ASICS FujiSpeed 2 Review: a fast, nimble, and versatile "speed" trail runner!

Assessment by Jeremy Marie

Asics Fuji Pace 2 ($160/180€)

Introduction

On this planet of path working, Asics is finest recognized for its iconic Trabuco (RTR Assessment), now in its twelfth iteration r. An all-purpose, moderately heavy mannequin, very conventional in a method, however nonetheless a secure wager. 

Asics doesn’t have a really “technical” or “high-performance” picture in path working.  But, the Japanese model has an Elite path crew, led by Maude Mathys, in addition to a sure Dorian Louvet, a former Koh Lanta competitor and Xavier Thevenard, for instance.

Equally, on the tools aspect, there are fairly a couple of performance-oriented fashions, particularly this Fuji Pace 2, an virtually full redesign of the primary model. Designed to go quick on technical terrain, the Fuji Pace 2 is light-weight, dynamic exact but comfy because of the mixture of a carbon plate and FF Blast + midsole foam. It is a bit like squaring the circle.

I had combined emotions concerning the first Trabuco Max (RTR Assessment), my most up-to-date path expertise with the model, so I used to be curious to see what this new mannequin needed to supply.

Execs:

Good compromise between dynamism and luxury

Light-weight, protecting, appropriate for each brief and lengthy distances (as much as 60-70k, moderately)

Versatile, impeccable ASICSGrip traction.

Secure, particularly on the entrance.

Cons:

The match is a bit of lengthy and slim within the entrance.

Cushioning feels a bit of agency, in all probability because of the place of the plate near the foot.

The tongue wants loads of consideration to keep away from wrinkles.

Much less stability on the heel

Stats

Pattern weight 263g/ 9.27oz (44.5EU / 10.5US)

Stack : 35 mm heel/ 31 mm entrance( 5mm drop) 

$160/ 180€ Accessible now

All RTR Evaluations HERE

First impression, Match, Higher

If you open the field, there is no doubt that the Asics Fuji Pace 2 is made for swallowing trails at excessive velocity. The selection of colours, the racy look of the shoe, the lugs, the skinny higher and the lightness of the shoe regardless of its seemingly excessive stack clearly mark the mannequin’s vacation spot.

The higher is fabricated from very high-quality, ethereal, supple woven mesh. Regardless of its thinness, it appears fairly resistant, which absolutely explains its barely tough look regardless of its suppleness. The minimal TPU stone guard on the forefoot presents little safety.

There are quite a few overlays on the edges so as to add construction and assist to the foot, helping on this effort by the slim, gusseted tongue.

Whereas the tongue holds in place very nicely, I discovered it notably tough to place: it simply types folds, that are fairly tough to take away. Aside from this flaw, as soon as in place, it does not transfer in any respect and protects the foot nicely from the stress of the laces.

The laces (proven above) are very skinny and tough, similar to these discovered on the MetaSpeed Edge, for instance, or the Alphafly. This will likely appear stunning on a path shoe, nevertheless it works very nicely within the subject: the lacing is safe, does not require a lot adjustment and gives glorious foot assist.

I just like the elastic strap in the course of the tongue, which lets you safe the laces. Easy and efficient.

On the rear, the Fuji Pace is far more “constructed”, in stark distinction to the slimness of the entrance. The heel cup is generously padded, as is the foot collar. The result’s fairly comfy, and efficient: the heel is cradled and does not transfer in any respect, whereas sustaining comfy contact with the Achilles tendon. The loop right here makes placing the shoe on simpler, and is sensible with out being important, because the opening is beneficiant sufficient to slip the foot in with out issue.

As soon as the footwear are on, the racing character of the Fuji Pace 2 is rapidly obvious. The match is pretty slim, and appears a bit of lengthy. The toebox is not very huge, however presents simply sufficient area. Its barely too pointed form is nonetheless removed from conforming to the pure curvature of the toes, which is rounder. It is a moderately stunning alternative.

