Shoe-In

WEIGHT 350 g (12.3 oz.) DROP 6 mm

One of the most celebrated shoes in Canada for the ultimate winter trail running experience is Salomon’s Snowcross. It’s got a totally waterproof gaiter upper and a mean looking tread, which includes sharp spikes for grabbing onto ice and tearing through snow.

Of course, the Snowcross is pretty useless when you’re not trudging across the frozen tundra. That’s where Salomon’s latest big game trail runner, the S-Lab XA Alpine, steps in.

The upper’s construction is comparable to the Snowcross, with a thoroughly waterproof booty that zips shut and locks with Velcro well above the ankle. Inside, Salomon appear to have tucked in their loud-red S-Lab Sense shoe, which is actually a lightweight trail racer/trainer. It’s got their quicklace system, making the shoe easy to get on and off, and otherwise cuts down on the overall bulk of such a tough shoe.

The XA Alpine is a touch warm for peak summer use (unless you’re up in the mountains), but otherwise it’s very functional for all sorts of Canadian trail running contexts. Of course, the XA Alpine earns its name, and is ideal up on the side of a mountain in Alberta or B.C., but it’s also fantastic for powering through streams and across boulders in any of Canada’s many incredible trail running milieus, handling slippery rocks, loose scree and deep mud with ease.

If you’re going out in the woods for long, gnarly running adventures, the XA Alpine is a good pick.— CR