Running Ranger

Salomon S-LAB Sense Ultra sG

You might, or might not have heard, but Salomon have released their latest trail shoe in the S-Lab range and I’ve been lucky enough to test them through Likeys, who have been given an exclusive by Salomon to sell them.

I’ve always been a fan of the Salomon running range, particularly their clothes, but have never had the opportunity to put their S-Lab shoe range to the test until now. My only experience of running in Salomon shoes before receiving these has been the Speedcross, which as much as I like, never seem to be my shoe of choice for the trails. I put that down to preferring trails shoes with enough flexibility and stability. Speedcross have fantastic traction which goes a long way on muddy trails in the UK but the large 11mm drop from heel to toe causes my ankles to roll and the material around the upper foot feels too rigid and not breathable. They also feel quite heavy on my feet so I very rarely choose these over my other trail shoes such as the New Balance Leadville’s which have served me well in a variety of terrains including deserts and mountains.  

The new S-Lab Sense Ultra’s on the other hand I can guarantee will be my current top of the list when heading out the door to hit the trails. Here's why...

This shoe is the newest and most advanced on the Salomon S-Lab range. They are designed for the trails - they would be perfect for the mountain, rocky and muddy trails. With rubber lugs, spaced by 3mm, you can guarantee the perfect grip on most surfaces. The shoe is unisex, designed to suit all shapes of feet. They are best for neutral runners and retail pice at £145. 

First impressions fresh out the box are how impressive the grip looks, something I really look for in a shoe to improve my confidence on the trails. They look pretty smart too. 

Running in them was quite a pleasure too! They feel sturdy yet flexible and well cushioned yet not too high off the ground. The extra mesh around the upper foot adds to the breathability of the shoe and the lightweight material makes for an easy-to-carry shoe (which immediately makes me think they would be great for hilly races!). They are actually the lightest shoe on the S-Lab range. The front of the shoe has a good amount of width, adding to the stability of the shoes and providing enough wiggle room for the toes. They feel snug, comfortable and durable so I can’t wait to carry on putting them to the test.    

Other useful features include:

• a lace pocket for the laces to be tucked away
• one-pull tightening laces for easy to put on and take off
• anti-debris mesh to prevent debris from getting trapped in the shoe

Though I haven’t yet had the chance to take them out for an ultra distance, I can tell they would be perfect for a long day out in the mountains so they will be my shoe of choice for the 120 km Lavaredo Ultra Trail in June which I cannot wait for!