Salomon S-Lab Sense 2

The S-lab series of products have been designed in partnership with Salomon and their elite ultra and trail athletes, in particular the legendary Killian Jornet. This is the second version of this highly popular trail runner, that has been used by the world’s best. They say it’s “Killian’s shoe”, which suggests it’s bloody fast! The previous edition of the Sense was slightly higher and heavier. So what was already a racing beast is now even better. One of the other changes is an improved level of protection from sand and gravel thanks to an updated sockless fit.

While the Sense 2 is ultralight and quite flexible, there is still a fantastic feeling of support when wearing them. Being low to the ground and with a modest heel-toe drop of 4mm, they are quite minimalist and have a neutral fit. It’s perfect for the majority of runners as there’s nothing aggressive about the design and no corrective inserts for things like over pronators….keep in mind they’re for elite level racing so don’t expect them to be like a Brooks Beast!

The upper is made from a combination of mesh and a durable textile. This makes the shoe both breathable and free draining. The fit is incredibly comfortable and snug, with loads of midfoot support and a responsive feeling on foot strike. What’s really cool is the seamless construction. It means there are no seam bulges from the upper, plus thanks to the internal fit sleeve there’s little for your foot to chafe against, hence you can race sockless. This is great for events like 6FT Track where you need to cross watercourses. One thing I am not a fan of is the quick lacing system, as they can require tightening on very long runs…that’s a touch of personal bias creeping in, but worth noting. On the plus side there’s a pocket in the tongue that you can secure the tab into.

The toecap provides protection from sticks and stones, and while on looking at the tread you could be forgiven for thinking you’re lacking the necessary grip and defence against underfoot rocks poking through, this couldn’t be further from the truth. The sole is grippy on most surfaces and the cushioning protected against all the nasties underfoot.

The Sense 2 has been designed specifically as a lightweight racer for forefoot runners. It’s about as good a racing shoe as you can get. That said, because it’s purely for racing it isn’t built to do extensive mileage. You can probably expect to get 600km of wear from them before they will have lost their supportive properties. They cost a lot, but are worth it if you’re looking for that little bit extra out of your next race.

Weight 190g (Size 8.5)

Price: Around $250AUD…But you’ll find them on sale somewhere!