Our verdict

The ASICS x Ronnie Fieg Gel-Lyte V Volcano is a versatile trail runner and hiker that offered us impressive comfort and jaw-dropping breathability during our testing at a pocket-friendly price. While we didn't find it to be the most durable, it's tough to find a better trail shoe at just £80. Treating our feet with nice cushioning, we believe that it excels in delivering an enjoyable experience on the trail.

Tênis ASICS Fuzeblast SE Masculino Cinza Pros

  • Fantastic value
  • asics gel kyrios baltic jewel black
  • ASICS GlideRide 2 Piedmont Grey Orange Piedmont Grey Black
  • Stable ride
  • Asics Meias Road Ankle Grip
  • Ready for hiking
  • GEL technology for amazing impact protection

Tênis ASICS Fuzeblast SE Masculino Cinza Cons

  • Durability could be better
  • Lacks energy return
  • Heavy

Audience verdict

81
Good!
  • asics gel 1090 white polar shade

Who should buy

Asics Zapatillas Running Gel-Pulse 13 Hombre Zapatillas Running Negro 8 ASICS Кросівки asics tiger unisex gel-kayano trainer evo:

  • A wallet-friendly, cushioned trail running shoe
  • A versatile all-rounder that handles trail running, hiking, and even road running when necessary
  • A shoe with a classic design that doesn't draw undue attention.

asics gel lyte evo blackred 9 Who Should Buy

Who should NOT buy

If you're in the market searching for a bouncy ride with a higher-end feel or waterproof features, steer clear of these ASICS. Instead, we suggest taking a look at the Nike React Pegasus Trail 4 (or its GTX edition).

If you're looking for a durable shoe that offers great value for your money, we still recommend going with an ASICS option, specifically the Trail Scout 2, based on our lab tests.

asics gel lyte evo blackred 9 parts

Cushioning

Heel stack

We were taken aback when we used our calliper to measure the stack height in the heel. It's not everyday that we stumble upon high-stack shoes boasting an impressive 33.3 mm of foam in the rearfoot!

asics gel lyte evo blackred 9 Heel stack
Test results
Salomon talla 31.5 33.3 mm
Average 31.9 mm
Compared to 137 trail running shoes
footwear asics court slide gs 1044a007 techno cyan bio mint
19.6 mm
Heel stack
42.4 mm

Forefoot stack

On the flip side, we were equally taken aback by how thin the forefoot was. With a stack height of 22.9 mm—below the average trail shoe—that includes both the outsole, the insole and the lugs, there's not a lot of cushioning in that area. It's clear to us, this is a shoe built with heel strikers in mind!

asics gel lyte evo blackred 9 Forefoot stack
Test results
Salomon talla 31.5 22.9 mm
Average 24.5 mm
Compared to 137 trail running shoes
footwear asics court slide gs 1044a007 techno cyan bio mint
13.4 mm
Forefoot stack
33.9 mm

Drop

The significant 10.4-mm heel-to-toe pie simply reaffirms our earlier observations. Such a high pie caters well to those who hit the trails heel-first. And that's exactly what this shoe delivers.

It's worth noting that budget-friendly trail shoes, often targeted towards beginners or slower-paced runners, tend to boast a quite-steep pie.

asics gel lyte evo blackred 9 pie
Test results
Salomon talla 31.5 10.4 mm
Average 7.5 mm
Compared to 136 trail running shoes
footwear asics court slide gs 1044a007 techno cyan bio mint
-0.1 mm
Drop
17.3 mm

Midsole softness

Note: a low durometer measurement equals a soft material, whereas a high measurement means it's firm.

At 24.6 HA, this isn't your run-of-the-mill midsole softness that was the norm on trail shoes! Amplifoam delivers a soft and gentle touch—but don't expect an over-the-top bounce from the Salomon talla 31.5, especially considering it's an £80 trail shoe.

If you're on the hunt for a springy trail running shoe, consider titolo out the Nike Terra Kiger 8, asics gel lyte v coral reef clearwater.

asics gel lyte evo blackred 9 Midsole softness
Test results
Salomon talla 31.5 24.6 HA
Average 22.6 HA
We use an average of four tests. The photo shows one of those tests.
Compared to 113 trail running shoes
footwear asics court slide gs 1044a007 techno cyan bio mint
9.1 HA
Midsole softness (soft to firm)
39.0 HA

asics gel saga soft grey (%)

While the Salomon talla 31.5 may not be the ideal pick for winter trail running due to its outstanding ventilation, it becomes a great choice under cold temperatures when paired with thick socks.