The general form is moderately slim, however I did not expertise any actual discomfort or stress factors. It is simply that the match does not comply with the form of the foot, and I discover myself straddling the road between a shoe that is slim however near the foot and stretchy, just like the Slab Pulsar for instance, an actual beast of a shoe however much less comfy and narrower than the Fuji Pace 2, or a  mannequin that is extra involved with consolation, just like the Pegasus Path for instance.

It took a couple of outings and a bit of extra mesh flexibility for me to really feel a bit of extra comfortable, with out the shoe ever actually “disappearing”, to make use of the same old expression. Be that as it might, the shoe stays comfy, and maybe this compromise between efficiency and luxury will repay as soon as I am on the transfer.

Midsole

The midsole is made up of a thick layer of FF Blast+ foam into which a carbon plate is inserted alongside the complete size of the higher half (near the foot). This stabilizes assist on the 35mm of froth within the heel, and gives a great deal of dynamism and assist to the entrance assist, in addition to guiding the foot’s roll a bit of on this mannequin with its 5mm drop.

The change to FFBlast+ foam is among the new options of this second version. It is the identical foam discovered on the Magic Pace 3, of which this Fuji Pace 2 is the path alter ego. This foam gives a great deal of rebound and enhances the carbon plate nicely, whereas remaining pretty steady and predictable. The only rises a bit of on the edges of the foot, like a bucket, to cradle the foot higher.

This feels fairly inflexible on the primary few strides, which is a bit of stunning given the thickness of the froth and its softness to the contact. The carbon plate near the foot might be not unrelated to this sense.

The excellent news is that this impression rapidly disappears after the primary few kilometers, and we arrive at a compromise between firmness, rebound and foot safety that I actually recognize.

Outsole

The profile of the 4-5mm studs is designed to be versatile, and that is exactly what I discovered throughout my take a look at run. Because the testing season’s situations have been fairly changeable, I used to be capable of run on quite a lot of floor (earth, gravel, stones, roots) that was successively dry, moist, soggy, muddy, snow-covered and icy.

In all these situations, other than the thickest mud, the only and above all of the ASICSGrip rubber offered impeccable grip. Vibram soles are sometimes singled out for reward, however for me, ASICS has a formulation that stands as much as comparability by way of grip with out the Italian model’s barely dry, slappy and firmer really feel. The trihedral form of the studs is efficient, even on slopes, with the apparent disadvantage of mud efficiency, as with all generalist path footwear.

By way of sturdiness, it is also excellent, with no indicators of damage after virtually 100 km.

Experience, Conclusions and Suggestions

As I discussed earlier, the primary few strides are a bit of unsettling. Between the shoe, which appears moderately slim and does not conform nicely to the foot, and the firmness of the only, it took me about thirty kilometers to higher recognize this mannequin.

The higher and sole want a while to melt a bit of and actually “open up” to supply a joyful expertise.

I did not recognize the Trabuco Max’s overly pronounced rebound on the time, and I discover that the recipe of froth and plate works significantly better right here. You keep in management even on quick descents, offered the terrain is not too tough. Right here, I believe, we have reached the boundaries of carbon plate footwear, most all remaining  inflexible and rigid. Or perhaps I am on the restrict of my potential on any such terrain, which can be doable. In any case, it will not be probably the most accessible mannequin for any such course.

For the remaining, nevertheless, the Fuji Pace is especially environment friendly. The midfoot assault is to be favored, overcoming the slight instability of the heel and quickly compressing the froth and “loading” the carbon plate. The result’s notably straightforward foot roll and extremely environment friendly propulsion.

I actually loved any such trip within the Scott Extremely Carbon, and right here we’re clearly at a a lot larger stage of dynamism…and virtually 50g much less weight per shoe.

