The folks at Salomon may have taken John skiing for a day last month, but I’m not the least bit jealous. If I’m traveling 10-20 MPH down a mountainside, it’s probably not in the snow, and there will certainly be two wheels and disc brakes under me. Unless snowball fights, snow man building, and snow angel making are considered winter sports, the only real snow sport I’ll engage in is snowshoeing. And I’m totally ok with that. It’s pretty much just walking or jogging, which are really the most basic and least expensive outdoor activities you can engage in. Of course, if you want to kick it up a notch (or three), Salomon has some footwear you might just be interested in.
Salomon FellraiserEven if the Tough Mudder, Spartan Death Race, or Run For Your Lives race (get chased by zombies!) isn’t on your bucket list, trail running can sometimes get a bit muddy. So Salomon took every thing good about their S-Lab Fellcross, and created the Fellraiser. For about $110, you get a shoe that’s built on the Fell running last, and all about performance in the worst conditions. On the underside, you’ll find a Contagrip® outsole that offers excellent traction when the going gets wet, yet sheds mud like a pig in a car wash. An injected EVA midsole with 6mm of drop (12mm heel/6mm forefoot) helps you with your mid-foot strike while running for your life, from zombies, or both. The Ortholite® sockliner sits above a molded EVA footbed. Trademarks alone don’t make you faster or more comfortable, but the technology behind Salomon’s Sensifit™and Quicklace™do. Better fit and easier lacing put an end to hot spots and friction, two enemies of runners. Most of the upper is an open mesh which breathes well and is quick drying. The exception would be the TPU toe cap, providing a bit of protection where it’s needed most. All that goodness adds up to only 10.2 ounces (290g) for a men’s size 9.
Salomon Synapse Winter CS WP (women’s boot)Maybe you’re like me and move at a slower pace, but still want performance even when temperatures drop. Here in Utah, we can pretty much count on about five months of cold and/or snowy weather. No doubt to appease hikers enjoying similar conditions, Salomon took their lightweight Synapse and added some Climatherm insulation (and a few other details) to create the Salomon Synapse Winter CS WP. You’ve still got a Contagrip® outsole, but the compound is optimized for grip on ice. It’s the same 10mm drop too, but now the heights are 17mm/7mm. The molded EVA midsole is topped by an Ortholite® sockliner fitted to an anatomical footbed. A full bootie fleece lining plus a Climashield waterproof membrane keep feet warm and dry. Between the protective toe cap and rubber heel cap, you’ll find plenty of waterproof/water resistant materials, the fast and strong Quicklace™system, a gusseted tongue so nothing but your foot gets inside, a lace pocket for the lacing system, gaiter hooks, and a mud guard circling the whole boot. That’s a lot of features, yet a men’s size 9 only weighs 15.7 ounces (445g). Expect the MSRP to be around $170. Salomon.com
– Brian