Asics FujiRacer 3 (Spring 2014)
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The Dirt: From the kings of the road-running world comes the trail-friendly FujiRacer 3. Now in its third rendition, the FujiRacer is reminiscent of a racing flat—minimal cushioning, a thin upper and a low ride.
Its simple, lightweight design feels fast right out of the box—“perfect for those looking at running a fast 5K to half-marathon trail race,” suggested one tester. A basic rock plate protects against small stones and bruising.
With this update, ASICS increased spacing between the multidirectional lugs to better handle mud. Reviews were mixed; one tester reported feeling “invincible” on a rainy, sloppy run, though others said wet mud caked on fast, compromising their confidence on technical terrain.
Best For: The “door-to-trail” runner looking for speed and agility on roads, grass and dry trails.
Traction: The lugs offer adequate grip in dry conditions on relatively non-technical trails.
Fit: It runs a smidge small, so consider going a half-size up.
The Downsides: Prepare to replace the laces, which refuse to stay tied—“even with a triple knot!” complained one tester. Several testers also reported that the stiff toebox fabric created an uncomfortable pressure point above their toes.
Tester-Monial: “I keep comparing the ride to a Subaru—great for the streets, but when you get in some snow or go off-road, you won’t have any worries about losing traction and control.”
–Khris Vickroy, North Liberty, IA