Details
Brand
Salomon
Heel To Toe Drop
6 mm
Breathability
8/10
Latest Version
Yes
Terrain
Road
Type
Neutral
Key Features
• High Abrasion Contagrip outsole provides protection from wear and tear• Contagrip outsole portion provide grip underfoot• Profeel film (rock plate) for protection from debris• Well-cushioned EVA midsole ensures a maximally padded ride• Rocker Profile promotes natural ride and an efficient toe off• Quick-lace system makes pulling shoe on and off really easy• Sensifit upper holds foot securely inside shoe• Endofit interior secures foot and enhances stability
Upper
The upper of the Salomon Sense Pulse uses Sensifit technology to ensure the foot is held securely inside the shoe. Traditional laces don’t have a place in this shoe and instead, a quick-lace system is used for easy on/off. The interior of the shoe boasts Endofit technology which provides a comfortable environment and keeps the foot stable.;Runners did find that the upper dried quickly but had a tendency to let in unwanted debris. Reviewers also mentioned that the shoe doesn’t tend to get smelly and odors don’t tend to proliferate even after miles of use. Some reviewers with a high instep also noted that the shoe accommodated their particular foot shape very well.
Midsole
The midsole of the Salomon Sense Pulse is outfitted with EVA foam. The chunky midsole is packed with this foam cushioning to provide an amply padded platform. The cushioning is especially beneficial for heel strikers. In addition, the shoe is constructed using a rocker profile. This geometry helps to ensure a smooth ride and encourages a natural motion for toe-off. There’s also a Profeel film in the midfoot to protect the wearer from trail debris like sharp rocks and twigs. It’s essentially a rock plate, though the name suggests some kind of thin covering. It’s a bit confusing, but rest assured there’s plenty of protection packed into the Sense Pulse. The Sense Pulse also has a fair bit of arch support which is helped by the midsole’s high amount of EVA foam.
Outsole
The outsole of the Salomon Sense Pulse is constructed using High Abrasion Contagrip rubber as well as regular Contagrip rubber. These materials cover the outsole and provide good traction. Underfoot, you’ll also notice unique three-pronged lugs which provide grip when running on pavement or varied ground. There are no prominent flex grooves underfoot but a vertical line in the outsole of the shoe is present to provide a bit of flex. A cutout in the heel of the sole reveals the midsole and lightens the overall weight of the shoe.
Breathability
The Salomon Sense Pulse’s upper is outfitted with portions of mesh but there are also quite a few overlays which work to secure the foot inside the shoe. These overlays may also hinder the shoe’s ability to ventilate. Most reviewers were pretty happy with the shoe’s breathability. They also noted that the shoe dried quickly. This is a great characteristic for a hybrid shoe. You don’t want to step in a puddle on the trail and have to contend with a soggy shoe for the rest of your journey.
Comfort
Most reviewers noted that the cushioning was extremely comfortable. The Salomon Sense Pulse has a great deal of cushioning in its rearfoot area. Heel strikers are most likely to benefit from this but non-heel strikers seemed just as pleased with the shoe’s padding. Sure, the Sense Pulse is a bit clunky, but you get a lot of cushioning in return. This makes the shoe great for long distance training. The maximalist shoe might not serve you too well for speedwork or intervals, but it can definitely handle high mileage on or off the trails.
Style
The Salomon Sense Pulse is an attractive hybrid shoe model. As mentioned before, it doesn’t have the look of a chunky maximalist shoe which is a bit deceiving. It’s offered in a variety of stylish colors. For men, there is a black option with green accents, a black version with orange accents, and a blue version with neon accents. For women, there is a playful pink with lime green accents, a blue with lime green accents, and a black version with green accents that’s nearly identical to the men’s version. None are overly flashy or gaudy. One design aspect that negatively affects the shoe’s overall aesthetic is the rounded toe. It makes for an almost cartoonish look. Of course, a pointed toe restricts forefoot movement and may cause discomfort.
Durability
Just take a look at the Salomon Sense Pulse’s outsole. It’s definitely made to handle high mileage. The High Abrasion Contagrip rubber will stand up to the test of time. The solid overlays in the upper are sure to keep the shoe intact, and there’s enough cushion packed into the midsole to last for miles and miles. That’s what makes it a perfect long distance training shoe. Reviewers were very happy with its lifespan and commented on the shoe’s durable construction.
