A Tale of Two Trail Shoes: ASICS Trabuco Max 5 vs Blazeblast

When I reached out to ASICS in search of some trail shoes to review this summer, I had expressed interest in what has become the company’s veteran trail offering – the Trabuco Max. Now in its fifth generation, the shoe has spent years as ASICS’s max-cushion trail workhorse, built for long days on rocky, uneven ground. I was on my way to Norway for the Norseman, envisioning long hikes in the mountains with varying time for some shorter workouts, so it seemed like the perfect opportunity to put that shoe through its paces. At about the same time ASICS was gearing up for the launch of a new shoe – the Blazeblast, which borrows from the foam and forefoot trampoline pod seen in the Novablast road family and combines that with a grippier outsole. That shoe ended up on my wife’s feet as she gears up for a four-day running event this fall in Lanzarote.

The two shoes are close in price. They are both are extremely comfortable. But are two very different trainers that are excellent options for two distinct niches. For those who follow the N+1 shoe purchasing approach, both might fit in your shoe rotation, but for most it’ll be very easy to choose one or the other, depending on your typical run habits.

Stats

Trabuco Max 5

For those who value protection and predictability over excitement, this is your shoe. This is a shoe that offers a wide and stable platform, firm support and cushioning and a water-repellent upper that is built to last and take lots of abuse. It’s comfortable enough and light enough for decent run efforts through the trails, but also stable and sturdy enough for me to feel comfortable with it as I hiked down Mount Gaustatoppen with all my camera gear on my back at the end of the Norseman.

Part of all that support comes from a lacing system that truly allows you to cinch in the perfect fit. The stable, supportive nature of the shoe means that you’re not going to get a lot of springy feedback – this isn’t a shoe for quick feet on super-technical terrain, but one that will keep you supported and safe for longer efforts on the trails.

In terms of the upper, it does remarkably well on the water-repellent front, and was just fine on the breathability front during my time in Norway. Super-hot days back home weren’t quite as comfortable, though.

Blazeblast

For those familiar with the bouncy feel of ASICS’s Novablast line, the Blazeblast offers all of that with the ability to leave the pavement. While it feels like a road trainer, it handles very well on the trails. That 8 mm drop also makes is surprisingly easy to turn up the pace.

Like the Trabuco Max, the Blazeblast has an excellent lacing system, providing lots of support, while the outsole provides reliable traction on dry gravel and hard-packed trails. The 2.5 mm lugs allow for a comfortable go on the roads, but aren’t going to provide the traction you’ll want on the most technical of trails. The high stack and soft ride also make really technical terrain a bit of a challenge. The shoe did perform well in slightly wet terrain, too – the ASICSgrip outsole does a good job of providing some traction.

Which Shoe …

For those who are hitting the trails first and foremost and want stability and support, the Trabuco Max 5 is the answer. If trails are just part of your route, the Blazeblast is the no-brainer option.

The Blazeblast is perfect for a day that starts on the roads, moves over to some gravel trails and then involves a detour down a new trail. It’s also a great option for an off-road brick session that requires some quick turnover. Where the Blazeblast truly shines is as a holiday option when you aren’t sure what terrain you’ll find.

The Trabuco Max 5 is the shoe you’d want for a long run heading into the hills and base-building efforts on rough terrain that require lots of protection and support.

For me, the Trabuco Max 5 was a lifesaver – one shoe that got me through some heavy-duty terrain with all the support and cushioning I needed, while also serving as a viable workout option. For my wife, the Blazeblast is likely to be the perfect shoe for an upcoming race that will include a mix of road and trails.

If you’re a fan of ASICS shoes, depending on where you fit on that sliding scale, either shoe will certainly fit the bill. And, for those of you who spend most of your time on trails of some kind, both might be welcome additions to your running shoe rotation.

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