Tom Evans Finds His New Trail Team

We've got breaking news and lots to talk about with one of the best trail runners in the game.

When it comes to sports, there are a few sacred moments that turn us into screen-bound fanatics—the start of the season when hope springs eternal and every team looks like a contender, the playoffs when dreams teeter on the edge of glory, and the glorious chaos of free agency. This is when the drama unfolds, alliances are tested, and social media goes into meltdown. Remember LeBron’s theatrical “The Decision”? Tom Brady casually swapping New England for sunny Tampa and adding another ring to his collection? Or Shohei Ohtani breaking the bank with a contract so massive it made Monopoly money look cheap? Those moments didn’t just shake the sports world; they defined eras.

Now, it’s trail running’s turn to step into the spotlight. That’s right, even a sport built on mud, mountains, and solitude isn’t immune to headline-grabbing drama. Enter Tom Evans, the reigning king of the trails and the most sought-after free agent in the ultra world. With rumors swirling about his next move, the entire trail community is glued to the edge of their camp chairs. Will he shake up the sport in a way no one saw coming? Will his decision spawn memes that clog Instagram feeds for weeks? Whatever happens, one thing is clear—trail running just got its very own free agency frenzy.

So, Sir Tom Evans…where are you going?

Toms Evans Goes to Team…

Anima Sana In Corpore Sano - “a sound mind in a sound body”

Tom Evans is going to ASICS — and it’s a huge deal. Before we get into that, let’s recap how this all unfolded.

If you’ve been living under a rock, Tom Evans, one of the most prolific and high-profiled elite ultra runners of the generation has found numerous podiums and success in the recent years. Finishing 1st place at the 2023 Western States in Auburn, CA, a phenomenal performance at the 2022 UTMB Mont-Blanc with a 3rd place finish, and many other podium finishes in the ultra world, Tom’s accolades are nothing to dare question. He’s even committed to returning to UTMB every year until he wins — which we are here and ready to witness.

For the past 6 years, Tom ran with Adidas Terrex and even had a shoe built around him, which he wore in his winning Western States performance — the Adidas Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra.

Photo courtesy of Adidas Terrex

It was announced on December 28, 2024 that Tom would be leaving team Terrex to begin on a new journey. For 3 weeks, we’ve been left to ponder and guess as to Tom’s new team.

Well, now we know. ASICS has just signed their new superstar, the face of ASICS Trail.

Our Best Guesses:

Whether you listen to the Freetrail podcast, scour the interweb for any recent news, or devour reddit threads upon threads, it’s safe to say that when Tom announced he was headed somewhere new, everyone had their best educated guesses of where that might be.

Cody and Ryan had a little chat about their thoughts and best guesses for Tom’s new trail family:

Ryan: If I was a betting man, I would have put Tom on team North Face or On, maybe Norda. All seem to be building their profiles and teams, with some new exciting products to launch in 2025. On and TNF being the ones to have the $$ for a high-profile athlete like Tom. I had a small idea that it could be Norda’s year to add someone like Tom into the mix with Jason Schlarb and some of the other amazing Norda athletes.

Cody: When Tom announced he was leaving adidas, I was convinced he’d be heading to Nike. Not because I had some secret insider info—let’s be honest, my closest connection to Tom is watching his Instagram stories—but because his road and trail dreams just screamed "swoosh life." Plus, jumping from one top-tier brand to another seemed like the kind of move that would make sense. It just felt like the stars (and the Vaporflys) were aligning.

ASICS was not in the cards for either of us, so it came as a bit of a shock. However, once the news settled with us, it started to paint an exciting picture of what’s next.

ASICS Trail Shoes: What’s Next in 2025?:

With one of the biggest names in trail running, Tom Evans, now signed with ASICS, the brand’s trail running shoe development is set to hit new heights. The partnership signals ASICS’ commitment to dominating the trails, and 2025 is shaping up to be a banner year for their trail lineup.

Fans can expect innovations inspired by athletes like Tom, bringing a combination of durability, performance, and comfort to rugged terrain. ASICS' recent hits, like the Fuji Lite and Trabuco series, have already shown the brand’s ability to deliver on the trails. Now, with Tom’s insight and experience, we could see groundbreaking updates to grip technology, cushioning, and even ultra-distance-ready models.

Whether you're tackling technical ascents, blazing through switchbacks, or aiming for that first ultra finish, ASICS is gearing up to provide trail shoes that meet every runner’s needs. If 2025 is just the beginning, it’s safe to say the future of ASICS trail running shoes looks as exciting as the sport itself.

The Trail Revolution:

What does it mean for the trail running world when a big brand like ASICS signs one of the best athletes in the game? Signing Tom Evans isn’t just another contract—it’s like planting a giant neon sign on the side of a mountain that says, “The trails are taking over!” A pro like Tom doesn’t hitch his wagon to a brand unless they’re fully committed, and this move screams, “We’re all in!” For the rest of us, it’s basically the bat signal for runners, lighting up the sky and saying, “Drop the road miles, grab your trail shoes, and get ready to eat dirt (in the best way possible).” If ASICS and Tom are betting big on the trails, maybe it’s time the rest of us did, too.

This shift makes even more sense when you look at ASICS' recent success. Their road running division has been a powerhouse for years, raking in revenue with bestsellers like the Gel-Kayano and Novablast. But the trails have been quietly gaining steam. ASICS' trail-specific line, including models like the Fuji Lite and Trabuco, has seen significant growth as more runners trade asphalt for adventure. By signing an athlete of Tom Evans’ caliber, ASICS isn’t just doubling down on trails—they’re betting on a booming market with untapped potential. It’s a savvy business move that shows the brand understands where the sport, and its revenue, is headed. The trails aren’t just the future of running—they’re the next big cash cow.

The Year Ahead:

While it may just be a new contract between an athlete and a shoe brand at the end of the day, it sure feels like something bigger for the trail scene.

The Tom and ASICS news sets a new precedent that trail runners and fans across the globe yearn for the level of hype and excitement behind this incredible growing sport.

In the year ahead, we expect big things. Big performances at the largest races in the world, new and exciting product releases with Tom being the driving force of performance, and so so much more.

Congratulations, Tom! Well deserved. We can’t wait to see how you continue to shock the world.

- Ryan & Cody