Asics Noosa Tri 15 Introduction
The ASICS Noosa Tri 15 is one of ASICS’ well-known models. It’s named after the beach in Australia that triathletes use for training and racing. It has always been known as a triathlon racing shoe and will always offer those easy-to-slip-on features like the heel or tongue pull tab.
I am not a triathlete but I do appreciate the effortless effort I need to put forth to get these shoes on. I have been enjoying just slipping my feet into them with no hands and then lacing them up.
You’ll love how lightweight they feel coming in at 6.9oz for women and 7.9 oz for men. And having a 5mm heel drop makes this neutral running shoe a very stable one.
They will cost you $130 for this updated version. Is that an ok price? I’d say it’s very reasonable considering the quality of the shoe and the new technology it features.
Speaking of the technology this shoe has to offer, you’ll get FF BLAST™ cushioning, GUIDESOLE® technology, AHARPLUS™ outsole, and a seamless engineered mesh upper.
A similar shoe in the same family is the ASICS Evo Ride 3’s or the Glide Ride 3’s. Both are part of the Guidesole series.
Outside the family, you could compare them to the Hoka Rincon 3’s.
Asics Noosa Tri 15 First Impressions
My first impression when opening the box was “Whoa.” The eye-catching colors are very loud and vibrant. I love that about them. I’ve been wearing a lot of neutral-colored running shoes and these have been a good change-up. Just looking at them gives you more energy.
I bought the Aquarium/Vibrant Yellow color but they come in 5 other crazy color patterns that are all equally bright. My colorway is said to be inspired by Van Gogh’s paintings. Which I thought was a cool little tidbit.
Trying them on for the first time, I noticed right away the tongue and how easy they were to slip my feet into them.
They fit true to size with no break-in period needed. They have a very comfortable feel but still had a slightly firm one. I enjoy a tad stiffer shoes when using them for running at a faster pace.
My first run in them was a moderately paced 10k run and it went by so quickly wearing the Noosas. It is such a fun shoe to wear. They have been my go-to shoe in summer and I have been recommending them to a lot of people.
I didn’t personally test out the previous model but they look very similar.
Others have said they feel almost the same. So if you’re looking to try a pair of Noosas out you could try the Noosa Tri 14s and save some money.
Asics Noosa Tri 15 Upper
The upper is where your eye is drawn when first taking a look at the shoes. The beautiful colors are tied into the fantastic engineered mesh upper. This mesh upper is breathable and form-fitting. When placing your foot into the shoes you notice right away plush support that keeps your foot nicely in place.
I have been wearing it during some hot weeks here where I live and it has been my go-to choice because of how breathable it is. The upper also has been wet and dried out very quickly.
ASICS’, like most companies, has joined in the recycling game and the sock liner is made from a dyeing process that is said to “reduce approximately 33% and carbon emissions by approximately 45% compared to the conventional dyeing technology.”
Taking a look at the tongue, you will see that it’s fairly thin with no extra padding. On the front of the tongue, you’ll see the large pull tab. The lacing system is standard and as long as you double-knot them, you will have no problem with them coming undone.
The heel counter is built up and stiff. It hugs your heel and gives you a locked-in fit. I love this about the shoe, this is one of the main areas that allows you to slip your feet into the shoes with ease.
Asics Noosa Tri 15 Sole Unit
The midsole is packed with ASICS’ signature innovative technology. They have FLYTEFOAM placed all along the sole of the shoe. For this updated model, they have increased the amount of FLYTEFOAM to give more cushioning in the midsole to help absorb the impact to give your feet a more cushioned ride. I think it was an additional 1mm of foam to achieve this.
ASICS is also known for its GUIDESOLE technology. It’s designed to make the sole of the shoe curve so that it helps to make that toe-off transition quick and flawless. The GUIDESOLE is also said to help with reducing energy expelled by reducing ankle flexion.
They have updated the midsole with a full-length FFBlast cushioning unit. With this, it has created a lighter impact absorption under the foot.
Looking at the outsole, you will see their signature AHARPLUS that helps to improve durability. The outsole performs very well on dry flat surfaces.
When I took them out in the rain or wet surfaces, they were extremely slippery. I had to make sure I wasn’t pushing off too hard in those types of conditions because my feet would slide out from under me.
You will notice how connected your feet feel to the ground due to ASICS’s full-contact design, which was developed to create “a more smoother and efficient ride.”
Asics Noosa Tri 15 Conclusions
ASICS’s NOOSA Tri has been around for several years. It was first created for triathletes but also is a solid shoe for the neutral runner. It’s a well-made shoe that is ideal for smooth running.
The lightweight feel they give allows you to not sacrifice speed when training or competing in a triathlon.
I loved this shoe and I favorably suggest adding a pair to your rotation to spice things up!