Details
Brand
Salomon
Heel To Toe Drop
8mm
Breathability
8/10
Latest Version
Yes
Terrain
Road
Type
Neutral
Key Features
• ProFeel Film• Lightweight, open mesh upper• Vibe Technology, which is a combination of Opal and Energy cell technology in the midsole• Geometric decoupling design• SensiFit Technology• EndoFit Technology• Moisture-wicking lining• Contagrip outsole• 3D Flex technology
Upper
This shoe still offers the great open mesh upper that allows for air to pass throughout the shoe, which is great for cooling the foot and keeping you comfortable in hot climates or on race day. The upper uses synthetic material and the SensiFit design to lock the midfoot in while giving the toes some wiggle room. The EndoFit is like a sock liner that fits snuggly around the foot, giving the shoe a locked-in fit. This shoe also uses 3D Flex around the medial and lateral sides of the foot to help hug the foot, but also expand on long runs in order to keep your foot comfortable.
Midsole
The midsole is a combination of EnergyCell technology, Opal and EVA cushioning. The Energy Cell is great at providing a responsive feeling and some shock absorption. Opal is a lightweight cushioning that is great at dissipating shock, giving you a comfortable ride while also retaining the shoe’s nice snappy feeling. There is a bit of EVA cushioning in the midsole as well. The Sonic 2 also features Salomon’s Vibe technology, which works with the cushioning to provide extra shock absorption and more responsiveness. Altogether, this is a nice lightweight midsole with sufficient cushioning and great shock absorbing qualities.
Outsole
Salomon made a few changes in the design of the outsole for this new edition of the S-Lab Sonic. The earlier design had a large gap in the midfoot area where the ProFeel Film was exposed. In this edition, the Pro-Feel film is still exposed, but it is level with the Contagrip outsole. The ProFeel Film and Contagrip provide runners with nice traction on wet and slippery surfaces. It also offers protection throughout the midfoot while retaining a responsive ride throughout. The design of the outsole also makes for a very flexible shoe, which is perfect for runners with good foot strength and looking for a little more freedom in their stride, as well as a strong toe-off.
Breathability
The S Lab Sonic 2 was specifically designed for keeping feet cool on race day, intense training or warm weather conditions. Although you can see through the mesh, it is durable enough to protect your foot. This also makes for a very fast drying shoe in the event your feet wet.
Comfort
This shoe is the perfect balance of cushion and responsiveness, primarily due to the combination of the midsole materials. The Energy Cell, Opal, and limited EVA material are great for shock attenuation while giving good energy feedback. The inner lining of this shoe is also nice and comfortable next to the foot. The SensiFit and EndoFit do a great job of giving this shoe a good midfoot fit while still providing sufficient room in the forefoot for toes to naturally splay.
Style
This shoe is unisex, which is typical for shoes in the S-Lab line. It has a low stack height and looks as fast as it actually is. The bold red color is standard for a shoe in Salomon’s S-Lab series. This shoe is all red with darker red lettering showing the brand and model, perfect for going with Salomon’s other S-Lab gear such as their hydration packs or S-Lab clothing line.
Durability
The extra weight makes this road shoe durable. The Contagrip material makes for an excellent outsole that is highly durable whether you use it on the road or even on light trails. The midsole material is also highly durable, giving a nice cushioned ride even after several hundred miles.
Protection
The ProFeel Film protects the midfoot area while providing shock attenuation and allowing for good ground feel. There is a bumper area around the toe box, good for light trail and protecting the forefoot area. The tongue is lightly padded for some top of foot protection. The 3 types of material in the midsole are great at protecting runners from overuse and impact related injuries.
Responsiveness
This shoe is the perfect balance of cushion and responsiveness. The midsole material technologies work well together to give good energy rebound, ground feel, and cushion. This responsive performance shoe is good for runners with a quick turnover and an efficient stride. The responsiveness and cushion might even make this a good shoe for runners trying to improve their turnover.
Support
The S Lab Sonic 2 was built for elite athletes who already have good form and foot strength, so this shoe only provides a moderate amount of support. However, it is very low to the ground, good for supporting an already neutral stride. The SensiFit and EndoFit technologies work well at locking the foot in while allowing it to move in a natural motion.
Terrain
The smooth outsole design automatically indicates that this shoe is meant for the road. However, thanks to the highly sticky, soft rubber outsole, this shoe can easily tackle hard packed or light trail. This shoe also provides good traction on wet surfaces.
Price
The price of this shoe is $170, which is pretty expensive, but you will get many durable, high-performance miles from it. For a highly durable shoe that is comfortable, light and can be used on roads or light trail, this is a reasonable price.
Drop
The shoe has an 8mm drop. This offset also allows for a little extra cushioning in the heel. If you are a heel striker, the combination of the different midsole materials does a great job of getting you off your heel and on to your toes.
Stability
The Salomon S-Lab line is designed for elite athletes and as such, they are all designed for neutral runners with an efficient stride. The S-Lab Sonic 2 is no exception. This is a shoe that works with your foot and natural running ability and gives you the freedom to run as you like while providing you the protection, grip, and cushion. It is ideal for long-distance running. Being that it’s low to the ground, it provides a lot of response and feedback without altering your stride.
Flexibility
This shoe is flexible in all areas of the shoe. The upper’s flexibility comes from the 3D Flex technology. It wraps around your foot and moves with it, making it an excellent shoe for runners with excellent foot strength and an efficient stride.
Traction
The Sonic 2’s Contagrip outsole is great on pavement, smooth stones or packed trail. It also performs well on wet, slippery surfaces. The flexibility of this shoe adds to the traction, as it bends with the foot, allowing it to adapt to a variety of surfaces.
Bottom Line
This is a great half marathon, full marathon or ultra marathon shoe. It has some really nice shock absorbing qualities that are great for long road runs. It also has the Contagrip outsole, so that it provides good traction on road, wet surfaces and even light trail. Some runners might be turned off by the price tag, but for the amount of high quality, performance miles you can get from the shoe, it is well worth the price. In this new edition, designers really focused on achieving a cushioned shoe with a responsive snappy feeling, and they succeeded.
