The Salomon Pulsar. All photos: iRunFar/Bryon Powell
It’s been a while since Salomon put out a new shoe for moderate terrain at a mid-range price point, and the Salomon Pulsar ($140) is one that I’m truly excited about. I’ve got over 250 miles on these, which I should note are not the S/Lab version, and I’m already getting another pair lined up for when I retire these to the low-impact dog-walk sidelines in another 150 miles. In my opinion, the lightweight Pulsar is everything the Salomon Sense Ride 5 was trying to be as the shoe line evolved, but never quite made it. The flawless Salomon-style fit has a snug heel and midfoot, and enough space for toe splay. It is not as snug as the Salomon Speedcross 6, and has more volume vertically than either version of the Salomon Genesis. There’s no squeak or pinch point at the medial ball of the foot that plagued later versions of the Sense Ride, and the midsole is springy and resilient.
The Pulsar has a 6-millimeter drop, which means I need a heel lift to get my preferred 8-millimeter drop range, but it’s a mid-range drop good for many runners. I find the shoe offers a nice balance between underfoot protection and ground feel, which gives me confidence on calmer yet still hilly terrain. With an actual weight of 10.2 ounces (290 grams) for a U.S. men’s 9, it’s light enough that I feel pretty peppy I my step and genuinely look forward to pushing the pace on some runs.
With a stack height of 30 millimeters at the heel and 24 millimeters at the forefoot, the cushion is considered moderate but is proving to be extremely resilient even as the miles stack up. The ride is smooth and agile without any high-tech plates and shapes, allowing for any runner to move at a variety of paces efficiently. The lack of a rock plate relegates it firmly to the realm of smoother terrain for me, but it functions perfectly as a daily trail trainer on hilly singletrack and dirt roads. I find it to be very similar to the Nike Pegasus Trail 5, which is currently my other favorite sub-ultra mild-to-moderate terrain shoe.
It’s worth noting that like other Salmon shoes, the shoe sizing runs big. I wear a full size smaller than what I wear from most other brands.
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Salomon Pulsar Upper
A lateral view of the Salomon Pulsar.
The Salomon Pulsar upper is easily recognizable as a Salomon shoe with the Quicklace system at the front and center. The laces feed through webbing loops over a perfectly padded and somewhat understated gusseted tongue, and they tuck away in a lace garage. No one does the Quicklace-style better than Salomon, and it’s easy to customize the fit once before heading out, and I never need to adjust it again during the run. The lacing system integrates with the familiar sensiFIT design that cradles the midfoot, and the endoFIT internal sleeve hugs the foot to create the precise fit for which Salomon is known.
The durable synthetic woven mesh offers excellent breathability. Though I found that some fine dirt and sand could enter through the larger pore mesh, the overlays around the upper midfoot and lower encircling rands keep most of it out. The shoe dries quickly on the run or overnight, should stream crossings or surprise snow add some excitement to a run.
The heel is structured without being obtrusive, and the padded ankle collar is just right, even for those with lower ankle bones and sensitive Achilles. I was incredibly impressed by the toe bumper — it’s been a rough toe-catching autumn, but my toes remain completely unscathed, unlike a few other bony prominences. Salomon didn’t reinvent any wheels with the upper, nor did it need to, and I’m thankful that the brand remains consistent in what it offers.
Salomon Pulsar Midsole
A medial view of the Salomon Pulsar.
I’m inordinately pleased with the Salomon Pulsar midsole. Even after 250 miles, the shoe is still comfortable on dry, hard-packed singletrack and shorter dirt road sections that could normally pound the legs and feet. Salomon’s Optifoam2 midsole is responsive without being too bouncy, and I could feel the energy absorption and return, especially as my legs fatigued or I had to finish my trail run with a bit of pavement.
There’s a certain pop, or feeling of dense, responsive cushioning that remains underfoot from the beginning to the end of each run that keeps the legs happy. I don’t know if this midsole would be protective or cushioned enough for me at ultra distances, but for training or racing up to 20 miles, they are just fine. Lifetime miles mean I prefer more cushion underfoot for 50 kilometers and beyond.
Salomon Pulsar Outsole
The outsole of the Salomon Pulsar.
The Salomon Pulsar has an all-terrain Contagrip outsole that is holding up well over the miles. There is a little scuffing on the lateral aspect of the heel lugs, but little sign of wear anywhere else. Lugs of varying shapes and directions dot the outsole, and their 4-millimeter height and spacing ensure that all but clay-like mud sheds easily. The relatively low lug height also means mud is unable to stack very deep, even if conditions get sticky.
I find traction confidence to be strong on most wet, dry, and hard surfaces around Colorado, as well as on sand and fine dirt covering hard-packed surfaces. The outsole also performs well on rocks, as well as on inclines and easier descents. The lugs aren’t aggressive enough to make this a true all-mountain shoe for me, but neither is the rest of the shoe. The Pulsar doesn’t excel in greasy mud or snow, but if you encounter bits here and there, it does fine enough. The outsole matches the rest of the shoe in that it’s excellent on those mild and moderate trail and dirt road runs. I’m very pleased with the durability thus far and expect the outsole will outlive the midsole as I approach 400 miles.
Salomon Pulsar Overall Impressions
A top view of the Salomon Pulsar.
The Salomon Pulsar is an excellent daily trail running shoe for less aggressive terrain. It keeps the bells and whistles to a minimum in exchange for consistent, comfortable performance. The Pulsar trends toward the zippier and more agile end of the daily shoe spectrum, and it would be ideal for racing a trail half marathon. It reminds me that I still have some quickness in me if I choose to push it, yet it doesn’t lack in comfort and smoothness of ride if I’m all about the views rather than the pace. I love the resilience of the midsole, even later into the life of the shoe, and I’m pleased with the durability that, in my experience, has been a hallmark of Salomon shoes.
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Call for Comments
- Have you run in the Salomon Pulsar? What did you think?
- What other daily trainers do you turn to?
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