Salomon Women's SpeedCross 3

If you are in the market for a shoe that can conquer technical trails and rough terrain, this is the shoe for you. I wouldn't recommend this shoe for those who are planning on running on mostly soft gravel, smooth trails.

The tread is long lasting and keeps my feet comfortable for mid-range distances (up to 15 miles). Perfect for rocky climbs and downhills. Highly recommended for those adventure seekers who want aggressive tread for aggressive trails.

Overview

When I first saw the SpeedCross 3 shoes by Salomon, I knew I had to give them a try. You see, I have been looking for a shoe that could handle the most technical trails. The lugs on the bottom of the shoe are very pronounced and aggressive looking. I wanted to prepare for my first mountain race, and these are the first shoes I wanted to test. 

Fit

I ordered a half size larger as per the description on the store's website. I am glad I did, even with the bigger size, the shoes fit snug on my foot. I have a wider foot and have dealt with bunions and the SpeedCross 3 does not immediately cause irritation, though for runs longer than 15 miles I noticed a slight burning sensation. You *may* not experience this if you have a more narrow foot.

The quick lace system is easily one of my favorite features of the shoe and it comes with a pocket on the tongue so you can tuck the laces in there when you are finished tightening them. This provides a secure fit and I have never experience my shoelaces slipping or have ever had to tighten them during a run. I ran in all elements with these and they certainly do well in all weather, especially rain because of the breathable material: compared to other shoes, I found that my foot did not get waterlogged.

I have to admit, transitioning from a stability shoe to a shoe like the speed cross was difficult on my feet at first, and the firm ride was something I had to get used to, but I think that it helped strengthen the muscles in my feet because I am lower to the ground and can really feel the trail (I don't mean rocks, just the surface of the trail--the rock plate offers tremendous protection).

Running Experience

When I first got the shoes, I tested them out on a technical, steep, rocky, and wet trail. I felt almost too confident running up slick rock steps and up and down hilly, rocky sections. The only time the shoe slipped was on completely saturated, mossy rocks and wet tree trunks/branches so please use caution when running on slippery objects.

Other than that, the SpeedCross outperformed my previous trail shoes by a mile (pun intended). I have since ran a number of trail races in them and they have kept me ahead of the pack due to its aggressive tread. 

I've since logged about 200 miles on the SpeedCross 3 and see minimal wear in the lugs. I can easily see these lasting another 200 miles, maybe even more. I quickly noticed how, if running on paved trails/roads, the lugs seem to wear much faster. Also, my feet were sore after long runs in these shoes and I am considering trying a more cushioned shoe for distances over 15 miles.

The SpeedCross 3 is a very well made shoe that I would highly recommend to anyone who is looking for a durable shoe that can perform well on the most technical terrain. The shoe is offered in a range of cool colors and the rugged and eye catching appearance of the shoe is a definite bonus. 

This was taken after my first mountain half. It is the shoe for climbing and descending mountainous terrain!

These shoes are ridiculous! I have run on snow and ice, mud, gravel and even felt secure on slippery rock. I love the speed laces. My only regret with my purchase was I didn't buy more than one pair. Excellent trail runner.

I bought these for trail running, and I got so much more. These are my go-to all around outdoor shoe. They are super light, extremely comfortable and the traction is Spiderman like. They have excellent room in the toe box, perfect arch support and look...well, they scream "look, I'm badass."

I seriously love these shoes. I am debating on what color my next Salomon Speedcross 3's will be.