Asics Gel Trabuco 13 Review (2025): More Responsive at Last?

Alecsa Stewart

Published on 04/06/2025

Updated on 04/08/2025

This spring 2025, Asics adds a 13th edition to its legendary Gel Trabuco range, lighter and more dynamic, yet still true to its DNA.

Its grand launch at a mythical race, the Arc of Attrition 50 miles by UTMB (1) on the English coast, was crowned by the first victory of British runner Tom Evans under the ASICS banner.

I had the opportunity to test the Asics Gel Trabuco 12 last year, and they quickly became one of my favorite pairs. Ideal for long runs (especially in bad weather), I appreciated their grip and protection, but found them quite heavy.

Do the new design and foam of the Asics Gel Trabuco 13 change the game? Is it a good choice for you?

Find out the answer by reading the results of my field test.

Our Verdict

Grip and Terrains

The Gel Trabuco series has built a solid reputation for grip. The Trabuco 12 already shined with reliable traction, even in rainy conditions. However, their star-shaped lugs tended to accumulate mud, weighing the shoe down over the kilometers.

This issue disappears with the new version: the lugs have the same depth (4 mm) but are now in the form of chevrons.

The grip does not suffer at all, thanks to the Asics Grip compound that continues to adhere perfectly to muddy terrains and wet rocks.

I ran with the Trabuco 13 in the rain, but also on dry and rocky mountain trails, and the sensations are good at both extremes.

Versatility confirmed!

Cushioning

Asics changes the foam in the midsole of the Trabuco 13, moving from FlyteFoam Blast to FlyteFoam Blast Plus Eco.

This new foam is partly nitrogen-injected, making it lighter but also more responsive than on the previous model.

The traditional gel capsules offer additional shock absorption and stabilize the stride, limiting lateral oscillations.

There is still a relatively high stack, but far from the heights of the Metafuji Trail.

The sole is 35.5 mm high (compared to 45 mm for the carbon-plated gems) and 27.5 mm under the forefoot. So there’s just 0.5 mm more sole compared to the previous version.

The drop remains at 8 mm, which is comfortable and accessible.

In terms of sensations, the landings are even softer, which reduces the impact on the joints, especially on rugged terrain.

From the first kilometers, you notice this interesting mix of comfort and lightness. I felt a good rebound with each stride without sacrificing the necessary softness on more technical or very long routes.

I also appreciated the slight widening of the outsole thanks to the design with wings towards the heel. This improves stability during tight turns, which is great on narrow mountain paths.

Energy Return

Weighing 282 g in size 42, the Asics Gel Trabuco 13 is average for the level of cushioning and protection it offers.

The Trabuco 13 is not built for pure performance like a Fujispeed or a Metafuji, but it shines on long regular outings. The rebound is moderate, but there’s a slight rocker that smooths the stride. In short, it’s a model that prioritizes comfort and safety — not pure speed.

Some testers noted heel striking on flat surfaces. This wasn’t the case for me, but I live in the mountains, so there are few rolling terrains on my outings. If you run on such terrains with few technical sections, the Salomon Ultra Glide 3 might be a better choice.

Foot Lockdown and Protection

The upper of the Trabuco 13 features a more breathable and lighter technical mesh. There’s a bit more space for the toes too, thanks to the new rounded shape of the forefoot.

The rock plate and wings underneath the heel are very practical additions. They allow the Asics Gel Trabuco 13 to effectively protect the foot while maintaining stability on technical terrain. The sidewalls and toe bumper also contribute to the good protection (no worries against the Pyrenean stones!).

Despite these reinforcements, the shoe is agile. Even better: the shoe is ultimately lighter (about 20 g less), and you can feel it once on foot. This is crucial for a shoe designed for ultras, where you need to handle changing terrains with accumulating fatigue.

The heel counter is quite rigid, allowing the foot to be firmly secured in the shoe. The comfort is still good thanks to the well-padded and relatively low collar. The tongue — moderately padded and directly attached to the upper without a full gusset — stays perfectly in place. Finally, the laces still allow you to tighten the shoe well, and they easily tuck away using the strap designed for that purpose.

The shoe fits true to size, and the volume is standard (be cautious if you have wide feet).

Use Scenarios

The Asics Gel Trabuco range has always stood out for its versatility, offering a reliable shoe on the most difficult terrains.

This remains the case with this 13th edition, which offers excellent cushioning for long runs, generous protection, and more dynamism compared to the Trabuco 12.

I wore the Gel Trabuco 13 during recovery sessions and long runs (3-4 hours in the mountains), where I included single tracks, rocky trails, and muddy sections.

The comfort and stability were always there. I especially appreciated the reduced weight, making them very enjoyable for ultras without losing protection or support to minimize the impact of the trails on muscles and joints.

Overall, I recommend the Trabuco 13 to trail runners of all levels and sizes as it’s a comfortable, versatile, and accessible model. Its limit is on very fast sessions, but that’s not its purpose.

Quality and Durability

Asics has always produced high-quality items, with significant investment in scientific research at their Sports Science Institute in Japan.

The Gel Trabuco 13 demonstrates good attention to detail, an elegant design, and vibrant colors.

The Asics Grip outsole is robust and known for its durability. Some testers criticized the fragility of the upper, but I haven’t had any issues yet.

In terms of eco-responsibility, Asics used 100% recycled materials in the upper, insole, tip, eyelets, tongue, and collar lining. Additionally, the FF Blast Plus Eco foam contains 24% renewable materials.

Finally, the Asics Trabuco 13 is vegan, like all the brand’s running shoes.

Conclusion

The Asics Gel Trabuco 13 is part of the Japanese brand’s ambition to “become the number 1 in the trail universe”, and the result shows that it’s not just an empty marketing phrase.

This new version continues the range’s tradition while bringing important and welcome improvements, notably with a lighter, more responsive, and more breathable design.

Whether you’re a beginner or experienced, it’s still one of the best choices for ultrarunning, thanks to its great comfort on technical terrains without sacrificing ground feel.

References

Arc of Attrition 50 miles by UTMB (accessed on 02/024/2025)
UTMB World
https://arcofattrition.utmb.world/races/Arc50-NEW

Asics aims for trail dominance (accessed on 02/024/2025)
Blanco Negro
https://blanconegro.extranet-e.net/index.ies?

Instagram of Tom Evans (accessed on 02/024/2025)
https://www.instagram.com/tomevansultra/

Facts

Reference: official site