Salomon Speedcross 3

The outsole of the Salomon Speedcross 3 is very solid and unique in several ways. First off, is its use of Salomon’s “Mud and Snow Contragrip” material. This material can be found on the outsole and is designed to protect from all sorts of impacts and abrasions that can be found on trails, and increases the overall longevity of the shoes quite a bit. Another important aspect of the Salomon Speedcross 3 outsole is seen in the rubber lugs that cover the bottom. The rubber lugs are designed to greatly increase the grip of the shoe. This is very important as trail runners might have to ender rain, snow, mud, and all sorts of other treacherous conditions. Overall, the outsole of the Salomon Speedcross 3 is pretty solid and does a good job of providing durability, grip, and protection.

The midsole of the Salomon Speedcross is another solid component overall. The main material used is EVA foam, which is a common choice for running shoes due to its lightweight nature, durability, and its ability to return energy. The midsole actually features two kinds of EVA foam, injected and molded. These together help reduce hard impacts and increase stability and energy return with every stride. It also contains a piece called the LT Muscle, which is designed to absorb more impacts and provide a more smooth stride. Finally, there is also an Ortholite sock liner, which is supposed to add more cushioning to the underfoot area and also help prevent sweat buildup inside the shoe. Overall, the midsole is fairly solid and offers the pretty good technology.

The upper of the Salomon Speedcross 3 is very impressive, boasting many useful and important features that help it protect the foot, while also remaining breathable and flexible. First, there is an Anti-Debris Mesh upper. This is designed to keep common debris from trails, which can often be very frustrating and irritating, out of the shoe. The upper is also water resistant. This is different from waterproof, which goes a step further, but the water resistance is a very handy touch that helps prevent the shoe from getting bogged down with water when running in wetter areas.

Another interesting feature of the upper is its Mudguard, located at the base, which helps prevent mud from getting on the shoe. Yet another feature of the upper is the Quicklace system implemented by Salomon. This system is designed to allow for quick customization of shoe tightness, something that definitely comes in handy when a quick readjustment is needed. Finally, the upper has synthetic overlays called the Sensifit system, which helps secure the foot whenever the laces are tightened. Clearly, the upper is a strong piece of the Salomon Speedcross 3, offering great features and unique technology.

The Salomon Speedcross 3 weighs in at just around 11 oz for men, and a bit less for women. This is a bit on the heavier side compared to many popular trainers in today’s market, but is very reasonable when considering that the Speedcross 3 is a trail running shoe. Trail runners tend to be heavier, as they require a bit more protection and padding from all the obstacles and dangers of the trail, which aren’t really found on the road. The weight of the Speedcross 3 is to be expected, and does not stray far from expectations of a trail shoe.

Breathability is one vector of the Salomon Speedcross 3 where there have been some complaints and issues. This can probably be attributed in part to the upper design, which does a great job keeping trail debris and water out, but could maybe do a better job allowing air to circulate into the shoe. That said, the breathability of the Speedcross 3 is not terribly bad, just a bit less than is to be expected of a running shoe today. Overall, breathability is definitely a bit of a weak spot for the Salomon Speedcross 3.

Every runner knows how important comfort is when looking at any new pair of trainers. It is vital to consider that a shoe will be worn for many miles, so any discomfort will probably not be resolved quickly. As a whole, the Salomon Speedcross 3 is a fairly comfortable shoe. The upper is a big part of this. It fits snugly, and also is flexible thanks to its Sensifit design, allowing it to fit perfectly to every runner’s feet. The midsole also contributes to the shoe’s comfort, with its EVA foam, which is known for being responsive, springy, and light. Finally, the outsole with its good grip also makes for a comforting stride. Overall, comfort is solid on the Salomon Speedcross 3.

Salomon is a bit less known than many other popular shoe brands like Adidas and Nike. For that reason, Salomon is also less frequently brought up for use as a casual everyday shoe as well. That said, the Speedcross 3 is a fairly attractive shoe, with a clean design and offered in a myriad of colors. It is worth noting that certain colors can be found for a much lower price than others, so for those with no major color preferences, this is something worth looking into. As a whole, the Speedcross 3 is a solid looking shoe but generally lacks the ability to be used as an everyday shoe, unlike many other popular trainers.

