Details
Brand
Salomon
Heel To Toe Drop
6mm
Breathability
6.9/10
Latest Version
Yes
Terrain
Trail
Type
Neutral
Key Features
• Minimal EVA cushioning• SensiFit and EndoFit technologies• Moisture-wicking nylon lining• Contagrip rubber outsole• Extremely durable upper• Quicklace system
Upper
The upper of this shoe utilizes many of Salomon’s popular technologies. The SensiFit technology keeps your foot locked in while the EndoFit technology creates a fit similar to that of a sock. The welded overlays on this shoe provide a secure fit as well as increase the overall durability of the shoe. There are some nice protective features on the upper such as the additional padding above the lace area and also the rubber outsole portion above the toe box.
Midsole
This shoe doesn’t have a lot of midfoot cushioning. It does have a little EVA material with a little extra in the heel. This lack of midsole material allows the shoe to be highly flexible. Salomon most likely did not include much cushioning, because the shoe is meant for soft surfaces like snow and muddy trails. The soft terrain is very forgiving, thus a shoe doesn’t need to be. However, the Ortholite insole also provides some additional cushioning.
Outsole
Similar to the Salomon Speedcross series, this shoe was built for tough conditions. The outsole is made up of a large chevron shaped multidirectional lugs that are 8mm long. This shoe was built to take a bite out of the wet, difficult trail. There are more lugs near the front of the shoe to provide that little extra traction right at toe-off, great for that little push and additional speed. There are more lugs at the front of the shoe, giving the forefoot the best traction, which also can be helpful for forefoot strikers.
Breathability
This shoe features a mesh upper that is fully closed, which keeps the trail debris out and offers some resistance to mud and water on the trails. This is not as breathable as some of Salomon’s open mesh shoes, but this works well on exactly the type of trail it is built for.
Comfort
There isn’t a ton of cushion on this shoe, but it doesn’t need a ton of cushion for soft trails. Some runners might find the narrower fit of the shoe a little uncomfortable, but after some a break in period, this does improve. Many runners will love that although the shoe is not highly cushioned, the little cushioning it has makes up for a responsive but comfortable ride.
Style
This shoe is primarily black with red accents, the same red reserved for the S-Lab line of Salomon shoes. It is a good looking shoe with a flashy Salomon logo printed down the back. The choice of black is ideal, considering the muddy conditions its meant to endure.
Durability
This is a durable shoe, especially the upper. It’s built to tackle tough terrain and last. This is a trail specific shoe, so beware using it on road or hard surfaces or you might see some premature wearing on the lugs. The upper is solid, it will not tear and even after several hundred miles in really technical terrain.
Protection
There is no rock plate on the bottom of the shoe, but this is not meant for rocky conditions and is more suited to deep mud. There is a rubber overlay portion connecting the outsole to the upper. The rubber overlay comes up around the toe box and around the back to offer additional protection in these areas.
Responsiveness
This shoe is definitely a responsive shoe. It is low to the ground, highly flexible and since there isn’t a lot of midsole material, you get a solid ground feel. This is not the shoe for anyone looking for a highly cushioned ride. However, you can certainly expect it to be fast.
Support
As with other S-Lab shoes, there isn’t much support in this shoe. The Ortholite insole provides some arch support, but that’s about it. This shoe was built for runners with a fast efficient stride and a high turnover. This shoe is good for a runner who doesn’t require a lot of support.
Terrain
This shoe is very terrain specific and is great for soft, wet terrain or snow. The aggressive outsole provides excellent traction on the most technical terrain. The SensiFit and EndoFit technology mean you will have a secure fit to keep you stable on technical terrain. Because there isn’t a ton of midsole cushioning, runners might find it uncomfortable on terrain with a lot of roots or rocks. And because the lugs are so large, the shoe doesn’t do a great job of navigating flat, hard terrains.
Price
As with most S-Lab series shoes, this is an expensive shoe. It retails at $170 USD and at this price, most runners are saving this for exactly what it’s meant for – really fast runs or races on wet, muddy trails. There are plenty of high-quality features in this shoe, so if you are willing to part with a little extra money to get the best Salomon has to offer, this is the shoe for you.
Drop
This shoe has a 6mm drop. This isn’t a huge drop, but it does provide some additional cushioning in the heel. In general, a shoe with a low drop is designed for runners with good form, so a huge drop isn’t necessary.
Stability
There isn’t much for stability in this shoe, but that’s not what it was intended to be. However, the SensiFit and EndoFit technology does provide a stable feeling, giving you a secure fit, which is important while navigation tough terrain. However, the lugs on the outsole do not provide much stability on wet roots or rocks.
Flexibility
The Salomon S-Lab Fellcross 3 is an extremely flexible shoe, especially when you consider all of the lugs and durable material that went into its design. This high level of flexibility is primarily due to the lack of cushioning and midsole material. The flexibility is great for runners with a lot of foot strength, looking to get solid ground feel and traction.
Traction
The large lugs are great at providing solid traction on soft terrain. However, these large lugs don’t provide a lot of surface area and are not good for providing traction on harder, solid terrains. Although the Contagrip does bend around and is a sticky rubber, this shoe does not do well on paved surfaces.
Bottom Line
This shoe has one purpose – to run fast on wet, muddy or snow-covered trails – and the shoe does just that. The outsole does a great job at providing traction on soft terrain. However, at the same time, the 8mm lugs don’t provide much stability on wet rocks or roots so be careful on these mixed terrains. The minimal midsole material make this a very flexible shoe, which is great for those fast, efficient runners with good form, needing a strong toe off. If you find yourself living in a place with lots of wet trails, this is a great option.
