Salomon - S/Lab Genesis

I did the same. I bought the endorphin edge as soon as they came out. Planned on racing in them but didn’t make it to the 50M because 6 weeks before it I rolled my ankle and it wasn’t THE cause but it was the final straw in a history of ankle rolling and I had surgery. Some suggestions… Shoes with my ground feel that I’ve tested: - Nike Terra Kiger - La Sportiva Bushido - Salomon S/Lab Genesis Unexpected but good - New Balance More Trail ( counter intuitive but these are ABSURDLY wide, so they’re both really tall and really stable - I call them hulk hands) I run most of my miles in the mid Atlantic section of the AT - it wasn’t until I raced in California did I realize why these super trail shoes exist, and it sure isn’t for beast coasters like me haha I still look at new releases and wonder but I come to my senses

If you like Salomon shoes and their relatively narrow fit, I’d give the Genesis (regular or S/LAB) a try.

Salomon s/lab genesis. Perfect balance in everything. Fit like a glove.

Same. Good fit round the mid foot and heel lock down but roomy for the toes. Plus it is so grippy when the terrain gets slippy.

Really? I can only speak from anecdotal experience but this winter I ran in snow, ice, muddy snow ice and was really happy with the grip. I didnt have a chance to use them on slippy rock yet so maybe they are not as strong here. Sid you manage to try them or are you going from reviews? I watched about 2-3 reviews on YouTube before buying them as I was specifically wanting something also with a decent grip but didn’t notice any mention that it was weak. Can’t remember who I watched. Probably Ginger Runner or Run4Adventure. Which pair did you go for in the end?

Same. Probably the best trail shoe I’ve ever owned. Bought them for a race but now use them on every long run and will not try to save them as they are just so good in this type of weather. Plus a massive toe box.

Salomon s/lab genesis

A bit narrow in the toebox, those give bunions

Same! It was awful.

I found some muddy days in Switzerland in spring I was slipping a lot. The ankle collar is a bit stiff and hits my ankle bone on cambered roads, and generally midsole feels more dead and less dynamic than Genesis. The lock down is good and they do feel nimble. Enjoy them in dry mountain trails. Maybe I need to give them another go.

The Salomon rabbit hole lead me to the S/Lab Genesis, which is an amazing all around trail shoe.

Between the Kjerag, Genesis, and Prodigio, which do you think is best suited for fast technical terrain? I'm looking for stable shoes for rocky technical trails. I have the S/Lab Genesis, but I find it quite unstable

001 for the Long Haul, Brooks Catamount for the quick dirt, Salomon S/Lab Genesis when I want some cushion and it’s not wet (for some reason that contragrip doesn’t grip on the VT mountains with even the littlest bit of moisture), 002 sometimes but not often

I am 6' and 220lb, I've had good luck with the Salomon S/Lab Genesis previously and currently the Norda 001. The 001 took a bit of time to break in though, not the fit that was great, but the under foot feel really came to life after the first 100km and I'm loving them.

I ran a mixture of mostly trail and some road, plus some big hikes and international travel in my Sense Ride 5s. The tread wore down on the ball of my foot and I noticed I was getting like an impact soreness around my knees after about 600km. I still use them for some road runs and walks since I don't own road shoes, but they're trail retired for now, sitting at around 700km on them total. For context these were my first running shoe (read: form probably sucks but I'm trying not to scuffle), and I'm a big ass dude (100kg). I bought S/Lab Genesis shoes and got to use them for my first ever trail race. Probably too bougie of a shoe for someone of my level but the funky extra foam pieces have helped stabilize my one foot that collapses in while I run. They've been awesome so far in about 150km, but I'm strictly saving them for trails.

Salomon S/Lab Genesis. Just broke 600km on them and they're holding up well but a huge chunk of that has been on snow. I'm going to buy some Norda 001s next I think, I like to support Canadian companies.

Yes, Salomon and La Sportiva fit narrow feet better than many other popular brands. I recommend La Sportiva Prodigio or Salomon Genesis if you want a bit more cushion.

From my experience shoes that worked best on such terrain are Salomon Genesis and La Sportiva Mutant. Other La Sportiva shoes should do well because they are generally targeted for mountain running. Also, from my experience, Dynafit shoes are well suited for mountain running. Finally, if you want to see a selection of shoes and gear in general that is targeted towards mountain running take a look at Skyrun store (https://skyrun.skimo.co/). This is a real physical store in Utah. I ordered from them several times without any issues.

