Details
Brand
Salming
Heel To Toe Drop
5mm
Breathability
8.5/10
Latest Version
Salming Speed 5
Terrain
Road
Type
Racing
Key Features
• Anti-bacterial Insole keeps the foot fresh and odor-free• Heelcup provides a good fit• 5mm heel-to-toe drop• RunLite High Abrasion Injection EVA midsole is lightweight and responsive• Exo Skeleton Design secures the foot and relieves joint pressure• Lightweight and sticky blown rubber outsole• 3-Layer Construction adds breathable comfort, stability, and durability• TGS 62/75° technology makes sure the shoe bends with the foot’s natural joint movements
Upper
The upper has a 3-layer construction. The bottom layer is honeycomb mesh, which adds breathability, comfort, and support. The middle synthetic layer reduces pressure on the foot and works with the laces to stabilize the midfoot. The top net mesh layer wraps the foot and adds durability. The interior has a thin layer of padding and the exterior has a heel cup that improves the fit. The design, called Exo Skeleton, relieves joint pressure and locks the foot in. The TGS 62/75° technology adds flexibility so that the shoe bends naturally with the foot’s joint movements.
Midsole
The midsole is made of RunLite High Abrasion Injection EVA foam. It’s lightweight, flexible, and responsive. It absorbs some shock, but the outsole and midsole together are thinner than other shoes, so the wearer can feel the ground underneath. This is fine on paved roads or for going around race tracks, but users will not want to go on trails with rocks or debris while wearing this shoe. The midsole also features an anti-bacterial insole that will help prevent things like odor or athlete’s foot. The 5mm drop helps runners land correctly and improve their balance.
Outsole
The outsole is made from a blown rubber compound. It uses a “ballet line” where the front of the shoe is flexible to allow the toes to move naturally and the rest of the shoe is more stable to help with landings and transitions. The pattern has rectangular treads with grooves on the forefoot and long treads that trace the outline of the foot in the midfoot and heel. The rubber is lightweight and slightly sticky to improve traction and help the wearer pick up speed. High-abrasion rubber is used in the center of the forefoot and the outside of the heel to improve durability.
Breathability
Testers found that the Salming Speed is very breathable and can be worn comfortably on hot days or long distance runs. The upper has two layers of mesh that air can travel through: the inside honeycomb layer with larger holes and the outside net layer with small holes. The overlays in the second layer are small, so they don’t trap air inside the shoe. Also improving breathability is the anti-bacterial insole, which helps prevent odor and bacteria in addition to the mesh keeping the foot dry and cool.
Comfort
Reviewers thought that the Salming Speed was very comfortable. The blown rubber outsole provides a nice ground feel, although it is too thin to be comfortable on anything other than a smooth surface. The RunLite EVA foam makes landings soft and the anti-bacterial insole keeps the foot feeling fresh. The honeycomb and net mesh keep the foot comfortably cool on long runs or hot days. The laces, overlays, and light padding make the fit snug and comfortable. The heel cup improves the fit and the Exo Skeleton structure helps relieve pressure on joints. The shoe runs about a half-size small. Salming advertises a roomy toe box which was liked by most reviewers, especially men, although some women found it to be too narrow.
Style
The Salming Speed has a unique style that most reviewers liked. The 3-layer design gives it a very distinct look with its oversized honeycomb holes on the bottom, thin overlays in the middle, and net mesh on top. The shoe comes in bright neon colors such as green or yellow with a black outline and blue or purple accents. Most reviewers liked the colors and design, but some thought the colors were way too bright.
Durability
Although some minimalist shoes are too flimsy for long distance runs, the Salming Speed was used for half-marathons by some testers without any problems. The outsole’s rubber was designed to be durable, with high-abrasion rubber in high-impact areas where the foot is likely to push off from and land. RunLite is High Abrasion Injection EVA foam designed to maintain its cushioning and bounce during high-speed or high-mile runs. The upper materials are durable, and the screen mesh layer was placed on top for the purpose of adding durability. The heel cup adds durability to the rearfoot and the toe cap adds durability to the forefoot.
Protection
The Salming Speed offers a light level of protection. The thin sole unit absorbs shock and protects the foot from bruising as long as it’s going over a flat surface, rocks and debris can be felt underneath the shoe. The RunLite foam protects landings from shock and the anti-bacterial insole protects against fungus and bacteria. The toe cap protects the front of the foot from injury and the heel cup protects the back of the foot from sliding around. The breathability protects the foot from getting overheated and blisters, although it might not be very protective in cold weather due to the thin materials. The Exo Skeleton structure helps reduce the impact on joints.