Forest paths are an actual pleasure to gobble up, and the shoe encourages you to extend your tempo. Wholesome dealing with, responsiveness, grip and lightness make this shoe an actual thrill. As is commonly the case with any such mannequin, the rider’s dedication is rewarded by much more environment friendly propulsion: the sooner the tempo, the better the return.

The Fuji Pace additionally proves extremely efficient on hills: because of the carbon plate, its propulsive impact is much more spectacular.

Regardless of its racing orientation, I do not suppose this mannequin ought to be reserved for the quickest runners or races. I took it on a 2h30 path jog with out a hitch, with out feeling like I used to be bumping into the shoe. So it is also completely suited to coaching periods for runners in search of a light-weight shoe with grip, able to responding to the calls for made on it. 

What’s extra, the lifespan appears to me to be glorious: sole and higher present no indicators of damage but. Sufficient to pay for the 180€ price ticket – which nonetheless makes it one of many least costly carbon plated path footwear  available on the market.

Rating: 9 / 10

Experience (50 %) : 9.2 Match(30 %) : 8 Worth (15 %) : 9 Fashion (5%) : 9

Rating de enjoyable

😊😊😊😊😊

4 Comparisons

Hyperlink to all RTR opinions: HERE 

Scott Extremely Carbon RC (RTR evaluation)

The Scott is alleged to be the Extremely model (it says so proper on it!) of the Fuji Pace 2. Heavier, thicker (sole and higher), extra strong. The froth used additionally has much less rebound. In brief, two very totally different footwear for very totally different makes use of, which might be fully complementary, and that are related just because they’ve a carbon plate.

Salomon Pulsar Professional (RTR Assessment)

A mannequin similar to the Fuji Pace 2. Fitted with a “fork”sort plage and foam with related properties, the Pulsar Professional is a bit more cushioned, however rather less dynamic. Extra steady, its match is significantly better, nevertheless it loses the grip recreation. It will likely be a bit of extra versatile, however the Fuji Pace 2 shall be extra dynamic, extra playful.

NNormal Kjerag (RTR Assessment)

The Kjerag has a extra conventional, traditional design, however stands out for its glorious stability because of a agency platform and huge forefoot, extremely resilient foam and glorious grip because of its Vibram outsole. It’s, nevertheless, much less cushioned than the Fuji Pace 2, whose outsole presents comparable grip however with extra pronounced and extra versatile lugs. The Kjerag performs nicely on technical terrain, and at slower paces in extremely path working for instance, when the proportion of strolling will increase because of its decrease stack and wider sole.

Nike Terra Kiger 8 (RTR Assessment)

The Terra Kiger has turn into obese with every successive mannequin, and I did not actually recognize the final mannequin I examined (the 8). The Zoom Air cushioning within the entrance created disagreeable stress factors underfoot, the non-existent grip on moist terrain and the load of 300g for restricted cushioning imply that there is no comparability between these two fashions.

Accessible at ASICS HERE and at our companion

TOP4RUNNING EUROPE

Some colours €180 €138with TaxSave €42

Males’s & Ladies’s SHOP HERE

Use RTR code RTRTOP4 for 5% off all merchandise, even sale merchandise

Tester Profile

Jeremy MARIE, French, 44y/o. Operating since 2013 and rapidly transitioned to trails, centered on ultras since 2015 : TDS, Maxi-Race, “100 miles du Sud”, 90 kms du Mt Blanc, GRP 120 kms, Some shorter extra mellow races (Saintelyon 45 kms, Ecotrail Paris 45 kms…) with at all times within the combine street and flat working, however not many street races. Additionally energetic bike owner and 70.3 Ironman. Restoration/straightforward runs ~4’45/km – 4’30/km. He has an un-official marathon PR of 2h54 (solo) and 10K PR of 36’25. He does few timed street races.

Feedback and Questions Welcome Beneath! Please tell us mileage, paces, race distances, and present most well-liked footwear

RoadTrailRun Official Retailer Customized Fractel Caps and Bucket Hats

Cap:$39                                                             Bucket:$49