Salomon XA Elevate
Salomon is synonymous with protection for all runners who desire to run in complicated, irregular, technical and even aggressive terrain, where they can run at a quick pace without caring too much where they tread. The Salomon XA Elevate, a new entry in the brand’s ‘On & Off trail’, maintains the same philosophy offering protection and stability in trails. Despite their robust appearance, they are light and skillful in their construction. With the patented Premium Wet Contagrip in the outsole, the traction offered is great and with the exception of deep mud, there is no terrain not suitable for the XA Elevate. Of course, the phrase “make the goat for the mountain” literally fits what the brand promises us with these shoes. The XA Elevate is also available in Gote-tex which is a waterproof, breathable membrane that keeps the foot nice and dry.
The advanced chassis provides stability in ascents and descents
The traction of the Premium Wet Traction Contagrip outsole provides excellent performance on most terrains.
Profeel film protects the toes from trail debris
Durable as it lasts for hundreds of miles without signs of wear and tear
Affordably priced
Moderate breathability due to thick mesh on the upper
Is only water resistant but has another Gore-Tex version which is waterproof
Outsole
Midsole
It also has a full-length energy Cell+ that brings some bounce into the shoe.
Providing an extra layer of cushioning is a molded EVA sockliner which is not only soft to the touch but also has much-needed odor control properties during trail runs.
Upper
The shoe goes for Salomon’s patented Quicklace system. This system allows runners to tighten or loosen the laces with one quick pull on the clicker. There is a little pocket on the tongue in which you can store your rolled up laces, so you don’t have to worry about tripping or having to re-tie them. The laces are supposedly 4 times stronger than traditional laces and tuck nicely into the lace garage at the top. On the inside of the shoe, we can see the Ortholite memory foam sockliner which provides great step-in feel everytime a runner puts the shoe on.
Weight
Read also about waterproof runners.
Breathability
Comfort
Style
Durability
Runners have tested the Elevate for 200 km and have seen minimal wear in the shoe with the upper scratch-free even though the vegetation was abundant on the trail. The other characteristics remained intact: It maintained the same level of grip as at the beginning and the collar did not show deformity which can allow us to confirm that the XA Elevate is highly durable.
Protection
The heel cup is padded thickly which grabs and holds the ankle on steep climbs. The tongue features a full gusset that keeps out dirt and trail debris adding to the level of protection provided by the shoe. This feature can also be seen in the Salomon XA Pro 3D.
Responsiveness
Read also about vivo barefoot running shoes.
Support
Terrain
Price
Traction
Flexibility
Stability
In older trail running shoes like the XA Pro 3D, X Ultra 3, or Wings Pro 2, Salomon used a plastic 3D chassis to provide a solid underfoot ride. But for this shoe, a dual density midsole with EVA foam is used instead of using plastic. This does not compromise stability in any way but adds a touch of comfort which is needed on long runs.
Drop
Key Features
Contagrip Wet Traction outsole
5mm Trapezoidal lugs that grip the surface and provide channels for water to escape
Energy Cell+ EVA midsole for a moderate rebound
Profeel film Chassis in the midsole for protection against trail debris
Sensifit Upper to cradle your feet around the upper
Quicklace lacing system
Bottom Line
The XA Elevate makes true of its promises by offering great grip, stability, and protection in a visually clean package. At its price point, this shoe is a great option for runners who are looking to explore technical terrain.
The shoe fits true to size and is less wide in the toe box compared to previous Salomon shoes. With a firm and stiff midsole, the XA Elevate can take your focus out of your feet and into the terrain and your run itself.