First of all, I would like to thank Codoon Trendy Goods Store for providing this valuable review opportunity, and also thank the manufacturer for providing the review product.

1. Product Introduction

Outdoor sports enthusiasts should be familiar with the brand Salomon. It is a top global outdoor sports brand established in 1947 in the heart of the French Alps, designing and manufacturing various professional shoes, clothing, backpacks, etc.

SONIC is a high-end product line created by Salomon specifically for road running. It pursues excellence in overall weight, high-tech content, balance between speed and protection, aiming to help runners maximize their potential and break limits. The famous 'Little Red Shoes' belong to this series, and the SONIC RA PRO reviewed this time also belongs to this series.

Product Name: Salomon SONIC RA PRO

Series: Men's Marathon Running Shoes

Upper and Laces: SENSIFIT, Traditional Laces

Sole Structure: Outsole: Foam Rubber, Wet Traction CONTAGRIP; Midsole: ENERGYCELL+ and OPAL VIBE; Insole: ORTHOLITE

Sole Height: 24MM/18MM (6MM Drop)

Single Shoe Weight: Approximately 235G (Example: US9/UK8.5)

Suitable Terrain: Asphalt Road, Stone Road

2. Product Impressions

Three days before my birthday, I received a message saying I was selected for the review, which made me very excited. The store manager inadvertently gave me a birthday gift :) Since then, I eagerly awaited the courier's call every day. Finally, the shoes arrived, and I couldn't wait to unbox and inspect them.

The classic Alps pattern shoe box is simple and elegant, with high recognition. Opening the shoe box, a splash of blue catches the eye. The wave blue shoes are eye-catching, especially with the red soles adding a dynamic touch. The toe has the initial 'S' of the founding Salomon family, simple yet aesthetically pleasing. Looking from front to back, the red toe and blue body resemble a rising sun from the sea. I couldn't help but praise: these running shoes are so good-looking! Some might think they are just ordinary, but without comparison, there's no harm. Look at the two pictures below, don't you instantly feel that the shoes look much better?

Similarly, placing the SONIC RA PRO among a bunch of dull running shoes, the elegant blue and dynamic red complement each other, making the shoes look graceful and unique. Calling them a pair of high-value shoes should be an objective evaluation.

However, no matter how good they look, the SONIC RA PRO is positioned as a marathon road running shoe, not a casual shoe, so the focus should be on the performance of the shoes. Let's first understand the structure and composition of the shoes on paper.

Salomon's advertisement for the SONIC RA PRO shoes is 'Increase Speed, Faster and Further,' so this should be a pair of racing shoes. Lightweight design is particularly important, and my first impression of the shoes was that they were as light as a feather.

The soleuses lightweight cushioning materials ENERGYCELL+ and OPAL VIBE, combining the two. The three-dimensional foam support significantly reduces the weight of the shoe while maintaining comfort and stability. Additionally, a geometric zoned cushioning design is used, distributing the sole evenly with zoned longitudinal lines, ensuring smooth force transmission during running, effectively reducing ground contact obstacles from different angles, and minimizing fatigue-induced vibration waves, reducing foot impact and fatigue, making the gait smooth and fluid.The upperadopts a seamless design with heat-bonded support strips, effectively reducing the weight of the shoe while improving breathability. The SENSIFIT technology designed for road surfaces makes the shoe fit comfortably, wrapping the foot and locking it in place, providing stability and protection, effectively reducing movement resistance, and achieving fast and stable running.The toeuses a protective design to alleviate foot impact and prevent toe injuries. The laces are flat traditional laces, firm and not easy to loosen, which I appreciate. I am not a fan of quick lace systems, as they tend to loosen after a period of use.The insoleuses ORTHOLITE insoles, which are good at moisture-wicking, keeping the feet dry and breathable, providing lasting comfort. Additionally, the tongue is very soft and thin, reducing the weight of the shoe and making the shoe fit more closely to the foot, providing better wrapping.

In summary, my first impression of these shoes is 'Like father, like son.' As an outdoor sports giant, Salomon excels in stability and foot protection in trail running shoes, and this expertise extends to their road running shoes. My only concern is that Salomon shoes emphasize wrapping, making the shoe shape narrow and the upper low, without offering a wider model. This might not be suitable for people like me with wide feet and high arches, hence the saying 'Salomon shoes are picky.' Even though I chose a half size larger than usual, I still felt uncertain.

3. Wearing Experience

The ancients said, 'What is learned from books is superficial; one must practice to understand.' Chairman Mao also taught us that 'Practice is the criterion for testing truth.' So, for a pair of running shoes, theoretical analysis is far from enough. To truly understand the performance of the shoes, one must run in them. On the day I received the shoes, I couldn't wait to go out and test run. After running for a while, I felt very good. The shoes were light, moderately responsive, cool, and breathable, making me want to run faster. However, since it was my first time wearing them, I was a bit apprehensive and stopped after five kilometers. The next day, I wore the shoes again, and this time, with some familiarity, I ran more freely. Unknowingly, I completed ten kilometers and felt very comfortable. Checking my watch, I was surprised to see that I had unintentionally set personal bests for both five and ten kilometers! Indeed, these are racing shoes!!