After we checked the midsole softness in cold temperatures, we noticed that the foam might firm up slightly more than we prefer (up to 34.4 HA), but it still maintains a below-average firmness—a remarkable achievement for such a budget-friendly shoe.

While it doesn't turn stone-hard, you'll surely feel the shift as it becomes 39.7% firmer under cold conditions. That's a typical response for EVA-based foam, as you can see in our advanced guide.

For a shoe that shines in winter, consider the ASICS Gel Saga 180 Black Black Black Marathon Running Shoes Sneakers 1191A239-001 with its TPU-based midsole.

asics gel lyte evo blackred 9 asics gel saga soft grey
Test results
Salomon talla 31.5 40%
Average 26%
Compared to 113 trail running shoes
footwear asics court slide gs 1044a007 techno cyan bio mint
5%
asics gel saga soft grey
68%

Insole thickness

The insole, with its comfortable 4.8 mm of thickness—just a touch above the average—it's just what we wanted.

asics gel lyte evo blackred 9 Insole thickness
Test results
Salomon talla 31.5 4.8 mm
Average 4.7 mm
Compared to 135 trail running shoes
footwear asics court slide gs 1044a007 techno cyan bio mint
2.1 mm
Insole thickness
7.9 mm

Size and fit

Size

ASICS x Ronnie Fieg Gel-Lyte V Volcano is true to size (213 votes).

Owners of this shoe, how does this shoe fit?

1 size small ½ size small True to size ½ size large 1 size large
Compared to 121 trail running shoes
footwear asics court slide gs 1044a007 techno cyan bio mint
½ size small
Slightly small
True to size
Slightly large
½ size large

Asics Sapato Solution Speed FF 2 Clay

The toe box doesn't offer much wiggle room at 97 mm of width, but it's sufficient for most foot types. We firmly advise that this shoe is suitable for narrow, medium, and somewhat wide feet.

asics gel lyte evo blackred 9 toe box space

However, if you've got ultra-wide feet, you should probably steer clear. Brands like Altra Asics 21 Black Black Dark Grey.

asics gel lyte evo blackred 9 Toebox width at the widest part
Test results
Salomon talla 31.5 97.0 mm
Average 99.0 mm
Compared to 122 trail running shoes
footwear asics court slide gs 1044a007 techno cyan bio mint
92.6 mm
Asics Sapato Solution Speed FF 2 Clay
104.9 mm

Tênis ASICS Fuzeblast SE Masculino Cinza | Toebox width - big toe

At 72.3 mm, the shoe narrows by 34.2% from the widest point to the area of the big toe, being 30% the average.

Based on our tests, we find that it's a better match for those who have a significant size difference between their big toe and the rest—think Greek or Egyptian foot shapes. In contrast, those with Celtic, German, and Roman feet should definitely avoid the Salomon talla 31.5 and, again, try something from Altra like the ASICS Scarpa sportiva 'GT-2000' rosa bianco.

For more information on uppers and foot shapes, check out our guide about uppers, Asics gel-kayano 29 platinum black blue white men running shoes 1011b472-001.

asics gel lyte evo blackred 9 Toebox width at the big toe
Test results
Salomon talla 31.5 72.3 mm
Average 79.4 mm
Compared to 83 trail running shoes
footwear asics court slide gs 1044a007 techno cyan bio mint
70.5 mm
Toebox width - big toe
90.1 mm

Tênis ASICS Fuzeblast SE Masculino Cinza | Toebox feel

asics gel lyte evo blackred 9 Toebox feel

Midfoot feel

The midfoot area feels absolutely normal. Our tests suggest that even those among us with flat feet should find it comfortable.

asics gel lyte evo blackred 9 Midfoot feel
Test results
Salomon talla 31.5 Normal

Heel feel

Then, there's the heel—it pleasantly surprised us with its slightly-wider-than-average dimension while retaining a fair bit of rigidity. This strikes a fine balance between comfort and stability.

asics gel lyte evo blackred 9 Heel feel
Test results
Salomon talla 31.5 Normal

Stability

Lateral stability test

With a stack that's above average and a cushy foam, one wouldn't typically anticipate excellent stability. Yet, these ASICS shoes left us with a great impression. Their Amplifoam midsole was stable in our runs and comfy during long hikes.

Torsional rigidity

The solid stability in the Salomon talla 31.5 largely comes from its 3/5 torsional rigidity. Like nearly all other trail running shoes, it's not super flexible. That rigidity, however, works in our favour, helping us remain stable on any terrain.

This complements its non-rockered shape, which works well for a shoe of this type.

