This is my disclaimer. I am not one for a lot of lingo, or fancy names for parts of a kit. If a tool does the job, then it is a good tool, I leave the names to the guys that have to fix that tool. I picked up a pair of the Speed Cross 2's by Salomon. Frankly, I was skeptical that they would make a good road and trail shoe.
The first thing I noticed was the freaking crazy tread. It looks like Salomon has glued an old Continental mountain bike tire to the bottom of a running shoe. Alright, the conditions... I headed off for a run in the dark with a big moon, mixed roads and trails, around 70 degrees... for about six miles. Shoes felt a bit tight around the front of the foot right out the door, but I decided to wait it out to see if they might pack out some. The big ass tread pattern surprised me, the cushion mixed with the knobbies were soaking up everything under foot. I am used to running shoes where you can feel a noticeable difference in traction if you have to transition over the white line and into the seam in the pavement. There was nothing there, just traction, just stability. It was a very solid feel on the road. Point the shoe, pull the trigger, and forget. As always, my mind wanders on a run. I thought about the guys that must have sat around and came up with this warlock. Maybe they actually started with a mountain bike tire glued to the bottom of a trail shoe to come up with this, the world may never know.
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I was starting to really feel the tightness in the front of my foot getting worse, and at mile two I pulled the shoes off and took a look. I have worn hikers from Salomon for years but this was my first experience wearing an athletic shoe from them. I always lace running shoes tight, I have narrow heels and the tight lacing helps to really pull my foot back into the shoe and give me the stability I need. So, when I had first put the Speeds' on I had pulled the lace keeper snug. The idea got me... these shoes were feeling really stable, so I left all but a quarter inch of slack at the top of the lace and headed off again. Viola, magic time. These 'trail runners' handled with the same stability as when I had them synched down hard, but my feet weren't killing me anymore. I headed off onto the sandy trails and let the miles roll on. Hit some puddles, feet stayed dry. Started pushing, feet stayed cool. Wondered about where the lace keeper stowed (found it later). Felt a little guilty for not taking my dogs (they were asleep when I left). Saw a great reflection off the lake. Thought about jumping in. Talked to my XO (God Rest Your Soul Brother). Tried to talk myself into running an extra few miles. Wondered what kind of a person would actually use a mattress that was abandoned in the woods. Pushed on.& Got back on the road. Yelled at a kid for going too fast in my neighborhood. Scared the shit out of the kid when I asked him who his First Sergeant was. Got my sprint going...Done. The Shoes, two thumbs up.
- Lightweight
- Design wraps up the whole foot
- There is a little lace pocket to stow the keeper in
- Foot stayed dry and cool
- Solid feel on the road and the trail
- Lots of cushion, not spongy
- I initially laced them way too tight
- Too dark to take a pic, had to do it this morning
