Details
Brand
Asics
Heel To Toe Drop
8 mm
Breathability
7/10
Latest Version
Yes
Terrain
Trail
Type
Neutral
Key Features
• Trail-specific AHAR+ rubber outsole has reversed geometric lugs for durability and traction on hills and trails• Rearfoot GEL cushioning absorbs shock and gives a springy ride• Solyte midsole provides lightweight cushioning, durability and responsiveness• Perforated Sockliner creates a soft, comfortable, breathable fit and allows water to drain• Discrete Eyelets for the laces increase comfort and provide a better fit• Slip Last adds durability to the upper• Anti-Gravel Tongue keeps debris out of the shoe• F.A.S.T. Drop 8mm drop reduces midsole weight and improves speed
Upper
The upper is made of lightweight mesh and synthetic material. The mesh covers most of the shoe for breathability, with a few overlays to add structure and support. Inside, the perforated sockliner creates a soft fit and the holes allow water to drain from the shoe. The slip last helps the shoe fit to the shape of the foot and adds durability. The laces help provide a snug fit, and the discrete eyelets distribute the tension to make the fit even more comfortable. The anti-gravel tongue helps keep debris out of the shoe and is padded to make the fit more comfortable. The heel collar is also padded to help support the foot around the ankle and reduce the risk of irritation. The heel counter helps keep the back of the foot in place and the toe cap protects the front of the shoe from debris. The upper is stable enough to prevent injury while going over hills and technical terrain, yet flexible and responsive enough to allow the user to move comfortably in any direction.
Midsole
The midsole uses GEL cushioning in the heel and a layer of Solyte foam that covers the length of the shoe. The primary purpose of the rearfoot GEL cushioning is to absorb shock, although it also helps give a springy ride and improves transitions. The Solyte cushioning material is lightweight, durable, and responsive. The midsole is flexible enough to move with the foot as it runs and durable enough to maintain its shape and not wear down for many runs. It provides a neutral level of arch support. The F.A.S.T Drop of 8mm keeps the midsole’s weight low and improves speed.
Outsole
The outsole is made of trail-specific AHAR+, or ASICS high-abrasion rubber. Designed for maximum durability and traction over technical terrain, it has reversed geometric lugs that improve grip and don’t wear out easily or break off when going over rough surfaces. The lugs allow users to go up and down hills, as well as on roads. The outsole is flexible and responsive enough to allow comfortable movement over a variety of surface types.
Breathability
The Asics Gel FujiTrainer 3 is a very breathable shoe. The upper is mostly made of mesh, which allows air to flow in and out of the shoe. Even the heel and toe have areas of open mesh, which is unique for any shoe but especially unique in a trail shoe. The perforated sockliner allows air to travel around the foot and drains out any moisture, keeping the foot cool and dry, although testers noted that it can cause irritation when the shoe is worn without socks. The few overlays on the sides and the material over the heel and toe do not take away from breathability. Even though the overlays are stitched on, the sockliner protects against blisters and hot spots.
Comfort
Testers found the Gel FujiTrainer 3 to be a fairly comfortable shoe with no break-in time. The outsole and midsole make going over groomed trails comfortable, although some users felt the ground going over rocky trails because of the low stack height. Some testers found the shoe to have a high level of cushioning that helped with performance and energy, some even saying that they normally wore insoles but didn’t need them with this shoe. Other testers thought that the heel cushioning was too firm and the forefoot cushioning was meaning neither too firm nor too soft. Testers with narrow to medium-width feet found the toe box to be very roomy and comfortable, while those with wider feet thought it was too narrow. Reviewers found that the upper material causes irritation when the shoe is worn without socks. The laces, overlays, heel counter, and slip last provide a comfortably snug fit. The anti-gravel tongue also improves comfort because it keeps dirt and debris out of the shoe. The light weight makes the shoe more comfortable to walk around in and the breathability prevents blisters and hot spots. The length is true to size.
Style
The Asics Gel FujiTrainer 3 had mixed reviews when it came to style: some reviewers thought it looked okay, while others thought it looked “plastic” with its heavy use of mesh and gray or colorful outsoles that stand out. The Top/Mesh/Logo/Sole come in different colors. The men’s shoe comes in Light Blue /White/Orange/Dark Grey or Blue/Orange/Grey/Yellow. The women’s shoe comes in Pink /Light Grey/White/Grey or Yellow/Pink/Yellow/Silver. The thin laces, which are normal in trail running shoes, were liked by some reviewers and disliked by others.
