FIT KIT HERO
Pound the pavement in style with these Salomon kicks
As one of life’s plodders, I’m willing to give anything that has the potential to fast-track my less-thanspeedy strides a shot – and Salomon’s S/lab Phantasm running shoes are built to do exactly that. Created alongside champion ultrarunner Kílian Jornet, they feature an ultra-light design (each shoe weighs in at just 199g – or a cup of sugar), and they felt noticeably lighter than my regular pair when
I laced them up for the first time. A good start. But the real design genius (and weirdness) is a reverse camber. You know that bit of your trainer’s sole that curves up in the middle towards the arch of your foot? Well, on these ones, it curves outwards. The team behind the shoe claim this helps your foot transition from heel to toe quicker and with less effort, resulting in a faster pace and improved stamina. And yes, it feels as odd as it sounds. It took me some time to get used to the firm soles and rocking horse feeling, but after about four runs, it started to feel a bit more normal. What’s more, I really felt like I got more power from every stride. The mesh upper is nice and breathable too. All in all, this is an excellent road-running shoe built for speed – speed that will be put to the test later this year (restrictions permitting) when a team of GB runners, kitted out in the S/lab Phantasm, will attempt to set a distance relay running record. If my own experience of the shoe is anything to go by, I foresee a victory. £165, salomon.com