- Weight 320g (M) 280g (W)
- Heel-To-Toe-Drop: 10mm
- Type: Trail
- Price: £120
A premium offroad shoe that’s equally comfortable splashing through the mud or picking its way through technical terrain; its grippy outsole helps you find firm footing.
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The single best word to describe these shoes is ‘aggressive’. The upper includes a gusseted tongue and a reinforced mesh, both of which efficiently keep out debris. Salomon’s EnergyCell+ midsole provides high rebound and ample cushioning, allowing you to careen down the descents like a care-free, if slightly arthritic, child.
High rebound midsole
The Speedcross is especially cushioned in the heel—on its website, Salomon describes it as having a biomechanical fit for heelstriking—however, the shoe seems to have sufficient cushioning in the forefoot as well. Said a midfoot-striking tester, ‘I felt the cushioning has greatly improved over previous versions of the Speedcross, especially in the forefoot.’ The Speedcross 5 has the EnergyCell+ midsole, which provides durability and a responsive ride, giving better than average energy return even on surfaces that would normally feel sluggish and spongey underfoot.
Keeps debris Out
A welded, stitch-free upper provides a secure fit without any toe cramping or hot spots. The anti-debris mesh and gusseted tongue keep pebbles and twigs from hampering your run. In case some trail debris does creep into your shoe, however, the Quicklace system makes taking off and putting back on the shoe a literal cinch. The long cord tucks into the tongue’s lace pocket, a feature that, in our lazier moments, we sometimes wish all shoes had.
Deep lugs
Upon first sight, the Speedcross’s lugs look intimidatingly aggressive. They’re not suitable for any road running other than a quick transition onto the trails, but offroad they’re a grippy dream. The chevron lugs are spaced far apart, which is ideal for shedding mud clumped on your soles postrun. The lugs pattern extends all the way down to the toe of the shoe, which makes the Speedcross a great option for slogging up slippery inclines.
Conclusion
The Shrek of trail shoes: gnarly-looking on the outside but surprisingly soft and easy to work with once you check them out properly.
The New Balance Fresh Foam X 880 v15 gets softer? Sign up to our newsletter Ideal for heelstrikers, thanks to ample EnergyCell+ cushioning.
