Owner Review by Lynne Durham

Owner Review: Salomon XA Pro 2 Trail-Running Shoes
Product Web site: http://www.salomonsports.com/

Owner: Lynne Durham
Gender: Female
Height: 5' 10" (1.78 m)
Weight: 153 lb (69 kg)
Shoe size: US Women's 10
Age: 42
Torso: 17" (43.18 cm) as measured by my favorite backpacking shop
Email: lynnedurham AT yahoo DOT com
Web: http://www.lynnedurham.net
Location: Benton Harbor, Michigan, USA
Date: September 21, 2004

Tester Background: I am a backpacking novice - my first trip was in 2002. I have hiked and car camped all of my life, mostly in the relative flatlands of the lower and upper peninsulas of Michigan, but also in areas east of the Continental Divide, such as South Dakota, New England, Kentucky, Florida, Ohio, Indiana, and more. So far, all of my camping and backpacking has been 3-season, but I plan to expand to winter camping this year. I keep my pack weight to 25% of bodyweight or less but I always bring optional or comfort items.

My other outdoor experience includes trail running and snowshoeing; I am a paddling, climbing and adventure racing novice.

Product purchased: 2004
MSRP: Currently retails for USD90.00
Manufacturer: Salomon

Product specifications:

Durable, multi-layer mesh
Gusseted tongue (material connecting the tongue to the upper)
One-pull Quickfit lacing system
Dual-density EVA midsoles, thermoplastic foot plates
Rubberized toe and heel caps
Contagrip¨ 2 rubber outsoles

Color: Grey with a red stripe (they had some odd marketing name for the colors, I don't remember what they were)
Size: US women's size 10 (EU 43). Available in 6-10, 11.
Weight: ManufacturerÕs claimed average weight per pair: 1 lb. 8 oz. (0.68 kg) (based on US women's size 7 [EU 37.5]); actual weight 1 lb. 11 oz. (0.77 kg) (US women's size 10 [EU 43]).

Prior to purchasing the XA Pro 2, I was on an extended quest for my perfect trail shoe. Coming from a road running background, I started with the Brooks Trail Addiction and Adrenaline because I love my Brooks road shoes. I didn't like either of them. Then, I switched to New Balance, but I can't remember what number. I liked those, but wasn't satisfied with their durability: the outsole started separating after less than 300 miles (483 km). I dallied with others, including adidas. Finally, I got involved with adventure racing and stumbled on the XA Pro 2.

Over the past 8 months, I've put approximately 520 miles (837 km) on these shoes. All of these miles have occurred in Michigan, Indiana, or Ohio on a variety of surfaces: rooty forest trails, crushed limestone rail-trails, grassy meadows, asphalt roads, and my dreaded nemesis: sand dunes. These shoes have been used for runs, hikes and walks, ranging from 3 miles (5 km) to 30 miles (48.3 km) in length. Traditional running wisdom says that one should replace shoes at around 500 miles (805 km), but these Salomons are still going strong. The only signs of wear at this time are a light wearing-down of the outsole rubber, and a cosmetic issue (the logo is wearing off the back). There is no discernable breakdown of the midsole at this point (from a support standpoint).

The quick-lace system mentioned above consists of a cord with a plastic "tab" on it. This cord runs through an asymmetrical set of lacing holes on the "Sensifit" overlays. According to the manufacturer, the overlays exist for support, protection and best fit. To "lace" the shoe, one simply tugs on the plastic tab until it fits as desired, then tucks the tab and excess lace into a pocket on the shoe's tongue. The manufacturer claims that this allows for independent adjustment of midfoot and forefoot lacing. However, I have found that this system does not provide the flexibility one gets by using a traditional lacing system in alternate lacing patterns.

The sole features a sawtooth pattern and offers great traction on the types of trails I traverse. However, I have not used them on rocky, slick terrain so I cannot speak to the stickiness of the Contragrip rubber outsole.

The airy mesh construction allows this shoe to drain and dry relatively quickly. These same features, however, can be a liability. During nearly 6 hours of sand-dune hiking, sand continually poured into the shoe via the mesh. As soon as I emptied the shoes, they would immediately fill up again. I lost two toe nails due to the cement-like pressure of the sand on my toes. Additionally, despite repeated washing (remove insole, hose down thoroughly), I dumped sand out of these shoes for 3 weeks.

This mesh also allows the shoes to dry relatively quickly. Water effectively drains out through the mesh. (Conversely, water also enters through the mesh.)

From a multi-day backpacking point of view, I have worn these shoes on forested trails in Michigan, including the Manistee River Pathway (MRP) (which is relatively hilly for flat, flat, flat Michigan). During the MRP trip, I carried a pack weight of more than 35 pounds (15.88 kg) over 85 miles (137 km). The shoes were comfortable and supportive, even under these conditions.

Alas, I still have not found my perfect trail shoe. Although these shoes fit very well in the store and are fine on shorter runs (15 miles [24 km] and under), the narrow toe box just doesn't do me good on days when I run long. I am not a person prone to blisters or black toenails, but I have experienced both of these with the XA Pro 2. I suspect if I sized up 1/2 size, it would be fine. However, these shoes do not seem to be available in US women's size 10.5.

BENEFITS OF THESE SHOES:

Good trail traction
The quick-lacing system is very cool. Tug, tuck and the shoes are ready to go
Durable -- still going strong well after 500 miles (805 km)
Comfortable and supportive, even under pack weight

LIMITATIONS OF THESE SHOES:

Toe box seems more narrow and less deep than many running shoes
The quick-lacing system is a benefit, but it's also a limitation: there isn't as much control as one gets by varying traditional lacing patterns
Mesh upper tends to hold sand, despite repeated washing

Summary: This is a good, durable trail runner. The airiness of the mesh and materials make it speedy to dry. The sawtooth soles offer great traction.

Read more reviews of Salomon gear
Read more gear reviews by Lynne Durham

Reviews > Footwear > Trail Shoes > Salomon XA Pro 2 Trail-Running Shoes > Owner Review by Lynne Durham

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