Salomon Women's XA PRO 3D ULTRA 2 Trail Runner - Aluminum/Detroit/Purple Iris

Photo credit: Amazon.com

Taken from Amazon.com's description:

From the Manufacturer

Salomon was born in 1947 in the heart of the French Alps and the birthplace of modern alpinism. Driven by a passion for skiing and design innovation, Francois Salomon and his son George designed and perfected much of the first modern ski equipment. During the following 60 years, Salomon's commitment to innovative design and passion for mountain sports created a vast range of revolutionary new concepts in boots, skis and apparel and brought innovative solutions to footwear, apparel and equipment for hiking, adventure racing, mountaineering and trail running. Through performance-driven design, Salomon enhances mountain sports by converting new ideas into action and expanding the limits of possibility.

Product Description

The Salomon XA Pro 3D Ultra running shoe will take you from the track to the trail to bushwacking with unparalleled stability. Breathable mesh upper features SensifitTM thermoplastic urethane overlays to secure insteps and lock heels in place. Polyester linings wick moisture away from feet. Contoured Ortholite insole enhances comfort and controls odor with an antimicrobial treatment. Kevlar Quickfit lacing system takes just one pull for a precise fit. Lace pocket hides lacing away for safety. Protective toe and heel caps guard against bumps and abrasion, Newly formulated EVA midsole delivers enhanced durability and cushioning for all-day comfort on the run. 3D Advanced Chassis technology utilizes a nylon flex control plate for protection and stability in three dimensions. Running Contagrip rubber outsole delivers optimal performance on mixed terrain even at high speeds. Wt. 12.0 oz.      

My Take

I got these bad girls for Christmas this year from my hubby.  I did ask for them after reading through a ton of reviews for sneakers in the price range I wanted to pay.  They came from Amazon.com, not Salomon's website ( http://www.salomon.com/us/ ).  Mind you, I'm rather uncomfortable with buying shoes online.  I really prefer to try them on in the store and see which I like the best.  Sizes and widths vary so much, depending on the materials used and which country is manufacturing them.  

I decided to chance it, since the reviews on Amazon were all good.  I put them on on Christmas Day and haven't taken them off since.  The colors in the photograph are very true to life.  I figured the grey color would mask the dust and dirt I would be trekking through with them.  I decided on this trail running shoe because I am not quite ready to make the investment in expensive hiking boots, but wanted something more durable and comfortable than my street sneakers for hiking rough terrain.  These sneakers are lightweight and breathable and very comfortable.  My feet used to hurt so badly on my daily walks, but since using these, I haven't had a problem.

There are certain features of this shoe that deserve a spotlight.  One feature about this shoe that I absolutely love are the laces.  My shoelaces are ALWAYS unraveling themselves.  These are high test, no tie laces.  They are weaved through the eyelets of the shoe out of the box.  Slip the shoe on, pull the laces tight, use the plastic sliding piece to keep them in place and tuck the remaining laces into the pocket on the tongue.  Admittedly, it took me a few minutes before I understood how they worked, but they are really very reliable, stay in place and you don't have to worry about tripping on loose shoelaces, whether you're running or hiking.  Another nice feature of this shoe is the hard toe.  I'm not really sure what the material is, but it's saved my toes a few times when I've tripped on a rock on the trail.  The breathable material is also great.  On my first "big" hike with them, I decided it would be a smart idea to rinse the mud off of my shoes in a running stream.  My entire foot was wet.  I knew I'd be in for a whole day of chafing and blisters after that.  Not so.  The shoe literally absorbed the water PAST the insole and the outside fabric of the shoe dried in no time.  I was comfortable for the rest of the hike.  When I got home, I dried them out according to some tips I found on a trail running website and they didn't stick and dried out beautifully.  

I've worn these on a few rough hikes now and they are holding up well.  The orthopedic insoles are very comfortable to walk on all day.  My only complaint might be that they've either stretched out a bit or my feet have gotten thinner.  They don't offer a lot of ankle support, so if you're into climbing and rocky terrain, you'll have to take care about making sure of where you step.  I like them because they're lightweight and cool for the hotter temperatures (a must with where I live) and for the other features I mentioned above.  I would highly recommend these to someone looking for trail running/hiking shoes in the $90.00 - $150.00 range.  The prices vary depending on size and color.