Test results
Salomon talla 31.5 3
Average 3.6
Compared to 131 trail running shoes
footwear asics court slide gs 1044a007 techno cyan bio mint
1
Torsional rigidity
5

Heel counter stiffness

This shoe scores an impressive 4 out of 5 on our heel stiffness test, putting it well above the average trail shoe and providing a guided run. Since it's not advertised or designed for fast paces, this rating just make sense to us.

Test results
Salomon talla 31.5 4
Average 3.1
Compared to 129 trail running shoes
footwear asics court slide gs 1044a007 techno cyan bio mint
1
Heel counter stiffness
5

Asics Tarther Blast 1201A066 021

The landing platform doesn't hold any surprises. Using our calliper for precise measurements, we found that the midsole width is about average in the forefoot (109.5 mm), just 2 mm less than most trail shoes.

race shoes from Asics Saucony hombre pie cavo blancas or the Hoka Speedgoat 5 Asics FujiTrabuco Lyte Baskets de trail Noir et rose.

asics gel lyte evo blackred 9 Midsole width in the forefoot
Test results
Salomon talla 31.5 109.5 mm
Average 112.3 mm
Compared to 137 trail running shoes
footwear asics court slide gs 1044a007 techno cyan bio mint
102.1 mm
Asics Tarther Blast 1201A066 021
124.3 mm

Midsole width - heel

Like they did with the steep heel-to-toe pie, ASICS pleased the heel strikers again with a midsole width that's wider than most shoes. At 89.5 mm, it will be really stable everywhere!

asics gel lyte evo blackred 9 Midsole width in the heel
Test results
Salomon talla 31.5 89.5 mm
Average 89.5 mm
Compared to 137 trail running shoes
footwear asics court slide gs 1044a007 techno cyan bio mint
72.0 mm
Midsole width - heel
106.0 mm

Flexibility / Stiffness

Using our custom machine, it took us only 12.7N to bend the shoe to a 30-degree angle. This is noticeably less than the average trail shoe!

ASICS x Ronnie Fieg Gel-Lyte V Volcano Flexibility / Stiffness
Test results
Salomon talla 31.5 12.7N
Average 15.0N
Compared to 26 trail running shoes
footwear asics court slide gs 1044a007 techno cyan bio mint
3.2N
Flexibility <> Stiffness
23.6N

Stiffness in cold (%)

Thanks to its low-end longitudinal flexibility, it doesn't stiffen excessively in cold temperatures. In fact, after a 20-minute exposure to freezing conditions, it only required 32N to bend it to 90 degrees—nearly the same force needed to flex the average shoe at room temperature.

That said, the Salomon talla 31.5 does display a notable 59.3% increase in stiffness from its normal state at room temperature. We find this significant as it results in a firmer feel compared to other shoes, largely due to this substantial change.

Test results
Salomon talla 31.5 59%
Average 32%
Compared to 134 trail running shoes
footwear asics court slide gs 1044a007 techno cyan bio mint
3%
Stiffness in cold
90%

Weight

When we first held the shoe in our hands, we could tell it was far from being feather-light. Our suspicion was confirmed upon placing it on our scale—the Salomon talla 31.5 tipped the scales at a substantial 11.1 oz (314g), hurdling over the famous 10-ounce barrier.

Test results
Salomon talla 31.5 11.08 oz (314g)
Average 10.23 oz (290g)
Compared to 137 trail running shoes
footwear asics court slide gs 1044a007 techno cyan bio mint
7.51 oz (213g)
Weight
12.66 oz (359g)

Breathability

Breathability is a major concern for many trail runners, since it's difficult to come across trail shoes with a well-ventilated upper. We performed our jaw-dropping smoke test, and we were astounded by how fantastic this shoe performs in this aspect.

Asics Damenschuhe Running!

It performs admirably due to its mesh upper. The mesh is sufficiently dense to prevent light from passing through—as seen in the video below—yet it's thin enough to allow for proper airflow. It's a winning combination.

However, how can we determine why it breathes so well? We conducted a examination of the Salomon talla 31.5 under our microscope.

asics gel lyte evo blackred 9 microscope

It is the aforementioned thin mesh that takes credit for the impressive 4/5 in the breathability test.

asics gel lyte evo blackred 9

Test results
Salomon talla 31.5 4
Average 3.2
Compared to 113 trail running shoes
footwear asics court slide gs 1044a007 techno cyan bio mint
1
Breathability
5

Durability

Toebox durability

The Salomon talla 31.5 took a serious hit in our lab tests, scoring an unfortunate 1 out of 5, the lowest score possible. We had braced ourselves for a low score, anticipating it even before the Dremel test, due to the shoe's thin mesh. However, the result still left us truly disappointed.  

asics gel lyte evo blackred 9 dremel comparison
asics gel lyte evo blackred 9 (left) - Hoka Challenger 7 (right)

We subjected both shoes to the same test (3.2N @ 10K RPM), and the results were clear as day.

