Discontinued · trail · Trail / Long run · $140
Earlier generation of the Asics Trabuco Max line, kept for replacement lookups.
Built for trail, long run, at a target pace of 9:00–12:30 /mi on trail.
This model is no longer in production. The closest shoe you can buy today is Asics Trabuco Max 5.
Asics tuned this midsole soft (4/5 on our cushioning scale). Energy return is modest, so the ride feels protective and damp rather than springy. 37 mm of heel stack is the modern daily-trainer sweet spot — enough foam for long miles without losing contact with the road. Combined, the ride reads as muted at 1/5 responsiveness.
There is no plate here. The midsole does all the work, so the shoe flexes naturally and stays versatile across paces — easier on the feet day to day, but without the snap of a plated shoe when you want to roll.
A 6 mm drop is the mainstream middle — familiar to almost anyone coming from a standard trainer. The rocker is moderate — enough curve to smooth the roll-through without dictating your footstrike. The forefoot is stiff, so it rolls rather than bends — a lever, not a slipper. Support is light — neutral, with a mildly steady platform.
The toe-box is standard width — comfortable for most feet without swimming. It fits true to size. Expect roughly 400 miles from the outsole, about $0.35 per mile at $140.
For the foams and plates Asics uses across its line, read the Asics brand guide.
Measured against the 542 currently-available shoes in the catalog. The bar shows where this shoe sits in that range.
Weight
302 g / 10.7 oz
27 g heavier than the catalog median of 275 g
Heel stack
37 mm
1 mm taller than the catalog median of 36 mm
Drop
6 mm
Level with the catalog median of 6 mm
Price
$140
20 cheaper than the catalog median of 160
Responsiveness
1 / 5
Catalog median 3 / 5
Cushioning
4 / 5
Catalog median 4 / 5
Energy return
1 / 5
Catalog median 3 / 5
Durability
~400 mi
Catalog median ~400 mi
Within the Asics line it is heavier than the brand's median (268 g / 9.5 oz) and sits lower than its median stack (38 mm).
Current shoes with the nearest combination of weight, stack, drop, foam feel and plate.
New Balance Fresh Foam X Garoe
300 g / 10.6 oz · 36 mm · 6 mm drop · — · $130
Comfortable mid-price trail trainer with a roomy fit.
Saucony Canyon TR 3
275 g / 9.7 oz · 36 mm · 6 mm drop · — · $150
Road-to-trail cruiser with moderate lugs and a soft ride.
Hoka Challenger 8 Low GTX
285 g / 10.1 oz · 36 mm · 5 mm drop · — · $170
Gore-Tex road-to-trail all-rounder for shoulder-season miles.
Saucony Guide TR
315 g / 11.1 oz · 41 mm · 6 mm drop · — · $150
Max-cushion Guide platform ruggedized with PWRTRAC lugs for light trail.