Name: Jo Ann Moffi
Age: 33
Gender: Female
Height: 5'6" (168 cm)
Weight: 175 lbs (79 kg)
Shoe Size: US 8 women's
Email address: jomoffi AT gmail DOT com
City, State, Country: Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada
Date: August 23, 2006

Backpacking Background

I was introduced to backpacking about 15 years ago when I met my husband. We have been backpacking, canoe camping, car camping, hiking, and participating in all sorts of outdoor activities ever since. We live in a border town (US & Canada), so we spend lots of time in both countries for our outdoor excursions. My most recent foray has been into Adventure Racing. When making a decision on gear, I like to go lightweight and practical. I don't like to carry around extraneous bits and pieces.

Product Information

Manufacturer: Salomon
Year of manufacture: 2005
URL: http://www.salomonsports.com/
Listed weight: 1lb 9 oz (720 g) per pair
Weight as delivered: 1lb 9 oz (720 g) per pair
Material: Sandwich mesh
Lining: OrthoLite
Sole: Running Contagrip, Ground Control System
Lacing: Quickfit
Recommended Use: Adventure racing, mountain running, off trail
Colors Available: Tomcat/Bleu Gris/Cristal -- this review, and
White/Vague/Deep Purple
Warranty: 1 year
MSRP: $129.95

This shoe was designed by Salomon and women athletes for advanced off-trail running. The technology Salomon has incorporated in this shoe includes:
- Advanced Chassis stability system that prevents wasted energy while running through lateral support
- Ground Control Shock absorption system that provides a consistently stable base without energy loss in the running stride, improved cushioning, and reduction in torsional loads on the ankle and knees
- Lightweight, breathable materials for ventilation
- Mudguard to prevent seepage
- Speed Lace system for quick lacing and a perfect fit
- Specific last, collar shape and sole hardness based on women's input
- Contagrip sole that combines several different hardensses to provide the perfect blend of grip and durability when used over mixed terrain at high speeds
- Forefoot flex grooves, self-cleaning lugs, and defined toe off and braking lugs are all features of the outsole that have been field and race tested to tackle any terrain

Bottom line from Salomon: the shoe adapts to the ground, so the foot doesn't have to.

My Opinion on the Look:
The shoe is an attractive grey and blue colour. The bottom 1/3 of the shoe is grey synthetic leather material, the mesh portion is a dusky blue colour that covers the toes and runs along the sides of the shoe. The tongue is also made of the mesh material; although it is padded with the same material as the insides of the shoe along the heel and the back 1/3 of the foot. The mesh portion is only permeable along the front 2/3 of the shoe where it is unlined on the inside of the shoe.

The soles are black and grey with Salomon's Contagrip pattern. The heel portion of the sole has four round yellow rubber 'nuts', which extend up into the sole. The back portion of the rubber right under the heel is a clear rubber and these yellow 'nuts' can be seen through the rubber. I would think they are a shock compression detail of the shoe. The dirt does not show significantly on the shoes and they are easy to clean with a little water and rubbing with my fingers. The quick lacing system is a thinner than usual lace with a plastic slider that is pressed and slides along the lace to tighten. It is laced as a regular running shoe is; the plastic slider replaces the bow or knot. The tongue has a pocket where the quick lacing system's slider tucks into to keep it from flopping around.

Field Information

Location or locations where the shoes were worn:
In and around Sault Ste Marie, Ontario, upper Michigan, and Anchorage, Alaska

Description of Location(s):
In Sault Ste Marie and upper Michigan I used these shoes for running on snow -- both hard packed and slushy, pavement, concrete, dirt trails, muddy trails, gravel trails and roads. In Alaska I used these on hard packed snow, slushy snow over paved trails, concrete, pavement, gravel trails, and muddy trails. Distance ranged from 2 km (1.2 miles) to 10 km (6.2 miles).

Most of the terrain was level with gradual inclines/declines, some of the hard packed snow trails were uneven and rough from previous users, the same goes for the muddy and slushy trails. I have also used these shoes for walking/hiking the Lake Superior shoreline, in sand, over rocks, through the bush and brush on game trails. I wore these shoes pretty consistently for about 4 months, logging about 300 km (186 miles).

Weather Conditions:
Anything from sunny early spring to rain/wet snow. Temperatures ranged from 14 F (-10 C) to 49 F (15 C).

Product Review

These shoes were purchased in late winter/early spring of 2006. I am going from road running to trail running and I was looking for (a) something that was going to provide more support than my regular running shoes, (b) a shoe that will help keep my perpetually hot feet cool, and (c) not cause blisters or pressure sores.

I was very happy that there was no break-in period with these shoes, no rub spots, no pressure areas. This to me is a sign that I have got the right fit for my feet and the shoe is well made. I purchased a size 7.5, a half size smaller than I usually do based on some other online recommendations. The shoes fit extremely well from the first time I put them on. The lacing system was a bit to get used to, I don't like my shoes really tight over the top of my metatarsals because I'm prone to neuromas in that area. The manufacturer suggests just pulling on the lace system to tighten them and they will self adjust to be evenly snug, where as I am pulling up on the first couple of lace crossings at the toe to keep the pressure off that area. The toe box is a bit narrower than any other shoe I have owned.

Performance wise, these are great shoes. They are very comfortable to run in. However, I was disappointed the mesh over the toes. It lets a significant amount of sand and dirt filter through. After one 1 km (0.62 mile) trek on a sandy beach my socks and toes were gritty with sand. This also occurs after walking or running on dusty roads. I would anticipate that if I wore these shoes for a run along a beach, and then continued for any distance without dealing with the sand I would end up with sores around my toes. I have avoided using these in conditions that have a lot of sand or small particulate that ends up filtering through the mesh of the shoe. After about a month of wearing them for running and trekking, both shoes developed a squeak under the little plastic portions of the lacing system which has not gone away.

Summary

My original reasons for buying these shoes were for more support, keeping my feet cool, and not causing any blisters. The shoes met my expectations in these areas. My shoe expectations have changed as a result of these shoes. I would not buy these shoes again. Since the sand and dust gets in so easily, any pair of socks I wear with them come out dirty after being in the shoes for even a short period of time. I am still happy with the comfort and performance of the shoe
and I will continue to wear them until they wear out.

Read more reviews of Salomon gear
Read more gear reviews by Jo Ann Moffi

Owner Review by Jo Ann Moffi

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