Salomon Debuts Four New Or Updated Trail Running Shoes For Spring 2023

Long known as one of the leaders in the trail running space, as that category gobbles up more prominence in the running community, Salomon continues to focus on crafting updated trail running footwear to meet the demand. And that includes four updates or brand-new offerings for spring 2023.

“The benefit we’ve always had at Salomon is the ability to provide the most robust trail running offering on the market,” Brandon Crouch, trail running footwear and gear merchandiser at Salomon North America, tells me. “With the rise of the sport of trail running and more consumers participating in outdoor activities in general, we feel incredibly fortunate to already be recognized in the space as a technically sound, athletic outdoor brand.”

As Salomon has worked to consolidate the trail running range over the past few years to “become leaner and more efficient,” there were about 36 different models globally to choose from in fall 2022. That global range has narrowed even more in 2023, “allowing us to be more strategic with our North American offerings and go to market with models that give the North American trail runner exactly what they need.”

The focus for spring includes updates like the Ultra Glide 2, Sense Ride 5 and Pulsar Trail Pro 2 and the all-new Glide Max Trail.

The Ultra Glide 2 is an ultra-cushioned option designed to adapt to varying terrains and surfaces. Built for lightweight long-distance comfort, the update includes a new lightweight upper, increased breathability, a glued insole and thinner collar and tongue.

The Sense Ride 5 is meant to work for short, fast trail runs as well as ultra-distances. It can also handle a variety of terrains—it crosses over to the road the best of any of the Salomon trail lines—with a balanced midsole for cushioning and response. The engineered mesh upper is designed for comfortable stability. The update features a softer midsole, improved overall fit and increased durability on the outsole.

Known as a nimble design packed with technology, the Pulsar Trail Pro 2 is meant for propulsion and drive with both an underfoot plate and foam designed for extra pop and response. The anti-debris collar is also a favorite. New in the update is a lightweight, breathable upper made of engineered mesh.

Brand-new in spring is the Glide Max Trail, an ultra-cushioned mixed-terrain model with a higher stack height than most Salomon offerings and one of the softest step-ins in the range.

To successfully pull off the mix of updates, along with continuing to offer mainstays such as the Speedcross 6, S/Lab Ultra 3 and others, Crouch says Salomon has a few legacy technologies that have evolved over the years and remain meaningful throughout the category.

The brand’s SensiFit is an overlay meant to cradle the foot from the midsole to the lacing system, giving a “secure, snug and virtually customized fit all around the foot,” he says. Pairing with the brand’s Quicklace system, which he likens to a seatbelt, they work together for a secure fit for confidence on multiple terrain types.

The Contagrip technology offers a proprietary rubber compound used on the outsole of all Salomon shoes. With five families of Contagrip soles for each type of terrain, engineers mix and match the rubber grip and lug profiles to meet the needs of each surface.

“While our key legacy technologies span the range of our trail running offering, we’ve expanded our quiver of technologies to cater each trail running shoe for its purposeful intent,” Crouch says.

The Energy Blade tech offered in the Puslar range is an example. Designed to enhance energy return and rebound for runners wanting to move faster, the TPU-injected composite Energy Blade plate—it was inspired by the hooves of mountain goats—offers a springboard effect while remaining flexible. Embedded into the Energy Foam midsole and R Camber rocker technologies, Crouch says the combination allows for a more seamless transition from heel to toe-off.

Salomon continues to push forward new technologies, often first debuting in their S/Lab range of products. One of the newest technologies is the Active Chassis, seen in the S/Lab Genesis model.

“The Active Chassis is meant to help stabilize and guide the foot on a variety of technical terrain, but with a lighter weight and more comfortable underfoot feel than most other traditional supportive/structured footwear provides,” Crouch says.

As Salomon continues to build new technologies in a growing market, Crouch says that other brands entering the space only helps to increase the awareness and engagement in the sport they love. “At Salomon, we always want to have purpose and intent behind every product we design,” he says. “We’re always seeking ways to be more efficient and effective in building our products. We’re a brand that loves the outdoors and wants to welcome more people into our world, but our desire won’t ever be to make more, only better.”