Salomon Speedcross 3

I went out for a nice short run a few weeks ago in my On Cloudracers and experienced some difficulty.  Not to discount the shoe, but it's just not made for winter.  The shoe is super breathable which makes it freezing in the winter, and there is very little traction for the snow and ice.  I decided to switch it up and try out my New Balance Minimus 10v2 trail shoes, thinking the traction would be great and if I put on a thicker sock I would be fine.  The problem was, I have put so many miles on those shoes that the traction just wasn't there.  I needed a fix and quick, considering my ultra marathon training was starting.  Behold the Salomon Speedcross 3.  Below is my review of the shoe.

I have tried Salomon shoes before, and wasn't very impressed.  I was stubborn at the time and believed that if I wanted to be the best runner I needed to stick to one style of shoe...the minimalist shoe.  My boss at Brown's Shoe Fit convinced me to try again so I bought the Speedcross 3 with much reluctance.  Compared to my Minimus 10v2s this shoe is huge and heavy.  My comfort during the winter convinced me to buy the shoe.  I needed something with plenty of traction and a shoe that was also thick enough to keep my feet warm.  The sole of the shoe has a bunch of rubber cleats to help with traction and the difference running on snow and ice was noticeable.  I wasn't slipping and sliding, which meant my ankles were not as sore once I finished my run.  The shoes are pretty thick, but are still breathable, which is exactly what I needed to start my winter running.  The speed lace system is nice, and the tongue compartment makes the speed lace system even greater since I can just tuck the excess lace in the compartment.  The one thing I might change about the laces is to make them a bungee lace so they can stretch.  I find it hard to get that perfect level of tightness in the laces at times.

I am a minimalist runner so I have to speak to this a bit.  I was worried that the shoe was going to really promote a definite heel strike which makes me feel a little uncomfortable.  I have been working so hard to perfect my running form that I didn't need a shoe to ruin that for me.  I immediately noticed that my form was fine.  I have worked so hard to perfect this form, that the shoe didn't impact it.  I was still striking on my forefoot.  The first couple of runs the shoe felt heavy, but as I have been running in them for about 2 weeks, the shoe has actually been great.  The downside is the shoe is pretty much useless if I don't need the traction.  When I am running on straight concrete or asphalt I almost feel like I am wasting the shoes potential.  I need to get out on some real trails or it needs to start acting like winter again.  This will be the shoe I eventually use to run my ultra marathon in.  The course I will attempt is brutal and I think this shoe will help tremendously.  Just to give you an idea of the amount of running I have done in them just to give perspective.  I have done runs anywhere from 3 to 18 miles and they have been great for both shorter and longer runs.

The Salomon Speedcross 3 is priced at 125.00 which really isn't too bad considering what this shoe has to offer.  For me to feel comfortable in my training that price has been worth it.  If you are not into the whole trail thing, Salomon makes a city/trail shoe that I have reviewed in the past.  The bottom line is, I would recommend this shoe to anyone who needs a good shoe for traction (snow/ice running or trail running).  Be weary though, if most of your running is done on concrete, asphalt, or even easy crushed gravel trails, this shoe is not the shoe you need.  The cleats will wear out fast the more straight concrete you run on.  Nonetheless, for me they have been great and regret being as reluctant as I was.  You can buy the shoes right from Brown's Shoe Fit Company Fort Dodge by clicking this link: Speedcross 3.