiful; everything I want in a trail shoe. They looked well-cushioned and it was very evident just from looking at the sole that it has superior grip and will work well on a variety of different terrain. This particular shoe has a normal lacing system which I was a little surprised by as I have become so used to the boa system with the Fujitrabuco Pro and the Fujitrabuco Sky and must admit that I have become quite accustomed to having such an easy lacing system. The Trabuco 9 have a DUOMAX support system, this placement of foam on the medial side of the midsole offers a firmer density that keeps the foot from rotating inward too much. A combination of FLYTEFOAM midsole material and GEL technology cushioning in the heel give the shoes such a comfortable feel. I was very impressed with just the overall quality of the shoe. Everything I would look for in a trail shoe was found in the ASICS GEL TRABUCO 9.I have completed a number of obstacle course and trail races and have tried many different trail shoes over the years. The GEL-Trabuco 9 are by far my favourites to date. Ordinarily I would not run a marathon in a brand new pair of shoes. I would take the time to break them in. The Trabuco 9 performed amazingly though and I had no issues with them at all. This trail shoe will cost you around 129 dollars. It’s not the most expensive trail stability trainer and it’s not super budget-friendly either.

I liked the flexibility of the Xodus 10 outsole, and the bouncy cushioning, but there was just too much of it and I found the loss of ground feel disconcerting. Combined with dodgy wet traction it made the shoes a liability for me and I stopped using them for running after falling and injuring my knee. I recently put the shoes to the ultimate test during a multi day trail race along the north Cornwall coastal path. Atlantic Coast Challenge (ACC) is a 3 day race that covers 80 miles and over 10,000ft of elevation. On the first day I wore the pair of Trabuco 9 I had been training in. Towards the end of the first day I had to run through part of the sea and they were completely submerged. Not wanting to wear wet shoes the following day I wore a brand new pair straight out of the box. The last area where you will find protection is the upper. It is composed of 3D overlays that really allow them to hug your foot and keep them in place. The lugged outsole pattern displays ASICSGRIP rubber that includes the uphill and downhill lug pattern that is sure to provide you with the utmost traction when dealing with slippery or technical terrains. So much so that I wore the new pair again on the third day. They completed 2 trail marathons straight out of the box.The heel also offers additional protection with GEL cushioning that helps to absorb the impact when running on various surfaces. The important part of trail shoes for me has to be the grip. The Trabuco 9 outsole pattern features ASICSGRIP rubber while incorporating an uphill and downhill lug pattern on the lateral and medial side of the shoe to improve traction on slippery terrain. This gives me increased confidence when racing off road knowing that I can maintain pace while coming downhill or while running across an adverse camber without fear of falling. ASICSGRIP outsole Recommended to those who are looking for peace of mind with kit on big adventure runs or someone looking for a stable shoe for support and comfort for their ‘longish’ off road runs. I think anything past that I would want something a bit more cushioned. A great choice would be the ASICS TRABUCO MAX. The Trabuco 9 seems to be quite an under-the-radar shoe, as I’ve never seen anyone wearing them and haven’t found much information out there on the interwebs. That being said, throughout the review I will lean on comparisons and contrasts with the other two Asics shoes which seem to be better known - Trabuco Max (TM) and Fuji Lite 2 (FL2).

What I love most about this trail runner is that it also boasts DUOXMAX support in the midsole. Sandwich between dual layers of Flytefoam, you will find DUOMAX cushioning. This plate works like a sponge to give your foot extra support whether you overpronate or underpronate. It works to provide just a little bit of extra support where you need it most, as well as guiding your foot into a nice and easy gait cycle. When running on uneven trails, it is super important that your shoes boast a wide toe box to allow your feet to naturally splay for added stability. While this toe box is is fairly wide, there are some runners that feel that it is just a tad too wide for their feet. Modifications has also been made to the ASICSGRIP traction system. The ASICS Gel-Trabuco 9 now introduces a uphill and downhill directional lug. Cuts in the lugs gives extra traction whilst on the ascends as well as descends. It delivers high-end comfort and lightweight materials that won’t weigh your feet down. Rugged and comfortable are two words that are used to describe this shoe.These were my complaints too! I continued to wear these until mile 32 and then switched over to my older trail shoes to finish out my 40 miles. This shoe has ASICS advanced FLYTEFOAM technology. The midsole is composed of a durable layer of FLYTEFOAM that runs from the tip of the toes to the heel.

I think the way the ASICS GEL TRABUCO 9 handles all different terrain is first class. Like I mentioned earlier, this race was a loop that covered all types of surfaces. The improved lug pattern made trekking uphill not as painful and made going downhill on technical terrain less stressful. I didn’t have to worry about the shoes losing traction. One of the standout features of the shoe is the toebox - I find it just the right width and compliant enough for any length of run, without being sloppy. I would say it is comparable to the Topo Mountain Racer 2 in width at the forefoot, with the TMR2 being more boxy towards the very front at the toes. The T9 also has plenty of room though, and is not pointy at the toes- for me the perfect size and shape for long distance/ultra runs. I wish I could transplant this toebox to many other shoes that would be otherwise suitable for very long ultras (VJ Ultra - I’m looking at you). Typically I don’t critique laces, as it’s a simple fix to trim them down or even switch them out. So I’ll just note that the T9 laces are a bit light and slippery, and the shoe also uses two fabric loops instead of eyelets at the midfoot. I switched to a pair of Knotley laces that have a bit more “grab” around eyelets and all is fine now. Mike P (10): TR2 actually has a wider toebox than the Trabuco 9 - too wide in fact, especially with the looser knit material they use. TR2 lugs are also much shallower and traction is not as good. The ride is just dull. These were a miss for me.Ever since I tried on the ASICS Gel-FujiTrabuco 6 in 2018, since then, it has always been the shoe to get the job done. The mesh material is lightweight and high quality. The mesh is very breathable. It works to take hot air up and away from your feet to keep them cool and dry. While it works great on trails, it is also a great option for heavier runners, or for those with pronation issues. The DUOMAX cushioning system works to deliver the right amount of support where you place the bulk of your weight while you run, whether it is on the inside of your foot or the outside. The reduction of weight hadn’t compromised the robustness of the shoe. It still feels just as sturdy and hasn’t lost its comfort. Both very much a key requirement for me when being outdoors for long periods. But our trail running shoes aren't just functional - they're also stylish and eye-catching. Choose from a range of styles and colours that can be mixed and matched with our range of running clothes too.