Salomon’s running history began in 2001, when it released its Raid Race trail shoe. With its combination of robust construction, comfort, and fit, it was a forward-thinking design for the time that brought some of the best features of hiking boots to a running shoe. Since then, the brand has continued to expand and earn the trust of pro and amateur trail runners alike, and the company now boasts a deep roster of shoes for all kinds of off- and on-road adventures.
Take a quick look at info on five of the best Salomon shoes from our testing, then scroll down for buying advice and more in-depth reviews of these and other models.
Firm and Fast
If you like a super plush and pillowy soft shoe, we’ll save you some time—look elsewhere. (Here’s a good place to start.) Across the board, Salomon shoes are firm, even when the company advertises them as “cushioned,” and they’re designed to give you a responsive ride with a good feel for the ground. The company has devised a few key technologies to achieve that without sacrificing comfort. The first is a dual-layer midsole called Optivibe. Optivibe is composed of JPAD (a dense, memory foam-esque EVA material) placed at the heel, and Infuse (a lightweight, bouncy EVA-and-Olefin-based foam that Salomon developed with Dow Chemical) placed along the bottom of the sole.
Salomon also uses an EVA-based foam called EnergyCell+ and Energy Save, a TPU insert, in its midsoles. The first is tuned to absorb shocks and bounce back quickly, while the latter adds more durability on touchdown, making it well suited for long-distance running. Salomon’s newest cushioning material, Infiniride, combines both those properties into a single foam. It debuted on the Predict 2 and the Index.01, a fully recyclable running shoe, in 2020. Made from thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) infused with nitrogen gas (if that formula sounds familiar, that’s because other brands have foams with similar chemistry), it helps give the Predict and Index slightly softer, cushier rides.
Another major technology is Salomon’s 3D chassis, a support feature that the company has used for over a decade. Originally, the chassis was made of plastic, though Salomon has transitioned to a dense foam in more recent models. It’s located between the midsole and the rubber outsole, and it’s designed to add rigidity and help the midsole cushioning keep its shape. For runners, the chassis creates support and stability, which is especially important when negotiating uncertain terrain.
Tight Laces, Tight Grip
Salomon has also made innovations on the uppers and outsoles of its shoes. Many of its models come with a Quicklace system, in which the laces tighten and loosen via an adjustable cinch. The slack end of the laces can then be stored in a small pouch on the tongue of the shoe. Quicklace keeps laces from getting caught on rocks or plants as you run, and it also allows you to fine-tune the fit more closely than with a traditional system. Paired with Sensifit, an upper design that uses “wings” connecting the sole to the lacing system, it creates a notably snug, comfortable fit.
Salomon shoes are renowned for their traction, and that’s largely thanks to the Contagrip outsole the company uses. A special rubber formulation that Salomon produces itself, it comes in a high-abrasion version for excellent durability, a softer compound for flexibility, and a third compound specifically for slick conditions. These compounds are mixed and matched to create outsoles for different conditions (harder trails vs. soft and muddy ones, for example), and together they create excellent grip across all kinds of terrain.
How We Chose These Shoes
The shoes below represent the top running shoes from Salomon for both road and trail. To select them, we gather feedback from our Runner’s World staff and team of 225 wear testers, which includes runners of all ages and speeds living across the U.S. We also analyze data from mechanical tests at our RW Shoe Lab, where we’ve checked and re-checked the energy return of EnergyCell+ foam, measured the softness of Optivibe midsoles, and assessed the stability of Salomon’s supportive 3D Chassis system. Where possible, we’ve linked to full reviews for a more in-depth look at an individual shoe’s performance.
—BEST FOR TRAIL RACING—
S/Lab Ultra 3
Designed with input from some of the world’s top ultrarunners, like François D’Haene, the S/Lab Ultra is Salomon’s top-tier trail running shoe. And it’s built for superb performance over long distances. The latest version comes with a bouncy EnergyCell+ midsole paired with a layer of durable Energy Save material for reliable cushioning through high mileage. An EVA sockliner and the tough, water-repellent upper create a snug, comfortable fit, and the Contagrip outsole generates excellent traction on rough terrain.
*Since this shoe is unisex, add 1 to the listed men’s size to get the women’s size. (Ex: A men’s 7 is a women’s 8.)
—LIGHTEST ROAD RACER—
S/Lab Phantasm
The S/Lab Phantasm received a lot of hype late in 2020 as Kilian Jornet attempted to break Yiannis Kouros’s ultra-stout 24-hour world record. It isn’t Salomon’s first road-racing shoe, but it is the brand’s most minimal. (Ultimately, Kilian missed the record, but you can’t fault the shoe.) The featherweight design gives you just enough material to keep the Phantasm stuck to your foot and go fast. One tester agreed that, even though there are lighter options out there, somehow this shoe feels like it weighs less. That design, however, makes the shoe better suited for shorter road races than marathons or ultras. The midsole is a thin slab of “Energy Surge” foam, which combines EVA with a copolymer compound that makes it bouncier and softer than EVA alone. Even so, the Phantasm has a pretty harsh, if smooth-rolling, ride.
