Salomon Speedcross 5

Salomon Speedcross 5: Answer the call of the mud!

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Salomon’s Speedcross is a well-known design to many that enjoy a rugged trail running. The 5^th in the series, this version is an update to the Speedcross 4 with more aggressive lugs, a wider toe area, slightly stiffer heel support, and a more cushioned upper.

This being my first time with the Speedcross series, I was pleasantly surprised at how comfortable, form-fitting, and responsive the shoes were, especially for the giant lugs.

After a little over 60 miles on the trails and some pavement, these shoes show very little signs of wear and will likely last for a few years of moderate use (thinking 400 miles easily). All of this and it is still a very affordable shoe when compared to similar ones from competitors.

The review - from the ground up…

Tread & midsole

The tread consists of chevron designed lugs, and the whole area is made of rubber. Salomon calls it Contragrip TA. The lugs are not only well spaced for efficiency, but also multidirectional.

This coupled with the Energycell+ midsole, results in an unparalleled level of grip as well as impressive responsiveness to help prevent fatigue. To be clear, that responsiveness is not a spongy type of feeling but more of a supportive rebound.

Of course, the high grip can also mean slightly slower times for races, but it can also make the difference between your feet sliding out and keeping a nice stride.

Here’s what I did: I took them out on dry conditions, then wet conditions, then downright muddy conditions… but that wasn’t enough for the lugs, and they wanted more!

So, I took them from my rocky trails in Virginia, and we flew to Seattle (for completely unrelated reasons) and ventured out into the forests where the trail I chose had section is best described as soggy mulch.

The Speedcross 5 did not care where they were, and if anything, they beckoned me to go running when the conditions were messy. We gripped and ripped our ways through the flats, hills, and downhills no matter trail conditions.

All the while, my feet felt comfortable and enjoyed the responsiveness provided as well as the grip. Oh, and that responsiveness from the midsole was obvious even in the soggy mulch. Which was never so much appreciated as it was when I saw a sign about a cougar in the area where I was running… we flew back to Virginia!

Insert (AKA sockliner)

I do not usually dedicate a section insert itself, but this time I needed to. Salomon uses a molded OrthoLite insert which was designed for comfort, breathability, and durability.

Unfortunately, the mold of this gave me a blister on the arch of each foot. With a quick internet search and a couple of questions to other trail runners, I found that while this does seem to happen for a few people, it is not at all common.

Apparently, I have that unlucky foot shape and/or running style. A quick visit to my local running store for some new insoles and I was back in business. While odds are you will not experience this issue, I mention it mostly to let everyone know that it is not the shoe design – just the insert.

Upper & toe box

The toe box is another plus for this shoe. It is big enough for splaying of the toes, which to me is just natural but not so wide that it felt overly roomy.

Combined with the knit and welded features of the upper to keep out debris but allow breathability and Salomon have created a shoe that feels more like a slipper when I put it on.

This upper cushioning is so comfortable that when the lugs do finally wear flat, I will still make these my walking shoes for around town.

While the breathability is not as high as some manufacturers might provide in a normal road shoe it also never caused me to have hot or overly sweaty feet. They are greatly appreciated since the temperatures have been climbing lately.

The lacing system is one of the most recognized things about the Salomon line-up. They incorporate a drawstring system that easily tucks into a pocket at the top of the tongue. With a quick release feature, they make it simple to get on and off – which really comes in handy when a rock does get in your shoe!

I particularly liked being able to tuck the laces because it meant no little twigs or branches were going to catch my shoestring and cause me to have to stop just for a retie. Though it took me once or twice to perfect lacing them to just the right spot, I came to enjoy this design.

Heel

Since I never had a Salomon shoe before and never tried on the Speedcross 4, I cannot say exactly how these fit differently when compared to previous versions. To me, the heel felt snug and supportive, and the cushioning was plenty there.

That, as it turns out, is on purpose as Salomon designed these for runners that heel-strike. That doesn’t mean that mid-foot or forefoot strikers are left out, just that heel strikers can finally relax knowing they will not feel any pain when they finish a run.

The grip provided by the heel cup was also surprising to me because I initially thought they sat a little low. I’m overly paranoid about my heel slipping while running, but this never occurred – not once!

They did not even need a break-in period but provided this grip from the second I started walking around to get my feet acclimated to well through digging in on my toes to climb a hill.

Heel to toe drop

There is a 10mm drop from heel to toe, so while not overly aggressive, it is still a bit higher than what I have been used to. My previous version of trail shoes were 0 drops, and through them, I became a consistent mid-foot striker.

This increase did cause me to heel strike a bit more often, but it was very welcomed because it also allowed me to do so without feeling any pain the next day. These will work well for any style of runner.

Pros

• Excellent grip
• Good cushioned support
• Convenient lacing system
• Good breathability
• Comfortable upper mesh
• Affordable

Cons

• Takes a few times to get used to the lacing system (but then I loved it)
• Had to replace the insert – but from talking to other users I was the outlier with this issue

Overall

The Salomon Speedcross 5 was designed for a rugged run, but they provide great traction, support, and breathability on any type of trail.