It is impossible for me to choose the best shoe because my choices would be different for different terrain and distance. Perhaps if I could pick a single favorite shoe of all times it would be **La Sportiva Helios** - between different versions I owned 12 or 13 pairs. I liked it because it felt like a continuation of my feet and I could really push it hard on super technical terrain in a broad range of terrains. However It didn't work well on either very rocky terrain or distances above 50k. If I look at my current set of shoes I gravitate to 3 shoes - each of them excels in different categories of terrain and distance - **NNormal Kjerag, La Sportiva Prodigio, and Salomon S/lab Genesis**. I've just ordered La Sportiva Prodigio Pro and based on reviews I think it has a good chance to become one of my top 3 shoes, but we'll see.

Salomon S/lab Genesis is my choice for ultra long distances. I like La Sportiva Prodigio and Prodigio Pro too.

A lot of people recommend highly cushioned shoes like Hoka Speedgoat or Nike Zegama, but in my opinion if you want to improve your technique and agility when running on technical mountain terrain you should learn to run in moderately cushioned shoes because they provide a better degree control and feedback. Also you are much less likely to twist ankle or have other injuries when you are lower to the ground and better feel the terrain. My current favorites are NNormal Kjerag and Salomon S/lab Ultra 3. If you need a bit more cushion - La Sportiva Prodigio or Salomon Genesis. And if you need to go on a very rough mountain terrain - La Sportiva Mutant.

I don't think there is a shoe that is comfortable for long runs and stable on a technical terrain at the same time. You have to sacrifice one thing or another. When the stack is increased for comfort, that inevitably makes the shoe higher off the ground and therefore inherently less stable. I wore a lot of similar shoes to the ones in your rotation. Recently I have been moving away from Hoka. I have a very large number of shoes in rotation, but if I pick shoes that I gravitate towards the most, currently it would be the following 3 shoes: 1) NNormal Kjerag - very natural, stable, and has a great ground feel. I can wear it for up to 50k if it isn't too rocky. My first pair has about 320 miles and it still feels great and the outsole still shows not that much wear. Normally I wear shoes for up to 300 miles, but this one definitely has a lot of mileage remaining. My second pair of Kjerag has 60 miles. 2) Salomon S/lab Genesis is my unicorn shoe for longer ultras of up to 100M or shorter runs on gnarly mountain terrain. It fits me extremely well, like a sock with no hotspots. Even though it isn't the most cushioned shoe, it seems to work really well for longer distances. And while it isn't the best shoe for really technical terrain, it can handle it decently well. I like this shoe so much that I bought 4 pairs in the last 2 years. 3) La Sportiva Prodigio is a great choice in between the two above choices. It can handle technician terrain better than Genesis but it isn't as comfortable. It is stiff when new but softens considerably after the first 30-40 miles. The foot lockdown is excellent. I have two pairs of Prodigio and am looking forward to trying a new Prodigio Pro, which should be a more direct competition to S/lab Genesis.

Genesis is more of a long distance mountain shoe. It would be an overkill for shorter distances. I love S/lab Genesis, but for me it is more of a 50k+ distance shoe.

Yes, there are broadly 3 or 4 categories of trail shoes in here - for shorter and faster running on moderate terrain (for example Pulsar or Zinal, or Kjerag), for ultra long distances (for example Genesis), for gnarly or rocky terrain (for example Mutant, Ultra 100), for extreme muddy or snow terrain (for example Feline SL, Akasha). Some shoes fall in between these categories. My clear favorites at the moment are Salomon Genesis, La Sportiva Prodigio, and NNormal Kjerag. I also really like Pulsar for tempo runs on easy terrain and even some pavement, and it is surprisingly inexpensive if you buy previous versions of the shoe. You can have it for less than $100. In winter time I'll likely switch to more aggressive shoes with longer lugs to better handle the mud - Dynafit Alpine, LA Sportiva Akasha and Mutant, etc. Hoka Speedgoat 5 is probably the least favorite of all shoes. I only use it for easy recovery days when I need a bit more cushion.

Of these 3 - definitely Kjerag. Genesis is more of the ultra distance shoe for me. It is the most comfortable of the three. Prodigio is the middle ground between Kjerag and Genesis in both stability and cushion.