Durability
This shoe has great durability. The outsole uses trail-specific AHAR+ rubber that is designed to go over rough surfaces or technical terrain without wearing down or chipping off. In addition, its reversed geometric lugs were also designed to be durable while gripping hills and technical terrain. The midsole has durable GEL cushioning and Solyte foam, which can maintain its shape for many miles. The upper’s materials can last for a lot of runs even though they’re lightweight. The slip last is stitched directly to the midsole to improve its durability. The anti-gravel tongue improves durability by keeping debris out of the shoe and the water drainage helps the shoe stay fresh for longer. The discrete eyelets help distribute the tension of the laces more evenly, which helps them last longer, especially because they are so thin.
Protection
The Gel FujiTrainer 3 protects users on all three levels. The outsole protects against sliding and feeling objects in the road: it works best on groomed trails but runners can sometimes feel rocks on technical trails. The midsole has Solyte foam to cushion landings and GEL cushioning to absorb shock and protect joints and muscles from injury. The upper has a perforated sockliner to protect against heat and water, and the anti-gravel tongue protects against debris getting into the shoe. The toe guard protects against accidental stubbing and the heel counter protects the heel from rolling or sliding.
Responsiveness
The Asics Gel FujiTrainer 3 received mixed reviews on responsiveness. The outsole works well adapting to different terrains. The midsole provides smooth transitions to midstance with its GEL cushioning, and both the GEL cushioning and Solyte foam gives a bounce to the user’s step. The F.A.S.T. Drop is also intended to improve running form and speed. The upper bends with the foot and allows it to move comfortably. Some reviewers really liked the smooth ride and said it had a bouncy feel, while others felt that the energy return was low compared to other shoes.
Support
This shoe offers a neutral amount of support. The outsole and midsole lift the foot off the ground and support the bottom of the foot. The midsole offers a neutral amount of arch support, good for medium to high arches and under-pronators to light over-pronators. The upper supports the top of the foot, with the laces and eyelets distributing the tension evenly and providing a snug fit. The heel counter supports the heel to keep it in place. Although some testers liked the amount of support, some even not needing to wear their insoles with this shoe, some felt that more was needed for runners with high arches.
Terrain
The Gel FujiTrainer 3 is a trail running shoe. It has a trail-specific outsole designed to go over high-abrasion areas, with reverse geometric lugs to allow users to go over hills. The shoe can also go on roads and somewhat slippery surfaces such as mud. It was not designed to go on snowy or icy terrain, and some users could feel the ground when going over rocks and technical terrain because of the relatively thin soles.
Price
This is an average-priced shoe. Although it lacks the heavy stability needed by over-pronators, it has enough support and cushioning for neutral runners to go on trails and gets excellent traction on a variety of surfaces, making it a great value. It has been discontinued, so not all sizes and colors are available anymore, and some retailers are offering discounts of up to 40% off its original price.
Drop
The Gel FujiTrainer 3 has a F.A.S.T. Drop of 8mm. This improves speed and running form, reduces the weight of the midsole, and encourages more of a midfoot stance compared to the standard 12mm drop. The heel height is 18mm and the forefoot height is 10mm.
Stability
This is a neutral shoe, meaning it is stable enough for under-pronators to light over-pronators. Stability comes from the arch support, which is good for runners with medium arches, and the heel counter that locks the heel in place and prevents the ankle from rolling while going over technical terrain. The shoe is more flexible than stable, which doesn’t make it a good choice for moderate to severe over-pronators.
Flexibility
The Gel FujiTrainer 3 has a very high level of flexibility for a trail running shoe, which, along with its low weight, makes it a good choice for races and competitions over technical terrain. The outsole has diamond-shaped grooves below each lug that help it bend with the foot and over the terrain. The midsole is also flexible as it cushions landings and springs the foot back into the air. The upper has more mesh than structure, which allows it to bend with the foot as it picks up speed and goes over hills and objects on roads and trails.
Traction
The Asics Gel FujiTrainer 3 has reversed geometric lugs that give excellent traction while going over technical terrain. Users can comfortably go on roads, hills, trails, tracks, and paths while being able to pick up speed and not having to worry about slipping or sliding. The shoe also gets good traction on mud, although it was not designed to grip snow or ice.
Bottom Line
This is a great shoe for neutral runners who need a competition shoe that can go over multiple types of terrain. It has a light weight and great flexibility for a trail running shoe. It gets excellent traction on a variety of surfaces and is breathable, protective, and responsive. It has a good price, a good amount of cushioning, and fits comfortably for runners with medium-width feet. Possible areas for improvement include offering wide sizes, making the sockliner softer, supporting higher arches, less firm cushioning in the heel, and improving the style of the shoe. The shoe works well on roads, paths, and groomed trails, but runners can expect to experience sore feet if they go on rocks or terrains that are too bumpy.
