7 Best Salomon Running Shoes in 2023

Jens Jakob Andersen
Jens Jakob Andersen on
7 Best Salomon Running Shoes in 2023
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After 20 years since the very first launch of its iconic trail shoe the Raid Rail, the Salomon brand has continued to expand and gain the trust of the off- and on-road runners and adventurers.

From amateur to pro trail runners, the Salomon running shoes offer some of the most innovative and forward-thinking designs in the market. We got a hold of running shoes from the Salomon brand and put them to the test to come up with our best picks in various categories.

If you are looking for the right fit for your training and races, we prepared our best selection of Salomon running shoes based on our rigorous testing and more in-depth reviews.

Salomon running shoes with the best style

Salomon XT-6
88
Great!

What makes it the best?

The Salomon XT-6 has been a hugely popular shoe for nearly a decade both for its looks and its ability to take you anyway on a trail. With heaps of protection, insane grip, and a responsive, speedy ride the XT-6 is still a relevant trail shoe to help you explore the less beaten trails. It’s a shoe that’s sure to leave you confident traversing steep gradients, or comfy at the end of a long hike.

Pros

  • Fit true to size
  • Superb responsiveness
  • Quicklace system is a breeze
  • Zero Heel-slip
  • Amazing grip
  • Breathable
  • Super stable ride
  • Great protection
  • Stylish
  • Durable

Cons

  • Quite heavy as some trail shoes go
  • Stiff in colder conditions
Full review of Salomon XT-6

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Unisex
Any color
Black/Chocolate Plum/Vibrant Orange (L417509)

Best Salomon running shoes overall

What makes it the best?

The Speedcross is one of Salomon’s best-selling trail running shoes, and can almost be defined as “historical,” because it has been around since 2006. It’s a solid, sturdy model for fast training and racing on the most rugged trails. It shines when it comes to comfort and protection, and fortunately, it hasn’t lost its best feature... the lugs are still poking out aggressively and screaming for mud.

Pros

  • Amazing traction on wet
  • Plenty of protection
  • Fits like a glove
  • Sheds mud rapidly
  • Lighter than before
  • Quick-drying
  • Great lockdown
  • Ground feel at the forefoot

Cons

  • Not for wide feet
  • Firm underfoot
  • Still not the most stable
Full review of Salomon Speedcross 6

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Men
Women
Any color
White/Black/Empire Yellow (L417378)
Lapis Blue Black Scarlet Ibis (L471159)
Fiery Red/Black/Safari (L417382)
Leek Green/Black/Bleached Sand (L417381)
Black (L417379)
Black (L417440)
Black/White/Acid Lime (L417383)
Grey (L417380)
More colors

Best Salomon shoes for daily running

What makes it the best?

The Pulsar Trail from Salomon is the brand's take on a mid-range, do-it-all trail running shoe. With this, you can tackle any terrain and any distance at any pace. It comes to life, rolls smoothly, and offers lots and lots of protection. And if you want a shoe that's clingy, the Salomon Pulsar Trail's grip is amazing.

Pros

  • Bites on demanding trails
  • Great energy return
  • Stable and protective ride
  • Ready for the long miles
  • Runs as velvety smooth
  • Terrific heel lockdown
  • Spacious toe box
  • Lighter than most trail shoes
  • Very protective upper
  • Hugs the foot in all the right places
  • Durable

Cons

  • Lacks breathability
  • Not for wet rocks
Full review of Salomon Pulsar Trail

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Men
Women
Any color
Verde (L472103)
Red (L416029)
Grey (L416027)
Black (L472100)
Blå (L473062)
Black/Clematis Blue/Blazing Orange (L416032)
Purple (L416150)
Grey (L416046)
More colors

Best Salomon road-to-trail running shoes

What makes it the best?

The Salomon Sense Ride 5 shows consistent performance from dry pavements to moderate trails with its reliable grip, unopposing midsole and soft cushion. It’s a no-fuss hybrid shoe that keeps us worry-free, making it our top road-to-trail Salomon running shoe.

Lined with 3.5 mm diamond-shaped lugs on its Contagrip rubber outsole, it has traction that works well even on wet surfaces and moderate terrains. Its outsole is hard enough to protect our feet from debris, as confirmed by our durometer when it measured slightly above average. The higher the number, the tougher the rubber is. 

It has a trail shoe’s ideal low profile that offers great ground feel and control. Its stack is below average but remains soft overall, measuring 20.5 HA on our durometer. This is 25.2% softer than the average trail shoe.

SR5 rises to the occasion when pushed to faster paces. Its adequately flexible midsole follows our lead, allowing us to stay in control. Our flex test confirms it's at par with the average of other trail shoes.

We do not recommend this pair to midfoot-to-forefoot strikers as the 18.5 mm forefoot stack (vs. the 24.2 mm average) might lack the landing support needed.

