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Trabuco Max 4
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Today's tracked prices
- 01TaskersSportsDEAL4d ago£80.00£170.00−53%
- 02RunningBear7d ago£90.00£170.00−47%
- 03SportsShoesLIVE£95.99£170.00−44%
- 04365Rider8d ago£97.98£170.00−42%
- 05DirectRunning7d ago£107.95£170.00−37%
- 06DirectSports7d ago£107.95£170.00−37%
- 07runningbath.co.uk10d ago£112.00£170.00−34%
- 08Secret Sales2d ago£124.99£170.00−26%
- 09CotswoldOutdoor7d ago£127.95£170.00−25%
- 10Runner's Need7d ago£127.95£170.00−25%
- 11Go OutdoorsLIVE£160.00£170.00−6%
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Expert review
Our verdict
The Trabuco Max 4 is ASICS at its most cushioned: a max-stack trail running shoe built for long days on your feet rather than chasing fast times. With a tall, soft platform underfoot it soaks up rocky, root-strewn ground and keeps your legs fresher deep into an ultra or a back-to-back training block. At 315g it is a properly substantial shoe, so this is not a nimble racer and it never pretends to be. What you trade in weight you get back in protection and comfort. The 5mm drop sits low for a max-cushion shoe, which keeps you closer to the ground than the stack height suggests and helps with stability on uneven terrain. It is a neutral shoe with a wide, planted base. In our view this is one to reach for when the run is measured in hours, not minutes. If you want a lighter, snappier trail option the Hoka Speedgoat 7 is the obvious rival, but for sheer cushioned comfort the Trabuco Max 4 holds its own.
Key features
- Max-height cushioningSoaks up rocks and hard ground so your legs stay fresher deep into long runs and ultras
- Wide, planted baseKeeps you composed on uneven terrain despite the tall stack
- Low 5mm dropSits you closer to the ground than the stack suggests, helping balance and ground feel
- Secure midfoot and heel holdLocks your foot down on descents and off-camber trails with no slop
- Roomy-enough toe boxLets your toes splay and swell over hours without crowding
Who it suits
Who should buy it
- Ultra and long-distance trail runners who want maximum leg protection over many hours
- Heavier runners who need a forgiving, cushioned landing on rough ground
- Runners doing high-volume training blocks who value recovery and comfort
- Neutral runners who want a planted, stable max-cushion ride
Who should not buy it
Good to know
Extra information
Fit & sizing
The Trabuco Max 4 comes up true to size for most runners, so order your usual ASICS road size and you should be set. The midfoot wraps securely, which matters on a tall trail shoe where you do not want any sloppiness when the ground tilts. Heel hold is firm and the collar locks your ankle without pinching. The toe box is medium width: roomy enough for toes to splay and swell over long miles, but not a true wide fit, so runners with broad feet who want maximum room may prefer the Altra Olympus 6 and its foot-shaped last. If you are between sizes, or you run very long efforts where feet swell, size up a half. Lace lockdown is straightforward and holds through descents. For most trail runners the standard width and a true-to-size fit will work well straight out of the box.
Performance breakdown
Ride & feel
The ride is soft, cushioned and protective rather than fast or springy. Step in and the tall platform feels plush underfoot, taking the sting out of rocks and hardpack alike. This is a shoe that rewards a relaxed, steady effort: settle into an easy rhythm and the miles pass comfortably, with your legs noticeably more protected late in a long run. Push the pace and the weight and soft stack hold you back a little, so do not expect it to come alive at speed. On technical, twisty ground the tall stack asks for a touch more care than a low-slung shoe, but the wide base and low 5mm drop keep things composed. Where it shines is the long haul, when comfort and impact protection matter more than turnover.
Cushioning
Cushioning is the headline here, and it delivers. The max-height stack gives you generous, forgiving softness that protects your legs against repeated impact over rocky and hard-packed trails. On long runs and ultra distances that protection pays off, leaving your quads and feet far less battered than a firmer, lower shoe would. The feel is soft and absorbing rather than bouncy or energetic, so you get comfort and fatigue resistance rather than propulsion. It is well suited to heavier runners and to anyone who values a cushioned, planted landing over a responsive one. If your priority is staying comfortable across many hours on rough ground, this is among the more protective trail options you can buy.
Stability
This is a neutral shoe, so there is no medial post or dedicated support structure for overpronation. What it does offer is stability through geometry: a wide, planted base and a relatively low 5mm drop that keeps you closer to the ground than the tall stack would suggest. That combination makes the platform feel more secure on uneven terrain than many max-cushion shoes manage. On genuinely technical, off-camber ground the height still asks for a little extra attention, as any tall shoe does. For neutral runners who want cushioned protection without feeling perched up high, the balance here is well judged. Runners who need genuine stability correction should look to a dedicated support shoe instead.
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Specifications
| Category | Trail |
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