Salomon XA Pro 3D Ultra 2 Trail-Running Shoes - Men's

Comments about Salomon XA Pro 3D Ultra 2 Trail-Running Shoes - Men's:

Oftentimes we hold onto preconceived notions like they are rote fact. For a long time the conventional wisdom has been that you must wear heavy duty, high-top boots when you are hiking or backpacking, especially in rugged terrain. And for some people, this is probably true. But not everyone. I am a lightweight guy (5'10"/155 lbs) and for summertime backpacking I have all but thrown out my clunky hiking boots in favor of lightweight trail runners. The trick is to find a shoe with either a full, or at least 3/4 length, hard plastic plate running through the sole of the shoe, usually either nylon or urethane. This is what gives your shoes the extra support you need to accommodate the weight of a pack on your back, and also protects the bottoms of your feet from jagged rocks. The Salomon XA Pro 3D Ultra has a 3/4 length plate, which means it runs from the heel to the ball of your foot, but not under your toes. There are a few different lightweight trail shoes out there with a urethane plate, but these Salomons are my favorite so far. I hiked the entire AT in these shoes (2200 miles in 130 days), hiked the Colorado Trail in them (450 miles in 25 days), have done Class 3 14ers like Longs Peak, innumerable trail runs, etc. They're absolutely great, and I no longer have any use for full-size boots unless there's snow on the ground. Now, that being said, I rarely carry a pack heavier than 40 lbs (usually 25-30). If you're the type of guy that likes to carry an 80-liter pack stuffed to the gills, with your trusty dutch oven hanging off the back, low-top trail runners may not be right for you. Similarly if you're overweight, or have a propensity for sprained ankles, etc. But don't shy away from them just because of dogmatic conventional "wisdom" about boots and backpacking! Lastly, I would not recommend going with the GTX, especially for multi-day hiking. I'm assuming you're wearing these in warm weather, and if you're wearing low-tops in the summer then they're going to get wet no matter what - whether it's sweat from your own foot, rain water trickling down your legs and into your shoes, stream water coming in over the sides, whatever. But the regular (non GTX) versions breath WAY better, and therefore will dry out much faster and be much more comfortable to wear throughout the day. Wide feet, take note - this shoe is also offered in a wide size, although not every retailer carries it.

Comments about Salomon XA Pro 3D Ultra 2 Trail-Running Shoes - Men's:

Frankly, I'm not sure why Salomon makes the wide (M+) version of the XA Pro. The XA Pro may be a nice shoe for folks with narrow feet, but it isn't worth a second look for those with a wide foot or wide forefoot.

First, the good stuff: this is a very nice looking trail shoe!

Having compared the wide and regular XA Pro side by side, there isn't much of a difference between the two beyond a slightly wider heel counter. The forefoot and midfoot are nearly the same size. On my foot, the only functional difference was that the wide XA Pro had a lot more heel slip than the regular width.

The kevlar lacing setup introduces other problems, especially for someone with a wide foot or wide forefoot. Since you can't control how snug each part of the foot is, you risk pinching some parts of your foot to lockdown others. Even if you remove the kevlar and install regular laces, the lack of an extra set of eyelets makes it impossible to loop lace. It's a neat gimmick and it might work on some feet, but it isn't adaptable. I wasn't able to get a solid fit without pulling the laces tight to the point of pain.

Doesn't take orthotics very well. Superfeet Green are out of the question. Even Superfeet Blue were too big and wide. Heavily trimmed orthotics may work.

Unfortunately, these are going to have to go back- and with it, my 20% off discount.

Comments about Salomon XA Pro 3D Ultra 2 Trail-Running Shoes - Men's:

The fit of the shoe is true to its size. I'm a size 12 in every other shoe and thats what I got. The lacing system is a little different to get use too but after a few times you learn to get the perfect fit. I was a little concerned about the heal lock on the shoe at first but after a few trail runs it is no problem. I've never had a blister, hot spot or any soreness from the shoe during runs/hikes. I live in New Mexico so I run in very rugged terrain. My last run was exceptionally brutal but I never even thought about my feet. The stability on the mixed terrain was superb. Never slipped and never even came close to rolling an ankle. These are now my favorite shoes for running and day hiking. i'd almost even consider doing an overnighter in them even tho I'm avid about having ankle support when backpacking. We'll see what happens when weather warms up enough. Superb shoe and I would and will defiantly buy again. I don't think I could go back to anything else after having these.

