Salomon Speedcross 6 GTX review

We believe the Salomon Speedcross 6 GTX is an excellent pick for:

• Trail enthusiasts in search of great grip and reliably dry feet when tackling wet conditions.
• Devotees of the standard Speedcross model looking for a reliable, waterproof variant.
• Adventurers tackling technical trails and river crossings, needing a Gore-Tex shoe that endures long distances.

If your primary activities are walking or hiking rather than running, we suggest considering a GoreTex hiking boot/shoe over the Speedcross 6 GTX. Options like the Hoka Anacapa Mid GTX for a taller boot with fantastic cushioning or the Merrell Moab 3 GTX for a versatile hiking shoe with a Vibram outsole might suit your needs better.

For those who don't frequently encounter cold temperatures or water, the Salomon Speedcross 6 GTX may not be the ideal choice. Its Gore-Tex membrane, while great for waterproofing, offers zero breathability as we found out in the lab.

In such cases, we think that a fairly priced alternative with excellent grip, such as the Merrell Nova 3, could be a more interesting choice.

When we evaluated the non-GTX Salomon Speedcross 6, it only earned a disappointing 1 out of 5 in our breathability tests. So, it's no surprise that the Gore-Tex version follows suit.

Our smoke test confirmed our suspicions—this shoe's breathability is so limited it could almost score a zero. However, we rank from 1 to 5, so it's a 1!

This is a common issue with all Gore-Tex shoes. Despite claims of breathable waterproof membranes, our tests show they allow air to escape at a very minimal rate, which our light test also confirmed.

Under the microscope, we observed one of the densest engineered mesh uppers to date.

Finally, when we felt the upper, its lack of stretchiness seemed appropriate for a GTX shoe, focusing on protection and waterproofing over flexibility.

Given the multiple protective layers and thick, waterproof upper of the Speedcross 6 GTX, we anticipated exceptional durability.

Our expectations were met, as evidenced by our first Dremel test, where it earned a remarkable 4 out of 5. This score places it among the most durable shoes on the market, surpassing the majority of its competitors.

The heel area of the Speedcross 6 GTX showcases significant improvement, a thrilling development especially when considering the non-GTX version's modest 1 out of 5 score.

For those who tend to wear down their shoes in the heel area, the Gore-Tex version excels with a perfect 5 out of 5 score!

In our lab tests, Salomon's Contagrip outsoles typically show up as quite hard rubber, and the Speedcross 6 GTX is no exception, clocking in at 87.0 HC on our durometer.

This leaves us wondering—will this impressive hardness equate to real-world durability?

Regrettably, our tests on the Speedcross 6 GTX's Contagrip lugs didn't go as hoped. With a notable 1.4 mm indentation left by our durability test, the outcome falls short of expectations.

Although the outsole is quite thin at 1.5 mm, we don't anticipate premature wear being an issue, thanks to the robust, 5-mm lugs. We'll explore more about these lugs further in this lab review.

The standard Speedcross 6 already had some heft to it, but slapping on the Gore-Tex membrane tacked on an extra 1.1 oz (29g).

Now, we're looking at a total weight of 11.45 oz (325g), which really tips the scales for a trail running shoe.

We found a stack height of 37.0 mm in the rearfoot area.

This way Salomon ensures that all heel strikers, even the heaviest, have ample cushioning underfoot with the Speedcross 6.

We conducted another precise measurement in the forefoot with our caliper and discovered a total stack height of 25.8 mm.

This level of cushioning is more than adequate to maintain comfort during even the longest adventures.

The substantial 11.2-mm heel-to-toe drop clearly positions this shoe as ideal for rearfoot strikers and those who often experience calf or Achilles issues. Its wedge-shaped design effectively unloads stress from these areas.

The insole, at 6.6 mm, is slightly slimmer than its non-GTX counterpart, likely an effort by Salomon to shave off a bit of weight. And we think that going for an even thinner one would be the right call in this shoe.

