ASICS Fuji Lite 2 Review
By Chief Editor Matthew Klein and Content Manager Bach Pham
Current market trends in footwear have continued to moved toward higher stack height shoes. Finding anything with lower stack has been difficult due to this, although a few models continue to come out from mainstream brands. One of the few from major brands was the Asics FujiTrabuco Lite. A minimal, middle to short distance race-ready trail shoe was a rare sight to see from a company known for large traditional stack high shoes. A snug fit, aggressive toe spring, solid ground feel and great traction made it a rare minimal shoe in the trail world. Fast forward to today, the Fuji Lite 2 - whose name is inspired by the Hinoki Cypress tree native to Mount Fuji - features a refined, more middle ground ride. A little more stack height provides more protection, allowing a larger number of runners to access the shoe. Yet the same solid ground feel, lightweight (for a trail shoe) and aggressive ride are still present. How does the new version compare and perform overall? That's what we are hear to talk about.
Specifications Asics Fuji Lite 2 (per Running Warehouse)
Weight: 9.0 oz / 255 g (men's size 9) 7.9 oz / 224 g (women's size 8)
Stack Height: 30 mm / 26 mm
Drop: 4mm Drop
Classification: Lightweight Trail Shoe / Trail Racing Shoe
RUNNING SHOE SUMMARY
Matt: The Asics Fuji Lite 2 is a lightweight trainer/race ready trail shoe with solid ground feel for short to middle distance trail races. A very snug forefoot fits like a racing flat for the trail, while extra Flytefoam cushioning provides more responsiveness and protection. Solid traction allows the Fuji Lite 2 to handle a variety of trail terrain. Continuing to still feel more nimble and minimal, Version 2 is best for those looking for a trail racing shoe or those who want more ground feel from their trail shoes. The shoe is also noteworthy for its use of recycled materials, both in the upper and mixed into their proven Flytefoam midsole.
FI
Matt: The Asics Fuji Lite 2 fits me short in my normal men's US size 10 men's. The toebox tapers significantly, partially due to the shape and partially due to the thick toe guard. I was patient and managed to stretch out the toebox, but I would suggest going up a half size unless you want a snug/racing style fit. The overall fit is snug including both the midfoot and heel. There is a solid heel counter in the rearfoot that took me some time to get used to. Those with sensitive Achilles insertions/calcaneal bones should be cautious. The benefit of the snug fit is that the security is top notch. My foot always felt completely locked in no matter the terrain. I did not have to lace lock the shoe and did not get any slippage even on sharp up and downhill runs. However, going downhill did bother my toes slightly due to the shorter fit. Additionally, the upper is thick and scratchy, so socks are a must. Overall, the fit will work best for those who have narrow feet or who want a snug, durable fit from a faster trail shoe.
Bach: The Asics Fuji Lite 2 fits a half size short. I'm typically a US size 9.5, but the US size 10 men's I received fit perfectly. I would not recommend going true to size at all as the taper in the toebox Matt mentioned is fairly prominent. I felt right at home in size 10 though and had no issues otherwise. There is a moderate amount of heel padding around the collar that's comfortable and helped keep the foot fairly locked in. I always felt very dialed in the Fuji Lite which felt wonderful while bombing through my local trail. The midfoot has just a little bit of width to it which I found comfortable and in no way affected lockdown. The upper is a bit thick and runs just slightly warm, but even with thicker socks I didn't have any hotspots in particular and am excited to have this as the days grow cooler. As long as you half size up and have standard to narrow feet, you should have no issues with the upper. Those with wide feet may want to consider a full size up just to have a little bit more room in the forefoot.
PERFORMANCE (RIDE / SPEED)
Matt: The Asics Fuji Lite 2 features a full length Flytefoam midsole that is higher stack and softer than the previous version. The ride overall is still on the firmer end and still has better ground feel than most shoes. There is no rock plate and the forefoot has decent flexibility. The new foam does compress during landings, which makes the shoe feel closer to the ground than the stack height measurements would let on. There is a solid amount of toe spring, but with the flexible forefoot it is less aggressive. There is a small heel bevel but the rearfoot transition is smoother on trail thanks to the softer Flytefoam midsole. There is a 4mm drop which is very noticeable. I had to walk around in these to get used to this. Those used to low drop shoes should be fine, but those who are not should carefully transition. Despite the mild weight increase, the shoe still feels quite light on foot. The shoe is smaller in size, so it is very nimble and easily tolerates quick footwork on aggressive trails.
