Salomon are famend within the out of doors business for producing constantly sensible gear and attire, ranging in utility from snowboarding to ultrarunning. Though their fame stems from constant success in mountain sports activities, extra lately you’ll have seen their sneakers catching fireplace within the influencer scene. Or possibly not — who’re influencers anyway?
The Extremely Glide 2 is not any exception to this pattern, proving that it’s doable to mix perform and type. These thrilling new path runners construct on the success of the unique Extremely Glide, pushing the boundaries of consolation, efficiency, and sturdiness, all whereas wanting contemporary.
Over the previous few months, I’ve had the chance to place these sneakers to the take a look at. Because the miles accumulate throughout hikes via various mixtures of climate circumstances and terrain, I’ve constantly been impressed by their efficiency.
Salomon Extremely Glide 2 At-a-Look
Efficiency meets attractiveness worthy of an influencer. Picture by way of Solomon
- MSRP: $150
- Weight: Males’s 9.8oz | Girls’s 8.3oz
- Stack peak: 32mm (heel), 26mm (forefoot)
- Drop: 6mm
- Lug depth: 4mm
Supposed Use
The Extremely Glide 2 is meant to be a cushty, but light-weight, all-around trail-muncher. It’s not Salomon’s lightest or most responsive path runner, neither is it designed for a super-specific function like a few of their muckier sneakers, however it’s purported to do most issues properly. Lengthy miles shouldn’t be an issue for the mega stack peak, and the traction ought to be enough on all however essentially the most rugged of routes.
Salomon Extremely Glide 2 Options
Right here, my Quicklaces are dangling free, however a stretch pouch on the prime of the tongue will maintain them safe.
- Quicklace: In the event you’ve ever fearful that you just would possibly neglect the best way to tie your shoelaces, or in case your knots are notoriously insecure, then Salomon has you lined. This single-pull lace system makes securing the shoe and getting it off easy and fast.
- Max cushion: The stack peak of this shoe locations it firmly within the maximal cushion class of path runners. Which means even with no rock plate, the Extremely Glide 2 ought to supply safety all day, on all forms of terrain, whereas offering a comfortable journey.
- Reverse camber rocker: This can be a fancy means of claiming that these are designed to roll easily heel-to-toe, which is meant to advertise a smoother stride.
- Contagrip All Terrain rubber: Contagrip is Salomon’s proprietary outsole know-how, which mixes totally different compounds and tread patterns for particular efficiency traits. This All Terrain model makes an attempt to seek out the proper stability of sturdiness and traction for purposes throughout all kinds of surfaces and circumstances.
- 6mm drop: This can be a fairly common quantity for trainers. Until you’re on the zero-drop bandwagon, then this can seemingly really feel unremarkable.
READ NEXT — One Easy Trick to Preserve Your Shoelaces Tied on Your Subsequent Hike
Match & Consolation
I discovered the roomy match to be comfy, it doesn’t matter what I used to be standing on.
Salomon has performed an impressive job of designing a shoe that feels prefer it was made for my ft. Nonetheless, in fact, everybody is exclusive and can interface with this shoe otherwise. Up to now, I’ve discovered that sneakers from this model are on the tighter facet, however with the Extremely Glide 2, my wider ft felt comfy and safe.
The one-pull, Quicklace know-how helps the midsole to cradle the foot, giving a safe, cosy, and customised match, with no knots required. And I discovered the toe field to be good and roomy with out leaving me sloshing about.
How did the Quicklace carry out?
Earlier than making an attempt them, I wasn’t certain how I’d really feel concerning the lack of conventional laces on these sneakers, however I’ve come to like this method. The convenience of use implies that I don’t assume twice about eradicating my sneakers throughout a brief break, which is useful for stopping blisters and resting my ft, permitting me to hike additional in a day. One other good function is the lace pouch situated on the tongue for stashing the surplus wire and protecting potential snags to a minimal.
The one draw back of the Quicklace was that I typically had problem getting the underside laces as tight as I needed them. As a substitute, a lot of the strain ended up on the prime of my foot, close to the ankle. With some fiddling, I often obtained the match I needed, nevertheless it did take some… fiddling.
The Higher
Whereas the higher mesh is on the hotter facet, it does job of repelling path detritus.
Whereas I discovered that the engineered mesh higher provided good breathability, these sneakers ran a bit hotter than what I’ve come to count on from related path runners, resembling Altra. This was seemingly as a result of Extremely Glide’s plush cushioning and thick tongue, which is particularly pronounced across the mouth of the shoe. It’s comfy, just a bit bit heat.
One other constructive was the mesh’s potential to repel small particles of dust and dirt. Much less crud in my sneakers meant much less abrasion, and due to this fact happier ft. And the mesh was impressively sturdy, with no seen indicators of deformation all through testing.
