Note: This review contains an affiliate link with Salomon.
The Salomon Speedcross 4 has been my go-to trail shoe for almost all every trail race. They have crossed Welsh Mountains, splashed through bogs in the Pennines and ran steep and picturesque coastal paths.
Key Fact’s
- 330g per shoe
- Salomon Quicklace System
- 30mm Heel Height
- 200mm Toe Height
- 10mm drop
- £60 – 100
Salomon Speedcross 4’s are an all-round high performer. They deliver excellent grip through the aggressive lugs on the sole, providing purchase on soft, technical trails.
The Salomon Sensifit technology means the shoe feels glued to your foot without feeling restrictive or overtight. I admit, it took me a bit of time to get used to the feeling, but a few runs in and I was hooked. I have complete confidence in my foot strike when running over technical terrain. Accompany this with the 30 mm heel height and the shoe is snug and comfortable on the trail.
They are equipped with the Salomon Quicklace System which utilises a small buckle to lock the laces in place. This is a great feature and enables the shoes to be tightened quickly with ease. A small downside is that they can work slightly loose during long runs, but regular laces do that as well.
The GTX version of this shoe also delivers GORE-TEX waterproofing. This means your foot can breathe whilst keeping dry. That is until you step knee deep in a bog and the water will flow right in and not escape (trust me, it is not great). It does however mean, if you are running a wet trail, or even across a field with morning dew, your foot will keep dry.
The negative. I found that these shoes are not very durable. The first pair of Speedcross 4’s that I owned, lasted less than 350 km. The soles were well worn and starting to split. I continued to use they as approach shoes, but they fell to pieces soon after. The GTX edition seems to be holding up better but do not expect them to out last your trail running career. I also found the shoe to be quite narrow, I have a wide foot and needed to go up half a size.
Overall, the Salomon Speedcross 4 is an extremely comfortable, grippy and precise shoe. They will instil confidence when running technical trails, but they are not the most durable shoe available. Maybe the next time I buy a replacement, I will purchase the Speedcross 5 to see how that compares.
Follow this link to the Salomon website if you want to have a look at their shoes – Salomon Link
Happy running.