Salomon SpeedCross 2 Review
September 24, 2010 by Tom Caughlan · 132 Comments
The Salomon SpeedCross 2 is a trail racing/training shoe that was first introduced in 2007 and continues to be a popular choice for many as a trail racing shoe. Salomon may have stumbled onto a very valuable lesson that shoe manufacturers never seem to abide by; if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it. With this review I hope to provide a comprehensive and unbiased look at the fit, performance, and durability aspects of this trail shoe. I have put about 200 miles on this shoe of trail running on a variety of different trail surfaces.
First Impressions
What I first noticed about this shoe is that it does fit true to size. The upper has a glove like feel to it that really straps the foot down making this shoe feel like a very natural extension of the foot. For its lack of weight, this Salomon comes in at about 11 oz. for my size 9.5. The shoes initially feels light and responsive, with a surprising amount of soft cushiness, especially in the heel. I tested the all black model which is striking in its appearance and is offset by the bright primary colored Salomon logo on the tongue. During one of my first runs in this shoe a friend remarked that they looked like the popular all-black 3/4 top basketball shoes from the 1990s. I took that to mean that they’re classic! Plus, we’re trail runners and we don’t really care anyway.
Outsole
The first thing I noticed about this shoe’s outsole was the absence of a rock plate. However, this absence was not accompanied by the usual bruising of my metatarsals. Instead, the outsole of the SpeedCross 2 is covered in chevron shaped lugs, made of a softer rubber composite than many trail shoes. These lugs seems to give the shoe much of its cushioned feel, and grip very well on just about any surface from rock, to mud, and sand. The outsole on the test shoes provided by Salomon were labeled “M&S Contragrip” and appeared to be exactly the same soles as others I saw in stores that said “Winter Contragrip”. I initially assumed the shoes labeled winter were the Gore-tex model, but I haven’t found any supporting evidence for that. What I find useful about this outsole is that it seems to extend and blend into the upper, giving the shoe a protective, but not bulky, surface around the midfoot that seems to be very durable. Salomon calls this a Mud Guard, and it did just that. Despite mountain runs on very muddy, clay-filled trails, the SpeedCross seemed to shed the mud and clay just as quickly as it accumulated. The synthetic rubber-like toecap on the front of the shoe also feels protective, but flexible, and kept water out of the shoe when stepping through puddles.
Midsole
The midsole of the SpeedCross 2 features quite a bit of cushion in the heel, and features dual-density foam on the medial (inside) of the shoe for pronation control. This chassis is aptly referred to as the Salomon Cushioning System an it provides a surprising amount of heel cushioning for a low profile trail racing shoe. Some minimalists may find this heel cushioning to be overkill, but I found it helpful when descending on rocky trail.
I’m a mid-foot striker with a little late stage pronation and I felt that the structural aspects of this shoe allowed it to support, but not impede, my stride and footfall. The heel to toe drop on this shoe is 10mm, fairly standard for most running shoes, but maybe a bit more than a lot “minimalist” trail shoes. The forefoot is flexible and feels nimble, especially when rock-hopping or running on scree, talus, or loose rock shards.
Upper
The upper of the SpeedCross fits very snug, especially in the mid-foot, due to the Salomon Quick-Draw kevlar lacing system. This lacing method took me a few tries to get it right, but once you get a feel for it the entire shoe tightens with one pull, slide the tab down to lock it in place, shove the tab up into the tongue pocket, and you’re good to go for miles. It really envelopes the foot but still allows your toes ample wiggle room and flexibility without any annoying fabric wrinkles that can cause blisters. My only gripe about the Quick-Draw lacing system is that after I shoved the tab into the tongue pocket I had difficulty fitting the rest of the excess lace in there with it. I ended up looping this excess lace around the lace eyelet closest to my toes to keep it from bouncing around during the run. Salomon could probably shorten these laces a bit and still have plenty of excess kevlar lace.
Another view of the Salomon SpeedCross 2's upper.
The heel collar of this shoe is well padded and snug, and worked well to keep rocks out even when wearing no-show socks. The tongue is stitched into the shoe about half way and did not move throughout test runs. The entire upper is made of what Salomon refers to as Anti-Debris Mesh which I found to be extremely durable, but very slow to dry. Forays through creeks and runoff left the upper squishing as I ran for several miles and my feet felt pickled once I removed the shoes after my run. The SpeedCross also felt a bit hot to my feet, especially on runs above 80 degrees, but I think the thickness and protection of the anti-debris mesh would keep my feet warm in fairly cold weather.
Trail Running Impressions
My first run out of the box with these shoes turned out to be a 20 mile run on wet, technical mountain trails. The shoe felt very solid on ascents and equally in control while descending rocky terrain. The outsole is quite tacky and grips rock very well. Mud and clay did not get stuck on the sole which is very smooth between the well-spaced lugs. The shoes performed well on fire roads, gravel, and crushed gravel paths and the cushioning seemed suitable for use as light-weight trainers as well as trail racers.