Protection
It looks like a regular shoe but there’s a reason it can be taken out on the trails with ease. There’s enough protection for wearers to be at ease when going off-road. The Profeel film rock plate protects underfoot ensuring your feet are never harmed when encountering rough terrain. The outsole protects against wear and tear, and the midsole is maximally cushioned to ensure you never have to feel much of the impact of running. Although the upper is solidly constructed and covered with secure overlays, some reviewers complained that debris easily entered inside the shoe. This is an area that definitely requires improvement.
Responsiveness
The Salomon Sense Pulse has a lot of cushioning in its midsole but is it responsive? It’s about average. The close to the ground feel of the shoe contributes somewhat to the shoe’s energy-return and a few other features ensure the ride in the Sense Pulse is comfortable and natural. The Rocker Profile ensures a smooth transition from heel to toe (a heel strike is common in the shoe, though, since there’s so much cushioning in that area). The heftiness of the shoe isn’t ideal for faster runs but you should still feel some degree of responsiveness when running in the Sense Pulse. If you want high energy return, though, look elsewhere.
Support
As a neutral shoe, the Salomon Sense Pulse doesn’t provide the stability and support that you might find in a shoe that’s otherwise categorized. Still, the very well-cushioned midsole provides a firm supportive base for wearers. In addition, the outsole provides outstanding traction and keeps wearers from accidentally slipping on uneven or wet surfaces. The upper also provides some degree of support by keeping the entire foot locked in. Reviewers also mentioned that the shoe provided good arch support.
Terrain
You can go from road to trail in the Salomon Sense Pulse. It’s not technically called a hybrid shoe but it certainly performs like one. The lugs underfoot are grippy enough to handle rough terrain and the outsole, outfitted with Contagrip rubber, can handle long distance running on or off-road. It’s a great shoe for runners who occasionally take to the trails for a jaunt in the wilderness. The shoe also boasts a Profeel film (a rock plate) to protect from trail debris. Basically, you’re all set to hit the trails with the Sense Pulse, but careful of loose debris since the upper does a poor job at keeping that stuff out of the shoe.
Price
The Salomon Sense Pulse is priced fairly. It falls in the middle of the price range for shoes of its kind. Since it can easily go from road to trail, there’s some value in that. You won’t have to go and buy yourself a separate pair of shoes just for trail running. Overall, it’s a good buy. The construction is solid, the rock plate adds an extra protective component, and the shoe will likely last longer than most.
Drop
The Salomon Sense Pulse has a 6mm drop. It’s a lower than average drop and ensures that wearers stay close to the surface they’re running on. This promotes stability.
Stability
The Salomon Sense Pulse provides stability by securely wrapping the foot with the Sensifit upper. The quick-lacing system allows the user to easily pull-tighten the shoe and ensure they get a tight fit. Inside the shoe, the Endofit technology always ensures that runners don’t wobble from side to side. A firm platform also keeps wearers stable. The midsole has so much cushioning that it acts as a secure base. In tandem with the 6mm drop, neutral runners shouldn’t feel unstable even when running on trails.
Flexibility
The Salomon Sense Pulse is not that flexible. There is a slight vertical groove in the outsole to provide some degree of flex but it’s not enough to really create a pliable platform. The Rocker Profile of the shoe does help to make up for the lack of flexibility. It promotes a rocking or rolling motion from heel to toe. Still, for the most part, the shoe is fairly rigid. The foam packed midsole is densely outfitted and isn’t very pliable at all. But it does provide a lot of padding. More padding means more support, more shock absorption, but does reduce the flexibility. Reviewers didn’t really seem to mind.
Traction
There’s quite a bit of traction in that Contagrip outsole. In the sole of the Salomon Sense Pulse, you can see the triangularly shaped lugs which help to provide grip underfoot. They perform well in wet or dry conditions and can even grip when the terrain is rather rough and technical.
Bottom Line
The Salomon Sense Pulse is a solid hybrid trainer that can be used on a variety of surfaces. The low drop ensures you’ll be close to the ground so you can feel your way throughout your run. The snug fitting upper dries quickly so even if you end up crossing a body of water, you won’t end up finishing your run with soggy feet. The clunky design doesn’t take too much away from the Sense Pulse. Overall, reviewers were extremely pleased with the maximalist cushioning and the excellent grip underfoot. The shoe fit true to size for most and the varied color options pleased most runners. The Sense Pulse is a durable option great for high mileage runners or simply those who need a bit of extra cushioning in their shoe’s midsole.
