Salomon has wowed us with their shoes, gear and apparel at nearly every Outdoor Retailer show we’ve attended. Due to the innovations coming out of their testing labs in France, Salomon’s products have been top-of-the-line, and have given professional athletes everything they’ve wanted. The gear is dialed, so this year Salomon is releasing product versions that are more affordable and meant for the everyman like you and me. Plus, they’re really giving women a treat with new shoes and running apparel made just for the fair sex.
The big Salomon story for 2012 is the Synapse shoe. Salomon is calling the Synapse the “first natural motion hiking shoe.” Translated, that means the sole has a slightly rockered shape that propels the foot forward, instead of clopming the foot down like typical hiking shoes. It begins with the OS Muscle Heel that rolls the foot into mid-stride then rebounds the stride at the end with the OS Tendon. The Synapse are optimized to fit women’s feet, and they’re the shoes Jennifer Pharr wore when she broke the Appalachian Trail speed record this year. So clearly, these kicks do the job. As Salomon says, “Run your hike!” They will also be available in a men’s version as well.
Another new shoe worth mentioning is the XR Mission. They’re an all-terrain trail running shoe for short to middle distance training runs. They come in both men’s and women’s versions, and were each designed separately and specifically from the ground up so the women’s version isn’t just a men’s shoe in girly colors. They feature Sensifit and Sensiflex technology for controlled foot hold and a snug fit. They also include an XR Running Last for increased toe spring, OS Tendon in the sole for a better guide through the foot strike, and Flex Grooves in the sole to increase flexibility and ensure a smooth ride through the stride.
On the gear front, Salomon is coming out with a consumer model of the legendary XT Advanced Skin 5 Slab Set. We tested and reviewed this running pack/vest this summer and loved it, (read the review here) but many readers lamented the high price. So Salomon has unveiled the XA Skin Pro 10+3 Set. Just like its predecessor, this pack is form-fitting for trail runners who need to carry water, food and an extra layer for those long distance runs.It has Sensifit construction for a custom fit, zippered expansion so you can carry both small and large loads, and a PVC-free hydration bladder with Plug n’ Play hose connectors.
Salomon is also showing off some new apparel, like the XA Series Twinskin Skirt. It’s a technical running skirt for (duh) women that has Twinskin construction, which means it includes a light, breathable mesh liner and waist panels to maximize breathability, support muscles and eliminate chafing between legs. I know UtahOutside.com contributor, Callista Pearson, would go head-over-heels for this running skirt.
For the men, there’s the XA Float Short. It’s a multi-sport short for both hiking and running that combines knit and woven materials. It allows free-range of motion, stretchy comfort, and breathability.
Finally, we loved the look of the Salomon Minim Insulating Midlayer. It’s a women’s specific, technical insulating layer with Pertex and Primaloft 40g around the body and upper arms. In areas of the body where lots of motion is going on, stretch fleece is used for ease of movement and flexibility. Looks like a superb piece for cold conditions on the trail.
Expect to see all this and more from Salomon in the coming year.
I’m in Australia and have actually just received the awesome new Advanced Skin 12L that has been specially released in limited numbers for UTMB. It is such a sweetly designed piece of kit with so many excellent functionality surprises onboard I’d be tempted to get these new packs when they come out too…. even though I really shouldn’t need to. Check out my blog, runeatsleeprun on wordpress in perhaps 3 weeks time for a detailed review of how it works on the trails.