XA Elevate

The older I get, the more cush I need. While shoes I own are much nicer on my joints (Speedgoat, Prodigio Pro, Aero Glide) I never wear them when it gets technical. Of course the heavy and not too soft Akasha seems a bit outdated to those latest models but I have yet to find a better mix of run/scrambling shoe. Maybe if I was younger or better trained I just go with the Bushido again...but then... I also used a lot of Salomon models: S/LAB Sense SG (good scramble shoe, to harsh to run in for me), Ultra Glide (very good to run in but no scrambling shoe) XA Elevate (I would put it in between Bushido and Akasha - but it's not available anymore). Also: Sportiva rubber has so much better grip on rocks than Salomon's...

Contragrip wet traction was the best - it was on the XA Alpine and XA Elevate and the Sense Ultra, Sense 6. But since then it has gotten worse. The Ultraglide 1s were pretty terrible.

Salomon makes wide versions of most of their stuff, although color choices are sometimes limited I've never had an issue with durability over the last 10+ years or so or wearing them, mostly the XA's BUT I also don't get gore-tex shoes - it's not necessary (and a bit hot) in my climate, & in my experience the goretex elements always fail long before the shoe/boot gives out, no matter what the brand, but I'm also kinda hard on shoes.

I really like my Salomon XA’s for a versatile trail/athletic shoe. I’m on my third pair since 2018