The search for the perfect shoe… it’s a fool’s game as no single shoe will fit everyone the same way, or function perfectly for a multitude of outdoor activities. But such a difficult task as creating the ideal-shoe-that-does-everything doesn’t stop gear companies from trying. Take the Salomon XR Crossmax trail running shoes for example. It’s a running shoe that, according to Salomon, “goes from door to trail,” and I’d say performs pretty damn well for everything else too.
But as far as running is concerned, do the Salomon XR Crossmax shoes really stand up to a pounding on both pavement and dirt? I’ve been training in them for the past few months on all kinds of surfaces, in fair and nasty conditions, and have some thoughts on the matter. But first, let’s take a closer look at the XR Crossmax:
The Salomon XR Crossmax is the latest in their highly regarded line of trail running shoes. Salomon has continued to build their runners with popular features of year’s past, including rugged soles, plenty of cushioning, and their unique Quiklace system. But the Salomon XR Crossmax has a few key technical features that sets them apart from any predecessors.
First, the XR Crossmax upper is built with an unusual, stretchy mesh material that is very flexible and extremely breathable, so much so that when running, you can actually feel air blowing onto your toes like the wind.
Inside the shoe, the XR Crossmax is built with Salomon’s Sensiflex construction, which they say creates a secure lateral hold on the foot, yet also stretches to accommodate the width of a runner’s forefoot. There’s also an Ortholite sockliner that wicks moisture away and features an EVA heel cup for even more stability around the foot.
The soles are built with an aggressive lug system that provides excellent traction, with different materials for the forefoot and heel. The front is made from Salomon’s Contagrip LT, which uses lightweight material that also has good grip and traction on the toes. Heel side is built with Contagrip HA, a more abrasion-resistant sole for better support and durability against rocks and other trail obstacles.
But the coolest feature has to be the OS Tendon bars that run through the sole. They are semi-rigid bars that promote a spring-like foot roll from heel to toe.
I’ve been running in the Salomon XR Crossmax since February, but because of a very snowy spring here in Utah, I had to mostly stick to city streets. In the first weeks of jogging on sidewalks and asphalt, the XR Crossmax were excellent on the road. Right out of the box, the OS Tendon Bars literally felt like I had springs under my feet. With every step, the bars propelled me forward, which honestly made me downright giddy. In addition, ample cushioning kept things soft and comfortable, and actually surprised me since most trail runners feel like bowling shoes when taken from the singletrack to the streets.
But alas, the Salomon XR Crossmax is not specifically a street shoe, and after months of running on pavement, my feet took a pounding to the point that I worried about stress fractures. The lesson? The XR Crossmax really is a “door to trail” shoe, so they’re perfect if you’re running on streets to get to your favorite trail run, but they’re not appropriate for street exclusivity. If you only run on roads, these shoes are not for you.
That being said, the trail is where the Salomon XR Crossmax really shine, and boy howdy do they like to tear it up on the dirt and mud. Spring snow kept me to low elevation trails in the Salt Lake foothills, where rocks and loose gravel are prevailent. No matter. The shoes made short work of any obstacles that came my way. Traction was second to none unless things turned super muddy, and stability was excellent. I also love the Quiklace system that got my feet snug inside the shoes, and stowed into the flexible material on the tongue to keep excess out of the way.
Running in the spring season also meant a lot of time spent in the rain and splashing through puddles. The XR Crossmax are not waterproof, in fact my feet got wet instantly when submerged for even a split second. But… the way these shoes breathe is some kind of miracle because as I continued to run, the air that moved through the front of the shoe to the back dried my wool socks within minutes. It’s like Salomon built air dryers into the toe box!
As if creating an amazing hybrid shoe wasn’t enough, Salomon went ahead and released two versions. The shoes I tested were the XR Crossmax Neutral, which is a standard cushioned running shoe. But Salomon also made the XR Crossmax Guidance, another version that has pronation control and stable cushioning for runners who over-pronate.
So, is the Salomon XR Crossmax the ultimate door to trail running shoe? Absolutely. If you spend too much time on pavement in these kicks, you’ll start to feel it. But if minimal street miles stand between your house and the trailhead, or if you’re looking for some dedicated trail runners, then I’d say Salomon has done the impossible and created a perfect shoe.
Awesome article, this has helped me allot. I’m currently looking at either the crossmax or xt wings. I’m in a city so road running is inevitable to get to any trail. Do you have a review of the xt wings and how that compares to the xr crossmax?
Sorry, I haven’t been running in the XT Wings, so I can’t help you compare the two. But based on what Salomon says about their offerings, the Crossmax are the way to go if you’re looking for that “road to trail” shoe.