The ride and midsole feel best at uptempo and tempo efforts. I have run a trail uphill tempo and these felt best with pushing the pace. I can see these working very well for shorter and middle distance trail races on more aggressive terrain. Those who are used to less shoe will find these as a fantastic trainer. The outsole is very durable and has handled some road use without wear. I have 50 miles in my pair with no wear after dirt and gravel trails on single track and aggressive terrain. The Fuji Lite 2 is primarily a trail shoe as the lugs are significant and dig very well into a variety of terrain. It is especially good when you need a nimble ride on technical terrain, however there is still a smooth enough ride to be used on smoother trails. When on road, the Flytefoam feels softer, but the lack of a significant heel bevel makes the ride a bit more clunky.
Bach: The Fuji Lite 2 is a very streamlined trail shoe that to me is all about being fast and nimble. the Flytefoam midsole is a very back-to-basics foam that provides more than enough daily training cushion for short to medium distance efforts up to an hour, hour and fifteen. The well-locked down upper, simple cushioning, mild toe spring, and tough full length AsicsGrip outsole all works really well together to give you a confident shoe that lets you rush through trails with ease in a controlled manner. The trail I have been able to run through for review is not the most technical, but due to leaves falling covering up the trail, branches sprawling throughout the trail, and some slick conditions, on most days there was a lot to think about. The Fuji Lite handled it all fantastically well though. Being so dialed in, I could easily chose my landing spots with no issues and work through the terrain. I had no issues in wet spots and found the shoe to really transition well. The design elements are subtle as Matt mentioned, but just the bit of heel bevel and toe spring really made the ride fun and instill a lot of confidence to pick up the pace. Additionally, I found this to be a very fine road-to-trail shoe. The lugs are fairly low profile and will carry you on road just fine. This shoe by far feels best on trail though. The Fuji Lite is by no means a road shoe compared to something like the Reebok Floatride Adventure which is minimal enough underfoot for either surface and the lugs, while low profile, will still be too much after a few miles.
Due to it's more minimal midsole compared to many trail shoes today, it is definitely suited to short to medium distances as far as my personal comfort goes. Someone who has a general preference towards closer to the ground shoes in general will feel at home in the Fuji Lite though for longer as it's more than protective enough to handle it. Additionally, with its lower profile, those who have been training in more cushioned shoes like Hokas or even shoes like the Novablast or carbon plated footwear will want to slowly train into the Fuji Lite to make sure their legs are comfortable with the more closer to the ground running the shoe provides. I slowly worked up mileage in my pair which helped me get more and more comfortable with being able to rip through my trail towards my later runs without any issues.
STABILITY
Matt: The Asics Fuji Lite 2 is a neutral trail shoe. However, there are a few things that add very mild stability. There are mild sidewalls at the anterior heel that provide very mild guidance. The midfoot is fairly consistent in width with the rest of the shoe, making for a more inherently stable platform. The slightly closer to the ground feel as gives good proprioceptive feedback. None of this is significant enough to consider this a mild stability shoe, but the shoe is also not unstable. So those wanting a minimal trail shoe will be good and those with stability needs will need to transition slowly while they work on their intrinsic foot endurance/strength.
Bach: While a neutral trail shoe, due to how well the shoe locks down, the rigid heel counter providing a firm hold, and the low profile of the shoe compared to most trail competitors, I found the Fuji Lite 2 to be a fairly stable experience. There's a high level of control in the Fuji Lite, some of that being the tapered forefoot - though sacrificing toebox width - allowing you to really direct and find the exact place you want your feet to go next. As Matt says, you will want to transition slowly due to the lower profile to make sure you have enough foot strength to go longer distances in the Fuji Lite compared to a higher stacked trainer.
