Salomon S/Lab Phantasm 2 review

We believe the Salomon S/Lab Phantasm 2 will appeal to:

• Runners who love classic racing flats for their agile feel but want the modern feel of a plush foam.
• Those who appreciate top-tier materials and build quality, as this shoe is made in France and features a MATRYX upper.
• Athletes with a generous budget seeking a durable competition shoe that offers greater flexibility than most modern supershoes.

We think the S/Lab Phantasm 2 isn’t the best option for those chasing state-of-the-art racing performance. Our testing revealed that its midsole foam lacks the energy return needed for true speed. Instead, the Nike Streakfly 2 delivers a far more energetic ride at a lower price, keeping the same compact build and fun running experience.

Additionally, we believe the S/Lab Phantasm 2 is heavier than it should be, and it simply doesn’t match the feather-light standards of today’s supershoes. If you’re after that cloud-like feel underfoot in an ultra-light package, the ASICS Metaspeed Ray is the best alternative.

The Salomon S/Lab Phantasm 2 packs ample cushioning to tackle any race distance, even the marathon. We measured a strong 142 SA in the heel and 114 SA in the forefoot, confirming impressive shock-absorption performance.

However, the S/Lab Phantasm 2 delivered a disappointing outcome in our energy return test. We tested it carefully and found that it reached only 57.8% energy return in the heel and a slightly better 62.1% in the forefoot.

Therefore, we can't consider this one a real supershoe, as its performance falls short of current standards. In our view, these numbers are far below what a high-end, race-focused shoe should deliver today.

This result didn’t surprise us. The shoe uses the optiFOAM+ compound, which mixes PEBA with EVA, although most online reviews claim the midsole feels "super bouncy" because it’s made from PEBA. We found that this is misleading. Salomon clearly states on its website that it’s a PEBA-EVA blend, and our lab-tested data confirms the truth with undeniable clarity.

With a 31.5 mm heel, the S/Lab Phantasm 2 takes a distinct route compared to today’s marathon supershoes that push the 40 mm limit. Its lower profile gives it that classic racing-flat sensation.

The forefoot sits close to average thickness at 26.4 mm, though it's slightly thinner than what we usually find in modern supershoes.

That’s not necessarily a drawback, it’s more about preference. If you enjoy added ground feel and control, especially for 5K or 10K racing, this one fits the bill.

In our lab tests, we usually find running shoes with a higher drop than the brand claims. However, the S/Lab Phantasm 2 showed the opposite: we measured just 5.1 mm, while Salomon lists 9 mm.

This clearly makes the shoe more suited for midfoot strikers, a point we’ll revisit when discussing the plate.

We tested the optiFOAM+ compound and found that, while it’s not as bouncy as expected, it feels extremely soft underfoot. For runners who enjoy a plush, pillow-like sensation, it absolutely delivers, and we confirmed this with a 13.5 HA durometer reading.

The Phantasm 2 uses the same foam both above and below the plate, creating a consistent soft feel throughout. However, with the reduced stack height, heavier runners or those with a powerful stride should note that bottoming out is quite possible.

The S/Lab Phantasm 2 showcases an intriguing geometry, with a strong forefoot rocker that begins unusually late, and it's somewhat reminiscent of recent ASICS designs.

The heel also features a distinct curve for a racing shoe, which we appreciate, as the moderate drop benefits requires for a smoother heel-to-toe transition for heel strikers.

Let’s get back to the plate, as promised. We previously recommended this shoe for midfoot strikers because its plate feels less aggressive than the classic spoon-shaped designs made famous by the Nike Vaporfly, performing better for those who land slightly behind the ball of the foot.

Like most Salomon shoes, the fit isn’t very spacious, yet it’s far from narrow. When we first tested this pair, we were genuinely surprised by its slightly roomier feel for a competition model from the French brand.

We measured a width of 94.1 mm, which perfectly matched our first-hand impressions. Or should we say first-foot impressions?

Our second toebox measurement showed limited room for toe splay—but honestly, that’s no surprise. At 72.1 mm, it’s exactly what we’d expect from a competition shoe.

Runners concerned about toe pressure can relax.

With 27.4 mm of toebox height, the S/Lab Phantasm 2 provides plenty of space, and its ultra-thin upper means black toenails would only happen if you size down too much.

The best Salomon trail shoes use contaGRIP rubber, and the French brand created a special variant called Road contaGRIP for, unsurprisingly, road running shoes. It's a high-traction compound designed to deliver top grip on asphalt or concrete surfaces.

We tested it using the SATRA TM144 method and confirmed the grip is truly there. With a 0.58 score, it ranks on the higher end of the scale, proving itself as a super-reliable outsole for any race-day weather.

This outsole features a dual-compound layout with black rubber concentrated in the forefoot for traction and lighter grey zones at the heel. We also found deep longitudinal grooves that enhance flexibility and reduce weight.

