The Asics Noosa Tri 14 is a simple, no-nonsense, tried and true, efficient runner with everything that you need for peppy, fun, speedy runs.
OVERALL RANKING: 9.5
PROS: The Noosa is a simple, no-nonsense, tried and true, efficient runner with everything that you need for peppy, fun, speedy runs. The fit is excellent and the comfort is superior for such a lightweight trainer/racer. It is conventional in fit and construction. I felt fast and very efficient in the Noosa.
CONS: The color splashes, though eye-catching, are truly overdone for most people. You have to have a lot of self-confidence running in this shoe. Bring another shoe if you are stopping for coffee or shopping after the run. The outsole grip on wet surfaces is not the best so slow down a skootch on sharp turns during that competitive 5k.
OVERALL IMPRESSION: I love running in the Noosa Tri 14. It is very nimble and light and gives you plenty of road feel. I would buy it, not for the technicolor upper and midsole, but for its run dynamics, efficiency and road feel. I feel this shoe can hold its own in all race distance categories. My run paces were always good in this shoe. This is a very serious lightweight trainer that can get it done well on fast or race days.
FIT: The Noosa fit my foot better than any other shoe in this season’s wear test group. It was surprisingly good in fact. It has plenty of room in the toe box, tapers nicely to the midfoot for a snug but comfortable fit. The tongue is long enough to rest nicely on the leg and allows for a nice tug loop to affect a smooth placement under the laces. The curled-out heel collar is nicely padded but not overly so, making it an easy shoe to get on and take off, something important in triathlons. The upper mesh is generously vented for obvious reasons but it gives the shoe adequate breathability even if you are not swimming or biking, just running.
RIDE: The Noosa has a very mild rocker base which is definitely not overdone, as it does just enough to promote an efficient forward pivot after landing. The landings and rollouts really felt smooth and nice. I was surprised at the cushion I felt in spite of this shoe’s very lightweight (size 12 weighs in at 9.0 oz). This is definitely a fun shoe to run in. It felt great on the run and I especially appreciated the midsole rise in the arch area that gave it good arch support and some lateral stability.
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