Responsiveness
This shoe has great responsiveness and can be used comfortably at competitions or longer runs. The outsole uses a “ballet line” for natural movement and smoother transitions. The midsole’s RunLite foam helps the user pick up speed by springing the foot into the air. The low drop helps runners improve their balance, which makes movement steadier and faster. The Exo Skeleton design reduces pressure on the joints, which allows for longer and faster runs. The TGS 62/75° technology makes the shoe move in just the right places. The light weight also makes the shoe more responsive because the user can run longer and use less energy.
Support
The Salming Speed provides a supportive fit. Underneath the foot, the rubber outsole and RunLite foam add support. On top of the foot, support comes from padding, mesh, laces, and overlays. Lateral support comes from the Exo Skeleton design and the TGS 62/75° technology. The Speed gives a small amount of arch support, ideal for people with medium or high arches who don’t normally use gel insoles and do not overpronate.
Terrain
The Speed is categorized as a road running shoe. The outsole has treads throughout and flexible grooves in the forefoot. This makes it ideal for going on daily runs on dirt or paved roads, indoor competitions, or running around tracks during races. The sole unit is too thin to go on trails without risking injury. The shoe lacks the spikes and padding to go on the slippery or cold terrain.
Price
When it was initially released, the Salming Speed had a slightly higher than average running shoe price. Although minimalist shoes are generally less expensive than the average shoe due to their thin or lightweight materials, light amount of cushioning and lack of stability for overpronation, the Speed has a unique design and uses technologies that experienced runners will appreciate: the “ballet line” in the midsole, the 5mm drop, the 3-layer upper with its Exo Skeleton design, and the TGS 62/75° technology. Multiple later versions have been released, so the shoe is around 40% off, although most sizes and colors are no longer available.
Drop
The Salming Speed’s heel-to-toe drop is 5mm, which is pretty standard for a minimalist shoe that does not have a lot of cushioning, although it is significantly lower than the 12mm drop that is standard for road running shoes. The 5mm drop helps the runner improve their balance and land correctly, and was popular with many reviewers who enjoy the natural minimalist feel. This can mean the shoe takes a little longer to break in, but once the user gets used to the low drop, they will become stronger and improve their speed.
Stability
Although not listed as a stability shoe and therefore not appropriate for overpronators, the Salming Speed has some stability features that help neutral runners run faster and longer without risking injury. The midfoot and heel of the outsole have greater stability than the forefoot to improve transitions and stabilize landings. The midsole is flexible and doesn’t have any stability other than light arch support that does not slow overpronation. The upper has a 3-layer construction that stabilizes the midfoot for reduced pressure on joints, TGS 62/75° technology to stabilize where the joints are not, an Exo Skeleton structure to lock in the foot, and a heel-cup to give light stability to the rear of the foot.
Flexibility
The Speed has a high level of flexibility. The outsole utilizes a “ballet line” at a 75-degree angle where the forefoot has more flexibility to allow it to move naturally and the midfoot and rear have more stability for landings. The RunLite foam and anti-bacterial insole are both flexible enough to allow the foot to move quickly and easily. The upper is also flexible with its soft and lightweight materials and its TGS 62/75° technology that allows it to bend where the joints are and stay secure in other areas.
Traction
The Salming Speed gets excellent traction on hard, flat surfaces due to its treads that have a slightly sticky feel to them. It grips roads and paved surfaces well enough for users to go on long-distance runs. It even gets good traction going up and down paved hills. The Speed also gets great traction on tracks, allowing runners to pick up speed for races and competitions. It does not get good traction on technical terrain or wet or slippery surfaces.
Bottom Line
The Salming Speed is a good choice for experienced neutral runners wanting to try a minimalist shoe for their daily runs or who want to do some speed training. It is very light and responsive. It has a small amount of comfortable and supportive cushioning and fits well on runners with medium width feet. It is flexible where the toes push off and the joints bend, and stable in other areas to reduce pressure on joints. The honeycomb and net mesh add a nice amount of breathability for runners who want to pick up speed or go for miles-long runs. It gets good traction on roads and has an anti-bacterial insole that helps prevent fungus and odor. Its unique design and bright colors were liked by most reviewers, although it is a bit pricey for a minimalist shoe. Because of its above-average price, light cushioning and low drop, the Speed is probably not a good choice for people who are new to running. It is also not suitable for overpronators due to its lack of stability.
