ASICS Trabuco Max 4 Trail Running Shoes – Reviewed & Tested

Gun cyclist and tempted runner Tom has been taking the ASICS Trabuco Max 4 trail running shoe into the bush to find out if bulk cushion and width are what you want for your first forays onto the trails.

When the ASICS Trabuco Max 4 arrived my first thought was ‘these are big’, followed by, ‘and pretty’. They’re a nice looking shoe, and ASICS is onto the fourth edition, so the team must be doing something right.

The Trabuco Max 4 is aimed at easy running, ‘cruising’, and long-distance comfort. While they’re quite grippy, the big focus on cushion means they’re also a good road-to-trail option, which is great because I live in the Inner West of Sydney. In fact, the ASICS website even says they’re good for dog walking. How about coffee shops?

After running my local trails in these shoes, I’m ready to give you an idea of whether they’re the right trail running shoe for you.

Wahoo, keep up!

Why am I the right person to do this review?

I’m a bit new to trail running, which means I’ve recently been nerding out on all the tech, trying to find the best runners for someone at my (modest) skill level.

That was until the offer from ASICS came through, and Trabuco Max 4s were on my doorstep. But all that research wasn’t put to waste! I may not be a competitive runner, but I’ve probably spent more time nerding out than a lot of people faster than me. I’m relatable!

Oh yeah, I also love black

Quick Specifications

Weight: 326g (Men’s US 10.5)
Drop: 5mm
Stack height: 40/35mm
Midsole: FF Blast Plus Eco
Size: 7 – 15
Colours: Cold Moss/Nova Orange, Cream/White, Lime Green/Black, Wheat Yellow/Dark Red Planet
RRP: $260

40 big ones under the heel!

Design

First things first, the ASICS Trabuco Max 4s look cool. Calling a shoe that’s designed to grip off-road ‘cold moss’, even if it is just to describe the colour, had me confused at first, but the colourway definitely works – the shoes pop in photos.

My first thought was that they looked more like a road shoe than a trail shoe. With a 40mm heel and 35mm toe, creating 5mm of drop, they’re on the taller side for trail shoes, but similar to competitors like the New Balance Hierro V9 (42/38mm) and the same as the HOKA Speedgoat 6 (40/35mm in men’s).

The heel is on the bulkier side as well, especially when Tim and I compared them to the carbon-plated ASICS Metafujis that he’s currently testing, but this feels impressively stable even on relatively technical or steep terrain. 

Stability was impressive for a very thick shoe

ASICS wasn’t aiming to make a super lightweight trail shoe when it came up with the Trabuco, and even on the 4th iteration, it’s still on the heavy side. This doesn’t come across when you put them on, though, as they feel incredibly nimble and I’d even go as far as to say light. 

Tim mentioned that the very stacked 343g HOKA Mafate X isn’t light but ‘hides it well’, and these lighter trail shoes do something similar. Potentially, the slab of responsive FF Blast Plus Eco foam in the midsole contributes to the feeling.

The ‘smart lace loop’ is a nice added touch, and I found the laces stayed put nicely when threaded through, although I do have a narrow foot. If I laced up more loosely, I could see them coming out fairly easily; it’s not super tight. Tim said he reckons a ‘lace garage’ in the tongue would look and work a lot better.

In terms of the fit, I really liked the ability to tie the shoes up quite tight through the midfoot, but I found the forefoot quite narrow. This wasn’t an issue for my skinny feet, but I can imagine it becoming one if you’re on the wider side and want your toes to splay out naturally.

Feet? Skinny. Laces? Tucked.

Performance

When it comes to performance, I can only say that I’ve been impressed. Comparing these to other trail shoes I’ve run in, they feel considerably more efficient, even on short road sections. I feel like I can bounce along all day in these, and I’m noticeably less fatigued at the end of a run compared to other trail shoes.

The FF Blast Plus Eco midsole isn’t new to the ASICS range, having been tried and tested in some of the brand’s road range, including the Novablast 5 and recently released Gel-Kayano 32. The ‘plus’ is an update that’s lighter while providing 15% more energy return and 15% better cushioning. Underfoot, it provides plenty of cushioning and has a nice bouncy feel, no complaints here.

