In production · trail · Trail · $150
Salomon Pulsar Trail: 31 mm heel stack, 6 mm drop, 281 g — specs from independent lab testing.
Built for trail, at a target pace of 8:30–12:00 /mi on trail.
The midsole is Energy Surge, tuned firm (2/5 on our cushioning scale). Energy return is moderate — comfortable and predictable rather than bouncy. 33 mm of heel stack is the modern daily-trainer sweet spot — enough foam for long miles without losing contact with the road. Combined, the ride reads as lively at 3/5 responsiveness.
A rock plate sits between the foam and the outsole to spread the load of sharp stones and roots. It is protection, not propulsion — it does not add pop, but it keeps the underfoot bruising out of long days on technical ground.
A 6 mm drop is the mainstream middle — familiar to almost anyone coming from a standard trainer. The geometry is fairly traditional and flat, so the shoe follows your foot rather than steering it. Forefoot flex is middle of the road. It is a neutral platform with no built-in correction.
The toe-box is standard width — comfortable for most feet without swimming. It fits true to size. Expect roughly 450 miles from the outsole, about $0.33 per mile at $150.
For the foams and plates Salomon uses across its line, read the Salomon brand guide.
Measured against the 542 currently-available shoes in the catalog. The bar shows where this shoe sits in that range.
Weight
280 g / 9.9 oz
5 g heavier than the catalog median of 275 g
Heel stack
33 mm
3 mm lower than the catalog median of 36 mm
Drop
6 mm
Level with the catalog median of 6 mm
Price
$150
10 cheaper than the catalog median of 160
Responsiveness
3 / 5
Catalog median 3 / 5
Cushioning
2 / 5
Catalog median 4 / 5
Energy return
3 / 5
Catalog median 3 / 5
Durability
~450 mi
Catalog median ~400 mi
Within the Salomon line it is heavier than the brand's median (278 g / 9.8 oz) and sits lower than its median stack (34.5 mm).
Current shoes with the nearest combination of weight, stack, drop, foam feel and plate.
New Balance Tektrel
282 g / 9.9 oz · 32 mm · 8 mm drop · Rock · $110
New Balance Tektrel: 32 mm heel stack, 8 mm drop, 302 g — specs from independent lab testing.
Nike Kiger 10
263 g / 9.3 oz · 29 mm · 5 mm drop · Rock · $160
Nike Kiger 10: 29 mm heel stack, 5 mm drop, 261 g — specs from independent lab testing.
New Balance Summit Unknown v4
280 g / 9.9 oz · 32 mm · 6 mm drop · Rock · $130
Agile door-to-trail shoe with a protective rock plate.
Brooks High Point 2
270 g / 9.5 oz · 33 mm · 6 mm drop · Rock · $160
Nimble mountain shoe with grippy lugs and a protective plate.