Salomon Speedcross Vario 2 Men's Trail Running Shoes, Hard and soft surface Grip, Foothold, and Protection

Product Information

When on cement, it will not be the jarring ride that the Pro gives, while still giving you the grip desired for most surfaces.

However, if you are in a forested or mountainous area and hit the trails often, the Pros will offer that extra grip, easier lacing, water shedding and a slightly softer ride that holds up to higher mileage. Pronounced lugs and a hard-wearing Contagrip sole make the shoe look rugged and ready for muddy stuff. Performance of the Speedcross Vario 2 I’d bought them for a cross country race that day, so I had no time to break them in. I’ve since competed in several other events and run in them socially, and they sit well with me.The most important thing to know about this sole unit is that the cushioning is quite firm. Most most runs, I personally enjoy that, and when I took the shoe on an 8-mile mountainous route, and felt great the whole time. A trail shoe is a different proposition to a regular road shoe. You want to be reassured in its sturdiness and durability, but you don’t want to feel like you’re running around in clogs—tough gig!

The first run I did in them was on a cement/gravel trail, going 5 miles and feeling good the whole time. Salomon SpeedCross Vario Sole Info The sole unit of this shoe uses Salomon’s Molded Eva, Lightweight Muscle and Injected Eva cushioning to make sure your feet are padded throughout the run. The sole itself uses Salomon’s Constagrip technology. Unboxing the Speedcross Vario 2’s, I found them sturdy but not too heavy. They feel rigid but not overly unwieldy and not noticeably heavier than a well-cushioned pair of road shoes.The midsole is injected EVA foam and relatively thin compared to some more cushioned runners. It is ready for muddy stuff

It also includes my favorite part of the upper from the Pro, the tongue cover. Although a simple thing, and a small detail, it is something like this that gives you confidence in a company. One reviewer noted, if you are a biker who doesn't like to be clipped in, these shoes are a good option. This is where the Vario 2 derives its character. A lighter, smoother’ more friction-based sole’ is what connects you to the ground in these. As a mostly city runner, who lives far away from mountains or forests that require constant high-level grip, these shoes fit my daily needs more than do the Pros. Interestingly, these Vario 2 versions of the popular Speedcross come with laces while the standard versions have a bungee pull.

Recently Viewed

Lacing up and first run, the shoes were excellent. They felt reasonably light, not much heavier than a road shoe.