THOUGHTS AS A DPT / FOOTWEAR SCIENCE
While reviewing the previous version, the Asics Fujitrabuco Lyte, I discussed the use of toespring and lower stack height shoes. In high stack height shoes (tall soles), having toe spring makes sense as the thickness reduces flexibility. The forefoot is one area that usually requires some flexibility as the metatarsophalangeal joints (ie toes) need to be extend as you travel over this area to facilitate the toe off and propulsion phases of gait. So if the sole is too stiff, trying to transition over the forefoot can be difficult as the "forefoot rocker", ie the ability of the toes to extend is completely removed. This reduces gait efficiency. With lower stack height shoes, toe spring can certainly facilitate motion, but it is often not required as the soles are already flexible. With less space for the toe spring, it often extends up and effects the position of the toes.
As mentioned in the last post, holding the toes in extension can be problematic as this constantly tugs on the plantar fascia. The plantar fascia, ie the thick fascial tissue on the bottom of the foot, helps to facilitate motion from the rearfoot off the toes. It starts at the heel and connects into the toes. It tightens up when you extend your toes, which also (usually) stiffens up your arch as well. This is part of the passive mechanism that creates a stiff foot during the toe off/terminal stance phase of gait for a stable place to push off from (active being the muscles like the calf and posterior tibialis that invert and supinate the foot at this stage, which also stiffens the foot up). This is good during this specific part of the gait cycle, but is not necessary during the loading phase of running gait when you want the foot to be a little more flexible to help with shock absorption. A low stack height shoe with toe spring or a toe spring that holds the toes into extension may impact shock absorption in some people. This can be problematic for those that need to work on their shock absorption or those who do not have enough toe extension (At least 60 degrees is required for normal gait). In others it can actually serve to improve foot stability by locking the foot into a more stiff position (for those that have too much motion). So this isn't a bad thing as it can benefit certain people, however it can be problematic for others.
If you are not one of those people who need more stability through this mechanism, it is best to find a shoe that does not have toe spring that influences the position of the toes. It is better to have it in a thicker sole where the toes can still lay flat. Lower stack height shoes don't need this unless they are stiff because usually the thinner midsole is more flexible. The Asics Fuji Lite 2 increases its stack height in this version, which integrates the toe spring into the sole much better. The toes are not held in as much extension and the flexible forefoot allows the sole to lay somewhat flat when standing in them. This works much better for foot position, although the length/taper at the toebox needs to be addressed (or you can just get a half size up). Like all the parts of a shoe, toe spring is a mechanism that can be used as a tool for certain people but can be problematic for others. Certain variations will work better or worse for different people. What we hope you take from this is figuring out what variation works for you so you better understand what shoes may or may not work for your mechanics.
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Matt: My recommendations are focused on the upper. The fit appears to be off (at least for me) and I would highly suggest widening the forefoot/reducing the taper. This will not only accommodate some toe splay but swelling as well. Lower extremity (ie legs) swelling is normal during longer efforts, particularly with hard downhill efforts (strong eccentric contractions cause more muscle damage and thus swelling). I understand this is more of a trail racing shoe than a trainer, however the toes do also need to be able to move just a little. Toe spring that influences the position of the toes (as opposed to sitting under in a higher stack midsole) already makes shoes feel shorter due to the upward curve. The combination of the significant toe spring (although again this is offset by the flexibility in the forefoot) and tapered toebox cramps the toes. The toes need to be able to move at least a little bit, particularly into slight abduction to help with forefoot shock absorption. You can still have a race ready, snug fitting upper without the extreme taper, so that needs some modification.
Bach: I agree that it would be helpful to ensure the shoe is true to size for those purchasing the Asics Fuji Lite 2. Ordering a pair a half size up will currently remedy the problem for this edition, but they should go ahead and work on adjusting sizing in the future for those who do not have advance warning. I think offering a wide would also be valuable, as I believe there are some minor benefits to have a tapered forefoot for many runners, especially those with narrow feet who do struggle with a wider toebox. I think wide releases are fairly underrated many can't simply size up often as other areas may become less of a good fit. It certainly is a cost burden for companies to manage, but for a shoe like this I would hate to lose it's identity entirely. I would also like to see the shoe with Flytefoam Blast, which the rest of the line has trended towards. I think it would be a natural step forward for the shoe and a natural next step as Asics continues to innovate with major updates in their road running line.
