Looking at getting some new running shoes as moving back to countryside…most of my running therefore is going to be off road. Taken a liking to Salomon Speedcross 3’s, anyone have any experience of these? seem to get favorable reviews. Can anyone recommend any alternatives with a similar sole?

I have some Asics Gel Fuji Trainer ones that keep very good, over a variety of surfaces, and they are very light and comfortable. They aren’t waterproof, but I would prefer to allow the water to drain away, rather than stay inside my shoe. 1000 Mile Fusion socks mean my feet stay warm, even when wet.

Not got the Speedcross 3 but XR Crossmax multi terrain and i’d be very happy to buy another model of Salomon. But a bit like bikes, try before you buy 🙂

I thought that Kuco but in deepest darkest Lincolnshire there aren’t many specialists!

The Crossmax got a good review in the latest copy of Trail Running Mag.

I didn’t try on my Asics before I bought them, but I currently have some Asics I use in the gym, that I find pretty comfy, so just went with the same make. I did find some advice saying that trail running shoes should, in general, be half a size bigger than normal running shoes, so I took that advice and I am very happy with my purchase.

Some people love Salomons, some hate. I guess its more about getting a shoe that fits you rather than being a posh brand. I use cheap Saucony ones, which I find really comfortable.

I’ve got Salomon’s 3xd’s or something along those lines held up well in some pretty shite conditions.
Bought them from these guy’s in shoprunning shoes paid a bit more but the advise and customer service was top class

The speedcross are more of a fell shoe than a trail shoe, fairly low profile and an aggressive sole, not really what you want for trail running, as suggested you need to try some really, they fit me well but having tired inov8, montrail, mizuno and la sportiva its take a while and a lot of cash to find a shoe i can run in for 4 hours and not get blisters or other problems

It’s the aggressive sole i’m after mostly as it gets very boggy round these parts and when it mixes with the chalk it becomes a very slippery sticky mess!

its take a while and a lot of cash to find a shoe i can run in for 4 hours and not get blisters or other problems

IMO decent socks can help a lot with that.

I’ve got a pair of these:

Brooks Cascadia

Really pleased with them, I’ve tried the speed cross before an dfound them great in mud and soft conditions but squirm around on everything else.

its take a while and a lot of cash to find a shoe i can run in for 4 hours and not get blisters or other problems

Get these, merino socks are excellent at stopping blisters especially ones with toes in as they stop the skin on the toes rubbing together. I won’t run without a pair now.

IMO decent socks can help a lot with that.

Oh believe me i tried everything, single skin, double skin, thin, thick, wool, synthetic, i just have a problem heel thats all and its take a while to find out that Salomon work, the others don’t, they feel fine in the shop but on the hill they quickly descend into purgatory…

i just have a problem heel

Have you tried the higher end asics with PHF (Personal heel fit)? they have excellent support around the heel.

Recently replaced my off road shoes – 2 pairs of inov8 here now.

Mudroc 290s for proper gloopy stuff I have straight out the the door and the occasional xc race where I don’t use spikes. Good but would not choose them if firm “man made” trails or tarmac made up more than a few % of the route.

Terrafly 313 gtx – works great for mixed routes where you’ll be on the road for a reasonable amount of time, harder summer trails, or road running of sodden puddly winter country lanes. Not a fan of gortex when you are in ankle deep plus type conditions but I like it for shallow puddle running. I wouldn’t rate these in any conditions you would call “muddy” as they would be truly useless but I have a nice 14/15 mile sunday loop that takes in quiet lanes and well drained forest tracks and they are great.

My running shoe collection is of the n+1 style as you can never have too many. As a one-shoe-for-all-conditions suggestion I’d say neither of these would be ideal but great as a pair to choose from.

nomakoman – Member

It’s the aggressive sole i’m after mostly as it gets very boggy round these parts and when it mixes with the chalk it becomes a very slippery sticky mess!

then there’s an obvious suggestion:

Walsh – grippy, comfy, made in britain.

For real crappy and muddy conditions the inov8 mudclaw seem to be the best option if they fit

Walshes are a bit old tech now though are they not, and are very low profile for general trail running, most fell racers seem to wear the inov8 X-Talon

If you want some cheap ‘n cheerful agressive soled running shoes then try the Cheviots by More Mile. If you get them through Start Fitness you get a free pair of socks and whatever offer they have on at the time (I got a technical t shirt) for about £30!! See this thread on the FRA site: http://forum.fellrunner.org.uk/showthread.php?16896-quot-Cheviot-quot-shoes

Walshes are a bit old tech now though are they not, and are very low profile for general trail running, most fell racers seem to wear the inov8 X-Talon

have you tried them? – they’re ace! – and available in normal(narrow) and wide options, which is nice.

🙂

MrSparkle – Member
If you want some cheap ‘n cheerful agressive soled running shoes then try the Cheviots by More Mile. If you get them through Start Fitness you get a free pair of socks and whatever offer they have on at the time (I got a technical t shirt) for about £30!! See this thread on the FRA site: http://forum.fellrunner.org.uk/showthread.php?16896-quot-Cheviot-quot-shoes

+1

Been using these for my drenched local trails for the last 4 months and they have been very good. Much more comfortable to run in than my £80 Sauconys (which I bought specifically for overpronation.)