Durability is definitely something to think about when considering any new shoe. Bad durability leads to worn out shoes, which in turn will need to be replaced. The Speedcross 3 has no major problems with durability, and as a whole is a fairly durable shoe. The outsole is a big part of this. Its unique Mud and Snow Contragrip design, as mentioned earlier, does a great job extending the lifespan of the outsole and protecting the bottom of the shoe. The midsole is also quite durable, as it is constructed of EVA foam, which tends to retain its shape and springiness well over long periods of time. Overall, the durability of the Speedcross 3 is quite solid and the shoes should be expected to last a solid length of time.

When it comes to protection, the Salomon Speedcross 3 is pretty solid. It definitely needs to be as well, considering all the dangers present in trail running that are not found in the city. The Speedcross 3 has an upper designed to keep out debris, which is an important form of protection for sure. Another way that the Salomon Speedcross protects the feet is via the cushioning of the midsole, which is especially necessary on trails due to the rougher ground and rocks that can come up. Finally, the outsole again comes in with the Mud and Snow Contragrip, which is designed to protect the outsole from various impacts that can occur on trails. The protection offered by the Speedcross 3 is quite good overall.

Responsiveness generally tends to be a product of the midsole, and the Salomon Speedcross 3 is not an exception. The midsole is composed of EVA foam which is known for being a fairly responsive material, which translates to solid responsiveness overall. The Speedcross 3 has decent responsiveness but definitely isn’t groundbreaking by any stretch of the imagination.

The Salomon Speedcross 3 is a well-supported shoe. The upper in particular is a strong proponent of this through several of its features. First, the overlays which are tied to the laces help keep the shoe snug and secure, and also support the foot from above. Also, the quick lacing system allows for a more solid fit and in turn better overall support. Finally, the midsole via its cushioning and material help provide support for the foot when running as well. The support offered by the Salomon Speedcross 3 is good as a whole.

The Salomon Speedcross 3 is well equipped to work on all sorts of terrains. Whether trail or road, the Speedcross should give a good performance. Even in rain or snow, the Speedcross is equipped with the tools to still run well. This is often to be expected of trail shoes, but is still quite impressive and is a very unique and strong feature of the shoe.

Price is another extremely important factor when looking at any pair of running shoes. The price for the Salomon Speedcross 3 is a bit interesting. The shoe can be found at a fairly low price for specific colors but a bit of a high price for other colors. If color is not a preference, then the Speedcross 3 can be found at a great deal, but for those seeking specific colors that are the more expensive ones, the shoes can get quite pricey.

Traction of the Speedcross 3 is a strong point of the shoe. The outsole is the main factor in this. It provides traction via the rubber lugs located on it. This traction is especially important on trails, where surfaces are not as smooth or paved as roads, and weather plays an important factor as well.

In the case of the Speedcross 3, the flexibility is pretty solid throughout, but not really exceptional in any way. The upper is not the common mesh design seen in many trainers today, which would have promoted flexibility a great deal. That said, the upper still does allow for a decent range of movement despite not being mesh. The midsole is decently flexible as well, which again can be attributed to the EVA foam contained within it. Flexibility probably isn’t a strong point of the Speedcross 3, but it isn’t really a weak spot either.

A shoes' stability is indicative of how well the shoe supports a runner’s natural steps, which is important for preventing injury. The Speedcross 3 is quite stable, which is definitely necessary for trail shoes. The upper is the main force in this, with its overlays offering good stability, in tandem with its Sensifit technology. The midsole and outsole contribute to this as well of course, with their cushioning. Stability is important in trail shoes, and the Speedcross 3 definitely delivers in that aspect.

The Salomon Speedcross 3 contains a drop of 11mm. 11 mm is fairly standard of most shoes and appears to be the proper size for a shoe of this type. The drop is to be expected and is not really a positive or negative feature overall.

•Mud and Snow Contragrip

•Sensifit Upper

•Mud protection via the back of upper

•LT Muscle for added protection

•Anti-Debris mesh

•Stylish color schemes

•non-marking rubber outsole

•Dual-density EVA midsole

•Ortholite insole

•Protective rubber toe cap

•Quicklace system

• water-resistant

Overall the Salomon Speedcross 3 is a very solid trail shoe. Despite being a bit older, it still offers good technology and solid design fit for the various terrains of trail running. The price is a bit of a toss-up depending on the color, but great deals can definitely be found. The Speedcross 3 is a solid shoe for anyone seeking a durable, and well-equipped shoe for extended trail running. Another great shoe that we reviewed is the Salomon XT6 trail running shoe, which you should also check out.