ASICS Gel Excite Trail 2 review

We really enjoyed testing the Gel Excite Trail 2 and believe it’s a compelling option for:

• Trail runners on a budget seeking a cushioned, versatile shoe for hiking and running.
• Beginners tackling exclusively easy terrain, as they will find this a versatile and affordable entry point to trail running.
• Those who want the reliability and comfort of a daily road trainer, but with trail-ready enhancements.

Serious trail runners, in our opinion, should avoid the Gel Excite Trail 2. We think it’s best suited for beginners or casual users tackling easy terrain. For a better-performing alternative, we recommend the Merrell Nova 3. While slightly pricier, it offers a Vibram outsole for better grip and is purpose-built for the trails.

We also believe durability-conscious runners should pass on the Gel Excite Trail 2 despite its budget-friendly appeal. Instead, we suggest the Nike Pegasus Trail 5, which offers enhanced longevity and versatility. Although it comes with a higher price tag, its bouncy ReactX midsole and more durable construction can make it a better investment.

The Gel Excite Trail 2 it's just a rugged version of the popular Gel Excite 10, so it didn’t surprise us to discover a generously cushioned heel. In our tests, we measured 37.7 mm, slightly more than the road model’s 35.2 mm, thanks to the trail-specific lugs.

In fact, we found the midsole to be identical to its road counterpart. For runners with a pronounced heel-striking technique seeking great joint and muscle protection, this shoe simply offers an outstanding price-to-cushioning ratio.

The forefoot is also impressively cushioned at 27.6 mm, making it a good choice for those seeking a protective ride. However, for trail runners craving a grounded and feedback-rich feel, this shoe offers quite the opposite experience.

We measured a 10.1-mm heel-to-toe drop, slightly higher than the stated 8 mm, making the shoe even more better for beginners and heel strikers. Advanced trail runners often prefer lower-offset options like the Hoka Speedgoat 6.

For a midsole to function effectively as a cushioning system, it needs more than thickness—it requires at least decent-quality foam. Sporting a low MSRP, that’s not always guaranteed, but ASICS delivers here with Amplifoam+.

We found that ASICS retained the same compound from its road counterpart, an EVA-based material offering a balanced underfoot experience. It felt neither overly soft nor excessively firm. Our durometer test confirmed this with a measured hardness of 22.9 HA.

We placed the Gel Excite Trail 2 in the freezer for twenty minutes and then measured its midsole softness again. After freezing, it got 28.9% firmer, indicating that this shoe feels pretty similar in cold conditions.

The Ortholite insole included with this shoe provides an extra layer of cushioning at 5.3 mm—thicker than what we typically encounter.

After many years, the bulky GEL piece in the heel of this series has been removed from most ASICS running shoes. In its place, we discovered a really small greenish GEL piece tucked in the heel beneath the insole.

This piece is different (and cheaper) from the next-gen PureGEL found in shoes like the ASICS GT 2000 13. While it’s meant to enhance cushioning, we think this subtle addition is here just to keep the GEL name alive, as it’s barely noticeable during runs.

The Gel Excite Trail 2 features a more pronounced rocker compared to most trail shoes, and there are two solid reasons for this. First, as we’ve mentioned, it’s based on a road shoe design, retaining the same midsole. Second, its substantial midsole benefits from the added rocker.

We’ve already mentioned that this shoe is essentially a rugged Gel Excite 10, which means the upper was designed using the same last. There’s no specialized trail version offering extra room or a reimagined design for off-road use.

Since the road version serves as a daily trainer, we believe the fit will accommodate most runners comfortably. At 98.8 mm in the widest part of the toebox, this measurement is a very average width that fits most foot shapes. Additionally, the vertical volume is adequate—providing enough space without feeling overly generous or restrictive.

Our second measurement of the upper came in at 76.9 mm, which is slightly more tapered than we’d hoped and could present challenges for runners with wide feet. And unfortunately, a wide version isn’t available.

The Gel Excite Trail 2 is better suited for neutral runners despite its broad dimensions. In our view, its high stack height and absence of stability-focused elements make it evident, and our testing confirmed this.

If you're looking for an ASICS trail shoe with top stability, check the ASICS Gel Trabuco 12.

After twisting the shoe, we assigned it a 4/5 score for torsional rigidity. While this might seem high, it’s quite normal for trail running shoes, thanks to the added thickness from the rugged outsole.

On the other hand, the steel-like heel counter of the Gel Excite Trail 2 is anything but average—earning a 5/5 in our testing. It adds a sense of stability and security but sacrifices comfort, as it can feel overly firm and intrusive.

The width of the Gel Excite Trail 2 is substantial and caters to runners who don’t mind a larger shoe. At 118.8 mm, this width helps counterbalance the towering stack height and stabilizes the ride on easy trails.

In our view, this isn’t a drawback, as the shoe can't handle technical trails anyway—where a bulkier design would be a disadvantage—making its wider platform a practical choice for its intended use.

We found the same generously broad heel design, measuring 92.6 mm—noticeably wider than most trail shoes. In our experience, this extra width, paired with the firm heel counter, offers mild stability support but performs best on flat, easy surfaces.

