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Reddit Reviews
I've had a pair of solomon speedcross 3 for about 10 years that I've been in love with. With a good pair of socks I think they're pretty good for the winter.
Check out Salomon’s Speedcross trail running shoes. One of my favorite shoes I’ve ever had. They’re awesome for any sort of dirt, loose terrain and even going through water. Super lightweight, but still durable and comfortable. I bought my first pair of their Speedcross 3 model 10 years ago, and just got their newer Speedcross 6 a few weeks ago.
Both. I own a Speedcross 3. I know it’s not built for concrete but it’s comfy and does the job perfectly. I recently used it in Japan and averaged 30k steps a day for 9 days. Feet didn’t hurt and still had energy to squeeze in a couple of 5k runs.
I’m in the same position. I’ve definitely mistreated mine with winter runs and SAR work and they’ve held up super well. I think I’m on my 4th pair since the Speedcross 3 came out. I will admit that the earlier versions of this shoe were better.
Solomon makes good lightweight trail runners, but honestly my Merril Moab low tops are my favorites. They’re lightweight (enough), but mainly they’re extremely comfy for me. I’ve seen people talk about the eyelets wearing out prematurely but I haven’t experienced that on either of my pairs. For reference, one pair gets moderate hiking and camping use, the other pair is a daily driver for me as a contractor
Salomon Speedcross has excellent grip on wet rocks and mud. Comes in both GTX and non-GTX version, but I’ve only tried the latter since it dries quickly anyway and I wouldn’t do waterproof shoes in above freezing weather. I hiked the TMB (with a heavy-ish backpack) and ran the Alta Via 1 (with just a hydration vest) in these shoes (different pairs since this was in different years) and found them to be perfect for both. Had a decent amount of rain and lots of mud on both, and the shoes kept me stable and moving quickly. I haven’t sized up but as I move toward running (hopefully) 100k races, I might have to since I assume my feet will swell after the 50k or so mark. I’ve completely switched to trail runners for both hiking and backpacking and find the only drawback is that I have to buy shoes more often. But if you can afford that, the comfort is worth it!
Is there any reason OP can’t buy a second pair once/if the first pair dies? He mentions U.S. parks so is there a reason he can’t stop at a nearby REI to replace the first pair? (I get packing light and only taking one pair at a time but seems like it would be replaceable…) So absolutely trail runners. I like Salomon Speedcross, which I’ve worn for city walking and running (in addition to hiking and trail running). That makes the lugs wear off faster, obviously, but I’ve still gotten 500+ miles from each pair.
Seconded. Great shoe for hiking and trail running. Never tried the Goretex version but Salomon does make them.
I’ve found the grip on Salomon Speedcross to be excellent. I also prefer the non-GTX version since it dries much more quickly.
I like the Speedcross, it’s what I’ve worn for every ultra I’ve run. Great in mud/dirt but also fine in mountainous rocky terrain.
3 in rotation. Brooks Caldera for most of my trail runs; a pair of Timp 4’s hybrid road/trail (bumped down from 1st string once the tread started to wear) and Solomon Speed Cross for extra traction when it’s wet (rare, since I’m running in the Sierra foothills mostly).
Salomon speed cross. Loads of grip and water proof.
Rankings by Use Case
Top recommendations from others in the same boat
Best for Deep mud and soft ground

Top pick
Salomon - Speedcross Series
Best for Quick draining and drying for wet trails

Top pick
Hoka - Speedgoat Series
Best for Road-to-trail transitions

Top pick
Nike - Pegasus Trail Series
Best for Steep technical descents

Top pick
Salomon - Genesis Series
Best for Technical rocky terrain

Top pick
La Sportiva - Prodigio Series
Best for Ultra-marathon racing

Top pick
La Sportiva - Prodigio Series





