Details
Brand
Salomon
Heel To Toe Drop
6mm
Breathability
7/10
Latest Version
Yes
Terrain
Trail
Type
Stability
Key Features
• Lightweight and low profile construction• Wet Contragrip outsole• Profeel film rock plate for protection• Endofit upper sleeve• Quicklace system along the upper• Quick-drying breathable mesh fabric upper• Energycell+ midsole material• Ortholite insole technology• Friction-free lace eyelet
Upper
The Sense Pro 2 has an appropriately named S Lab Upper, consisting of a design that incorporates welded overlays and absolutely no stitching. This is a feature that was implemented for the purpose of reducing stiffness and completely eliminating the presence of seams that may otherwise have the potential to degrade or cause discomfort. Endofit and Sensofit technologies have also been implemented, Endofit being the term for the inner sleeve wrapped around the foot, and Sensofit being the glove-like foot cradle. A wide toe bumper rounds out the remainder of the upper’s design, covering the forefoot for added protection at the cost of breathability.
Midsole
An update to the original foam platform that comprises the Energy+ midsole aids in facilitating a cushioned and responsive ride. The lightweight platform, also known as LT muscle foam, is highly effective at providing both cushion and shock absorption. This is all performed in conjunction with the Pro Feel Film plate, located just underneath the midsole as an additional line of defense. Additional orthotics are present in the midsole thanks to a fully removable footbed of EVA foam. The result is a midsole made from both injected and compressed EVA materials that are intended to provide selective amounts of protection, flexibility, and stability.
Outsole
Salomon’s Wet Contragrip outsole uses a specialized rubber compound to create extremely grippy lugs, resulting in amazing grip and traction for the entire sole of the shoe. This iteration of the Sense Pro updated the style and construction of these lugs which help to provide more bite than previous models. A Pro Feel Film rock plate was also implemented that extends from the midfoot to the rear of the shoe, providing ample protection from the ground in addition to some extra stability. This rock plate is made of lightweight material that doesn’t add too much extra weight to the rest of the shoe.
Breathability
The mesh upper used for a decent amount of the Sense Pro 2’s upper is referred to by Saucony as Quick Drying Breathable Mesh. True to its name, customers have attested to the effectiveness of this material’s intended purpose as a proper source of ventilation for the foot while wearing the shoes. As a result, they breathe very well and provide a near-constant flow of air in order to keep your feet dry. The reason why this airflow is near-constant rather than full-bore is due to the design caveats required of a highly protective trail runner, such as the forefoot toe protection. Still, it’s tough to find a pair of trail shoes with the same amount of ventilation.
Comfort
You aren’t going to receive walking-on-a-cloud levels of comfort while wearing these shoes. If that’s the level of comfort you’re looking for in your trail shoe, you won’t find it here. Sure, you’ll get enough softness to get you up the mountain and back, but not enough that you don’t notice the terrain you’re walking on. The narrow toe box will also be an issue for some wide-footed runners. The overall consensus from customers is that the Sense Pro 2 may feel a bit rigid but are comfortable enough to handle the needs of a trail runner. Ultimately, the best way to decide for yourself if these Saucony shoes are comfortable enough for your needs it to try them on for yourself if you have the ability to do so.
Style
The Salomon website offers 2 color options with Amazon having a few more color options available. Putting it bluntly, however, these shoes are boring. If you’re more accustomed to the fashionable footwear offerings from popular brands such as Nike, you are likely to be disappointed by the design of the Sense Pro 2. One color shade covers most of the shoe’s upper with a different color splash in the rear. Credit where credit’s due, they’re better looking than a lot of other Salomon shoes. However, the prettiest Salomon shoe is still nowhere near as visually appealing as the ugliest Nike shoe.
Durability
As a trail shoe, the Saucony Sense Pro 2 is durable where it counts most, the midsole. The bottoms of these shoes maintain an exceptional level of resiliency regardless of what you throw at it, be it rocks, dirt, roots, mud, or gravel. The heel counter has a few concerns with long-term sustainability according to some customers. However, this issue isn’t pressing enough to be a dealbreaker. It seems as though the lighter weight of these shoes ultimately came at the cost of durability, so these shoes may not last as long as trail runners from other brands.
Protection
In regards to overall foot protection, there are no complaints here. With a full-length rock plate that offers a lightweight rigidity, a strong defensive barrier is present that keeps your feet safe and sound when running on hard, uneven, or inclined surfaces. Additionally, a wide toe cap protects your toes from flying debris that could strike you while running on the trail. Finally, the sturdy lugs provide enough stable footing so that you are protected from losing your balance when running, preventing a range of potential injuries. The main takeaway is that despite having a bit less cushion and a lower weight, the Salomon Sense Pro 2 manages to provide the protection required from a solid trail shoe.