Kjerag has less cushion than Prodigio. If you like Prodigio but want more heel cushion, consider Salomon Genesis.

Salomon Genesis is an excellent all-mountain shoe. Zegama 2 even more cushioned, but maybe a bit bulky. The Prodigio Pro should drop real soon too.

Salomon S/lab genesis and la sportiva prodigio pro are great all mountain shoes.

It's not really the shoe's job to prevent ankle rolls. However, some shoes are inherently more stable. I think the Salomon Genesis is an excellent shoe for that and it has these weird plastic pieces - these are actually stability elements. Rock solid heel. Norvan LD4 is another, but less cushioned.

Recommend something more general purpose like the Salomon Genesis or Terrex 3 from your list. Hokas are too clunky for short distance. Tomir 2 is overbuilt for your trails. If you run a lot of gravel you might be able to get away with the Aero Blaze 3 GRVL.

Basically only the Genesis is worth looking at. Will be some new Pulsar shoes later in the year.

You should tell us what conditions you want them for and what your experience level is. Sense Ride is like an all rounder, but I would recommend the Genesis over it. Agravic speed is more speed orientated with good response from the foam, but the lack of upper structure and padding limits it's use to shorter distances and less technical trails. Also consider the Peg Trail 5 if you want a trail daily trainer/ entry shoe.

Ah then scrap that peg suggestion, Genesis would be perfect though.

Salomon Genesis Dauwalter edition. Built in gaiters.

Hi all, in a little more than three weeks I will run my first ultra - the Julian Alps Sky Trail in Kranjska Gora, covering 53km (33miles) with 2700 meters of vertical gain. I have raced the 25K event last year and loved it so much that I decided to tackle my first ultra there as well. Now that the event approaches fast, I am naturally starting to overthink things. I am especially unsure about what shoes to wear. My two main choices are the HOKA Tecton X 2 (faster but higher stack and shallower lugs) and the Salomon S / LAB Genesis (deeper lugs, better suited to more diverse terrain but possibly a tad bit slower). Both pairs are quite fresh. If it rains cats and dogs in Slovenia I would also bring a beefier shoe just to be safe. For the 25K last year I wore the Nnormal Kjerag and it was the perfect choice. Its lugs are also only 3mm but it's just so agile that it doesn't matter. For my first 50K effort I think the Kjerag is too minimal though. Also, the 50K route is supposed to be quite different than the 25K (elevation profile in the pic). Any tips are more than welcome, especially from folks who have run that particular distance at the JAT. Thanks, fellow runners. P.S.: I know that what counts much more than my shoe choice is the training I did. Please be assured that I covered that aspect as well as I possibly could this year.

>IMO the Genesis seems a better choice over the Tecton X, assuming you did long distances with those. That's what my gut is telling me as well. I am usually a decently fast racer that likes a propulsive shoe on raceday, but I have no ultra experience and speed is probably no real concern anyway. And I would say the Genesis is the more versatile option. The Mafate is also gonna be in my luggage as a backup shoe in case it's pouring (like it did at Mozart 100 this year where it also saved my day). I would prefer a lighter option though. Thanks for the advice.

Thanks. Yeah, if it is muddy I will run in the Mafate for sure. If it's dry I would prefer a lighter option though. I think in the end it will be either the Genesis or the Mafate as I don't quite trust the lugs on the Tecton on alpine terrain.

It's a fantastic race, highly recommend it. I think it's selling out pretty fast, just as an aside. I chose the S / LAB Genesis and felt they were the right choice. Terrain on the mountain was quite difficult, especially some steep, technical and muddy downhills. The shoes did well on all surfaces, I really didn't think about them anymore. I would have preferred the propulsion of the Tecton X in the 2nd part of the race where you will cover a lot of road miles. But I definitely wouldn't have liked them on the mountain, so the choice was the right one for sure. The only thing I would say is that if you're a faster runner (top 25 percent or so), don't start too far back. There will be hardly any opportunities to pass runners once you reach the path up Mt. Stol. I lost a good amount of time being stuck in bottlenecks. Other than that it's a great experience and a great course.

Nnormal Kjerag and Salomon S / LAB Genesis

Can anyone else weigh in on the stability and sizing? I size way up to a 38/7 in the Bushidos and feel like it’s the most stable shoe out there but it’s a little rough to run over 16 miles in since they’re so so stiff (probably also how they are so stable). I’ve had chronic ankle issues for years thanks to rolling it over and over again. Even the Salomon SLab Genesis is not that stable to me. For reference, I’m a size 6 in the new model-previously a 6.5 in the last gen. I can wear a 35 in Birkenstocks (US W size 4-4.5) I wear a 6 in Vans.

