Weight 412gEvaluation Asics has trimmed its off-road range down to two shoes: one light and basic (the £40, 314g Gel Canyon), and the other this ultra-protective trail crusher.The Trabuco is certainly nothing like its 324g predecessor, except

.5 Asics Gel Trabuco 12, £75 Contact www.asics.co.uk/running Any shoe that has 12 versions of it released must be doing something right, and so it proved here. The Gel cushioning

ASICSEuropa Boulevard, Westbrook, Warrington, Cheshire WA5 5YS; 01925 241041; www.asics.co.uk2005 MODELSCUSHIONEDGel Nimbus Gel Cumulus STABILITYKayano Gel GT-2100 Gel 1100 PERFORMANCEGel DS Trainer X Gel Landreth RACINGGel DS Racer Gel Kanji OFF

if you’re an overpronating trail runner, you should look to Asics’s medially posted Gel Trabuco 4 (it’s even heavier, but it has more support).US weartesters liked the Gel Eagle Trail, particularly for its forefoot ride. We’d say that if you want a

AdidasAdistar Trail (off-road) £90 Adidas Adistar Control (motion control) £90 Adidas Brevard (motion control) £70 Adidas Response Control (stability) £60 AsicsAsics Gel Tioga (off-road) £45 Asics Gel Trabuco (off-road) £65 BrooksBrooks Epiphany

superior to the stiffer, heavier 804 at £60.Try it if you liked New Balance 804 (£60); Nike Air Terra Humara (£70, discontinued); Asics Gel Trabuco (£60)

chunky off-road protection and you’re not aiming for top speeds, it’s not a bad choice. It’s certainly superior to the stiffer, heavier 804 at £60.Try it if you liked New Balance 804 (£60); Nike Air Terra Humara (£70, discontinued); Asics Gel Trabuco (£60)