REVIEW
SALOMON SPEEDCROSS 6
Words: Alex Foxfield
For the mountain runners among us, the Speedcross 6 is simply one of the best options available. Its blend of protection and industry-leading traction makes it a no brainer for skyrunning athletes and fell runners. There are more minimal trail shoes out there for your standard, everyday trails but for long days with gnarly ascents and technical ridges, the Speedcross 6 is superb.
Salomon’s Speedcross series first appeared two decades ago as a grippy, lightweight and protective trail running shoe. The original was a seismic moment in Salomon’s journey to the forefront of mountain and trail running. It was.designed to protect the foot from rocks and trail debris, while providing powerful grip on muddy, steep terrain.
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The sixth iteration stays true to its mud-gripping, peak-conquering ancestors, but is a little lighter and features a redesigned outsole with Y-shaped lugs that shed dirt faster than ever. Its evolution rather than revolution, with Salomon merely tweaking the design of its much loved modern classic.
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If you're a runner who loves hitting the mountain trails or you're simply looking for something with better grip for muddy winter runs, here are two other options we rate highly...
With a more neutral 5mm drop but ultra aggressive 7mm Michelin lugs, the Reverence was designed specifically with British mountain terrain in mind.
Who's this for?: The keen fell runner
It may look a little bit sci-fi, but the Ribelle Run Kalibra G is a joy to run in when the temperatures plummet, providing superb protection and grip.
Who's this for?: The winter mountain runner
Specs
Weight: 312g per shoe
Drop: 10mm
Lug depth: 5mm
Protection: High
Cushioning: Moderate
Best for: Muddy terrain
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Mountain Lines Reviews
Our reviews are written by qualified mountain professionals or highly experienced mountaineers and climbers. We ensure that the products tested are worn or used for at least three months and always during the main season and conditions they were designed for.
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Assessments
Grip
The Speedcross series is known for its almost unbeatable traction on the kind of muddy terrain often found in the mountains. Their outsoles are aggressive to say the least, with 5mm lugs that even curl up at the front. It’s the rubber lug equivalent of front points on a crampon and it’s designed to give grip on steep, earthen slopes. As an added benefit, it also protects the wearer’s toes.
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The lugs have been redesigned in this version. They’re now 5mm deep, rather than 6mm, and the shape has been altered to allow them to shed the dirt quicker. The last thing you want is a trails shoe made heavier by mud.
Lacing and upper
They feature the same Quicklace system present in most of Salomon’s trail running shoes, allowing you to quickly tighten and go. The spare thread is then repeatedly threaded through the fabric loop on the tongue to stop it flapping around.
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​Another tweak Salomon have made is to the uppers, which are now more breathable than ever. The anti-debris mesh present here stops trail debris from sneaking into the shoe.
Protection
Another quality the Speedcross family is renowned for is the amount of protection they give the wearer. The 32mm heel stack height and 10mm drop means there’s loads of suspension in the heel and midfoot, with more precision in the toe region. Heel striking runners will revel in such a design and they’re great for pushing uphill.
Performance
The Speedcross 6 excels on muddy ground and it gave me the confidence to fly across terrain that would give us pause for thought in a lesser shoe. Given the medium amount of cushioning and the considerable stack height, it’s surprising how responsive the Speedcrosses are. While I didn’t get much trail feel in the heel, there’s plenty of sensitivity towards the front of the foot, which allowed me to be nimble and agile on technical terrain.
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Fit wise, my ankles were always secure, and my toes had a decent amount of room. The Quicklacing brings things in tight around the midfoot in particular and makes for a comfortable ride. It’s a propulsive trail shoe, its high rebound midsole providing plenty of energy return, as well as ample cushioning.
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At no point did my feet overheat, thanks to the redesigned mesh in the uppers. However, when crossing streams and tackling bogs, they obviously got wet. The shoe I tested was the normal version, though there is a waterproof GORE-TEX option too. It’ll cost you an extra £20 and the weight penalty is 30g per shoe, so which is best for you depends on what your priorities are.
Durability
Durability has been an issue in previous Speedcross models. The uppers have been known to wear away on either side of the forefoot and the soft rubber lugs eventually wear away after repeated pounding of dry ground. I had a pair of Speedcross 4s that died a death on the long volcanic scree slope descent of Mt Fuji in Japan; the lugs were fine at the top, then gone by the bottom. However, it usually takes a prolonged thrashing for many months in the mountains for this to occur. This is certainly what I've found with the Speedcross 6.
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