New S/labs size down. I’m my actual street shoe size in those, a US 6, when I’m a 6.5 in every other Salomon model. I was fine with my usual 38 in the PP.

Yes. Actually i was out in my S/Lab Genesis this morning for my long run. They are a bit wider than normal Salomon, but if you find you have wider feet i'd say you should avoid. The last is no wider than a Speedcross, but with the foam of the Ultraglide and more lateral stability. Don't get me wrong, I love them, but the outsole rubber doesn't last very long - i've usually worn away some of the lugs after 250km. Maybe this will help: My current running rotation is: \- Saucony Tempus 2 / Hoka Mach X 2 / Hoka Ceilo X for road \- Inov8 TrailFly / Salomon S-Lab Genesis / Brooks Catamount 3 / Hoka TectonX 3 for gravel \- Inov8 X-Talon Ultra / VJ Sparks for mud and obstacles I'm looking at add a pair of iRock+ for obstacle racing as I've heard great things about the updated, wider last + toe box, new foam. AMA :)

My partner very kindly gifted me the Courtney Dewalter Salomon SLab Genesis. They are amazing on all terrain and we have a lot of mud here in the peaks UK. Favourite shoe.

Have you looked at S/LAB Genesis, or the new La Sportiva Prodigio Pro? I've got 497 miles in my first S/LAB Genesis pair and still have them. Prodigio Pro is one of my top picks so far in 2025. Kjerag is very minimal underfoot - don't expect anywhere near Speedgoat level of cushion or protection with those. That's a completely different type of shoe. I just tested the MTN Racer 4 and I don't think it's a great update. There's a lot of protection underfoot but it got heavier and lost a lot of flexibility.

I've tried the s/lab Genesis when they came out but the structure around the heel was rubbing too hard under my ankle bone, risking blisters. I should try the normal Genesis, that has a different shape. The midsole felt very soft though

I agree that the regular genesis is better than the lab. I've had the Norda 002 (absolutely fantastic) and the genesis lab (excellent save for the grip) and was a bit disappoint with the heel and grip of the lab. The regular genesis solved both issues for me!

I used to use Salomon Speedcross. Been wearing them since the OG all the way to the 6. They worked amazing up until my distances started increasing over 10-15 miles. I then switched to the Thundercross which was amazing up to 26.2. When I ran my 1st 50k and my feet started barking I knew I needed more. I now have hundreds of training miles and several races ranging from 50 to 100 miles on the SLab Genesis and they are absolute perfection!

As some have already said the Speedcross is amazing. I've been using them since the OG and use it for races up to 26 2. Just an awesome shoe that gets better with every new release. I wear mine down on the trails and when the lugs are down a bit use them for road/gravel/smooth trails. The 6 is amazing and I try something new I always regret it and they are moved to everyday/work in hospital use. That said I liked the Sense Ride but above 10 miles I could feel it in my feet. I race ultras in SLab Genesis and train in the regular Genesis. For your terrain and preference I would look at the less aggressive lines. Another option outside of Salomon would be Hoka Speedgoats. Super cushy and lower lug height that Speedcross.

As some have already said the Speedcross is amazing. I've been using them since the OG and use it for races up to 26 2. Just an awesome shoe that gets better with every new release. I wear mine down on the trails and when the lugs are down a bit use them for road/gravel/smooth trails. The 6 is amazing and I try something new I always regret it and they are moved to everyday/work in hospital use. That said I liked the Sense Ride but above 10 miles I could feel it in my feet. I race ultras in SLab Genesis and train in the regular Genesis. For your terrain and preference I would look at the less aggressive lines. Another option outside of Salomon would be Hoka Speedgoats. Super cushy and lower lug height that Speedcross.

Salomon Slab Genesis and La Sportiva Prodigio. I like a light upper and a cushioned midsole with lots of grip. Both are larger in the toe box than traditional La Sportiva or Salomon.