Responsiveness
The secret to the Saucony Sense Pro 2’s high responsiveness is the implementation of an update foam design present in the Energy+ midsole. This lightweight foam generates enough bounce to ensure that runners get an adequate amount of energy return with each stride. Other aspects of these trail shoes that help to facilitate a high amount of responsiveness is a lighter weight, helping to prevent strain on your lower legs, and an outsole with high traction that ensures you get the most from each impact to the ground.
Support
Keeping in line with a stripped-down minimalist aesthetic, the Saucony Sense Pro 2 is simply not able to provide the same level of support offered by a heavier and more obtrusive trail runner. As a result, it’s important to acclimate yourself to a more minimalist level of cushion when using these shoes. It’s a good idea to become more comfortable with neutral landings and correct any pronation issues before trying these shoes on the trails. These shoes won’t be able to accommodate sensitive feet in these harsh environments, so runners who suffer from conditions like plantar fasciitis may be better off trying a different pair.
Terrain
The lugs present on the outsoles of the Salomon Sense Pro 2 act much like a set of fangs on a wild animal, gnawing through rough terrain with a comparable strength and intensity. These shoes are also impressive over wet surfaces, providing a stable and secure grip where other shoes may lead to slipping. Upon the first examination, these lugs appear to be on the smaller side. However, the raw power present in the Sense Pro 2’s outsole should not be underestimated. Despite functioning beautifully on trails and harsh terrain, these cleat-like lugs function poorly on more casual running environments such as a sidewalk or Olympic-style running track.
Price
The MSRP on the Pro 2 is a departure from what you would expect based on the range of prices available on Amazon. This means that with enough snooping around, you can easily find a new pair of these shoes for around half the suggested retail price. When considering just how good of a deal you can get these shoes for, the minor shortcomings present in the Salomon Sense Pro 2 are put in perspective. For runners looking for a temporary pair of trail runners to help them transition from regular track or road running, this is a relatively painless investment to make.
Drop
The heel drop for the Salomon Sense Pro 2 is around 6 mm. This doesn’t give it the lowest heel drop out of all trail shoes but it’s still lower than the majority of running shoes. This lower heel to toe offset, in conjunction with the even weight distribution touched on in the previous section, works to encourage a neutral stride. This method of encouraging a safer foot stride through the shoe’s design is a naturally protective way to prevent injuries, helping to train runners who are new to the trails. Better and more stable landings can do wonders in terms of joint health.
Stability
Stability is accomplished in these shoes by evenly distributing the weight, resulting in a fairly low offset. This design discourages heavy heel striking, promoting more even amounts of pressure instead. This may take some getting used to for some runners, but the result will be an easier time for your joints and knees. In order to reap these benefits, however, it is important that you avoid heel striking while wearing these trail runners. With the Sense Pro 2, it can serve as quite a relief to have footwear that accommodates a gentler running style, even in some of the least gentle running environments.
Flexibility
Lightweight running shoes are often defined by their flexibility. It’s common wisdom that speed while running is best facilitated by a shoe that is flexible enough to maintain momentum. It’s unfortunate that the Sense Pro 2 is somewhat lacking in this design aspect. Its stiffness diminishes some of the racing shoe-feeling that is present from the lighter weight and neutral footing. This means that even while you may feel light on your feet when running in these shoes, it won’t be loose enough for you to take the most advantage from it.
Traction
When looking at the strongest points of these Salmon shoes’ design, traction happens to be one of them. As previously mentioned, the outsole with its highly capable lugs will provide terrific grip on uneven, inclined, or soaking wet surfaces. User reviews will vouch for this competence in regards to the Sense Pro 2’s design. Once you account for additional benefits providing by these shoes, such as the high responsiveness and low weight, it begins to seem like a very wise and appealing investment for enterprising off-road runners.
Bottom Line
In a David vs. Goliath fashion, it’s a terrific thing to see a smaller, more unassuming figure live up to and sometimes even surpass the qualities of a larger figure. This is the kind of feeling the Salomon Sense Pro 2 evokes through its excellent design and construction. The aggressive outsole lugs on these shoes don’t have to be inches long to do the same job, and the weight doesn’t have to be ridiculously heavy in order to provide comfort during a run on the trails. To sum it up, experienced and novice trail runners can find something to appreciate in these Salomon trail shoes, even if there are still some features that can be improved on for later models.