Overall, the Salomon SpeedCross 2 is an excellently conceived and durably constructed trail shoe. My feeling is that Salomon has made a wise decision by not changing this shoe since its inception in 2007. This shoe would perform equally well on rocky Colorado mountain single track (where it was tested), as it would on the muddy, root-filled, rocky trails of the midwest or New England. I tested this shoe with a long technical trail run one weekend, and then wore them the following weekend in a trail 5k that ran up a dry, sandy creek wash. I would assume that they would perform equally well for fell running.
So, if you’re looking for a great all around trail racing/training shoe that is lightweight, as durable as they come, and will perform equally well in winter as in summer, look no further.
Call for Comments
Have you hit the trails in the SpeedCross 2? If so, let us know how it went. If you’ve got questions, fire away.
Contest
You know that we like to hook our readers up. That’s why we’re giving we gave away a pair of SpeedCross 2 compliments of Salomon. (Thanks, guys!) Kristin Zosel was the lucky winner!
[Disclosure: Salomon provided the author with a sample pair on SpeedCross 2 to review. In addition, the Amazon link in this post is part of an affiliate program that helps support iRunFar.com.]
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Tom Caughlan is iRunFar's Minimalist Gear Editor. Tom’s passion for trail running and specialty running retail experience shine through in all of his highly technical reviews, which do range outside minimalist shoes.
All posts by Tom Caughlan
They look pretty rugged,i’d like to try tairing a pair up on the AZ trails
If I wear these will I be fast like Killian?
Brandon Rodgers
Los Osos, CA
If my husband wears these will he be fast like Killian?
Holly Rodgers
Los Osos, CA
These are good quality shoes. I had a single but was damaged and the longer I could use more. I regret that I have left without Salomon SpeedCross.
I’d like to try a pair of Salomon SpeedCross shoes. I recently bought a Salomon hydration pack and it’s great. If the shoes are as good as the pack I will have to purchase more Salomon products!
My current shoes don’t have quite enough cushioning for some of the rocky trails I run around here. Would love to try out a pair of SpeedCross 2′s to help my sore feet :)
Chris
I sit in my cubicle reading this review and my feet are throbbing to chew up some trail miles when I get off work. This fluorescent light panel above head sporting an image of palm leaves and a cloud-filled blue sky is designed to fool me into thinking I’m in Hawaii, but I’m not buying it. I should be productive, making the company money, but instead I’m buying time till I can lace up my trusty kicks and partake in similar muddy creek crossings and technical baby had rock sections the author describes in this shoe review. Looking down at my gear bag I take note of the battered soles and laces of my Rucky Chuckys, which appear to look about as good as they smell. Tonight’s session in the Oakland Hills will be a nice start to the weekend, but with cushioning and stitching on my current kicks degrading as fast as these days are getting shorter, a nice new pair of Salomon SpeedCross 2’s would surely make the toes tingle and the checkbook chuckle.
Those shoes look great. One of my running buddies is badgering me about Salomons but I’ve been reluctant thus far. A free pair to try might change my mind though. :)
I want a pair!
Shoes are such a personal thing. Great writeup and highlight of feature. I wish makers offered a “try before you buy”scheme….
I never had a pair of Salomon before. I keep on running with my Garmond that almost no one has, but I’m quite happy with… then I see Kilian Jornet hitting a record and another one and still another one… and I have decided that I am ready to give them a try and start breaking my own records!
Thanks for the great website from Barcelona!
I have had the XT Wings and like them quite a bit, but I would like to try a more trimmed down Salomon shoe. I run a lot on muddy, rooty, rocky trails in AK and like a shoe with good grip. Send ME a pair please. Thanks!
Looks like a solid shoe. It’s nice to see a company that doesn’t radically change their shoes every year (Nike, you are far and away the biggest culprit).
It’s black – it must be fast!
I raced through 2 pairs of these shoes in 2008– they are light, well-built and grippy. Most Salomons are overbuilt and heavy. This shoe is different– an actual running shoe, and light enough to go fast.
Only issue I had with them: the rubber between the chevron-shaped lugs on the sole is quite thin– you can really get bruised feet after a few hours if you hit a few pieces of gravel wrong. Not recommended for races over 50 miles.
I didn’t know they were still making these– I’ll go hunt some up!
The author and I have similar sounding feet and gait, would love to try these out in November on the Mt.Masochist. My Montrail masochists have shrunk with all the SE VA summer running (constantly saturated and sun drying).
I need the Salomon SpeedCross 2 for my first 100 mile trail race, the Javelina Jundred on October 23rd. Seriously. My feet would really appreciate it!
These look great. I LOVE my Salomon Wings – these seem to have a bit less heft but all I need otherwise. love the durability and the feel of my other Salomons so will look to getting these online =- NOBODY stocks trail shoes in FLA :-)
I am a pretty new trail runner. Been a road runner for five years. I am completely loyal to the dirt now, and will never go back. I live in western Washington, where we have an abundance of trails for the taking! I have sampled a few different shoes and I like a few and a few, not so much. I am looking for a shoe that can hang with with the muddy slippery trails of a pacific northwest winter. I would enjoy the chance to wear these shoes and put them to the test. Thanks for the consideration. Keep on Runnin’
Have been coveting the speedcross for sometime now. Have had a pair of Hawks, loved them. Super comfy, like the lacing system. Would definitely love a pair to run up on the Bonneville shoreline trail in Corner Canyon, UT!!