I have the same passion for good trail shoes and also a colourful rotation at the moment. In my rotation I’ve got 2x La Sportiva Akasha II - my absolute favourites for technical terrain and yes it is a very simple shoe, but I’ve ran a 100 miler in them and had no problems at all. Also here in Greece we have very technical mountainous terrain, so that’s why they are my go to. Just retired my SG 5s which I loved for daily training. Did 1000K in them - Never made it to a race though. Altra Olympus 5 - not a huge fan of the zero drop. I took my time and I’ll throw them in there every once in a while. The Salomon Slab Genesis is an interesting one. Could work for you, if you have narrower feet. It grew on me, but it does not compare to the Akasha II. Merrell Agility Peak 5 - not really a hidden gem anymore. Many say it’s like the SG 3. I like the shoe. Rugged, solid, but with a little bit of a loose heel. Every foot is different though. I’ve tried to find something that might blow me away just like the Akasha II did, but haven’t found that shoe yet. Give it a try!

I'm a happy ultra glide runner, but I just got me a pair of slab genesis on sale. Will keep an eye peeled for the UG3 when it goes on sale 👀

I actually find that making sure you have a good fit around ankle and midfoot does more to 'save your toes', especially where moving forward downhill is an issue. For example, I recently discounted the Nnormal Tomir due to excessive forward slip, even when trying on. I've never experienced excessive 'swelling' in the forefoot per se either. Does it actually happen to you? My only consideration in forefoot is width to splay, and then a thumbs width gap at the end of the toes. I do have a slim ankle/midfoot so getting a shoe that doesn't move around has been difficult at times, as I always need mine to feel more like a running shoe than a specific 'ultra' shoe. The best one recently is the Salomon Genesis, as well as the La Sportiva Prodigio. Proper locked in feel at the back, comfy in the front.

Best shoe for mixed UK terrain in terms of grip is the La Sportiva Mutant in my opinion. Sticks to wet Lake District rock and is decently lugged. Would be perfect for the ultra. Of the ones you mention, I’ve raced the Thundercross and the Genesis and got on fine. The sense ride would be less grippy than those 2 although a great shoe in itself. What didn’t she like about these? I’ve not ran in it but apparently one of the best shoes for UK out there at the moment is the new Inov8 Trailtalon. Looks great.

FYI: I’m a very wide boy, but the Salomon Speedcross and Genesis both fit very comfortably. None of their other shoes do, but those are both great shoes you might want to try. Hoka also has nice wide options across their lineup. If it‘s grip you want, I find the Speedgoat is second only to VJ Shoes - but VJ run narrow.

From my personal perspective: - Salomon Genesis: Excellent all-round choice. To me, they feel a bit soft, but I like the stability and bombproof-ness when the going gets rough and long days. - Brooks Cascadia: I have version 16, and find them not suitable for running, maybe for walking on easy trails or in the city. Have you looked at the VJ Maxx 2 or Asics Trabuco Max? They have excellent outsoles. Shoes from Inov-8 or Merrell might also be worth checking out.

Given your experience with Salomon and Brooks combined with the desire for stability: Try Salomon Genesis or Brooks Catamount 3. The Genesis is one of Salomon's most stable trail running shoe I've had, while the Brooks Catamount runs incredibly well and stable on moderate trails. The Genesis is softer and has better grip, while the Catamount is more responsive. Horses for courses, really. Since you also have La Sportivas: I can recommend looking at the Prodigio, which is a well rounded shoe that I like picking up for versatility in terrain that is mixed.

I have Salomon Genesis and have had Challengers (I see someone else recommended them). Challengers are better for road and hard trail, Genesis for moderate/wetter trail. I found the Challengers to be pretty useless in mud and not that comfortable on the road either to be honest. Whilst it's a bit of a waste of the lugs to be running Genesis on a lot of roads, I'd choose them if for some reason the choice was those two. Personally I wear a road-trail shoe (Mizuno Ibuki- cheap shoe that I get along with better than Challengers and is more durable) for dry/hard trail and road, and my Genesis for moderate trails/mud (and another shoe for the proper knee high mud stuff) that way I'm not wearing the same shoe every day and or wearing lugs down so quickly.

Definitely not waterproof and I wouldn't want that for an ultra because I'd rather have quick drying feet than water stagnating inside the shoe when I inevitably cross a stream. I also feel like they would be really bad at being everyday shoes but YMMV.

Salomon Genesis are my favourite running shoes, never had any issues with them and love the quick laces.

