Gear Review: Salomon SpeedCross 3

The unique look of the Salomon SpeedCross 3 has probably caught your eye before now with its unusual lacing system and bright accents. The first and most noticeable item of the shoe is its pronounced and tall heel. The heel to toe drop is too steep to make this a formidable shoe in the class you’d expect from Salomon. Additionally, the lacing with this shoe is simply a poorly conceived gimmick. The QuickFit lacing system combined with the lacing pouch is no more quicker than tying standard laces. The wire cable lacing previously used by Salomon, has been replaced with string like cords in this iteration. However, the issue of too much pressure over the bridge of the foot is still there. This problem is exaggerated by too few of lace eyelets and a shoe tongue that is too narrow, leaving the foot exposed, even for low volume feet.

The shoe construction is well done with attention to detail and the use of good materials. The large lugs of the sole did very well on the trail in the snow but present quite the trip hazard for normal running conditions. Runners with low to medium volume feet will have the best fit while the use is most suited for soft and wet trails, with steep inclines and descents. I did enjoy the SpeedCross as a lightweight hiking shoe with its ant-debri mesh and water resistant textiles. The shoe offers a great amount of underfoot protection and traction without any noticeable weight or stiffness.

Salomon SpeedCross 3

313 grams

$145