A trail shoe needs solid longitudinal flexibility for hiking and all-day use, and this one delivers. In our 90-degree challenge, it scored just 17.4N—offering a flexible feeling ideal for long hikes.

In our view, the weight of the Gel Excite Trail 2 is a pleasant surprise. ASICS managed to keep it at 10.3 oz or 292g—close to the average for trail shoes—while incorporating more cushioning than most. This was achieved by reducing rubber coverage and exposing more midsole, a trade-off that sacrifices durability for weight savings.

We found that the updated outsole with 4-mm lugs and the rugged upper added only 0.8 oz or 24g compared to the Gel Excite 10, which weighs 9.5 oz or 268g. From our perspective, this increase feels quite reasonable.

Being based on a road shoe, we expected solid breathability, but the Gel Excite Trail 2 landed with a balanced 3/5 score for ventilation. While not exceptional, this design ensures enough airflow for comfort during warm days while remaining cozy for winter runs, making it a versatile, all-season option.

Using a LED light, we discovered that airflow is limited to the toebox, which enhances durability and stability in other areas of the shoe. However, this focus means that runners prone to blisters or hotspots in the middle or back of the feet might encounter issues, so it’s worth noting.

We then examined the Gel Excite Trail 2 under our microscope to see how its engineered mesh compared to the Gel Excite 10. The trail version features fewer openings for airflow, which makes sense given its added durability demands.

The upper is impressively reinforced with durable TPU layers and overlays, creating a protective yet comfortable structure. These additions should significantly reduce wear and tear, even with heavy use, while maintaining sufficient padding for longer runs.

We consider that the toebox remains the most vulnerable spot in terms of durability, but for the price of this shoe, we’re genuinely impressed. The combination of comfort-driven features and robust materials on this upper delivers excellent value.

The light test we conducted hinted at durability concerns—this was evident from the start. However, in our view, we expected more resilience than what translated into a disappointing 1 out of 5 score.

By the way, the white plastic piece visible after the hole is made is part of our testing setup, not the shoe itself. It ensures the upper stays in place, allowing consistent testing across all shoes.

The previous test raised some concerns, although we found the toecap reinforcements robust enough to handle most trail-related damage. However, the heel padding also scored a disappointing 1 out of 5, which left us worried. Runners who typically experience wear in this area should definitely consider other options.

One of the compromises for achieving such a low price point is ASICS replacing their advanced ASICSGRIP compound, commonly found in pricier trail shoes like the ASICS Trabuco Max 3, with a simpler rubber. This trade-off reduces traction slightly but maintains decent grip—and we must say that's impressive for this price range.

In terms of hardness, we measured the rubber at 86.4 HC, which aligns with the average for trail shoes. While it lacks the grippy, claws-like feel of higher-end outsoles, we found it sufficiently durable and reliable for casual trails.

In our durability test using the Dremel, the rubber showed significant wear, leaving a 1.8 mm mark—nearly double the average result we usually observe. This raised concerns about its resilience on harder surfaces.

We also believe that running more than one or two miles at a time on roads with this shoe is a very bad idea, as the rubber would wear out rapidly. However, we think it should hold up reasonably well on softer terrain, where abrasion is less of a concern.

The outsole thickness measured just 1.5 mm, falling below the average—a result we anticipated given the minimal weight increase from its road-running counterpart.

The outsole of the Gel Excite Trail 2 incorporates 4.0-mm lugs that perform reliably on easy, non-technical trails. In our experience, these moderately deep lugs offer good grip, especially for routes with light debris or compact terrain.

However, we discovered that the outsole design leaves much of the midsole exposed, significantly limiting its effectiveness on moderate trails. The lack of extensive rubber coverage makes the shoe less suitable for environments requiring added protection, confining its best use to simpler, less demanding paths.

All in all, with somewhat-deep 4.0-mm lugs that lack durability, it’s clear ASICS didn’t intend this shoe to be a door-to-trail option, reserving that role for their “TR” versions of road shoes. However, the outsole design leans more toward a hybrid model than a true trail shoe, leaving us somewhat puzzled.

One trend we’ve consistently observed is that trail-running versions of daily trainers often see a price hike of $10–$20. However, the Gel Excite Trail 2 defies this pattern, retaining the same budget-friendly price as the Gel Excite 10.

That's awesome, and in our opinion, makes it one of the most value-packed trail shoes we’ve tested in quite some time.

We couldn’t spot any reflective elements on the Gel Excite Trail 2 under our lights, missing an opportunity to enhance safety for low-light hikes and runs. Definitely an area with room for improvement!

The tongue features a well-balanced design that effectively combines comfort and weight reduction. Measuring 5.9 mm thick, we believe it provides sufficient padding to ensure comfort during extended adventures on the trails.

The tongue is not gusseted, and in our view, that’s a significant drawback for any trail shoe. Without this feature, debris and dust can freely infiltrate, compromising comfort and potentially causing irritation on rugged trails.

It’s uncommon to find a trail shoe without a heel tab these days, as it enhances both practicality and style. And while we were happy to discover that the Excite Trail 2 includes one, we felt its design could be sturdier and has room for improvement. It just feels cheap.

It’s no secret that the insole is made by Ortholite—their logo sits right beside ASICS’. If this thick insole isn’t your preference, we discovered that swapping it out takes just 20 seconds!