Paired with the ASICSGRIP sole, grip hasn’t been an issue so far. I know, it’s not brand name Vibram, but as one of the big brands, ASICS has the resources to make a pretty darn good grip of its own (The North Face SurfaceCTRL is another example of this). It’s known to be quite a durable rubber, and the chunky multidirectional lugs help keep things in place.

Wonder Woman lugs give a powerful hold

I’ve tried other trail runners with a similar stack height, usually in the context of hiking rather than trail running, but I rate these as a lot more stable than the competitors off-road. The wide platform and cradle for the foot help with this.

My only complaint would be the heel –  while it does feel like it locks you in quite nicely when running on the flat, steep descents have caused a reasonable amount of irritation on the skin around my achilles, with both thin and thick socks. The shoes aren’t designed for super technical terrain, so this isn’t necessarily unexpected, and my feet have got used to it, but it did take a few more runs than I expected for this to no longer be an issue.

The front of the shoe drops away fairly aggressively into a rocker, resulting in a nice forward feeling when running. If you’re after a shoe that can also be used as a hiking shoe, it should be noted that this rocker doesn’t feel as good when walking and might be a bit strange.

Durability

I haven’t had the Trabuco Max 4s long enough to truly test their durability, but over the dozen or so runs and few hikes that I’ve done with them, they’ve held up really well. Most of the photos in this review were taken after those runs, and the only real marks of wear and tear are some wrinkling in the foam, but this is to be expected.

Still looking fresh after a fair few missions

Comfort

As I said, I’ve had some slight issues with the heel on technical steep terrain, but other than that, I can only say I’ve been impressed. Now that they’re worn in, I have no complaints at all. 

I did find the sizing a little on the smaller side – not enough to feel like the wrong size, but if you can try them on in store, I recommend doing so. Make sure you bring your favourite running socks too, as this can make a difference!

The structured heel took a while to break in

Sustainability

ASICS has a whole section of its website dedicated to sustainability. It’s aiming to reduce CO2 emissions, embrace recycled materials, and use fewer resources in the manufacturing process. 

It’s publicly striving for net-zero by 2050, which probably isn’t quite soon enough, but low emissions shoes, operations, and even a ‘carbon footprint’ label on the inner sole of some shoes that specifically tells you the carbon emissions that went into it, are all good… steps. Though it’s worth noting that the Trabuco Max 4 doesn’t feature this label.

The main thing ASICS talks about is designing products that last longer – something we don’t see enough of in practice. However, it also releases new models and colours regularly, so maybe take this with a grain of salt. Time will tell how long these shoes last, but so far I’m impressed by their durability, as well as ASICS’s commitment to sustainability.

Carbon footprints are just asking for running puns, hey… anyway

Price

At $260, the ASICS Trabuco Max 4 is within the range you’d expect to pay for a shoe at this level. Especially given the amount of high-quality foam and grip you’re buying, the Trabuco Max 4 is competitively priced.

The Metafuji Trail is $310 by comparison

Final Thoughts

I’m impressed with the ASICS Trabuco Max 4. The name might be a mouthful, but once they’re on your feet, you’ll float away into blissful leg turnover, and hopefully, spend time looking at nice trees.

I recommend these trail runners for anyone looking for a shoe that they can run in all day, tackle road-to-trail or some hikes, and generally send it in the bush. If you’re looking for a trail runner/hiking/do it all shoe, maybe look for something a little less aggressive, with less rocker and stack height, depending on how often you like to run.

Big plans for this big platform

FAQs ASICS Trabuco Max 4

Are the ASICS Trabuco Max 4s good for beginner trail runners?

Yep! The ASICS Trabuco Max 4 are ideal for beginner trail runners thanks to their comfortable cushioning, wide and stable platform, and good road-to-trail versatility.

Are ASICS Trabuco Max 4s good for technical trails?

While they’re grippy and stable, the Trabuco Max 4s are thick and not particularly light, and Tom had some rubbing on his heel on steep descents. They’re best for cruising on easy to moderate trails, but will tackle short technical sections without issue.

Are ASICS Trabuco Max 4 trail running shoes true to size?

Our reviewer Tom thought that they ran a little small compared to his other shoes, so trying them on in store with the socks you normally run in is recommended.

How is the Trabuco Max different to the Trabuco?

The Trabuco Max 4 has maximum cushion and is aimed at comfort on long runs and easier trails. The Trabuco 13 is more aggressive, with less cushion, more grip, and is a better choice for more technical trails and racing.