Details
Brand
Salomon
Heel To Toe Drop
8mm
Breathability
8/10
Latest Version
S-Lab Sonic 2
Terrain
Road
Type
Neutral
Key Features
• ProFeel Film• Energy cell+ cushioning foam material• SensiFit and EndoFit technologies• Moisture-wicking nylon lining• Contagrip rubber outsole• Lightweight open mesh upper• Traditional lacing system
Upper
This shoe features EndoFit technology, which gives the shoe a sock-like fit. This shoe also uses Salomon’s SensiFit technology but with a traditional lacing system, which allows for a more adjustable fit, especially with the thicker laces. While the shoe works to lock down the midfoot, there is still a lot of space in the toe box which allows for good toe splay.;The upper is made with an open mesh, making it breathable while still offering protection from the elements. This open mesh can be seen in other Salomon racing shoes and works wonders at keeping your feet cool. While the outsole is extremely durable, runners found that the upper wasn’t as durable and experience wear in the forefoot area of the upper.
Midsole
This shoe utilizes a combination of Energy Cell and cushioning foam in the midsole. The foam offers long-lasting cushion and a nice responsive feeling. The Energy Cell also provides good shock absorption. The ProFeel Film compliments these cushioning features by providing additional protection during your stride without sacrificing ground feeling or flex. Compared to some of Salomon’s other shoes in the S-Lab line, especially the S-Lab Sense, this is a highly cushioned shoe.
Outsole
Salomon normally excels at building trail shoes, but this is clearly a road shoe with the biggest difference being the outsole. This flexible outsole has additional grip in the forefoot area, making for a strong toe-off. The outsole material is primarily made of Salomon’s soft rubber outsole material, Contagrip, which provides a solid grip on wet surfaces, making the S-Lab Sonic great for racing in wet conditions. Although this is a road shoe, the superior traction of the Contagrip allows some light trail usage. The outsole is also highly durable, showing very few signs of wear, even after extended use.
Breathability
The open mesh upper is keeps feet cool on race day or in hot weather conditions. The exceptional breathability allows feet to dry quickly should you get them wet. There are some synthetic overlays on the upper of the shoe to lock the foot down and provide structure but do not take away from the breathability of the shoe.
Comfort
This is one of the most plush shoes in the S-Lab line. The S-Lab line is built to be a lightweight, racing shoe, but fortunately, it is also nicely cushioned and comfortable. The SensiFit technology and lacing system are excellent at providing a good fitting shoe which adds to the overall comfort, as does the space in the toe box.
Style
This shoe comes in one style, for both men and women and because it’s a performance shoe, it has a low stack height and looks fast. The red color is typical of shoes in Salomon’s S-Lab line and makes a bold statement on the road or on the trails. The S-Lab Sonic is all red, except for some small white accents.
Durability
This is a quality shoe with a lot of durable technologies, especially the Contagrip outsole. Runners get a lot of good miles in this shoe. Both the Energy Cell and the foam cushioning are very durable and will provide the same cushioning out of the box as you do after several hundred miles in them. Some runners found an issue with the upper showing signs of wear, especially in the forefoot area. However, because of the mesh construction, usually, the tears are small and don’t extend far.
Protection
The lightweight ProFeel Film does a good job of protecting the midfoot area while still providing excellent ground feel. The 2 types of midsole material work together to provide shock attenuation and a smooth ride, perfect for warding off impact related injuries. The great fit and high breathability are great at preventing blisters and keeping your feet dry and cool.
Responsiveness
The flexible ProFeel Film, as well as the Energy Cell and the foam cushioning midsole give the shoe a soft, yet highly responsive ride. The overall flexibility adds to the solid ground feel as well as the fast, smooth ride, which is especially good for long distance runners with a high cadence.
Support
There isn’t a ton of support in this shoe, because it is built for elite athletes and runners that have good form and an efficient stride. The heel to toe offset does do a great job of getting runners off their heels and on to their toes quickly. The ProFeel Film and Energy Cell is great at giving runners a springy cushioning for a strong lift off.
Terrain
This is Salomon’s high-performance road shoe and it is designed primarily for roads. However, some runners have used this shoe on easy, hard packed, non-technical trails. The reason this shoe can be used well on both roads and on the light trails is primarily due to the Contagrip outsole. This sticky rubber outsole is great at providing traction on a variety of terrain.
Price
This is an expensive shoe, priced at $170 USD. Many runners would gasp at this price tag, but keep in mind that this is a highly durable shoe and you will get at least several hundred miles out of this shoe on road. With its exceptional durability, you can easily feel comfortable wearing this shoe not only on race day but also for those faster training sessions.
Drop
There is an 8mm drop which is a little big for a road performance shoe. But because Salomon put so much work into its design, it doesn’t feel like you are dragging your heel.
Stability
This is a shoe designed for a neutral stride and good for runners who need a little freedom in their shoes to allow for natural foot movement. This shoe is also designed to be low to the ground and provide a lot of ground feedback. This low stack height is great at providing a nice stable feeling throughout the stride.
Flexibility
This is a highly flexible shoe, made for runners with an efficient stride and solid foot strength. There isn’t much cushioning, only a little bit more than the S-Lab X-Series, which this shoe has been compared regular too. But it’s really the outsole design that makes this shoe flexible. There are grooves all along the rubber allowing it to bend with your foot, which is also great for traction and for getting a really strong toe-off.
Traction
The Contagrip outsole is really good at providing traction on wet, slippery, smooth surfaces. This type of rubber outsole, originally designed for trail shoes, provides great traction even on light trail surfaces despite its lack of lugs. This type of traction on the road means that you can really dig in for a strong takeoff, even in wet conditions.
Bottom Line
The Salomon S-Lab Sonic is another great addition to the Salomon performance collection. The bold colors are great for letting other runners know that you mean business, both on the roads and on a light trail. The inclusion of the Contagrip outsole makes for a highly flexible and durable shoe.;There isn’t a ton of cushioning, but this is one of Salomon’s more plush performance shoes, perfect for long runs or races. If you do choose to hit the trails, this shoe weighs in at an incredible 7.7 oz which is very lightweight for a trail shoe, but keep in mind, the lack of lugs will not keep you on your feet on those technical trails. Some runners might find the price tag to be unreasonably high, but when you consider the overall durability and how many lightweight, performance miles you will get out of it, it does stack up well against other shoes.
