Running Shoe Review: Asics Fuji Lite 3
The Asics Fuji Lite 3 is a comfortable, neutral trail shoe that’s well priced and a strong emphasis on sustainability.
Technical details
- Price: £125 (discounted to £74.99)
- Sizes 3-10
- Weight: 225g
- Drop: 4mm
Asics Fuji Lite 3 Pros and Cons
Pros
- Light and flexible
- Reasonable priced
- Handles road sections well
Cons
- No rock plate
- Not great on wet muddy paths
How do they compare to previous versions?
Key updates since the Fuji Lite 2 include a greater percentage of recycled textiles for the upper construction (Asics has committed to making this at least 50%). The reshaped FLYTEFOAM™ midsole is also formed with recycled materials and cellulose nanofiber, a bio-based material.
Is the Asics Fuji Lite 3 comfortable?
This is a comfortable, easy to wear trail shoe. It feels pretty light on your feet (the women’s shoe is 225g) and feels good from the off. There’s no rock plate in the sole, so rocky paths and tree roots could be a problem, but the upside of this is that the shoe feels flexible and soft.
How does the Asics Fuji Lite 3 fit?
There’s plenty of room in the toe box and the shoe fits true to size. There is some padding round the ankle cuff but less than I’d like, however that’s mostly personal preference for me in trail shoes.
Asics Fuji Lite 3 Running review
But a shoe is only truly sustainable if it’s going to do the job it’s designed to do well and for a good period of time. So what is it like to run in? I set off on a trail run to find out.
My testing routes took me through some woods, along a muddy towpath and along gravel paths. The outsole grip coped well with dry trails and road sections but were less happy when the path got muddy. With just 4mm of heel to toe drop, if felt more suited to faster running than everyday, easy runs. And, indeed, when I picked up the pace for short sections the shoe felt good.
A nice little touch is the ‘lace garage’ which is a pocket at the top of the tongue that you can tuck your laces in to keep them from flapping about.
What would you recommend this shoe for?
This shoe is for light to medium trail running – basically nothing too technical. I’d recommend it on short to medium length runs or trail races.
Who is the Asics Fuji Lite 3 for?
This shoe would suit those new to trail running and not yet seeking out technical trails, as it’s comfortable and lightweight. This also means it works for those looking to run a bit faster on the trails. It’s not the best shoe for complete beginners who might benefit from something sturdier.