If you're a fan of firm midsoles, the EnergyCell foam of the Speedcross 6 will be right up your alley. However, for others, it might feel as hard as concrete.

We noticed its firmness during all of our test runs and confirmed this with a durometer test in the lab. We recorded a 32.4 HA result, indicating that it's indeed designed for those who prefer a traditional, stable feel underfoot.

To assess the shoe's performance in cold temperatures, we placed it in our freezer for 20 minutes and then retested it with the durometer. After this cold test, the shoe registered at 35.8 HA.

That's just a 10.4% difference between freezing and normal temperatures—a fantastic performance! It ensures the foam maintains a consistent feel, regardless of how cold or hot it is outside.

We were enormously and positively surprised by the stability of this shoe.

Its firm midsole contributes significantly to this aspect, but there's definitely more at play here. Let's dive into what makes this shoe so stable!

One of the key factors behind the shoe's impressive stability, as we found in our tests, is its torsional rigidity. Our manual assessment revealed that it's as rigid—scoring 5/5—as many shoes with carbon plates, even though it doesn't have one.

The heel also ranks high on the stiffness scale, scoring 4/5 in our test. This level of stiffness is essential, especially since the shoe is designed for challenging terrain and fast descents with tight corners.

Salomon is renowned for making narrow trail shoes, and the Speedcross 6 GTX continues this trend.

Measuring 104.6 mm, it's clear this isn't a shoe designed for set-and-forget easy runs. Instead, it's built for action, demanding fast-paced cornering to fully utilize its agility.

The heel measures 88.8 mm, falling in line with most shoes and landing in the average range.

Those used to wider heels might find this a bit narrow. However, it's important to note that the firm midsole and stiff platform mean a larger landing area isn't necessary for stability.

The shoe is incredibly stiff torsionally, but surprisingly, it's much more flexible longitudinally. In our 90-degree bend test, we only needed to exert 24.1N of force to bend the shoe. This is fantastic for those who want the shoe as a walking or hiking companion.

We conducted the same test under cold temperatures, just as we did with the midsole. In this scenario, the shoe was slightly stiffer, requiring 32.5N to bend.

That's a 35.3% increase, suggesting the shoe will feel stiffer in freezing temperatures, but it's not a major concern.

However, we were hoping for a better performance, especially considering the shoe's impressive results in the previous cold test.

During our lab review, we've mentioned that the Speedcross 6 GTX is designed for challenging terrain, not smooth trails.

This is evident in its massive 5.0-mm lugs, most of them chevron-shaped to enhance downhill and uphill traction, even during sharp turns.

Our experience with the shoe's grip was great, consistently delivering on muddy and wet terrains.

While the shoe isn't particularly wide overall, we were pleasantly surprised by the spacious toebox in the medial zone. At its widest point, we measured a generous 101.0 mm, comfortably exceeding the average shoe's dimensions.

The big toe area narrows more than we expected, with a measurement of 75.2 mm.

The shoe's shape is quite unique, but it should still accommodate most runners comfortably.

The Speedcross 6 GTX boasts a high, sock-like upper, yet the tongue underneath isn't gusseted.

The tongue, featuring a generous 8.1 mm padding, ensures complete comfort in the instep area, regardless of how tightly you pull Salomon's QuickLace system. 

The tongue also includes a convenient finger-loop pull tab, offering easier adjustment and a better fit before each run.

There's no heel tab, but we didn't feel the need for one due to the shoe's design and ease of putting it on.

Besides, with the already high weight of this GTX version, adding extra ounces seems unnecessary.

The GTX version also allows for insole removal. However, swapping in a different insole won't offer the same experience.

The unique, flared design of the original Ortholite insole, which is unusual in third-party insoles, is a key factor in the shoe's feel and stability in the rearfoot area.

It's a letdown for us that Salomon completely skipped out on adding any reflective elements to the Speedcross 6 GTX. In a shoe like this, some reflective detailing wouldn't just be nice, it's pretty much expected for safety.