EDITOR’S CHOICE: This Week We Profile ASICS BlazeBlast

Trail running shoes have never been more capable – or more specialised. Advances in foam technology, outsole compounds and lightweight construction have transformed today’s trail shoes into highly refined tools, each model designed with a specific purpose in mind. Whether you’re chasing podium finishes, tackling technical mountain routes or logging long training kays, there’s now a shoe engineered to match your terrain, pace and ambitions.

…our shoe editor Geoffrey Crow has selected the standout trail shoes available in South Africa…

For this year’s guide, our shoe editor Geoffrey Crow has selected the standout trail shoes available in South Africa in every category, from versatile all-rounders to ultra-distance specialists and technical mountain performers. Whether you’re exploring local singletrack, training for your next ultra, or looking for your first trail shoe, these models deliver the best combination of performance, comfort, durability, and value.

Each week we will take you through some of our favourites…but for the full rundown of all the shoes, buy the September/October issue of Runner’s World in stores or online.

**Product: **ASICS BlazeBlast

Weight: 252g • Stack: 43mm heel / 35mm forefoot • Drop: 8mm

Best for Door-to-trail, runnable trails, everyday adventures Ride Responsive Grip ★★★★☆ Protection ★★★☆☆ Speed ★★★★★ Value ★★★★☆

ASICS enters a new category with the BlazeBlast, a trail shoe designed to bring the energetic feel of its popular road Blast family to smoother off-road terrain.

Rather than targeting extreme mountain conditions, the BlazeBlast focuses on making trail running feel fast, fun and accessible. The FF BLAST MAX midsole delivers a soft yet highly responsive ride, while the trampoline-inspired forefoot pod adds a noticeable sense of bounce and forward momentum. The lightweight construction and ASICSGRIP outsole make it a strong choice for gravel paths, forest trails and runnable singletrack.

Runners tackling highly technical terrain may prefer a more traditional option; the BlazeBlast is best viewed as a bridge between road and trail, a shoe for runners who occasionally venture onto smooth trails. For that purpose, it’s one of the best out there.

X-factor: A bouncy, road-inspired ride to make trails fast and approachable.

Supplier: The Athlete’s Foot

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