Preface
For someone who has been road running for a long time, trail running is a brand-new experience for me. It differs from the continuous running of a marathon; it lacks the wide, flat tracks and cheering spectators of a marathon. While running is often said to be a solitary sport, in some sense, the 'solitude' of trail running is even greater than that of road running. Or rather, the 'solitude' of trail running lies in weaving through mountains, forests, and wastelands, encountering many unknown situations. To be precise, in trail running, the constant companion is nature.
My connection with Salomon began last year when I participated in a small trail race organized by Salomon. It was my first time running a trail race, and I lagged behind my friends, but I managed to snag fifth place.
"It's pitch black at night, will there be snakes? I'm terrible at downhill, and I explode on the uphill... I don't think I'm suited for trail running; I want to go back to road running..." Although I kept thinking this during the race, when it ended, an inexplicable sense of exhilaration gave me deep satisfaction.
Founded in 1947, Salomon is an outdoor sports brand focused on trail running, long-distance road running, and skiing. Whether for trail or road runners, Salomon is a familiar name. Before reviewing these shoes, I had already bought their road running shoes and sports gear but had never tried their trail series. After many unsuccessful attempts to apply for Salomon products, I finally got the chance to review the Salomon Sense Ride thanks to Codoon. Due to recent races and recovery from injuries, this review has been delayed until now. Thanks to my coach for understanding.
Finally, regarding the Sense series, Salomon launched the Sense series of trail running shoes in 2017. This series includes the Sense Pro 2, Sense Pro Max, and Sense Ride. These three trail shoes cater to different needs: lightweight speed, long-distance cushioning, and lightweight cushioning.
Unboxing
Let's start with a short video.
Basic Information:
Product Reviewed: SALOMON SENSE RIDE
Product Positioning: Trail Running Shoes
Size/Color: Size 40/Robin Blue
Sole Height: 24mm (heel), 16mm (forefoot)
Midsole Drop: 8mm
Weight: 275 grams
The moment I opened the shoebox, I was amazed. I've always liked the colors of Salomon shoes (they use monochromatic schemes with variations in shade). The robin blue Sense Ride uses a dark blue midsole, with the entire upper in bright blue to break the monotony, transitioning with different shades of blue, and the outsole in bright blue to match. The Sense Ride isn't flashy but has a fresh and stable look.
Detail Display:
Upper:
The upper of the Sense Ride uses 3D Stretch Air Mesh breathable mesh fabric. This fine mesh ensures breathability while effectively preventing small gravel from entering the shoe, protecting our feet from being injured by debris.
Additionally, the Sense Ride's upper features sensiFIT and endoFIT technologies. Compared to previous series, the Sense Ride's upper offers the highest comfort, with more freedom for the forefoot inside the shoe. The upper is thin but soft, with good wrapping performance.
The Quicklace system makes it easy to put on and take off the shoes. You just need to pull the toggle to tighten, and the lace pocket effectively secures the laces, preventing tripping while running.
The slightly upturned toe cap not only displays the Salomon logo but also protects the toes from collisions.
The Sense Ride's side uses sensiFIT technology, which fits and supports our feet well. This is a major advantage of Salomon, helping reduce resistance and quickly traverse different terrains.
The midsole and outsole are the most important parts of running shoes, with different new materials focusing on different aspects. The Sense Ride's midsole uses Vibe technology—a multi-piece midsole composed of EnergyCell+ foam and two Opal inserts, maximizing cushioning performance. Additionally, the Sense Ride's midsole includes a full-length Opal material to improve rebound response speed. The lightweight material maintains elasticity, effectively reducing vibrations and improving running efficiency. After all, trail shoes are not as soft as road running shoes. Considering flexibility needs, the midsole also includes compressed EVA material.
The outsole of the Sense Ride uses Premium Wet Traction Contagrip rubber, Salomon's unique wet traction outsole. The lugs are diamond-shaped and about 4mm thick, providing excellent grip and anti-slip performance even on wet surfaces.
Insole:
The insole is moisture-wicking, keeping feet dry and providing a comfortable wearing experience. At least there's not much odor... The streamlined insole fits the foot, and the anti-slip texture increases friction, providing an anti-slip effect.
Field Test
Location: Nanshan Small Loop
Distance: 21KM
Weather: Overcast
Clothing: UA Vest + Lorna Jane Shorts + Windbreaker
Shoes: Salomon Sense Ride
Terrain: Gravel Road, Dirt Road
The moment I put on the Salomon shoes, they felt very comfortable underfoot. You can feel the shoe's excellent wrapping, and the forefoot has a lot of freedom inside the shoe. Compared to previous trail shoes, the Sense Ride is relatively lightweight, but I personally feel that the arch support is weak (for someone with flat feet like me, it feels a bit stiff).
For trail running shoes, grip is particularly important. It not only shows on special terrains (slippery surfaces) but also protects us from falling during uphill and downhill runs and protects our ankle joints. The Sense Ride's grip is excellent; the forefoot provides power on the uphill, and the heel provides cushioning support on the downhill without shifting. 'Stability' is one of the Sense Ride's greatest advantages.
Downhill is very stable, and there's no need to worry about small gravel roads. The feeling of uphill is that the shoe fits well and has good wrapping, and you can just 'zoom' up.
However, the overall feel of the Sense Ride is slightly stiff, especially when running on small cobblestone roads.
Finally, I tried running on asphalt, and naturally, trail shoes on the road felt heavy and lacked cushioning, making a 'thud' sound...
(Back at school, I posed for a bit in the Salomon shoes and finished)
Summary
Advantages:
Weight: The shoes are quite lightweight.
Upper: Good wrapping and protection.
Midsole: Excellent cushioning performance.
Outsole: Outstanding anti-slip and grip.
Disadvantages:
If I have to say, the price... is a bit high... (but worth it)