In addition to a shoe’s weight, we measure sole thickness (everything that sits between your foot and the road), how well the foam cushions your stride, and the flexibility of the forefoot. We put each shoe through real-world usage and a battery of mechanical tests in our lab to provide you with objective-and exclusive-data. While the cinched, quick-pull design delivered a secure fit, a few testers found that the leftover lacing was too long, making it difficult to store in the shoe’s tongue-pocket. The only issue some testers had was in regard to lacing. “I even found myself taking the sloppier direct lines when trails were wet because I was confident I wouldn't end up soaked.” “The Gore-Tex protection is great!” raved one tester. Our testers found that the shoe performed in a variety of slick and slimy conditions, and kept them blister-free-even for races as long as 50 miles. The result is it feels just like a non-GTX version, but the protective layer sheds more than just water. Instead of using a booty-like design that sacrifices breathability and impacts the fit, Salomon is utilizing the new waterproof membrane that is attached directly to the mesh. Waterproofing and weatherizing shoes is a tall order to fill, but Salomon nails it here with its Gore-Tex upper.

Grippy chevron-patterned lugs hold firm as you toe off (women’s shown). “The lugs provided plenty of grip, even while getting adventurous through some deep mud and creek beds.” “I was caught in multiple rainstorms and never once did I lose traction,” one tester reported. Even when our testers sloshed through mud, rain-soaked leaves, and slippery rocks. Multi-directional lugs in a chevron pattern target the shoe’s forefoot and heel for grip that digs in when you land, and holds firm when you toe off. Several tester’s picked the shoe’s traction as their favorite thing about the Sense Ride, and one look at the outsole will tell you why. “I never felt any sharp rocks coming through.” Grippy Lugs “While the cushioning is just average, it’s enough for a trail shoe,” one tester remarked. While our data from the RW Shoe Lab indicated that the Sense Ride does have minimal cushion with an especially firm heel, it offered just enough protection underfoot for rocky terrain. The lightly cushioned and more flexible midsole offers a well-protected ride for fine-tuned control and feeling the trail. However, our testers didn’t think the shoe felt bulky despite having a little more weight on foot. Trail shoes will usually cost you a few extra ounces for added durability, and the Sense Ride is no exception. “ incredible traction in wet conditions and terrific water resistance.”Ī midsole that provides just enough cushion as well as protection from jagged rock (men’s shown). “This is the best trail shoe I have ever owned,” one tester raved. According to our testers, the pulley-lace system and the Gore-Tex upper made the Sense Ride a top pick for running when the weather is bad and the trails are worse.

The design not only keeps your laces from dragging through the mud, but also saves you from trips and snags on the trails.

The durable cord-like laces loosen and tighten on an adjustable cinch that locks in a secure fit, and then easily stores inside a pocket on the shoe’s tongue. The Sense Ride pairs its weatherized upper with quick-pull lacing to match. Using a new Gore-Tex waterproof membrane that is bonded to the upper mesh, the Sense Ride GTX keeps you feeling dry and fast for more puddle-splashing and mud-splattering wherever your runs take you. In its newest version, Salomon gives the Sense Ride a fully protective Gore-Tex construction that lets you traverse terrain that would normally have your feet soaked and spirits soggy. The right shoe f or: All-weather trail runningįorget turning back the next time your favorite trail floods, or detouring when your usual route is mostly puddles.

Salomon sense ride 4 gtx