Article by Sam Winebaum
ASICS GEL-Trabuco 13 ($140)
Introduction
The Trabuco 13 is ASICS “big mountain” stability focused trail runner (and hiker/low top trekking shoe). It features a dense Flyte Foam Blast+ midsole, rear GEL unit, woven type rock plate and full coverage ASICS Grip outsole with varying height 4 and 5mm lugs. The upper is a soft mesh and is fully lined to prevent debris entry.
Somewhat of a throwback in an age of high stack,and super foams and often plated trail running shoes with low drops, at 34mm heel and 26 mm forefoot the Trabuco does not focus as much on speed as a reliable, protective and stable ride in rough terrain or really anywhere. Yet it is also not a “heavy weight” coming in at a reasonable 10.35 / 293g in a US9 and fair $140 price.
No agile speedster it is a practical, inherently stable and protective shoe which shines at slower paces on any terrain.
Pros:
Mountain focused: in a sea of plated higher stack trail runners
Excellent all terrains and roads walking and trekking shoe
Among the most stable if not most stble trail runners out there.
8mm drop a good call giving the front some impulse
Copiously protective including via woven type rock plate
Comfortable solid fitting upper.
Cons:
Due to the very stiff toe bumper and front overlays runs a bit short for long days.
A bit ponderous at the rear of the shoe due to its stability
Limited utility off technical trails: don’t come looking here for a speedster or door to trail shoe
Most comparable shoes
Hoka Mafate Speed
Merrell Agility Peak
Terrex Agravic 3
Brooks Caldera
Stats
Approx. Weight: men's 10.35 oz / 293g US9
Sample Weight: men’s 10.1oz / 285g US 8.5
Stack Height: men’s 34 mm heel / 26 mm forefoot (mm drop spec)
Platform Width: 90 mm heel / 80mm midfoot / 110 mm forefoot
First Impressions, Fit and Upper
Big, solid and colorful for sure is my first impression of the Trabuco 13. A beautiful visual design that says “speed” to me in its colors and this is not a speed shoe in the ASICS Trail line up. Then my eye is drawn to the rear of the shoe. Cantilevered with rising midsole side walls and a stabilizing midfoot bump out speaks to the Trabuco heritage as a very stability focused trail shoe.
The heel counter is very rigid with the ankle collars very plushy and appropriately padded with both relatively low. A smart move as any more height and things would get too rigid. As it is the heel hold and stability is total yet comfortable if not intended for much rear agility and that is OK as Trabuco is intended for running on rough terrain at slower paces.
The upper mesh is a soft and pliable material and is fully lined to keep out debris.There is no gusset to the appropriately lightly padded tongue.
The tongue instead of having a gusset is stitched to the upper. Midfoot hold is excellent as is lace up. In part this is due to the correctly placed overlay extending to the rear and in part due to the medial midsole stabilizing bump out.
The toe box is generous in volume as, other than the toe bumper it is mostly unstructured except for some triangular overlays on the lateral side.
The toe bumper is very rigid and protective and vertical. At its very top edges there are narrow additional semi circular overlays.
The very front height, not the main part of the toe box which is the somewhat soft mesh, is quite low. I am true to size with about a thumb’s width but for swelling toes in summer heat on technical terrain or while trekking or if you have “long” toe sizing up half a size might be good idea.
All and all about as comfy a trail shoe upper out there with very solid hold. Breathability should be decent.
Midsole & Platform
As with all of their road and trail shoes, except their racers, ASICS goes with FF Blast + here but not the slightly softer and more energetic FF Blast + Eco. The foam is quite dense but in no way harsh and has a touch of rebound. Not a classic EVA trail shoe midsole that is for sure. And for a yet more shock reduction and stability on landings we have a cantilevered heel with embedded GEL unit.
The foam appropriate for the stable big mountain focus of the shoe but could use a bit more zing for firmer surfaces for me
With a 34mm heel / 26mm forefoot we are at reasonable stack heights with plenty of cushion and protection for the intended uses.
I like that ASICS kept to an 8mm drop here. This helps me roll forward to the nice mild front rocker after that super stable flat on the ground rear of the shoe with its stabilizing medial bump out.
The mild toe off impulse is helped by a woven rock plate (similar to Saucony’s) and white showing through the midsole) just above the outsole in the photo below.
From a protection standpoint I am not sure it is needed given the midsole and stout outsole but after all this is a shoe for rough terrain. Eliminating it could save some weight and make the shoe more flexible.
After several runs and hikes the shoe which at first was completely rigid has some in the area where the rock plate ends now has some stiff but present flex.
Outsole
The outsole rubber is ASICS-always solid ASICSGrip compound. It is a one piece outsole with small cutouts at the heel and upfront.The outsole clearly contributes to the stability of the Trabuco.
The lugs are 4-5 mm in height in an aggressive multi directional pattern
Grip is good but is a bit hampered on snow by the rigid area below the rock plate. On rock, and with winter conditions here in Utah for that test, grip should be fine.
I also took them for road walks here in Park City and for sure one could hear the outsole! Kind of created a metronome.By the way they have been one of the fastest walking shoes I have tested.
Ride, Conclusions and Recommendations
Given winter conditions here in Park City, I have run them on snow and run and walked them on pavement. Not the most agile shoe on snow, where flex and light weight (even lighter than than the reasonable 10.35 oz here) are advantages and with stability not as crucial as in summer on rocks. I was grateful for the stability when the trails got bumpy and potholed.
Running on the road, the big outsole was noticed as was for me the “excess” of inherent rear stability. Walking the road they were fantastic and I highly recommend them for all seasons walking again due to their stability, plenty of dense but friendly cushion and that big if a bit noisy outsole.
If I was to change something I would like to see the softer slightly more energetic FF Blast Eco foam and potentially removing the front woven rock plate as there is plenty of underfoot protection from the midsole and outsole. This might affect the stability/pronation control strengths of the shoe somewhat but could lighten it and make it more agile.
The Trabuco 13 is a solid trail runner for technical terrain taken at moderate paces. It likely will be a top choice for me for our summer European hut to hut trek due to its stability and cushion. It is clearly one of the most stable trail shoes out there, and trail shoes by nature tend to be more stable than road shoes. And if you are looking for a comfortable walking or stable stand on your feet all day shoe, it is also a super fine choice for that.
Run Score: 8.9/10
A bit blocky at the rear of the shoe for my tastes and rigid up front. Limited utility off technical trails
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Walk/Hike Score: 9.4 /10
Outstanding !
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Detailed Comparisons to come soon in our multi tester review and when we can find more dirt!
Shoes that immediately come to mind as most comparable
Hoka Mafate Speed (RTR Review)
Merrell Agility Peak (RTR Review)
Brooks Caldera (RTR Review)
Adidas Terrex Agravic 3 (RTR Review)
Tester Profiles
Sam is the Editor and Founder of Road Trail Run. He is in his 60’s with 2024 Sam’s 52th year of running roads and trails. He has a decades old 2:28 marathon PR. These days he runs halves in the just sub 1:40 range if he gets very, very lucky. Sam trains 30-40 miles per week mostly at moderate paces on the roads and trails of New Hampshire and Utah be it on the run, hiking or on nordic skis. He is 5’9” tall and weighs about 160 lbs, if he is not enjoying too many fine New England IPA’s.
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