Salomon Genesis has been my go to all around shoe. Just killed my first pair at 370 miles with 161K Vert. Outsole and upper are still good shape, but I collapsed the midsole with heel striking and pronation.

I have good experiences with the Nnormal Kerag. A bit lower listed stack than the Sylan. I can't comment on how they run in humid Asian summers but they were fine with thin socks in a dry desert summer. These are more of a 25-30K shoe for me. I have taken these kinds of shoes out to distance but tend to regret it because my feet get sensitive. I usually do medium-high stack shoes. Might be different for you. The Kerag 2 has been announced and it has a few mm extra stack so if you go this route might be good to wait until they're released and use something else in the meantime. I also like the Salomon Genesis.

The norvan ld3 were great all rounder shoes. Haven't tried the ld 4 and don't know if I will know that I don't have my pro discount anymore. The Genenis are tried and tested shoes that work great in a variety of conditions. The Matryx upper is an upgrade over the Arcteryx's upper. I would personally go for the Genesis.

South Sister is pretty mild technically, just recommend some gaiters to keep the scree out. Ive been a huge fan of the Salomon Genesis, Topo Mountain Racer, but what fits your foot is the individual question.

Have a look at the Sauce xodus ultra, new Salomon genesis (not the s/lab version), Salomon ultra glide and the NB fuel cell trail shoe (Supercomp trail) . I have all those and have been quite happy with them

Salomon Genesis is my new mountain shoe. My foot doesn't work in Hokas, and my Ultraventure 3s are my favorite daily trainers. I was very happily surprised to find the Genesis to have a very solid, locked-in fit with no toe bumping or hotspots. It goes to show that it's best to go to a brick-and-mortar retailer to try stuff on. Otherwise, I never would have considered Salomon.

I've been really happy with 3 shoes since moving away from the Speedgoat 4: Salomon Genesis, Merrell Agility Peak 5, and the Arc'teryx Norvan LD3. IMO, the Merrell comes closest to what the Speedgoat wishes it still was.

Also, the two Salomon models I have on rotation right now (Sense Ride and Genesis) have stood the test just as fine. SR in lower altitudes/arid soil and Genesis in the Pyrinees. They two give confidence, the former less "comfort" than the latter but obviously are two shoes for different tasks.

I am a rookie and I am going to run my first trail. The terrain is going to be wet,rocky and has leafs and roots. Distance is going to be around 15km/9miles. I tried the following shoes I saw on reddit: Salomon Genesis: I felt them stiff without a lof of cushioning. Brooks Cascadia: Was a little bit wider in the front foot. Saucony Peregrine 14 and Hoka Speedgoat 5: Was much better and felt them more comfortable. \*I want shoes with cushion and good grip on wet surfaces. What shoes would you recommend me or if you have any other recommendation is welcome. Thanks! *Edit: I bought the hoka speedgoat 5. I did two runs on them on dry technical terrain. I can say that they feel a little bit heavy on the uphill(consider that I am rookie in running) but on the downhill they feel super. I am sure they are put less strain on knees and ankle and they have a great grip. I am 72kg & 1.81cm. Thank you all for your recommendations.

I just got the Salomon Genesis and I absolutely love em

[SalomonGenesis Trail-Running Shoes ](https://www.rei.com/product/230683/salomon-genesis-trail-running-shoes-womens?redirect-pup=false)\-- I have pretty high arches and had struggled with posterior tibialis syndrome and plantar fasciitis in the past with less supportive shoes, and these seem to have resolved those issues. Great balance between being grippy enough for technical trails yet cushiony enough to wear on concrete if needed for a few miles. For my summertime trailrunning I like On Cloudsurfer trail shoes but not as good with the slippery mud.

I went for the regular genesis as they seemed almost as good and probably better value. I can't remember who I watched but they mentioned the lack of grip, so did some salomon website reviews and I believe runrepeat also talked about the grip, so I decided against them but the genesis have been great so far. Comfy, fast and very good even on road/gravel

I'm about 6'1" 170. I'll add Salomon Genesis to the mix. It's got nice deep, grippy lugs and lots of folks like it for ultra distances. Not as narrow as a LaSportiva, but still suits narrow feet better. I use it for hiking and running.

Salomon Genesis and Caldera 7.

