Salomon S-Lab XT 5

This a great trail running shoe that will carry you through any condition. It performs best in cooler and damp conditions and gives you grip in any direction — sideways, uphill, and downhill — in dirt, mud, and snow.

Fit and Comfort:

The shoe fits great, no blisters or sore arches... ever. You can feel the shoe wrap around your foot and provide support exactly where you want and need it. Once my run starts, I typically stop to tighten them 30 minutes later but this is more than likely the shoe and laces stretching because it never needs a 2nd retighten. Plus, with the quick laces, it's a brief stop and I'm off again — worry free.

However, the shoes can feel a little too heavy on longer runs. A numbers comparison tells us why. The Salomon S-Lab XT 5 weigh in at approximately 330 grams, whereas the Salomon S-Lab Fellcross 2 are lighter at around 260 grams. Granted, this may not seem massive. If you plan to run for over an hour or more, you may notice it — especially if you're running uphill.

Support:

The support on the Salomon S-Lab XT 5 shoe is pretty much spot on. My feet feel comfortable in them from the start all the way to the end of my run, whether it be mud, snow, uphill, downhill or level ground. Along with this, the laces are well positioned so that once you get the laces snug, your feet are locked in place. They also have a good amount of protection on the sole of the shoe so that if you catch a pointy rock, you won't feel it digging into your foot.

Water Resistance:

While the shoes are not marketed as water resistance, the raised rubber around the shoe keeps your feet dry when traveling through shallow puddles, muddy trails, and snow. However, with that said, if the shoe does get drenched in a creek, it holds onto the water quite well (thanks to the raised rubber around the shoe) and becomes noticeably heavier. While I don't find this a drawback, if you imagine yourself running through a lot of (ankle-deep) creeks this might not be the ideal show for you.

Traction:

The traction on the Salomon S-Lab XT 5 shoe is superb. It gives the grip needed in any off road condition. However, if part of your run is on the pavement, I would hazard that they do not grip well in these conditions and (due to the softness of the tread) will wear down quickly.

Temperature Control:

The Salomon S-Lab XT 5 shoe performs best in cooler conditions (autumn, winter, and spring). Through these conditions, the shoe keeps your feet warm and dry and makes you feel like a boss. Although it performs well in the summer, the raised rubber around the shoe limits ventilation and can make them feel hot and uncomfortable.

Durability:

No complaints, they've gone through a full year of trails runs in dirt, rain, mud, and snow and will (without question) get me through another one yet.

Conditions:

These shoes were tested in trail conditions over the span on a year (winter to autumn), with at least one run per week.