One of the areas that the Salomon brand chose to change somewhat in this new version of their very popular shoe is the outsole area. Where previous versions found the tread to be more closely packed together and using a less than sticky rubberized material, this shoe is made from Contagrip rubber material that is designed to quickly shed debris and mud, even in the wettest of conditions. The outsole also offers great overall protection from sharp rocks without losing too much flexibility and responsiveness overall.

The midsole of this shoe is constructed out of dual density compressed EVA material that provides great overall feel, that is both firm and protective. It does add to the weight overall, and some may find the responsiveness less than ideal, but the material does offer good stability and cushioning overall.

Another aspect of the midsole area that most runners appreciated was the overall Energy Cell construction. This unique compound is designed to provide a fantastic energy return with every step while being balanced with the overall superior cushioning and durability of the shoe. Most runners found it to be a nice balance between overall comfort and performance when it came to the midsole area.

Perhaps one of the drawbacks to this shoe is the upper portion. The single layer mesh with nylon skeleton material offers adequate protection from most debris and dirt, but we found them to provide a bit of a mixed bag when it came to moisture protection and overall fit. In relatively dry or slightly wet conditions, such as a gentle rain or a puddle-filled trail, these shoes worked remarkably well, but we found them to be easily overwhelmed in a sudden downpour. We did, however, find that the quick-lace system allowed for easy and rapid on the go adjustments, which was a great thing, especially while on the longer runs. The substantial heel cup and toe bumper also provided great overall protection from abrasions and debris. The toe box was also fairly tapered and rounded, which gave to shoe a feel more akin to a true racing shoe.

Not surprisingly, the upper portion of this shoe is highly breathable. The mesh material coupled with the nylon framework easily allow air to circulate through the upper portion of the shoe, allowing for a fairly comfortable ride overall. There were some reports of the outsole and mid-sole not allowing for adequate ventilation, but overall most found this shoe to be a good choice when it came to ventilation while on the trail.

If you have average or narrow width feet, this shoe is likely to quickly become your go-to shoe for running, based on the level of comfort alone. It has a great combination of firmness, weight distribution, shock absorption, and overall fit to make it feel like an extension of your foot instead of merely a shoe. The more rounded toe box is tapered enough to provide a snug fit in the toe area, but still provides enough room for wiggling and maneuvering over rocky terrain. There were very few signs of blistering for the average runner, and both the mid-foot and heel area were held snugly in place even after a 100 miles of hard running.

However, like most shoes from the Salomon brand, if you have wider feet, they may pinch and confine in all the wrong places. The tapered toe box may end up causing a bit too much restriction, and the structural panels on the sides of the shoe may cause a bit of chafing over the long haul. While the quality and comfort may be good for the average runner, the runner with wider feet may simply find too many little things to overlook.

While the lack of design for wider fit may be a problem for some, for those with an average or narrow fit, the shoes also provide another feature that may quickly become a welcomed addition. The Endofit design features an internal sleeve that hugs the foot comfortably, offering great overall support and comfort even over the worst terrains. While this feature may be a bit too restrictive for some, others will find it quite relaxing on the longer runs.

The relatively low profile and vibrant yet fashionable colors make these shoes easy to spot, either on the trail or on the street. The blending of the black and purples appear to be almost seamless, and the overall look is a very popular one for this brand.

One of the areas where this ultra running shoe truly excels is in the overall durability. Countless reports and reviews of this shoe found that they withstood countless road tests and clocked in running miles in excess of 150 without so much as a reduction in overall tread depth. The seams were shown to be extremely tough, and well-made, allowing little if any moisture in, and even the insole was found to be made of a thicker, more durable material overall. If there was ever a shoe that was designed for the long haul, this certainly would be a contender for the top spot.

When it came to protection, however, this shoe provided some mixed results. The overall design and toughness provided fantastic protection from debris and rocks while on the trail, but only moderate to average protection from the weather or moisture overall. Many were underwhelmed by the shoe’s ability to withstand high rains or snowfall, or to help keep the cold out during the runs during the colder months of the year.

