A Comfortable, Reliable Trail Runner
"These shoes are very comfortable for the long hall. If you are just getting into trail running, or are someone who has been at it for a while, I think these are a worthy option. They best fill the niches of long run option or easy recovery run. Id's say they aren't the quickest shoe, but they remain surprisingly nimble and can hold a decent pace. I've even taken them on a little scrambling, and they held up nicely. The fit is quite nice and is a touch wider than Salomon's other offerings. They offer a nice heal lock with the padded tongue and heel collar (though this means they retain a bit more heat and water). The fit is also true to size. I would like it to have a slightly bigger toe box, but breaking in the upper does alleviate this. The shoe has a nice stability with its foam side walls, heel lock, and slightly wider base in comparison to other brand offerings. Considering the stack height, they do take on technical terrain surprisingly well. I was worried that they would have an inferior traction due to the reduced number of lugs to make way for the relief spheres, but again, it performed surprisingly well. I certainly noticed a drop in traction in comparison to my S/Lab Genesis (obviously), but not by too much. The foam is quite nice and comfortable and does offer a good energy return. I haven't noticed any effect brought on by the relief spheres, but I have certainly have not experienced any foot fatigue after a long run. Salomon does say that the relief spheres really come into play on long hauls and that the effect shouldn't be too noticeable. So, maybe it is doing something. I would recommend these shoes and would say they could possibly be comparable or even better than the S/Lab Ultra Glide when considering the pricing."