Racing shoes
Product 2026
Woman, Man
The second version of the ASICS MetaFuji Trail has now been launched on the market. This is clearly a shoe designed with performance in mind, so it needs to be judged against that specific brief. The ASICS MetaFuji Trail 2 features an X-shaped carbon plate running the full length of the shoe.
We weighed this racing machine at 260 grams in a size 42.5. The more mischievous among us might point out that this works out at almost €1 per gram… Joking aside, when it comes to pure performance, weight comes at a price—and this is the price of being lightweight.
The shoe is fairly tall, but above all, it never feels cumbersome. Lightweight, fast and dynamic, it is slim and precise underfoot. You immediately notice some lateral roll and a lack of precision when landing on the heel. On technical, rocky terrain where your ankles are constantly being challenged, this is not the ideal shoe. But the ASICS MetaFuji Trail 2 really comes into its own on fast, flowing sections with plenty of elevation gain but no extreme technical features. In these conditions, it is formidable.
The carbon plate and the quality of the foam combine to deliver an excellent rebound. The shoe actively propels you through your stride, which surprised several of our testers because the ASICS MetaFuji Trail 2 has very little rocker. Instead, it relies on its dynamic qualities. The result is exhilarating: you naturally pick up the pace. The shoe performs much better when you land on the midfoot or forefoot. Traction is there, although it is not particularly aggressive in very muddy conditions.
We really appreciated the comfort provided by the substantial cushioning. The ASICS MetaFuji Trail 2 offers plenty of filtering and allows you to hit aggressive sections of terrain at full speed. The shoe is stiff in every direction: both longitudinally and torsionally, the carbon plate makes its presence felt. The mesh is also fairly rigid, and we would have preferred a little more flexibility around the toe flex point. The mesh is highly breathable, which is a real advantage in very hot weather.
The toe protection is good. The heel is held firmly in place. Despite the almost complete lack of padding, the ASICS MetaFuji Trail 2 remains reasonably comfortable for a pure performance shoe.
Getting the fit right requires a little attention. The automatic lacing system is powerful and extremely precise. There is a storage pocket on the tongue. The ankle collar also helps prevent twigs and small stones from getting inside the shoe.
A trail-running shoe designed for pure performance on relatively non-technical courses. Ultra-lightweight and equipped with a carbon plate, it delivers a powerful boost on every stride. We would expect the stability of the ASICS MetaFuji Trail to be further improved in version 3…
36.5 mm5 mm 
We used this equipment over a long period of time
These are our thoughts after intensive use:
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