After this ten-kilometer run, my confidence in the shoes increased significantly, and I decided to wear them for the Beijing International Long-Distance Running Festival half marathon three days later. On April 15, I wore the SONIC RA PRO, which had been tested for 15 kilometers, and stood in front of Tiananmen Square. Standing at the starting line, I was filled with thoughts. To sprint or not to sprint, that was the question. Since I was wearing racing shoes, I wanted to maximize their speed advantage, but having only worn them for 15 kilometers, I wasn't sure if I could handle it. As I hesitated, the start time arrived. As I passed through the arch with the crowd, I decided to sprint! Since this was a test, I could also test my own abilities. Due to my late check-in, I started from a position further back, so I had to constantly overtake slower runners in the first three kilometers. At this time, the shoes' stability and control were evident, with no lateral slipping or forward-backward sliding, truly feeling like the shoes and feet were one. Another point to note is that since the Beijing race started at 7 a.m., many places on the road were still wet from morning watering, and some even had small puddles. The CONTAGRIP wet traction technology of the SONIC RA PRO played a significant role, with no slipping throughout the race.

After overtaking the main group, I started sprinting all the way. The flat track, ample supplies, enthusiastic cheerleaders, and the home advantage made it a perfect opportunity. With the determination to go all out, I surprisingly reached the finish line without any discomfort. After crossing the finish line, I quickly took out my phone and opened Codoon. To my surprise, my half marathon personal best improved significantly from 1:34 to 1:28! Indeed, these are racing shoes!!

Since the SONIC RA PRO is positioned as a marathon running shoe, a half marathon is not enough to fully test and verify its performance in a full marathon. Just as a full marathon is not equal to two half marathons, a real marathon starts after 30 kilometers, when the body and mind reach their limits. Any external assistance or hindrance will be magnified, and a truly good marathon running shoe must provide enough support and protection in the second half. Therefore, without a full marathon test, it cannot be considered a complete marathon shoe review. So, I decided to wear the SONIC RA PRO for the Qinhuangdao Marathon on May 13. Not knowing the road conditions of the Qinhuangdao Marathon, I chose to run 28 kilometers on the worst-cushioned stone road a week before the race to further test the shoes' performance and adapt to them. The run felt good.

In no time, it was race day again. Standing at the starting line of the Qinhuangdao Marathon, the question of whether to sprint or not arose again, and it was even harder to decide this time, as a full marathon is not a half marathon, and this race coincided with hot weather. Based on my more than a year of marathon running experience, 'Trail running depends on the mountains, marathon running depends on the weather' (this year's Boston Marathon results also proved this point; if it weren't for the extreme weather, it would have been difficult for Yuki Kawauchi to beat the African runners), this race would be extremely difficult, and the race process proved it (elite runners fainted, official pacers collapsed). High temperatures and many ups and downs made sprinting a no-go. As I hesitated, the starting gun fired. After starting, I felt great, my body was relaxed, the shoes were breathable, and I ran lightly and smoothly at a pace of around 4:30 per kilometer for more than ten kilometers. The idea of sprinting again gradually took over. Everyone knows that once an evil thought appears, it is hard to get rid of. After running the half marathon in 1:35 (my previous full marathon personal best was 3:29), I slowly set a small goal: to finish in 3:20. Although 'no zuo no die,' 'no zuo no high' is also true, right? So, I continued at a pace of under 4:45 per kilometer. After 30 kilometers, the temperature rose, the sun became scorching, and the blazing sun kissed my cheeks without reservation, making my face flush, my heart race, and my breathing quicken. My pace began to drop sharply to over five minutes per kilometer, even approaching six minutes. As my steps became heavier, my landing changed from full-foot to heel, and I began to experience the shoes' cushioning. Each step felt a significant rebound and support, and the lightweight shoes did not add much extra burden to my already heavy legs. Panting, I crossed the finish line, opened Codoon, and saw a finish time of 3:22. Although I didn't achieve my small goal of 3:20, I still managed to improve my personal best by more than seven minutes. Considering my monthly mileage of just over 100 kilometers and the terrible weather on race day, I was very satisfied with this result. Achieving a good result under various unfavorable conditions, I believe the SONIC RA PRO shoes played a significant role. Indeed, these are racing shoes!!

4. Review Conclusion

After wearing them in two races, I feel that the SONIC RA PRO is indeed born for marathons and designed for racing runners. These ultra-light running shoes also have good cushioning and support performance, helping runners unleash their potential and break physical limits. If you are not particularly heavy, do not have particularly wide feet, and pursue a certain speed, the SONIC RA PRO should be a good choice.

Finally, two flaws: First, the sole's wear resistance is slightly poor. After running 116 kilometers, both feet showed significant wear. Second, the red part inside the shoe fades, staining light-colored socks red.

Lastly, a small suggestion: I suggest the brand consider the wider foot shape of Asians and launch a wider shoe model for runners with wide feet.