In production · trail · Trail · $150
Salomon XA Pro 3D v9: 28 mm heel stack, 11 mm drop, 346 g — specs from independent lab testing.
Built for trail, at a target pace of 8:30–12:00 /mi on trail.
Salomon tuned this midsole firm (2/5 on our cushioning scale). Energy return is moderate — comfortable and predictable rather than bouncy. 28 mm of heel stack keeps you low and connected, with more ground feel than most current trainers. 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 tall 11 mm drop tips weight forward off the heel, which usually suits heel strikers and calves that dislike low-drop shoes. 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
346 g / 12.2 oz
71 g heavier than the catalog median of 275 g
Heel stack
28 mm
8 mm lower than the catalog median of 36 mm
Drop
11 mm
5 mm higher than 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.
Salomon Speedcross 6 GTX
328 g / 11.6 oz · 32 mm · 10 mm drop · Rock · $170
Salomon Speedcross 6 GTX: 32 mm heel stack, 10 mm drop, 325 g — specs from independent lab testing.
Salomon XA Pro 3D v9 GTX
359 g / 12.7 oz · 34 mm · 11 mm drop · Rock · $170
Salomon XA Pro 3D v9 GTX: 34 mm heel stack, 11 mm drop, 359 g — specs from independent lab testing.
Asics Gel Venture 11
320 g / 11.3 oz · 36 mm · 10 mm drop · Rock · $80
Asics Gel Venture 11: 36 mm heel stack, 10 mm drop, 320 g — specs from independent lab testing.
Mizuno Wave Daichi 8
300 g / 10.6 oz · 33 mm · 10 mm drop · Rock · $145
Michelin-outsoled trail trainer built for grip and wet-rock security.