ASICS Noosa Tri 16 review

After extensive testing in the lab, we recommend the Noosa Tri 16 for:

• Runners who love vibrant styles, as it maintains the signature bold look at an amazing price point.
• Those in search of a super-lightweight yet cushioned daily trainer, perfect for balancing comfort with performance.
• Forefoot and midfoot strikers looking for a versatile shoe that does a great job during easy runs and speed workouts alike.

While the Noosa Tri 16 shines in many areas, it may not be the ideal choice for heel strikers concerned with outsole durability due to its substantial amount of exposed midsole. For these runners, we recommend considering the Hoka Mach 6 as a more durable alternative that better suits their needs.

Additionally, we discovered that the low volume of the Noosa Tri 16's toebox could be problematic for some. Fortunately, for those who find it too cramped, there are excellent alternatives like the ASICS Novablast 4 or the Saucony Endorphin Speed 4.

As shoes continue to grow in size each year, we're grateful that the Noosa Tri 16 still offers a classic feel underfoot with its 32.8 mm heel stack. It strikes the perfect balance between staying close to the ground and providing ample impact protection for short to medium distance runs.

We're hopeful that future versions of the Noosa will continue to deliver this same running experience.

The forefoot of the Noosa Tri series enjoys a moderate drop, featuring an impressive 26.9 mm of cushioning in the front—more than many daily trainers. This makes the NT16 an excellent option for those looking for a super-lightweight, well-cushioned forefoot without the bulk.

One standout feature of the Noosa Tri series is its medium drop geometry, which ASICS advertises as having a 5 mm offset.

We measured it at 5.9 mm, and with such a minor difference—less than 1 mm—we found no issues at all. For us, it remains a mid-drop shoe, performing exceptionally well for both forefoot and midfoot strikers.

Unsurprisingly, the EVA insole of the NT16 sports a typical thickness of 4.4 mm. It doesn’t introduce anything out of the ordinary, which, in this case, is a positive thing for us.

Last year, while we were pleased with the FF Blast in the Tri 15, we felt it could improve.

With the Noosa Tri 16, along with a reasonable $5 price increase, we've welcomed a significant upgrade—the full-length FF Blast+ foam. This new formulation, despite the simple addition of a "+", offers much greater resilience, enhancing energy return significantly.

Although the FF Blast+ feels really similar to its predecessor, achieving a Shore A durometer score of 18.3 HA, the improved responsiveness marks a positive step forward.

Switching from FF Blast to FF Blast+ has notably enhanced the midsole's performance in cold temperatures too. Previously at a respectable 21% in this 20-minute freezer test, the improvement to an outstanding 6.8% represents a dramatic boost in cold-weather versatility.

Another standout feature of the Noosa Tri series is its classic ride, enhanced by a subtle rocker that aids in transitions without being overly dramatic. Nonetheless, we noticed a slight increase in the rocker at the forefoot compared to last year's model, which definitely improves performance at easy paces.

Right from the start, we slipped into the Noosa Tri 16 and noticed it felt more spacious than its predecessor, the Noosa Tri 15. Our initial tests confirmed this, as we measured the width with digital calipers and recorded a max width of 100.2 mm—2.4 mm wider than the previous version.

Most runners will appreciate this increased space, although those with narrower feet might still prefer the fit of the version 15.

The big toe area in the new model is less tapered and more rounded compared to previous versions. Our second measurement confirmed this change, showing a width of 79.8 mm, which is wider than the 77.9 mm we recorded last year.

However, it's important to note that while the toe area is wider, it remains somewhat tight in volume. This isn't usually a problem for most runners and could be great for speed training, but those who usually experience pressure on their toes might find the v16 a bit uncomfortable.

At first glance, the Noosa Tri 16 appears strictly designed for neutral runners, seemingly unsuitable for those needing even a tiny bit of stability. However, it holds a few unexpected features.

Among these surprises is the 3D Guidance System, which incorporates supportive elements such as midsole sidewalls and sole flare throughout the shoe. This technology, though slightly less pronounced, is the same one used in one of the best mild-stability shoes—the ASICS GT 2000 12.

The enhanced stability of the Noosa Tri series partly stems from its high torsional rigidity, which might surprise newcomers—especially since it doesn't include a carbon plate.

However, this feature is no surprise to us here in the lab. We rated the Tri 15 the highest with a 5-out-of-5 for rigidity, and this latest model has achieved a solid 4/5. In our view, this adjustment is actually a welcome improvement.

The heel counter is similar to that of a typical daily trainer, providing a balance of comfort and support that we found quite satisfactory, earning a rating of 3/5. We were particularly pleased with it, especially since it allowed zero heel slippage in our runs.

It's also worth noting that ASICS has redesigned the Noosa Tri 15's flared Achilles area, which some runners found excessive. The new design makes more sense to us.

Throughout this lab review, we've highlighted how nimble and lightweight this shoe feels, a sensation largely due to ASICS maintaining moderate midsole dimensions rather than overextending them.

