SALOMON SPEEDCROSS 5

£120 Has the latest update on an iconic trail shoe improved it?

Trail runners seem to be increasingly falling into two camps: those who want a more minimalist feel and connection to the earth, and those who want a more cushioned, supportive shoe that protects them from the ground. Well, the Speedcross definitely falls into the latter camp, but with a 10mm drop and soft, plush feel unusual for a trail shoe it gives an instantly comfortable experience and – although that large drop won’t win over everyone – this tester appreciated the pressure it took off the calf muscles and lower leg, especially on flatter trails without much direction change.

We tested these shoes during the soggier weeks we had in June (thanks, British weather) and with our local trails turned into a quagmire of slippery mud and standing water that our usual hybrid road/trail shoes

struggled to cope with, found the Speedcross 5’s chevron lugs really came into their own. We could fly across the grimmest of muddy terrain without a worry about slipping and felt sure-footed and confident. On drier days the shoe coped well with light gravel trails and, although they wouldn’t really be appropriate for man-made surfaces, you could easily run on short sections of tarmac without them feeling too harsh.

You also get a welded upper and anti-debris mesh that kept muck but not water out (GTX version available for £20 extra), and tri-friendly laces with a handy pocket on the tongue to tuck them into. HW salomon.com