While the firmness and overall stability of this shoe are hard to beat, quite a few runners found them to be less than adequate in the responsiveness department. In most running environments and terrains the ratio between feeling the ground and cushioning was good overall, but on more adverse terrains where the ability to quickly adjust and adapt is paramount, the lack of springiness and responsiveness was certainly noticed.

That being said, these shoes do receive relatively high marks for their use of the unique EnergyCell material and overall grading construction to attempt to find the balance between responsiveness overall and long-run worthy cushioning and stability. While some runners may prefer that the shoes lean more towards the responsiveness side of the scale, many will find that over the long haul, comfort and stability is more desirable.

Overall most people simply adored the amount of overall support and comfort that these shoes provided, even and especially in more rugged terrains. The OrthoLite open-cell molded footbed, wider padded tongue and true to size fit simply enveloped the foot of most runners providing great stability and support in a wide range of situations and terrains. Plus the relatively firm mid-sole allowed for great weight distribution.

Another unique aspect of these shoes that many runners, especially those who move over a variety of rocky terrains will appreciate is the use of the Profeel film. This material is designed to engage during the transitional phase to allow for additional support during the time when the shoe is rolling between the heel and toe areas. While this doesn’t sound like much, it can certainly add stability and consistency in your step over the more rugged terrain. This added stability and support in the middle area of the shoe certainly does allow for a more comfortable run over longer distances.

This shoe is clearly designed for trail running and can handle a wide range of changes in terrain, elevation, and angles of descent or ascent. The overall stability and cushioning make it a great choice for overall performance, but it may fall short in situations where flexibility is more important.

One of the drawbacks for many runners, especially those on a budget is the fairly high price tag for this shoe. The average price is approximately $180 dollars, which is a sizable investment, especially for a pair of good running shoes. However, given the superb durability, overall comfort and performance, it can be argued that these shoes are well worth the initial steep investment.

Generally speaking, most runners found these shoes to provide great traction on a wide range of terrains. However, where they really excelled were in places that were slick with wetness or rocky. The trapezoidal lugs are more widely spaced than previous incarnations of this shoe, and the depth of the tread allowed for easy shedding overall of mud and debris while running. Even running through damp clay, which usually swells up and sticks within the treads proved to be only a small obstacle for the traction of these shoes.

For the average ultra-runner, if one exists will probably find little to complain about when it comes to the flexibility of these shoes. They do have a nice balance between firmness, stability, and adaptability when it comes to a wide range of running surfaces. That being said, we feel that there is room for improvement when it comes to the overall flexibility of the shoe, especially if you’re moving over highly variable terrain.

For the most part, the Salomon S/Lab Ultra shows itself to be a bit of a Cadillac compared to the other shoes on the market today. They are a bit heavier, more cushioned, and provide a certain degree of stability, comfort and fit that others simply can’t compete with. However, for some that extra cushioning, support, and weight can become somewhat of a deterrent when it comes to overall nimbleness and performance. If you’re looking for a shoe for relatively short runs over terrains where responsiveness, lightness, and adaptability are key, you might want to look at other options. If you’re needing a shoe for longer runs over a wide range of terrains, this one should certainly be at the top of your list.

Generally speaking, these shoes are probably the most well-performing shoes when it comes to stability that you’ll find on the market today. The thicker outsoles and midsoles combined with the glove-like fit allows for fantastic weight distribution overall while keeping your heels and mid-foot areas nice and stable. That is not to say that there isn’t room for maneuvering; there most certainly is. However, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a shoe that keeps your feet more stable overall a wider range of terrains like this one does.

The Salomon brand is well known for their commitment to the runner and to meeting the challenges that they face on a regular basis. The level of overall stability, comfort, and support of this shoe are simply unrivaled, but it’s not without its share of potential problems. If you have wider feet, the snug fit and tapered toe box may prove to be a bit much to handle. While the protection from the debris of the trail is fantastic, the highly breathable mesh and nylon uppers may simply become overwhelmed in a sudden downpour or snowfall. Of course, there is the price, which may be a bit too steep for some runners who need to work within a budget. All that being said, though, these shoes would probably be a welcomed addition to the equipment bag of most runners.