We discovered a width of 114.9 mm at the broadest point of the forefoot, comparable to that of most daily trainers. In our view, this measurement reaffirms the Tri's balanced design.

Similarly, in the heel area, our digital caliper measured 88.6 mm. This dimension positions the shoe comfortably in the middle of the spectrum—not the best choice for those requiring significant support, but wide enough to serve neutral runners exceptionally well.

ASICS has chosen not to include a plate in the Noosa Tri series, a decision we fully support. In a market flooded with shoes that offer a stiffer ride, it's refreshing to have options that provide a more natural, traditional feel.

In our lab, the Noosa Tri 16 exhibited a flexibility score of 20.7N in our 90-degree bend test—placing it on the more flexible end of the spectrum. This flexibility makes it an excellent choice for easy runs and even for walking!

After chilling the Noosa Tri 16 in the freezer for 20 minutes, our subsequent 90-degree bend test showed only a 15.4% increase in stiffness. This result is certainly encouraging, eliminating one less concern for us.

Weighing in at just 7.7 oz or 217g, the Noosa Tri 16 continues to be one of the lightest speed training shoes available.

We absolutely love its nimble and responsive feel underfoot. This characteristic has become a hallmark of the series, and we sincerely hope ASICS maintains this feature for years to come, even as the trend keeps moving towards bulkier shoes.

The vibrant Noosa Tri 16 not only grabs attention with its bold design but also stands out for its exceptional ventilation, particularly in the toebox area, as demonstrated by our tests with a smoke-pumping machine.

It earned a perfect score of 5-out-of-5 for its exceptional breathability, prompting us to delve deeper into its unique features.

We discovered with our light that ASICS meticulously crafted the toebox to maximize airflow, while reinforcing the sides and heel to prevent lateral collapse and enhance support. 

Our examination under the microscope revealed the use of a lightweight engineered mesh, primarily focused on ventilation—an essential feature for triathletes who often compete without socks.

We found that the shoe performs really well for sockless running, though the semi-gusseted tongue's seam might be noticeable for those sensitive to such details.

And whether with thin or thick socks, the shoe delivers exceptional comfort. We were particularly impressed with the heel padding—one of the most comfortable we've ever encountered in any running shoe, regardless of price.

As we all know from life, every action has its consequences, and unfortunately, we uncovered a significant trade-off with the Noosa's upper. 

In our standardized test where we use a Dremel on the toebox we observed that it deteriorated remarkably quickly, earning a dismal score of just 1 out of 5.

The heel delivers some encouraging news. In our back-to-back Dremel test, we were really impressed with the durability it demonstrated.

Upon completing the test, we found that the heel padding performed exceptionally well, clearly surpassing the average shoe and earning a strong rating of 4 out of 5.

Turning our attention to the outsole, we have some exciting updates. ASICS has incorporated its ASICSGRIP rubber—a highly effective, super-grippy material also used in the Metaspeed series and the exceptional Superblast 2. Previously, it used AHAR rubber, which wasn't top-tier by any means.

However, we encountered a slight concern. While the new outsole design offers excellent grip from heel to toe, our tests revealed a hardness of only 70.5 HC, raising some questions about its long-term durability.

It was time to either confirm or alleviate our concerns by using our Dremel for the third and final test in this lab review.

Fortunately, the results were impressive for such soft rubber. With only a minimal indentation of just 1.0 mm, we are confident that although the Noosa Tri 16 isn’t the most rugged speed trainer on the market, it will last enough.

To wrap up our assessment of the outsole, we conducted one final precise measurement of its thickness. At 2.3 mm, we believe ASICS made a wise decision—thin enough to ensure speed and agility, yet thick enough to offer lasting durability.

We found that ASICS chose not to include reflective elements in the Noosa Tri 16. We believe that the lack of high-visibility features can be excused this time, given the shoe's affordable price. Additionally, most triathlon runs typically occurs during daylight hours.

Throughout this lab review, we observed that the Noosa Tri 16 prioritizes being as lightweight as possible, with ASICS focusing heavily on this feature—including the tongue design.

We discovered that the tongue is exceptionally thin, measuring just 1.2 mm in thickness and completely lacking padding. Therefore, we believe it's only suitable for runners who are not susceptible to lace bite.

The heel of the NT16 features a superb finger-loop heel tab. Unlike other running shoes, ASICS excelled in determining the perfect size and placement of this tab. Additionally, they've sewed it exceptionally well to ensure durability and prevent breaking it after some months of use.

Finding a semi-gusseted tongue in a $135 shoe is quite uncommon, so we were thrilled to discover this feature in the Noosa Tri 16. It offers an excellent lockdown, which is especially beneficial given the Tri's broad upper.

In our lab, we successfully removed the insole and tested the Noosa Tri 16 with various other footbeds. We found that switching them out was straightforward, ensuring that users won't encounter issues with aftermarket options.