I have about 100 miles on my pair of Genesis's and I ran 400+ on Peregrine 12's and Xodus Ultra 2's. I like the Genesis midsole a lot better than the Peregrines but not as much as the Xodus Ultras (I don't think I like anything as much as Saucony's Powerrun PB). It's thick enough to absorb stepping on a protruding rock or root without feeling like you're on stilts. The lockdown is way better than either Saucony for me, though I find I have to fiddle with the quick laces still at the beginning of a run. My only gripe with the fit has to do with the toe box. It is wide enough in area for me to splay a bit, but the volume on the pinky side isn't quite enough and I'll feel some discomfort if I do more than 10 miles or do a lot of descending. I run on a fair bit of road to get to my trail heads and I haven't noticed any appreciable wear on the outsole. The grip is better than Powertrac. We have a lot of wet wooden bridges in the PNW that stay slippery all winter, but I don't find them to be an issue with the Genesis. I haven't been able to test it on any amount of ice, but the lugs have enough bite to handle a decent bit of mud. Ultimately, I love the shoe and it's perfect for my use case for runs of 15 miles or less, hill/speed workouts, and just most of my weekly trail miles. I know a lot of folks use it for much higher mileages, but I go for something with a lot more foam underfoot for my 50ks or 50 milers.

I like them. A bit better grip and more technical than the ultra glide 2. But they are way too warm. Like almost gore tex warm. And that made me skip them a lot of days in the summer.

Have you looked at the Salomon Genesis (the non S/Lab version - aka normal version)?

I second the Salomon Genesis and I went with the men’s size because I live in Asia and I got big feet here, I get pretty tired feet and these have been great.

I can't get enough of the Salomon Genesis. They feel great on anything from forest roads to peak bagging.

Fit and feel are very personal for shoes. I’ve never had good fit with the Norvan LD. Tried them for gen 1 and 3. Didn’t work well. For that reason I’d go with Salomon.

Salomon Genesises for hiking and trail running. I'm on my third pair and basically use my last pair for road running (I don't do a lot of it) while the newer pair is for hiking/trail.

The Salomon Genesis is like a better version of the Sense Ride. I commute on pavement and trail and these shoes are my workhorse. They are not rockered or highly cushioned though, which works great for me but might not work for everyone. Speedgoat lugs would likely wear out too quick on the road as they are relatively sharp and pointy. Look for lugs that are flatter and wider.

I’m not sure Adidas Terrex has anything in its trail lineup that really stands out as a rocky technical shoe. The Terrex 3 looks cool but I get the impression it isn’t the most nimble and the fit is a little more relaxed…? Obviously the Agravic Speed and Agravic Speed Ultra are the two most high end models but they are really meant for running fast on slightly less technical terrain. If you’re looking for grip, foothold and durability on really rocky terrain then I would look at the European mountain brands. Salomon, La Sportiva, Scarpa, Inov8 etc. all make shoes that are all round mountain capable. I would personally highly recommend the Salomon Genesis. Super secure foothold without feeling tight, super durable, neutral support, not rockered, super nimble but also super tough. It’s really well balanced, but with a focus on mountain running.

I second the Genesis. I live in the mountains in Colorado and these are my favorite shoes I've ever had for trail running. I'm a 5'4 woman, but still 😅

Salomon Genesis work as good road to trails, deal with mud well and i've used up to marathon with no issues as they're well cushioned. Saucony ultra or peregrines - ultras are more cushioned and great road to trail but peregrines are find for short road sections and have a slightly deeper lug and deal with mud and wet grass really well. Peregrines are also my choice of mountain shoe so work well, did a 100k in them and only had some foot pain from minimal cushioning at 50ish miles in! Just got the Nike Zegama 2 and they are fab so far! Managed well in mud, snow, slush and are really cushioned. Need to try them out on more technical terrain but all good so far. They have the react foam so they give a lot of bounce on packed trail and road. Inov8 trailfly i find good on rock and grass, less so on mud, and a bit firm on road, but not terrible.

Hated them, could never get the lockdown right, gave me horrendous blisters (the heel is very roomy), sucked on dry rock let alone wet rock. A bit of a shame as I love my Saucony road shoes. Other alternatives if you are looking for something fast the new VJ lightspeeds are great if a bit narrow but comfortable up to 30km haven't gone longer in them. Scott supertrac RC 2 good all-round shoe especially in winter slop and last 500+miles. Speedgoats great shoe though not that great in the mud, very protective and a good fun shoe. Salomon Genesis is a good shoe, not amazing in the mud (s/lab version is much better) but is a fun shoe especially on technical terrain and protective for fire roads and good in rock.

