Asics adds to its trail running line-up with the brand-new Gel-FujiEndurance, a awesome new trail shoe with a new breathable, waterproof PlasmaGuard nano-treatment that’s exclusive to Asics. This shoe is soft enough to feel comfortable on the roads with Asic’s new SoLyte midsole, while its grippy outsole lugs perform well in a variety of conditions.
The Fujiendurance has a 8mm drop from heel to toe, I find this to be a nice drop for shoes, not so high that it feels cumbersome and not so low that it puts excess stress on the calves or achilles. The shoe has a snug fit but the toe-box is still relatively generous. The sockliner is made from soft 6mm-thick molded foam, which is very comfortable underfoot. Although there are a handful of exposed seams inside the shoe, the fabric is soft, particularly under the toe box. Both the heel and tongue have moderate padding, and the fabric lining is soft and non-abrasive.
One of the standout feature of this new model is a new waterproofing treatment Asics has named PlasmaGuard. It’s a hydrophobic nano-treatment that’s designed to repel water and mud without negatively affecting breath-ability or making the shoe insufferably hot, and it performs fantastically.
While the outsole of this shoe is not overly aggressive, it performs pretty darn well in our dry mountain climate. The rubber is sticky enough for technical descents and holds up very well to extended wear. The Fujiendurance also has a rockplate in the forefoot, which gives your foot a bit more protection on rocky or technical terrain, especially as the midsole and outsole start to break down after a few hundred miles of use.
If you’re looking for a solid ‘one-quiver’ shoe to do it all then this is a great choice. The shoe handles trails like a champ but isn’t so stiff that it feels clunky on gravel or paved roads. The hydrophobic upper makes it a great shoe in wet conditions but the fact that the breath-ability isn’t affected means that this can be a great year round waterproof running shoe.