I can’t compare them to other ‘trail’ shoes as they are my first but I’ve been very impressed by the amount of grip I get – loads of confidence running through slop and around my local hills and cliff paths. I don’t really have anything negatice to say about them other than the neon green is much brighter than it looks on the website.

I don’t race (apart from the occasional marathon, half marathon or 10k and I’ve never taken part in an off road running event) so I maybe don’t need the technical bits that more expensive shoes would have. And my runs tend to be 30 – 60 minutes a couple of times per week, almost entirely off road.

I like the socks as well.

I really can’t rate the speedcross, sure they look great and the lacing system is pretty tidy with the way it parks into the tongue but as a trail shoe I think its massively compromised.

The padding around the ankle is too much which means you can’t get the shoe tight enough to stop debris getting in. The drop feels okay but the whole shoe is just too high, coupled with a fairly narrow sole causes huge stability problems especially when you’re knackered. The sole is okay at best, it’s not particularly grippy, it doesn’t work particularly well in gloop, it’s edges wear quickly and there’s nothing at the toes to help you dig into steep scrambles, oh and they arn’t particularly light. Just my opinion mind you, comparing these against Baregrips, X-talons, NB110 (bloody great shoe for everything), XA Pro’s. The only shoe that I can’t find fault in is the X-Talon….they put a good shoe together there.

been out for a good few runs with the speedcross 3’s – great traction on the dirt, much less so on tarmac / concrete sections where the grip is truly awful – the treads do flex a fair amount. Ive also noticed wear already on the grips after probably 40 or so miles…

they are also supposed to be waterproof, but are absolutely hopeless at keeping your feet dry.

They would probably be ok for a race though, but i just cant live with them.

I just couldnt recomend them im afraid, ive gone back to my old nike trail shoes that cost me all of £35.

They would probably be ok for a race though, but i just cant live with them.

Got Speedcross 2 – model before spdcross3 – think they are briliant.
Very good for trails and mud – most of my offroad is on Devon/Dorset coast, Quantocks, Exmoor or Woodlands of Blackdown hills. I dont have Goretex, prefer water to run out. Done some races – Grizzly, Studland Stampede, Haytor Heller, Charmouth Challenge – good grip on all surfaces – heel grips now disappering after nearly 2 years – I swap between these and the XA pro which dont have the aggressive sole, but are still good off road on hard trails.Never had blisters always wear decent socks.
Notice SP3 are £76 on Wiggle – I am size 91/2 shoe but take a 10 in Salamon. Will buy SP3 when SP2 wear out

I wear Asics Lahar in the winter. Goretex liner keeps your toes dry. I know Internet logic says I must end up with a shoe full of water every time I leave the house, but it’s never happened (I know they are not wellies so dont go wading in them)

seanoc

NB110 (bloody great shoe for everything),

More info needed! These sound promising! Inov8’s destroy my heels.

i have some speedcross 3. Good shoes once the stock insoles are swapped for something non-absorbant.
Also Cascadia, which are good but no where near as aggressively soled. I think of it like having XC and mud tyre options.

Don’t get the Salomon thing, they look like a road shoe with a big tread bolted on the bottom. Schizophrenic.

I’ll throw NB101 into the mix. Great for most conditions, only get overfaced in proper deep mud and steep descents, where a Mudclaw, X-Talon or Walsh work better. Will take a bit of tarmac. Comfy (for me at least) up to ultra distance. Go up 1/2 size or more though.

Cheap.

seanoc

NB110 (bloody great shoe for everything),
More info needed! These sound promising! Inov8’s destroy my heels.

New Balance 110; lighter than most of Inov8’s offerings and you even get a rock plate in there (I’m not sure how they manage it). I really can’t fault them but if inov8’s kill your heels because you’re a heel striker then these probably aren’t for you. There’s a bit of cushioning but not much (4mm drop). They’ll get sketchy in deep gloop but so will most trail shoe.

I fancied the 101’s that Stever mentioned but was put off by the drop.

inov8’s kill your heels because you’re a heel striker

Nope – not that – get blisters on rear of heel – and blisters on blisters. 😯 Tried all the tricks – was doing lots of MM’s when Inov8 first came out – no issues with Walsh, Salomon, Adidas etc.

Then for £39 you can’t lose.

How do they size up? I’m 9 in Salomon (snug fit but enough room), 9.5 in Brooks Cascadia.

Oh yeah; at least a size bigger. I’m 11 in inov8’s & Salamon. 12 in these.

ta

‘I fancied the 101’s that Stever mentioned but was put off by the drop.’

You got me curious there – I found one site that stated 10mm heel-toe drop, but that’s clearly gibberish. I wonder if that’s the US sole unit, it’s wrong anyway. I’d take a guess at around 6-7mm, certainly doesn’t feel excessive. Just had a feel of mine. Worth knowing on the 110 sizing – sounds like they are both comparably (wrongly!) sized.

If you want to go cheap, then a pair of Adidas Kanadia are good for starting out on trail, got an ok sole but not for the very boggy/muddy. You can get them for £35 now so worth a punt.

Totally recommend the Brooks Cascadia, but these are more for trail running ie has good sole but not aggressive for mud/slippery conditions

I’ve got a pair of Inov8 x-talon 212s for racing and love em. Great sole and great for muddy trails/off road.

My advice would be to go to a proper running shop and try a few on. I found Salomons a bit meh plus wanted something lighters, but some folk swear by them.