First Impressions

The second generation ASICS FujiTrainer 2 with its bold red and neon yellow accent is eye catching and inviting. Still, I would have preferred something less ostentatious. For my teenager, it was love at first sight. The upper materials are stylish and well stitched with rubberized reinforcements especially in the heel. The FujiTrainer 2 is surprisingly lightweight and flexible at the fore foot flex point. The sturdy and strong black midsole and deep lugs underneath have an unmistakable off road appeal screaming of trail readiness.

Features

The FujiTrainer 2 is a light trail shoe weighing in at 9.7 ounces with a six millimeter drop from heel to toe, which gave a low, quick, agile feel to my stride. Its midsole provided solid underfoot cushioning and felt especially durable when striking high impact terrain. The outsole consists of a high abrasion rubber and an aggressive lug design. The stiff rubber extended over the toe area, which provided a great buffer for those frontal impacts. The crisscross lug design easily drained water on wet runs and worked equally well with ascents and descents.

On all terrains tested including wet, dry, hard, and loose trails, the FujiTrainer 2 consistently offered excellent traction with minimal slippage. As with most trail shoes, after especially mushy runs, the space between the lugs filled up and needed to be brushed off afterwards. The “Y” shaped lug design, especially at the 90 degree vertex, was the primary collection spot.

Specs
Upper: Nylon
Sole: Solyte midsole, rearfoot gel cushioning, high abrasion rubber outsole
Drop: 6 mm
Weight: 19.4 oz per pair (men’s size 11.5)

The FujiTrainer 2 uppers held up well under all conditions and over the course of numerous runs. The traditional laces can be easily tightened or loosened; knots held firm throughout the course of a run.

Fit

With its low heel to toe drop and minimal arch support, the FujiTrainer 2 felt a little flat. There was sufficient room in the toe box which improved nimbleness. Through the mid-foot, the fit was nicely snug for my D width foot. The heel fit securely with just enough flex for smooth contact. The padding on the upper was comfortable, and there were no unnecessary materials. The overall fit was excellent, no hot spots.

Final Verdict

The FujiTrainer 2 is a rugged lightweight trail shoe with a comfortable fit and offers stable, nimble performance. The traction on a variety of terrains provided for an excellent grip. I was especially impressed with the midsole underfoot cushioning which made for smooth runs. Unfortunately, it only comes in one color scheme. Then again, if you’re serious or semi-serious about trail running, I’d take substance over style every time. Given the less than $100 MSRP, you would be hard pressed to find a better deal. Needless to say, following testing, my teenager got his own pair.

Thanks for reading another outdoor gear review from GearGuide. And thanks to ASICS for providing product for this review.