ASICS, the renowned footwear brand, has unveiled its latest innovation in trail running shoes: the METAFUJI TRAIL. This revolutionary shoe combines cutting-edge technology with established features, designed to take trail runners to new heights of performance and comfort.
The METAFUJI TRAIL introduces a trail-specific full-length carbon plate, strategically positioned between two layers of foam. This design ensures energized forward propulsion without compromising downhill control. The midsole features ASICS’ advanced FF BLAST™ TURBO and FF BLAST™ PLUS foam, providing a soft and bouncy ride that enhances toe-offs. With a stack height of 40.0 – 45.0mm, the METAFUJI TRAIL offers superior comfort and reduced impact, aiding in faster recovery.
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The upper is crafted from woven mesh, incorporating lightweight, high-durability materials and elastomeric yarn. This combination ensures a breathable and flexible fit, with a perfect midfoot lockdown. The gusseted, lightly padded tongue and the lace-in-lace system further enhance comfort and stability during trail runs.
The outsole features ASICS’ ASICSGRIP™ technology combined with a 4.5mm lug, providing exceptional grip and agility on various surfaces. This advanced grip technology allows runners to navigate trails quickly and confidently.
ASICS athlete Andreu Simon, who inspired the shoe’s development, says, “The METAFUJI™ Trail shoes might not be for everyone, but they certainly present everything I hoped to find in a trail super shoe. What started as an idea in December 2022 quickly became not just reality, but something much better and more advanced than I could have imagined. I feel incredibly proud to have collaborated with the ASICS team so closely on this new pinnacle shoe.”
Senior Product Marketing Specialist Magdalena Gassebner elaborates on the development process: “Athlete testing always plays a crucial role in our product development, but this one was special. Ever since joining the ASICS Trail team in 2020, Andreu has demonstrated his innovative thinking when it comes to improving products. From removing bits and pieces of trail vests to make them even lighter to tailoring his own super shoe ‘prototypes’ by attaching an ASICS trail outsole to a METASPEED™ shoe – he has never been short of new ideas. And while the first version was far from perfect, working closely with our product team, Andreu’s creative spark has led to the creation of our most innovative speed shoes for the trails, combining both cutting-edge design and our most advanced technologies. We’re incredibly proud to finally launch the METAFUJI™ TRAIL shoes to market, and cannot wait to see more runners experience the incredible feeling the shoes deliver.”
The METAFUJI TRAIL’s design is inspired by ASICS’ Japanese heritage, incorporating Calligraphy as visual cues on the upper. Small triangles, reminiscent of old compasses, symbolize orientation and speed, with the design fading from the forefoot to the midfoot to represent breaking through tough terrain.
The METAFUJI TRAIL shoes will be available online and in-store starting August 28th, 2024, with select partners offering early purchases as of August 19th.