WHO THIS SHOE IS FOR (Conclusion)
Matt: The Asics Fuji Lite 2 is for those who want a lightweight trainer / trail racing shoe with decent ground feel while still having some responsive cushioning. The shoe is very nimble and feels best going at uptempo and tempo efforts on a variety of terrain. The upper is very secure, although it fits short with a narrowed toebox. For that reason, unless you have a narrow foot or like a really snug fit, consider going a half size up (especially if you are between sizes). The increased stack height helps better integrate the toe sprint, but the flexibility in the forefoot still gives the shoe a more naturally smooth toe off. Best as a middle or short distance trail racing, for those who want a closer to the ground/more nimble lightweight trail shoe, the Asics Fuji Lite 2 may be worth a look.
Bach: The Fuji Lite 2 is for runners looking for a fast, nimble, and controlled trail shoe that can also run road-to-trail comfortably. The shoe handles a variety of terrain well and provides good grip. Though running short, with the right sizing the upper is very secure and provides modest stability for a neutral trainer. Additionally, I think this is a fantastic first trail shoe for those wanting to dip their toes into trail running and doing shorter trails in their area. Most people do not have access to extensive trail systems in their city or town. For many, this is going to be more than enough shoe to handle a few technical trails and provide a very comfortable, traditional experience on foot while you spend the majority of your miles on road with your other trainers.
I think it's worth noting that as part of the Lite series, the upper materials are made of recycled materials which is always a positive. I think Asics has done a nice job of making very comfortable uppers with their recycled material usage and the Fuji Lite 2 is another example of that. Asics has managed to also find a nice balance in price at $120 for the Fuji Lite 2, which is one of the more affordable options in the sustainable shoe realm.
GRADING (SHOE CATEGORY)
Matt
Fit: C+ (Very short and narrow fit at the forefoot. Secure throughout the rest of the foot however)
Performance: A- (Great grip, responsive sole and great ground feel make this a fun shoe to go fast on trails in)
Stability: B (straighter last, mild sidewalls and decent ground feel make this stable for those with neutral mechanics. No major stability methods outside of that)
DPT/Footwear Science: B (Better integration of toe spring with higher stack and some forefoot flexibility. However toebox is far too tapered and narrow for normal foot function)
Personal: B- (I really want to like this shoe, but the short fit and tapered toebox makes it difficult for me to keep reaching for this shoe. If I could do this over I would get a half size up. )
Overall: B- (Solid, more minimal trail racing shoe. Good protection for the amount of ground feel. Snappy ride that works as a lightweight trainer and trail racing shoe. Toebox is extremely tapered and will work best for those with narrow feet or those who want a super snug fit. Others should go a half size up. )
Bach
Fit: B/B+ (Fits short when true to size, but sized up no issues.)
Performance: A- (A really fun experience that's fast and nimble, and will work on just about any trail as it has good grip and plenty of upper protection)
Stability: B (Some guidance here seen, but mostly the low ground profile of the shoe really helps provide good proprioception)
DPT/Footwear Science: B (Giving a slightly higher mark for recycled material integration. Shoe otherwise is fairly basic construction, but done well aside from fit)
Personal: B+ (I really enjoyed this and as long as people get the right size for them, will find this as a great trail running shoe for short to medium distances)
Overall: B+ (Fit aside, once you get the right shoe on foot you'll find yourself with a very fun, fast, and nimble trail shoe that will let you do a lot of different types of runs on trail)
VIDEO REVIEW
Check out Matt's full thoughts in video form, along with some advice for transitioning into a shoe like the Fuji Lite 2.
SHOP | SUPPORT DOR
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FURTHER READING
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Hoka One One Zinal - Snappy, protective trail shoe from Hoka. Great weight and cushion for trail racing
On Cloudventure Peak - Lightweight trainer for those who like a firm, smooth ride
Skechers GORun Razor Trail - Another road-to-trail trainer for those who enjoy the Razor platform
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Thanks for reading!
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Matthew Klein, PT DPT OCS FAAOMPT
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