I’d love to give them a try on the trails here in New Mexico!
I have not tried a Salomon for many years but would certainly not mind putting this one to good use on the trails!
That’s an interesting looking shoe – very minimal fore and midfoot, but based on the profile it appears to have quite a built up heel. I’d be keen on trying them. I do nearly all my runs on trail, but have never liked “trail shoes” because they always seem to be closer to hiking boots than actual running shoes. While I’m certainly not a barefoot/VFF guy, I don’t like heavy blocks on my feet, either.
This is a really nice shoe, wish I got better luck this time to get a free one !!
My Mt. Masochists are on their way out, time for some new kicks. Don’t think I could buy anything else, but maybe a free pair could convince me to switch it up.
Sounds like I may need to check these out. My North Face shoes are starting to show some age. Maybe I’ll get lucky and score the free pair. Thanks for thr review.
Fishback Boy
Benton Co Arkansas
I would like to pit these against my Crosslites; if my experience with Salomon (XA Pro 3D Ultra) is any indication, they will shine.
I had a pair of Salomon XA Pro’s a few years ago and I loved them.
I really like my XAs, which feel well ventalated here in HI. Been thinking about the SpeedCrosses for a while, in an effort to slowly move to a more minimalist shoe. Love to try a pair!
Thanks for he review. I would like to try them as my brooks and asics give me a blister on the bottom of my right foot,and l am running trail half marathon at the end of october.
Thanks
Would love to try a pair. They sound like a very good shoe from the helpful review.
Just picked up a pair of the Salomon calf exo III and love them – my first experience with a Salomon product. Would be thrilled to pair them up with a pair of the SpeedCross 2′s! As a guy who’s fallen for trail running in the past year, a well reviewed shoe on a fellow mid-foot striker would be awesome.
I’m skeptical of the lacing system as I haven’t has good experiences with those wire-type laces. I hope that they figured it out. I wonde if a sime lug pattern like that will work as well as others.
Sign me up.
Jason
Gig Harbor, WA
Great review, Bryon. I’ve been wanting to try these guys for a while, and now that I keep getting blisters for some reason on the shoes I’ve had several pairs of, I really want to try them!
I’m always looking for a great shoe!
I am so happy I read this review! I have been running trails in a road shoe and recently started having pain in the joints of my toes and of course thought the worst….neuroma. Most of the pain was in the area of where they usually appear, (My wife has them on both feet.)I completely shut my running down and am waiting to have my feet checked out.
After reading this review, I am 95% sure that I have bruised my metatarsals! I have hope! I need to try a pair soon. Please sign me up.
Hi all,
Haven’t tried them yet, but love the design. Nothing flashy, kinda understatement!
Take care
YouYou
I’d like to try them out to see how they do in the mud. They look like they would have good wet weather traction.
Seems like a great shoe. Seen lots of trail runners out there wearing them. I’d love to try a pair!
I’m always up for a new pair of shoes. Just ran 70 miles of the Bear 100 in my Salomon XT Wings- great shoes, except for those darn kevlar laces that keep breaking (and are $8.50 to replace!)
Would love to try Salomon Speed Cross2. Thanks for posting another informative review.
Kelly Bradbury
Smithfield, UT
I am always interested in checking out a new shoe, but often not able to afford too many at any given time. The Salomon Speedcross 2′s look like and sound like something that is right up my alley! I am still looking for that perfect combination of fit, availability and weight. Love the site Bryon.
I have tried a couple other Salomons and have looked at these so a free pair would be great. I like the tread design on these better than my other shoes for our Midwestern mud and snow.
Been curious about Salomons for awhile but haven’t been able to put hands on them directly. Sounds like this contest is right up my alley.
Leon
I’d like to try the Salomon Speedcross because it appears to be exactly what I have looking for for. After trying on every shoe I can find; they sound like the combo of weight, confort, and most importantly grip I’ve been looking for. It would be great to see how they handle the CO 14ers.
Excellent shoe! I bought the 2007 version and I am satisfied with it. I wouldn’t use it for a 100 miler, but it’s my first choice for races from 50k to 50 miles.
I have a pair of Salomon shoes but they are the heavy trail shoes made for the rain and snow which I didn’t really need. I would love to try the light version Salomon.
Thanks,
Cheri
The sleek, sexy look of the speedcross2 nearly had me at “hello,” but I have been wed to its heavier cousin, the XA Comp, for some time now and was not sure if the speedcrosses would offer enough support. They look wonderfully light for racing and I would love to try them out.
I have been looking for a good pair of trail shoes. I just started running ultra’s and need to get better shoes.
They are some nice looking shoes, wouldn’t mind trying a pair.