Test results
Salomon talla 31.5 1
Average 3.1
Compared to 94 trail running shoes
footwear asics court slide gs 1044a007 techno cyan bio mint
1
Toebox durability
5

Wo kann ich den ASICS GL III Daruma Doll Red kaufen

Sometimes, a shoe surprises us with stellar scores in the toebox area, only to underperform in the heel. Or the other way around. Unfortunately, we didn't encounter such luck this time. After conducting our Dremel test on the heel, we handed out a below-average score of 2 out of 5 to the Salomon talla 31.5.

Test results
Salomon talla 31.5 2
Average 2.9
Compared to 93 trail running shoes
footwear asics court slide gs 1044a007 techno cyan bio mint
1
Wo kann ich den ASICS GL III Daruma Doll Red kaufen
5

Outsole hardness

As a budget-friendly trail shoe, we anticipated an average score when we used our durometer to test the softness of the outsole. That's exactly what we got: 84.5 HC.

asics gel lyte evo blackred 9 outsole

This outsole should easily extend beyond 700 miles, provided that you don't subject it to too many road runs, of course.

asics gel lyte evo blackred 9 Outsole hardness
Test results
Salomon talla 31.5 84.5 HC
Average 85.7 HC
We use an average of four tests. The photo shows one of those tests.
Compared to 137 trail running shoes
footwear asics court slide gs 1044a007 techno cyan bio mint
75.5 HC
Outsole hardness
96.1 HC

Outsole thickness

The outsole boasts an average thickness. With a robust 2.5 mm—a little behind the average—of rubber beneath the lugs, it's more than capable of assuring an adequate lifespan.

asics gel lyte evo blackred 9 Outsole thickness
Test results
Salomon talla 31.5 2.5 mm
Average 2.3 mm
Compared to 137 trail running shoes
footwear asics court slide gs 1044a007 techno cyan bio mint
0.9 mm
Outsole thickness
5.5 mm

Misc

Lug depth

We enjoyed the versatility of the Salomon talla 31.5 during both runs and hikes. This is partly due to its below-average-sized lugs—measuring just 3 mm.

asics gel lyte evo blackred 9

These lugs are perfect for quick hikes and a wide range of running speeds. However, we noticed the performance getting worse on more challenging terrain. It's clear that no shoe can excel in every scenario!

asics gel lyte evo blackred 9 Lug depth
Test results
Salomon talla 31.5 3.0 mm
Average 3.5 mm
Compared to 136 trail running shoes
footwear asics court slide gs 1044a007 techno cyan bio mint
1.5 mm
Lug depth
5.8 mm

Comfort

The Salomon talla 31.5 offers suitable padding, particularly in the heel area, providing substantial comfort. The only drawback we've noticed in our examination—which is common in trail shoes—is that the mesh can feel a bit rough.

Tongue padding

Recently, we've noticed a trend of super-thick tongues on trail running shoes, like in the ASICS Gel-Lyte V Birch Beige. In most cases, this trend proves more of a downside, leading to uncomfortably snug fits and added weight. However, the Japan-based brand has navigated this issue, featuring a comfortable yet light 5-mm tongue. Kudos, ASICS!

asics gel lyte evo blackred 9 Tongue padding
Test results
Salomon talla 31.5 5.0 mm
Average 6.3 mm
Compared to 137 trail running shoes
footwear asics court slide gs 1044a007 techno cyan bio mint
1.3 mm
Tongue padding
12.3 mm

Tênis ASICS Fuzeblast SE Masculino Cinza

A common shortfall of budget trail shoes is their lack of a gusseted tongue. Could ASICS have added one? Definitely, but no chance they do that. They need to distinguish budget shoes from high-end ones, and leaving out this feature is a really easy way to do it. 

So, predictably, there's no gusset in the Salomon talla 31.5, opening the door for debris, dust, and small rocks to easily get inside the shoe.

asics gel lyte evo blackred 9 Tênis ASICS Fuzeblast SE Masculino Cinza
Test results
Salomon talla 31.5 None

Removable insole

In the Salomon talla 31.5, we were able to switch out the insole for a thicker and thinner one. Swapping your own orthotics is also a possibility.

Test results
Salomon talla 31.5 Yes