The Journey
The Extremely Glide 2 appears to be like like a standard shoe, nevertheless it rides a bit otherwise from the common path runner.
The distinctive journey is among the first issues that I seen after I moved into these sneakers. My stride felt easy, every step comfortable, but responsive. The maximally cushioned midsole is comfy and supplies good power return, which, mixed with the reverse-cambered rocker, returns a ‘cloud-like’ feeling.
Much more spectacular is the endurance of this consolation. I’m used to feeling the standard of the journey endure because the miles accumulate, particularly with a shoe as plush because the Extremely Glide 2, however to date these have held up superbly.
Traction & Stability
Salomon’s Extremely Glide 2 is supplied with a Contagrip rubber outsole that I discovered to be each sturdy and grippy, even on moist rocks and roots, to a sure extent. The Power Surge foam midsole delivers spectacular shock absorption, permitting for a steady and comfy journey even on uneven terrain.
The All Terrain model of Salomon’s Contagrip was enough on most surfaces, simply not sloppy mud.
The 4mm lugs had been enough, however they had been additionally a weak level on sure terrain. There’s lots of house within the tread sample, and I discovered that the average-depth lugs had been simply choked with mud, which resulted in ice-skate-like slides. The heel brake was additionally much less efficient than people who I’ve had on different path runners, that means that after I began to slide out, it was troublesome to regain traction. That stated, traction associated to pure friction was simply effective.
Sturdiness
A path runner wants a shoe that may face up to the pains of the path. Right here, the Extremely Glide 2 doesn’t disappoint. The engineered mesh higher held up properly towards rocks and particles, and the toe cap supplied further sturdiness and safety the place it was wanted most. Moreover, the outsole exhibited minimal indicators of damage even after logging substantial miles, which corrects a criticism of the unique Extremely Glides.
As with most sneakers that we hikers abuse, I believe that the primary indicators of degradation will seem across the ankle opening. The plush cushioning will lose its bounce and grow to be extra inflexible as dust turns into ingrained within the materials.
Efficiency & Worth
Are these sneakers as plush as a fluffy sheep?
Within the Extremely Glide 2, Salomon has crafted consolation, stability, and sturdiness right into a path runner that has the appears to be like to match its efficiency. I actually imagine that the comfortable and cushioned journey of the midsole permits me to push higher distances on the path.
And though I can’t imagine that I’m saying this, at $150 the Extremely Glide 2 prices sits center of the pack when it comes to value. That’s not a quantity to take frivolously, however it’s roughly common today. Nonetheless, given the excessive efficiency and sturdiness, these sneakers supply bang on your buck.
Salomon Extremely Glide 2 Execs
- Quicklace permits for fast on and off throughout fast breaks.
- Glorious match and luxury, with a roomy toe field.
- Excellent traction on varied surfaces apart from mud.
- Sturdy building.
- Responsive cushioning.
Salomon Extremely Glide 2 Cons
- Not as breathable as different fashionable path runners.
- Tough to regulate the match of the decrease laces.
- Simply slowed down in muddy circumstances.
Ultimate Ideas
On trails like this, the Extremely Glide 2 is completely at dwelling.
The Salomon Extremely Glide 2 path runners are a powerful piece of footwear that caters to the calls for of hikers searching for consolation, efficiency, and sturdiness in a classy package deal. With good traction, responsive cushioning, and a cushty match, these sneakers will really feel proper at dwelling on most well-defined trails. Whether or not you’re a weekend warrior or gearing up on your subsequent thru-hike, the Extremely Glide 2 is an impressive selection on your subsequent journey.
Store the Males’s Salomon Extremely Glide 2
Store the Girls’s Salomon Extremely Glide 2
Comparable Path Runners
Hoka One One Speedgoat 5 (Girls’s)
MSRP: $155
Weight: 10 ounces
Cushion: Most
Stack peak: 33-29mm
Drop: 4mm
Altra Olympus 5 (Girls’s)
MSRP: $170
Weight: 12.3 ounces
Cushion: Most
Stack peak: 33mm
Drop: 0mm
Learn our overview of the Olympus right here.
Brooks Caldera 4 (Girls’s)
MSRP: $150
Weight: 9.5 ounces
Cushion: Most
Stack peak: 26-20mm
Drop: 6mm
Inov-8 Trailfly Extremely G 280 (Girls’s)
MSRP: $185
Weight: 9.88 ounces
Cushion: Most
Stack peak: 33-25mm
Drop: 8mm
Learn our overview of the Trailfly Extremely G 280 right here.
Disclaimer: This pair of Salomon Extremely Glide 2 was donated for the aim of overview.
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