Whether it is gravel, dirt, mud, snow, or soggy mulch, these trail shoes are ready for action! While they may not provide the fastest times, the extra grip and good cushioning is worth the trade.

Salomon Speedcross 5: Nothing short of gnarly

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A cursory glance at the sole of this shoe beacons the question of whether to run trails in these or tenderize meat with them? Whatever your answer, this shoe would achieve either one with ease.

The Salomon Speedcross is the archetype of the trail running shoe. An aggressive sole combined with a sleek, lightweight body makes this a specialty trail running shoe to be reckoned with.

Specs

Fit

The Salomon Speedcross 5 fits like a glove. From the second time I put these shoes on, they were snug but not too tight, pliable but not sloppy. The shoe has a light feel to it.

This is my first pair of Salomon shoes, and I have always been a little skeptical of the super-tiny lace system and the Quicklace technology, but I am officially a convert. My worries of the skinny lacing cutting into the tops of my feet and the Quicklace system repeatedly slipping were quickly assuaged on my first run.

The tongue padding helps the laces distribute the pressure nicely, and the Quicklace system never failed or even slightly loosened. In fact, I had to stop once in order to loosen it because I had cinched it down too tightly for the steepness of the terrain.

The trademark SensiFit design of the upper construction ties nicely into the lacing system creating a snug fit that really hugs your foot.

Performance

The western Montana springtime weather threw snow, crusty ice, and mud at these shoes and the Salomon Speedcross 5 responded with traction, traction, and more traction.

During most of my time getting to know this shoe, I felt like an Ibis picking through puddles of mud, ice, and slush, hungrily searching for the trail. These shoes were made for these conditions. The superior traction gave my foot confident purchase uphill, downhill and laterally.

The lug pattern is well thought out, with studs positioned in opposing directions for optimal grip in multiple directions. The Contragrip outsole material is especially adept at gripping loose, wet and slippery surfaces.

Combined with the deep 4mm lugs, there is little in the way of aggressive terrain that this shoe can’t handle. My test runs in this shoe have been on loose, wet single track and dirt roads between 10-12% grade that is partially covered with snow and slush and there was never a moment of doubt when it came to traction.

The upper material is constructed using a no-stitch welding technique that creates nice seamless transitions between the fabric and rubber.

The strategic vents on the sides allow for good breathability and water drainage. However, the ample tongue wanted to hold on to more water than I liked.

The trademark midsole EnergyCell is touted as providing a rebound in the step. While I did not notice this initially, I did feel like the cushion provided in the midsole was just right.

The Speedcross 5 sits somewhere between a medially and maximally cushioned shoe, and for its intended use, I think it hits the mark spot-on for cushion.

The lace pocket is a nice touch. Whether you just like things clean and tidy or maybe worry about the cordage snagging on a rock or branch, this solves the problem and gets the lacing system out of the way.

The toe guard is nicely reinforced with a stout rubber coating and an aggressive flap of thick rubber at the terminus for higher impacts.

The rubberized side walls offer ample protection without adding weight. My feet felt comfortable and secure in these shoes, even on very rocky, technical trails.

Even with the reinforced toe area, the shoe has a tremendously generous flex. Right out of the box the shoe felt ready to go and never too stiff.

The 30mm stack height worried me a little at first since the shoe doesn't boast a particularly wide platform, but even in varied terrain, the shoe felt stable and never tippy.

The spacing of the lugs is also noteworthy. Some other comparable shoes that I have run in like the Saucony Peregrine and the inov8 x-talon have had issues with clumped mud on the sole.

I have yet to experience this with the Salomon Speedcross 5, and I attribute that to the mindful spacing of the lugs.

Durability

The Speedcross 5 is built tough. The welded rubberized border between the sole and the upper is super solid. It’s thick enough to offer protection and constructed well enough to keep the shoe from falling apart at a common area of construction failure.

The tight weave of the upper fabric has yet to show signs of wear after a little over 70 miles of running. The Contragrip sole is tough, but I worry that on runs that use paved stretches to link up trails that it might wear faster than normal.

While the shoe was not uncomfortable on the road, it did produce a "clickity-clackity" noise that got a little annoying on the stretch of pavement between my house and the trailhead. With that said, the shoe is probably best left solely on the trail (the more rugged, the better).

Pros

• Aggressive tread
• High traction/responsive
• Light and comfortable feel

Cons

• Limited by the specificity of use
• Thick tongue holds water

Overall

The Salomon Speedcross 5 is an impressive shoe. Its performance on difficult, steep and rugged trails is bar none. Traction is this shoes middle name.

The comfort and airy feel, combined with ample sidewall and toe protection make it an obvious choice for technical trails. However, the specificity of the shoe limits its use.

If you're looking for an all-around trail shoe that can segue from road to trail easily this is not the shoe for you. On the other hand, if you want to add a heavy hitting member to your trail arsenal to be used when conditions and terrain dictate, look no further. The aggressive tread alone will win you over.