Legendary tri shoe returns better than ever
A fast, comfortable shoe triathletes have come to love
Any triathlete familiar with Asics will know the Japanese company’s Noosa tri shoe, and for a very good reason: year after year, iteration after iteration, it is continually one of the best triathlon shoes on the market. Asics recently released the Noosa Tri 14, and no one should be surprised to read that it is yet another tremendous, fast and comfortable shoe that any and all triathletes will love.
Maximum comfort
It’s clear that every Noosa Tri shoe has been designed with comfort in mind. Comfort is a must for all running shoes, but it’s especially important for triathletes, as many people race without socks. You hop off the bike, slip your shoes on and bolt out of T2, and you must trust that your shoes aren’t going to give you blisters. With some shoes, that could be a tossup. Even shoes you’ve worn without problems previously can sometimes surprise you with blisters on race day.
That’s never been a concern for Noosa Tri wearers, and that continues to be the case with the 14. This shoe has a sock-like fit that hugs your foot snugly and comfortably, reducing rubbing. That, paired with the shoe’s soft materials, makes for a blister-free run every time you take the shoes for a rip. The upper features an engineered mesh design that has improved breathability (on a shoe that was already super breathable in previous iterations), which means your feet will be happy whether you’re running a 5 km in 20-degree weather or a marathon in 30 C.
Adding to the shoe’s impressive comfort is the Noosa Tri 14’s midsole cushioning. The shoe comes with Asics’s FlyteFoam cushioning system, which has stellar impact absorption de-spite its extremely lightweight makeup. Thanks to the FlyteFoam tech, your feet and legs will take less of a beating after pounding the pavement, which will allow you to run faster for longer and take a shot at a PB and podium in your next race.
Top-tier speed
Of course, for a triathlon shoe to be a hit, it cannot just be comfortable, it has to be fast, too. That is certainly the case with the Noosa Tri 14, and it will help carry anyone who wears it to new speeds (just as its predecessors have done over the years).
First up in the speed department comes before you even take a step in the Noosa Tri 14s. The Asics team knows that triathletes can’t waste any time getting their shoes on, and so the Noosa Tri 14 is designed with convenient heel tabs for a quick slip on in T2. Next up is tightening your shoes before you take off on the run. While the Noosa Tri 14s come with regular laces, each pair has toggled laces, too, so you won’t lose any precious seconds as you attempt to tie your shoes on race day.
Now to the run itself, where the Asics design team continues to impress. The shoe’s out-sole has Asics’s super-durable Ahar Plus rubber, which makes for a smooth ride all run long. The 14s also feature the company’s Guidesole technology, which reduces ankle flection. This will help you save energy by keeping your form in check, which will not only allow you to run faster, but longer as well.
The verdict
Altogether, the team at Asics has yet another spectacular shoe on their hands. Any triathlete who tries this shoe will fall in love with it, and even if they are diehard fans of other brands, it’s likely to turn them into Noosa Tri supporters for life.-BS-M
