This featherweight will make your last pair of trail runners feel like ankle weights, but its stability let us sprint down Boulder’s ankle-eating Mount Sanitas Trail without limping home. Add grippy, multidirectional lugs and snug ankle collars for grit defense and the Attack makes a good choice for fanatics who see a trail where others turn around. ASICS’s trademark gel inserts cushion impact both fore and aft, and a flexible Nylex plate provides underfoot protection without impeding your stride.
Bonus: The integrated tongue produced no folds or ridges when we snugged laces for steep descents.
Bummer: Cushioning is thin; avoid roads and epic runs. 11 oz; www.asicsamerica.com