Comments about Salomon XA Pro 3D Ultra 2 Trail-Running Shoes - Men's:

This was my fourth pair of these shoes and I've always given them rave reviews. I ran he second half of a 50 mile run in them and had no complaints until this pair. Ran in them 2 times with no woes, then ran on Berryman Trail. First water crossing the insoles started bunching up. Both shoes did this. They bunched under the toes and made it impossible to continue. They seem to be very thin. Need to be stiff to keep from doing this. Want these shoes to work but I sense Salomon is now catering to the Eddie Bauer crowd (yes they sell them now) instead of the trail runners. Without proper insoles these will not function as trail runners.

Comments about Salomon XA Pro 3D Ultra 2 Trail-Running Shoes - Men's:

I've had these shoes a month now. I was looking for something other than a atheletic/running shoe or work boot for work and everyday use and wanted a light weight hiker type boot or shoe. Salomon has always made great boots and I'd heard that the fit was very good too. I like the light weight of these. They fit just right and don't have a lot of slop. My work is inside and outside. I'm in and out of houses everyday in dry weather and wet. At first wear they were not very comfortable and needed more arch. I worked in a set of the Surefit insoles and they only got worse (way too hard). I've changed to a heat moldable insole and now the shoes are perfect for fit. I like the lacing system too. As for traction on dry/wet terrain inside and out, the shoe really sticks to the ground well and will trip you up if your not mindful. You will get used to it. The only type terrain these shoes don't like is smooth wet/damp surfaces like tile and terrrazo. They will creep and slip on you. Otherwise, I like the shoe and would recommend it to others. Back in 6 months to follow up.

Comments about Salomon XA Pro 3D Ultra 2 Trail-Running Shoes - Men's:

Solomon trail runners are the most comfortable shoes made. These are great here in the desert since they breath well, but they are not waterproof.

Comments about Salomon XA Pro 3D Ultra 2 Trail-Running Shoes - Men's:

First of all, let me start by the things I liked about the shoe. It looks great, has a solid construction and seemed to be quite comfortable, at first.

After a few runs, I noticed a little heel slippage, which with a traditional lacing system, is an easy fix. However, the problem lies with the Kevlar® Quickfit™ lacing system. The inability to adjust or loop and generally being stuck with too loose or too tight of a fit without being able to customize the fit with the laces, is where this shoe fails.

After developing heel blisters on both feet, I still used them for a while, since I'm of the school of thought that good heel calluses are great for running, hiking, etc. I gave the shoes a more than adequate breaking in period and instead of improving fit and comfort, the problem not only persisted, but got worse.

The overall construction is great, but until Salomon changes their lacing system, I believe I've bought my last pair of running shoes from them.

Comments about Salomon XA Pro 3D Ultra 2 Trail-Running Shoes - Men's:

This is my second pair of Saloman trail-running shoes so part of this review is based on my past experience with them.

My old pair:
These were some of the more comfortable shoes that I have ever owned and they are excellent for doing just about anything. I spent an entire summer wearing these on 4 miles of commuting to work (on foot or bike depending on the weather), as well as all of the time that I spent in a biology lab and at our field sites, and even at the gym and on trails with the dog every evening. Basically, I gave these a run for their money and they really came through for me.

The problem was that they wore out very quickly. The tread on the ball of my foot went first (I run and walk on the balls of my feet). Despite this, I still use these for field work and I have never had problems with walking on trails and really rough terrain and sometimes even in rivers. The other problem was that one of the pull laces broke at a grommet although is still functional.

The new pair:
These seem to be better constructed. The pull-laces seem hardier, as do the traction and the fabric at the back of the shoe. They are just as comfortable although they do need some time to break in before using for strenuous field running. And the best part, they are still just as comfortable.

I am hitting the "I would recommend this to a friend" button with one condition, be prepared to not have these shoes last for a long time.

Comments about Salomon XA Pro 3D Ultra 2 Trail-Running Shoes - Men's:

Great all pupose shoe. Did a Grand Canyon rim to rim hike in them and they performed superbly. The toe box was a bit tight at first, but overall they handled the mixed terrain and distance very well.

Comments about Salomon XA Pro 3D Ultra 2 Trail-Running Shoes - Men's:

I am an avid mountain hiker and live in the desert. these shoes keep my feet feeling fresh and ready for the next days adventures. hands down the best outdoor shoes i have ever had the privilege of wearing.