In production · trail · Trail / Long run · $35
Salomon S/Lab Ultra: 40 mm heel stack, 8 mm drop, 290 g — specs from independent lab testing.
Built for trail, long run, at a target pace of 8:30–12:00 /mi on trail.
The midsole is Matryx, tuned soft (4/5 on our cushioning scale). Energy return is moderate — comfortable and predictable rather than bouncy. At 40 mm of heel stack this sits in max-cushion territory; legs stay fresher on long efforts, but the platform is tall. Combined, the ride reads as lively at 3/5 responsiveness.
A nylon (or PEBA-blend) plate adds structure without the harsh stiffness of carbon. You get a firmer, more propulsive toe-off that still flexes at slower paces, which is why nylon-plated shoes double as workout and long-run shoes rather than race-day-only tools.
A 8 mm drop is the mainstream middle — familiar to almost anyone coming from a standard trainer. The rocker is aggressive: the sole is curved and stiff enough to tip you into the next stride on its own, which saves the calf on long runs but feels strange when you slow right down. Forefoot flex is middle of the road. It is a neutral platform with no built-in correction.
The toe-box is narrow and performance-oriented; wide-footed runners should try before buying. It fits true to size. Expect roughly 250 miles from the outsole, about $0.14 per mile at $35.
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
293 g / 10.3 oz
18 g heavier than the catalog median of 275 g
Heel stack
40 mm
4 mm taller than the catalog median of 36 mm
Drop
8 mm
2 mm higher than the catalog median of 6 mm
Price
$35
125 cheaper than the catalog median of 160
Responsiveness
3 / 5
Catalog median 3 / 5
Cushioning
4 / 5
Catalog median 4 / 5
Energy return
3 / 5
Catalog median 3 / 5
Durability
~250 mi
Catalog median ~400 mi
Within the Salomon line it is heavier than the brand's median (278 g / 9.8 oz) and sits taller than its median stack (34.5 mm).
Current shoes with the nearest combination of weight, stack, drop, foam feel and plate.
Merrell Agility Peak 6
287 g / 10.1 oz · 38 mm · 8 mm drop · Rock · $160
Cushioned technical trail workhorse on Vibram Megagrip with a rock plate.
Tracksmith Eliot Range
285 g / 10.1 oz · 33 mm · 8 mm drop · Nylon · $250
Trail Eliot: supercritical foam, nylon plate, merino bootie, Vibram outsole.
Merrell Agility Peak 6 GORE-TEX
300 g / 10.6 oz · 38 mm · 8 mm drop · Rock · $185
Waterproof Agility Peak 6 for wet, cold and sloppy trail days.
Hoka Challenger 8
275 g / 9.7 oz · 42 mm · 8 mm drop · — · $145
Road-to-trail all-rounder for gravel and light singletrack.