Salomon Alphacross 4 Men's Trail Running Shoes, Powerful Grip, Long Lasting Comfort, and Versatile Performance

Product Information

I have previously used Salomon Speedcross, and I have a bit of mixed feelings about it. It has a great fit but it is slightly too firm for my taste. Alphacross has a great fit, a softness in the midsole and a grip that lives up to my expectations of what a trail shoe should be able to handle! The Genesis shoes were perfect through the snow and through all the trail sections,” Dauwalter said in a Salomon press release after her record-breaking Western States race. With their high heel counter and a large 10mm drop, we don't feel these shoes are the most stable, especially when bombing downhill, as we are here in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. That didn't stop us from putting them to the test, but we think they could do with a little bit less under the heel. On the inside, you'll find the OrthoLite insoles, or more like inserts, which is a cheap and cheerful solution from Salomon to provide some cushioning within the shoes. Price conscious decisions are understandable when the price is so low, but saying that, the Salomon Alphacross doesn't feel cheap or uncomfortable.

Salomon Speedcross 4 Review, Facts, Comparison | RunRepeat Salomon Speedcross 4 Review, Facts, Comparison | RunRepeat

The traction certainly did not disappoint as I’ve used these for both trail running and OCR and I was incredibly impressed! The latest Garmin Forerunner 965 is a beast and I love their watches. I’ve never been tempted by an Apple watch since migrating to Garmin from Polar about 10 years ago. The latest Garmin is expensive though. If you are wondering if it is worth the upgrade read the detailed comparison of the Garmin Forerunner 965 v 955 v 945. Field trials using the Salomon Alphacross trail shoes I’d love to say that these shoes are comfortable right out of the box, but they required quite a lengthy break-in period for me. The shoes run true to size, but I had to put in about 30-50 miles in these shoes before I felt like they began to become somewhat comfortable. If you ever attended a trail running race before, you have probably seen a lot of Salomon shoes, for a good reason. Right out of the box, I loved the aesthetics of the Speedcross 4 as I was elated to find that the shoes came in neutral blue hues, especially for those who prefer low-key color schemes. Furthermore, Salomon offers a variety of colors to choose from to suit your personal style preferences.

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Its probably one of the best trail shoes available in this price range! Even if its a shoe for beginners, I would consider using it myself as it would be very well suited for trail runs where you aren´t going to take part in competitions in the most challenging terrain.

Salomon Alphacross GTX W review - Active-Traveller Salomon Alphacross GTX W review - Active-Traveller

I have neither wide, nor narrow feet, yet I developed hot spots and blisters on my toes. Sadly, it still happens from time to time depending on how long I’m running in these shoes. With that being said, I’d rate the toe box of these shoes to be more on the narrow side.Trail running shoes in general need to be more sturdier than their road running counterparts, especially the upper fabric, but also the soles. Running on road, you won't encounter so many different surfaces and most usually you don't have to climb or ascend slippery surfaces either (generalising here a bit). For obstacle course racing, in particular, you can always expect wet and muddy conditions. The water-resistant textile of the Salomon Speedcross 4 hinders the water shedding capability that is desirable for those looking to race OCR in these shoes. Its designed with a luxurious brace around the lacing system but perhaps you need an extra hole around the ankle to make the shoe wrap itself closely around your ankle. However, if you (like me) are satisfied with the fit but you don´t want all kinds of dirt in your shoe during trail running, a universal gaiter can easily be used. I tried this shoe on a brief test run, and I really enjoyed its soft feel and excellent forefoot flexibility—the shoe felt smooth and comfy on pavement and dirt. The generous toe box gave my toes plenty of wiggle room, and its wide footbed left me unconstricted at midfoot. The upper is another highlight: Soft padding around the ankle creates a comfy fit, but it’s stiff enough to provide some support. For runs that involve a mix of pavement and dirt, the Ultra Glide 2 is the model you want on your feet.

Best Salomon Running Shoes 2023 - Running Shoes for Men and Women Best Salomon Running Shoes 2023 - Running Shoes for Men and Women

The Pulsar Trail Pro 2 isn’t perfect. It’s not very supportive, and the fit at midfoot was a bit too narrow for my liking. Even with those caveats, it’s a very capable trail shoe, especially for runners who want an agile, speedy feel. I mainly used these shoes for both trail running and obstacle course racing (OCR) which means lots and lots of muddy terrain. Salomon Alphacross 3 is available in different colors for men and women. The upper isn´t waterproof in the model I tested but it is slightly water-resistant. If you want a waterproof shoe, Salomon Alphacross 3 is also available in a GORE-TEX version which you can find here.Biomechanically, these shoes are ideal for the classic heel striker. Being a midfoot striker, I did notice during long runs I had a tendency to heel strike in these shoes which I wasn’t too happy about. I was accommodating the shoe more than it was accommodating me. You can also easily use Salomon Alphacross 3 as an everyday shoe if you are going out for walks in the woods. Therefore I would recommend the shoe for everyone who enjoys all aspects of nature. Here you will feel grounded and flying at the same time!

Salomon Alphacross 3 | Best trail shoe for beginner´s TEST: Salomon Alphacross 3 | Best trail shoe for beginner´s

Salomon shoes are renowned for their traction, which they achieve thanks to the company’s proprietary Contagrip rubber outsole. The grips come in five patterns with lugs–small cleat-like protrusions that extend downward from the outsole–that come in different shapes and sizes, many of which are made for specific running conditions. First thing I notice when I lift them out the box is the weight. These are a very lightweight shoe. I have the Solomon Speedcross and have these for the past few years. The Alphacross are about half the weight! Being a weight weenie I am liking these shoes even more. The ContaGrip outsole will help you climb better and descend safer, thanks to the rubber chevrons providing traction in all the right areas. Garmin Fenix 6 Pro review: the perfect companion for your trail runs (built in compass, altimeter and topographic maps)

Our Verdict

That said, many of the shoes feature a general “all-terrain” design, which works well across all kinds of surfaces. How We Evaluated the Best Salomon Running Shoes The ripstop upper can withstand some abuse but it is definitely not waterproof. If you are looking for something that will not let much water in, get the Salomon XA Pro 3D CS WP. Moreover, I love the arrow design because they didn’t allow copious amounts of mud to cake on the bottom of the shoes, essentially allowing me to continue to grind without sacrificing grip. The upper fabric is stitch-free and has a smooth feel, but unfortunately not weatherproof, as one might expect when you look at the Alphacross. On the other hand, it does resist tearing, ripping and abrasion, something that can come handy in a hostile environment that is a forest trail. The lacing is pretty straight forward.