One of the most unique aspects of the S/Lab Phantasm 2 is its low stiffness, just 13.5N. While that number may not sound low compared to all running shoes, it makes this one of the most flexible racing models we’ve tested in recent years.

This could appeal to runners who dislike the ultra-rigid feel of most competition shoes. However, it’s worth noting that the Saucony Endorphin Speed 5 achieves similar flexibility, delivers far greater energy return, maintains a comparable weight, and comes at a noticeably lower price...

Weight is also far from being a strength of the S/Lab Phantasm 2 at 7.5 oz or 213g.

This extra heft comes from the mixed-foam construction, as combining EVA with PEBA adds mass to the midsole. For example, the New Balance FuelCell SuperComp Elite v5 is not one of the lightest supershoes, but it's lighter than this shoe, proving that Salomon needs to refine the next version in order to be competitive.

The MATRYX upper of the S/Lab Phantasm 2 is crafted with a mesh that delivers exceptional build quality and premium construction. However, when it comes to ventilation, it scored only 3/5 in our lab test.

Salomon opted for a denser upper than what we usually find in racing shoes, likely to enhance stability and prevent early tearing around the forefoot flex points, where the upper bonds to the midsole.

Under the microscope, we discovered the reason behind the lower-than-expected breathability.

Although the fabric itself is ultra-thin in the toebox area, the spacing between yarns is too tight to allow proper airflow, and a pattern with larger ventilation holes would have performed better.

The tongue includes generous padding, and the heel does too, though cushioning is limited to a narrow strip instead of the whole area. 

This type of targeted heel cushioning doesn’t suit everyone, but we found that it delivered a very good lockdown.

The Salomon S/Lab Phantasm 2 feels mostly unstable in the heel and midfoot due to its narrow, ultra-soft landing base. However, the forefoot offers a touch more stability, as the rocker promotes smooth forward motion and limits side movement, and the plate gives a Vaporfly-like feel.

Still, runners needing support should look elsewhere.

Thanks to the full-length carbon plate inside the shoe, torsional rigidity achieved a max 5/5 score. And in this case, it’s a much-needed feature that adds a hint of support for steadier landings.

The upper hugs the heel like a glove, thanks to its highly-pliable construction that scored 1/5 in our manual test. This design is common in racing shoes, though it further contributes to the heel’s limited stability.

One of the features that makes the S/Lab Phantasm 2 genuinely fun to run in is its compact build, measuring 108.6 mm in the forefoot.

The shoe feels nimble and works great for short-interval training or races filled with sharp, quick turns.

The heel, however, truly made us raise an eyebrow. At only 74.9 mm, it’s strikingly narrow—one of the slimmest we’ve ever measured in the lab—making this shoe a crazy choice for runners who strike hard on their heels.

The upper is incredibly thin, which becomes obvious in our video, as you can clearly see the plastic insert we use to maintain the shoe’s shape.

To counter this, Salomon applied some of its trail-shoe know-how, adding extra protection to the toe cap. Still, when we tested the mesh with our Dremel, the upper proved brutally fragile, earning a 1 out of 5 for durability.

The heel padding showed far better durability, scoring 4/5 in our Dremel test under the same conditions: 2N of force and 5K RPM.

The Road contaGRIP outsole also proved impressively durable, showing just 0.9 mm of wear. That's a clear improvement over most competition shoes, which typically perform worse in this test.

Thanks to the strong abrasion resistance of the Road contaGRIP rubber, Salomon managed to use only 1.6 mm of outsole thickness while still achieving solid durability.

The insole is razor-thin at just 2.0 mm of thickness, impressively minimal even for a racing shoe.

You can remove the stock insole and replace it with a third-party one, but its slim, narrow shape leaves very limited space in the toebox.

The PEBA+EVA blend of optiFOAM+ performed decently in our 20-minute freezer test, becoming 22% firmer.

We found zero reflective elements in the S/Lab Phantasm 2.

We tested the S/Lab Phantasm 2 and found its lacing system refreshingly simple: flat laces, punched eyelets, an extra hole for the runner’s knot, and a tongue loop that keeps things nicely centred. The laces, however, feel surprisingly cheap for a shoe in this premium price range with a MATRYX upper.

But what truly sets it apart is the thick, comfort-focused tongue. While most competitors go ultra-thin—like the PUMA Fast-R Nitro Elite 3 with just 0.4 mm—Salomon chose a cushioned (and heavier) approach that feels unique, though we’re still uncertain if the trade-off pays off.

The tongue, as in most racing shoes, isn’t attached to the sides and may slide around if the lockdown isn’t properly secured.

In our view, the S/Lab Phantasm 2 comes with one of the weakest price-to-performance ratios from a major brand. It clearly needs a top foam to reach supershoe standards.

Still, it carries a rare appeal: it’s made in France! That's something almost unseen today among competition models, with Diadora being the only other medium or big brand producing shoes in Europe. And, of course, that drives the price up... but we need Made in France... avec une meilleure mousse!

The heel showcases a minimalist design, free from any finger-loop tab or extra detailing.