Pros

  • Immaculate lockdown
  • Good responsiveness
  • Plenty of ground feel
  • Confident on moderate trails and steep downhills
  • Smooth and stable ride
  • Can hold its own for speedwork
  • Comfy and breathable upper
  • Best for daily miles, longer efforts, and even road runs!

Cons

  • Forget about hard trails
  • Thin under forefoot
  • Runs a little bit narrow
Full review of Salomon Sense Ride 5

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Men
Women
Any color
Lily Pad Rainy Day Bleached Aqua (L472117)
Grey (L471442)
Cream (L472124)
Black (L472143)
Grey / Orange / Red (L470462)
Black/Laurel Wreath/Green Gecko (L473111)
Grey (L473854)
Ibiza Blue (L473118)

Best Salomon shoes for running ultras

What makes it the best?

Don’t let anybody tell you otherwise—running fast and running comfortably aren’t supposed to be mutually exclusive in an ultra-distance race. Case in point: the Ultra Glide 2. As Salomon’s second crack at their cushioned trail line, the shoe addresses the v1’s stability issues and it's softer than before. It’s a good, versatile runner that could keep the Speedgoat and Xodus Ultra on their toes.

Pros

  • Breathable upper
  • One heck of a lockdown
  • Soft and protective cushioning
  • Good energy return
  • Very smooth, fun ride
  • Comfy for roads, good traction on moderately technical trails
  • Outstanding for daily miles and (very) long runs
  • Also works for faster efforts

Cons

  • Poor outsole durability
  • Using lace garage can get frustrating
  • Long tongue has a tendency to cause some rubbing
  • Maybe too narrow for some
Full review of Salomon Ultra Glide 2

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Men
Women
Any color
Cream (L472116)
Black (L472120)
Blue (L470425)
Lily Pad Bleached Aqua Hot Sauce (L472115)
Black / Pink (L473864)
Red (L472859)
Black/Flint Stone/Green Gecko (L473862)

Salomon running shoes with the best durability

What makes it the best?

The Salomon XA Pro 3D V8 is a trail running shoe that easily doubles as a hiking companion. It is a great option for outdoorsies looking for a hybrid of a running/hiking shoe that would keep them comfortable and supported no matter what the adventure brings. This Salomon shoe offers reliable protection and grip that help you stay in control on any type of trail.

Pros

  • Highly stable and supportive
  • Great for hiking and backpacking
  • Grippy on various surfaces
  • Durable construction
  • Versatile: trail-to-road
  • Lots of foot protection
  • Generously padded inside
  • Breathable mesh
  • Quick and easy lacing

Cons

  • Stiff and bulky for running
  • High heel-to-toe drop
Full review of Salomon XA Pro 3D V8

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Men
Women
Any color
Black (L416891)
Black/Black (L409874)
Black (L409875)
Slate Blue Aster Pacific (L414400)
Blå (L414399)

Best Salomon running shoes with Gore-Tex

What makes it the best?

The Salomon XA Pro 3D GTX is a durable and worthwhile trail shoe for those looking to go for a hike, head into the woods for a weekend backpacking trip as well as for an adventurous runner who needs heavy-duty footwear to tackle the more arduous challenges.

Pros

  • Outstanding waterproofing
  • Highly durable
  • Stable platform
  • Solid grip
  • Also great for hiking
  • Roomy toebox
  • Convenient lacing

Cons

  • Heavy
  • Stiff sole
  • Narrow midfoot
Full review of Salomon XA Pro 3D GTX

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Men
Women
Any color
Black/Black/Mineral Grey (L366796)
Black (L393320)

Comparison of the 7 best Salomon running shoes

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Experts
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# of colorways

How we test running shoes

At RunRepeat we know exactly what we are looking for that makes the difference between a good and a great shoe. After years of on-the-road (or off-the-road) testing and research in the lab, we have developed a methodology to come up with our best selection of shoes for your browsing convenience.

We have set up an independent shoe testing lab, as well as used a meticulous approach to reviewing running shoes. Here’s how we approach it:

  • We buy all the running shoes with our own money to ensure the integrity of our reviews.
  • As a team of dedicated testers and runners, we log at least 30 to 50 miles a week to see the actual performance and durability of each shoe.
  • We slice the shoe into pieces and measure every little aspect of it using durometers, scales, calipers, and other tools to determine the quality of its cushioning, durability, traction, and many others.

Author
Jens Jakob Andersen
Jens Jakob Andersen

Jens Jakob is a fan of short distances with a 5K PR at 15:58 minutes. Based on 35 million race results, he's among the fastest 0.2% runners. Jens Jakob previously owned a running store, when he was also a competitive runner. His work is regularly featured in The New York Times, Washington Post, BBC and the likes as well as peer-reviewed journals. Finally, he has been a guest on +30 podcasts on running.