I’m a casual runner. On a good week, I’ll lace up my shoes and move my legs faster than a saunter maybe three times. I run both trail and street, so I need a pair of shoes that do it all: urban and wilderness in one package. Salomon has been making shoes that can take you from city to trail for years now, but I’ve felt they all lacked enough cushion to be true street-running shoes. But the new Sense Pro has me singing a new tune. I’ve been running both on and off road in these ruby slippers most of the summer, and have a few thoughts. First, the details.
The Salomon Sense Pro feature:
- Mesh upper
- Sensifit
- Endofit
- Quicklace system
- 6mm drop
- ProFeel (TPU) midsole film
- Dual-density EVA midsole
- Contagrip HT and HA outsole
- Dynamic Traction
First time on my feet, I was elated at how cozy the Sense Pro felt right out of the box. The Endofit (an internal sleeve that hugs the foot like your favorite childhood blankie) makes the shoes feel like slippers, and secures the foot like nothing I’ve ever felt. I immediately went for a run around the neighborhood. On the asphalt, I was pleasantly surprised at how cushioned they felt. After five miles on city streets, I didn’t feel foot fatigue or any warning signs from old foot injuries about to flare up.
Seeing the Sense Pro as true city to trail shoes, I mostly went on 3-5 mile runs from the house, along city streets, and onto dirt trails around nearby parks and urban canyons. The shoes performed awesome. The mesh uppers aren’t the most breathable in the world, so my feet did get hot on particularly warm days, but never to the point that I couldn’t stand to wear them. The 6mm drop is enough to keep standard runners happy (myself included) though minimalist types might want to look elsewhere. Fit is spot on with the help of the above-mentioned Endofit, along with the Sensifit external overlays, and the usual Quicklace system that Salomon is known for. While I found the Sense Pro to be downright adequate for road running, I wouldn’t go so far as to tackle a marathon in them.
On major trail runs, like up Mineral Fork in Big Cottonwood Canyon, I discovered that the mountains are where the Salomon Sense Pro really shine. Over rocks, singletrack, through mountain meadows and even scree fields, these shoes practically gave me wings. The dual-density EVA midsole seems like it has just the right amount of cushion without muting ground feel. The TPU midsole film also adds protection without dampening ground fell. The shoes are springy with an effect of propelling me forward with every step. Traction is top notch on dry dirt, smooth rocks, and even wet terrain over creek crossings. Not once did I experience any slippage.
In super technical terrain, such as boulder-hopping in the upper peaks, I found the Salomon Sense Pro does have its limits. The upper is very flexible, which is great for comfort on runs, but when scrambling, they lacked the support of a leather hiker. Also, when running downhill in rocky terrain, any large rocks that brushed the uppers caused pain, especially around my little toes, which a traditional, leather running shoe might easily deflect.
The Good: Unparalleled fit and comfort, confidence-inspiring traction, versatile enough for city and trail running.
The Bad: Uppers wimp out in super technical terrain, not the best ventilation.
Final Word: The Sense Pro is probably my favorite trail running shoe that Salomon has made so far. They are easily the most comfortable while being workhorses on and off the trail. For anyone in the market for a one-shoe quiver, look no further than the Sense Pro.