I enjoy my pair of Genesis. They are comfy, feel light when I’m running and I always enjoy them. But that’s the only way to describe it for me? I don’t know why but I just haven’t had the same “I love them, I am obsessed with them” experience that people seem to be having. I actually find my Sense Rides are a much better fit for me and feel more natural. But there’s nothing I “dislike” about the genesis. I’m not sure I’m making sense haha. It’s been a mid experience and very average but it never deters me from wearing them and I rock them multiple times a week. Maybe that actually is a good thing haha

I’ve tried them both and think the Cascadia feel more bomber than the Genesis. I think the genesis would be better for longer less technical terrain. The Cascadias are a great show for any terrain, but my feet get tired after about 20-25 miles as they’re not the most cushioned shoe. The Cascadias are also not for speed. They are a workhorse that will get you anywhere.

The Salomon has the Contagrip All Terrain. This Contagrip seems that is really really bad. I have the Salomon Quest Elements with Contagrip Mud and is amazing how good the grip is on wet rocks of the rivers. The problem with Salomon is that they only say "Contagrip" and not the kind of Contagrip... And reviewers only say Contagrip. To check the model of Contagrip you have to go to their website and search the shoe and see the details of it.

Rocks : Topo or anything with this great vibram soles Mud : saucony peregrine or Salomon s-lab

I have Salomon Slabs which I recommend for more technical stuff. I do agree that they are narrow which my feet luckily are.

I don't have these problems and I'm super happy with narrow Salomon SLAB but my wife loves Altra just because they are like duck feet (my joking about this), and she says they are best fitting shoes ever. So for wide feet, I would definitely say go and try Altra.

I use Solomon trail runners, non-waterproof because my feet overheat easily in the summer. They've seen the presis in the summer without issues, and have decent grip.

The best ones are the ones that fit!! I have wide toes and wore Solomon trail runners for a long time. I switched to Merrell Moab hikers a couple of years ago. Both are 13 Wide (EEE).

The downside of trail runners to me (Solomans) was I would sometimes get foot bruises on sharp rocky ground. I switched to hiking shoes (Merrell's) and I feel it's a better compromise between trail runners and boots. Pretty light and more comfortable.

My Solomans had a rock plate (thank you for pointing out my omission), but I feel a big difference with my Murrell Moab's. To each there own, I know trail runners are the favorite, the Moab works better for me (I have dainty feet, I guess).

What do you want to do? I love my Solomon trail runners but if I'm sliding down shale I'll take the Keens all day long. Both are good brands in my experience.

I like Oboz boots. I also like my Solomon trail runners. I've done massive days in both, totally depends what you are more comfortable in. I do personally find benefit in some ankle protection and waterproofness. Some folks poopoo that... but I bet they have wet feet.

I just ordered a pair from my local running store, only commenting to suggest you try them on first. I'm a 12 in Salomons and a 12 to 12.5 in Hokas, and I had to size up to a 13 in the 001s.

Physical protection from pokes and rocks aside, my experience, and others have shared similarly, that boots do not really do much to prevent ankle sprains. Boots generally have higher/thicker soles, so if you do turn your ankle, it's a higher fulcrum point and you could turn your ankle even more than if you were on a thinner sole of a trail runner. The only time I turned my ankle significantly was when I was wearing big, heavy, think leather-upper Vasque St. Elias boots. The firmness of the ankle wrap on those meant I couldn't 'get out of it' by turning forward or any other split-second reaction. Once it started over sideways, there was no getting out of it. Contrast that with trail-runners; I currently have Speedgoats, but have hiked with Altras, Salomons, Oboz, and others, and it's the same. If I turn my ankle, I seem to be able to quickly compensate and prevent myself from putting all my weight over on a completely turned ankle. I do that on every hike, sometimes twice. Never injured myself that way.

Over the years I’ve worn trail runners from Merrill and Salomon, or standard running shoes from Nike and NB. A comfortable fit was the main criteria. Even on wet ground I’d rather have fast drying sneakers than boots.

Salomon trail runners. They’re my goat shoes - the only thing they don’t get a grip on is wet wood.

Did 6 days / 72 miles in the Winds last year, lots of off-trail, pretty much all above 10k feet in Salomon trail runners. Sold my Asolo boots.