*Since this shoe is unisex, add 1 to the listed men’s size to get the women’s size. (Ex: A men’s 7 is a women’s 8.) Additional stock and sizing will be available early June 2021.
—BEST DAILY ROAD TRAINER—
Predict 2
The Predict is part of Salomon’s road line, and it brings some impressive technology to the asphalt. The latest version comes upgraded with the company’s new Infiniride cushioning, which delivers a slightly softer landing than Salomon’s other road shoes, according to our testers. It’s paired with the same grooved midsole construction that made its predecessor, the Predict RA, flexible yet supportive without any traditional stability features. Rather than having medial posts or foams of different densities, the midsole uses firm outsole pillars with grooves aligned with the joints of your foot, so you get an exceptionally smooth, stable ride—ideal for training on the road. “While the heel cushioning seemed to absorb impact uniformly and didn’t ever feel like I bottomed out, there wasn’t enough forefoot cushioning for me,” one tester said. “I’m not sure I would take this on a double-digit mileage run—an easy-effort 10K was the ideal distance for this shoe.”
—BEST DAILY TRAIL TRAINER—
Ultra Pro
The Ultra Pro is based on the S/Lab Ultra above, but it offers more cushioning and makes a better pick for non-elite athletes. Despite the added padding (which comes in the form of a durable polypropylene insert), this is not a plush shoe. It has just enough to keep you comfortable over uncertain terrain and longer distances, but it’s firm enough to give you good ground feel. As with the S/Lab Ultra, the Contagrip outsole and deep lugs on this shoe provide great traction, and the Ultra Pro is a solid choice for a go-anywhere trail shoe.
Buy Men’s Buy Women’s Full Review
—MOST SUPPORTIVE TRAIL SHOE—
XA Pro 3D V8
The XA Pro 3D has been a part of the Salomon lineup for a while—it’s a direct descendant of the XA Pro first released in 2002. It has remained a popular choice, likely because it can handle nearly any surface you’ll encounter outside. Salomon tweaked the V8 to make it softer and lighter, and an updated 3D chassis combined with a Sensifit upper makes for a supportive feel and snug fit. All that rides on a Contagrip outsole, so you can take on gnarly trails with confidence.
—BEST FOR CROSS TRAINING—
Predict SOC
The Predict SOC is built on the same midsole platform as the Predict RA but is geared more toward all-day wear and cross-training. The grooves in the midsole are designed to align with the major joints of the foot, which creates excellent support and flexibility and also helps the shoe match your stride. The EnergyCell+ midsole is tuned for energy return and durability, and a knit upper creates a comfortable, sock-like fit.
—BEST FOR MUDDY TRAILS—
Wildcross
The Wildcross is built for traversing mucky, wet trails, and it’s a great pick for trail running in unpredictable shoulder season weather (or anytime it rains). It offers only minimal cushioning, but you won’t need much on soft ground, and overlays on the upper create good protection for your foot. The outsole is the main highlight: Large, widely spaced lugs dig into sloppy terrain for excellent traction, but they also shed mud quickly, so you won’t get weighed down. Testers loved the shoe’s roomy toe box and snug fit as well. “Compared to my favorite Salomon shoe, the Speedcross, the Wildcross felt slightly wider in the toe box and forefoot while giving me a secured, locked-in feeling,” one tester said. “They seem stiffer than the Speedcross 5 at first, but the ride is still smooth. And, where that shoe’s lugs showed wear and break down—for me, it was around the outer heel lugs—this is not an issue for the Wildcross.”
Buy Men’s Buy Women’s Full Review
*Additional sizing is available for both men’s and women’s GTX version.
—BEST FOR MIXED TERRAIN—
Sense Ride 4
The previous version of the Sense Ride was incredibly comfortable, reliable, and durable for everyday trail running and racing, so Salomon didn’t mess with it. The upper on the 4 continues to make use of minimal overlays and stitching to reduce the risk of hot spots, though there’s more coverage over the toes for protection. There’s less fabric around the upper part of the heel, but cushioned pods lock your foot in place and limit unwanted sliding, while the tongue wraps around the midfoot like a sleeve. Our favorite feature remains the shoe’s traction—4mm diamond-shaped lugs bite into soft dirt and mud but are made of sticky rubber that grips both wet and dry ground. One tester said the new model boosted her confidence. “I love the traction. I feel comfortable letting it rip downhill,” one tester raved. “That says a lot for running on wet, rocky, and muddy PA trails!”
—MOST RESPONSIVE ROAD SHOE—
Sonic 4 Balance
As the name implies, the Sonic 4 Balance falls in the middle of Salomon’s two other Sonic shoes, the speed-oriented Accelerate and the support-focused Confidence. The Balance is our favorite of the three, and it makes a great trainer for runners who like a firm, bouncy ride. Optivibe cushioning in the heel soaks up impact forces and gives plenty of energy return, while a new internal fit sleeve and a softer mesh upper offer a more comfortable fit and improved breathability. Like the Sonic 3 Balance, the 4 still uses a full-length groove in the outsole—Salomon calls this Geometric Decoupling—helps smooth out heel-toe transitions and adds stability, while the OrthoLite sockliner and tongue and Sensifit upper create a snug, comfortable fit.
