The Breakdown
Pros
- Incredibly comfortable.
- They grip like limpets in wet and muddy conditions.
- The quicklace system holds your feet securely and doesn't loosen off like laces can do.
- Very stable and confidence inspiring ride.
- They look fantastic.
Cons
- They can be a bit tight if you have broad feet like me so best to go up half a size compared to normal shoes. Another option might be to try the Salomon Fellraisers which have a very similar tread but are widers at the toe box.
- Very terrain and condition specific so you might not get much use out of them in the summer months or if most of your running is done on hardpack trails.
- They aren't as breathable as other shoes due to the anti debris mesh upper in the shoes so might not be the best option if the conditions are warm.
Let me start by saying that I love this shoe. For the job it is designed to do then it is one of the best shoes on the market today.
The Salomon Speedcross 3 is a tried and tested design that has been a popular trail and fell running shoes for a number of years and it is easy to see why.
Grip provided by the large arrow shaped lugs on the Contragrip sole is unbeatable in all but the deepest and slippiest mud. From mud and gloop, to snow and ice these shoes just keep on gripping.
Out of the box the shoe is comfortable and required very little bedding in time unlike most shoes. It also gives you a feeling that your foot is well protected and the soles have good cushioning for long trail and mountain runs.
They have also been used in deep snow including running up streams of melting ice running down the hillside and I’m happy to report that coupled with a pair of Sealskinz socks my feet stayed perfectly warm.
I’ve done a couple of 30 mile runs in these shoes and am happy to report that they caused no blisters or pain.
It’s easy to see why the Speedcross 3 is one of the most popular trail shoes on the market today as the performance and comfort are fantastic for a product that is far more affordable than Salomons more high end S-lab offerings.

The details
Foot protection
The Salomon Speedcross 3 doesn’t include a rockplate which does show if you tread on an exposed rock but for the majority of the time you won’t notice.
The huge amount of padding in the heal of the Speedcross 3 means the foot is very well protected from impacts and means they are very comfortable for longer runs.
The rest of the shoe is constructed from a a strong nylon material and has plenty of wrap around protection in the toe area making your foot feel well protected out on the trails.
Grip
The grip on the Speedcross 3 is amazing in wet and muddy conditions where they excel. They bite through the slime and keep you upright in the worst conditions.
Only on wet rocks did they become more like ice skates but I haven’t come across a shoe yet that grips on wet rocks so they were no worse than any other.
They aren’t designed for hardpack ground or tarmac so if your running includes a of this type of surface they might not be the right shoe for you as the fairly soft rubber tread will wear down quickly and the ride isn’t great when the tread isn’t allowed to dig into the ground.
Stability
If you are looking for a stable shoe with a low heel-toe drop then you might be better looking at the Salomon Fellraisers over the Speedcross as they offer a 6mm drop over the 10mm on the Speedcross
Despite the fairly padded heal and high drop there Speedcross feel very stable over all ground and give a very confidence inspiring ride. There is only a small amount of noticeable twist because of this.
Comfort
I have wide feet so although I found the Speedcross 3 a comfortable shoe to wear overall the narrow toe box made them feel a little tight in this area although they did give slightly.
I’ve heard stories of them ripping in the toe box for people who have wide feet so the Fellraiser might be a better choice if you do have wide feet.
Weight
Weighing in at 310g they aren’t the lightest shoes available but when you factor in the performance on offer and the fact they are designed as a winter shoe so have a heavier construction this isn’t noticeable when out on the trails.
Best applications
Salomon advertise the Speedcross as a racing product, and it’s a great mountain, fell and trail running shoe especially when the conditions are severe and its very muddy, which is where this shoe excels.
It is a great all-around shoe that performs well on any soft trails where it can dig in and grip. It will even handle the odd road section or two but you can expect the treads to wear down quickly if you run on these surfaces often.
There is enough cushioning and protection should you decide to use it for for those ultra distance efforts or it would equally be at home on a quick blast on the trails.
The slightly more substantial construction means that its a warm shoe so is more suited to winter conditions that the height of summer.
Construction
Upper
Salomon employ a range of technologies to construct the upper of the Speedcross which improves the fit, form, weather protection and flexibility of the shoe. An anti-debris mesh covers the outermost layer which is a feature on many Salomon trail shoes.
Sensifit construction overlaps the top part of the wrap with a water resistant textile. A mud guard at the base of the shoes upper prevents water and mud from getting inside. The tongue features a gusset and Quicklace sockets. The Speedcross 3’s feature an Ortholite sock liner and Strobel Last that gives an irritation free and odor resistant underfoot feel.
Midsole
The midsole is constructed from injected EVA foam which is supported by Solomons Lightweight Muscle (LT) and molded EVA which gives better underfoot cushioning and foot protection.
The Salomon Speedcross is a neautral shoe and doesn’t feature cushioning technologies in the same way other shoes that are available do.
Outsole
Deep chevron shaped lugs are the main feature on the outer sole of the Salomon Speedcross trail shoes. As the lugs are widely spaced they shed mud very well while running.
The outer sole utilises a blend of softer, harder and grippier Contagrip compounds to yield the perfect mix of performance and durability.
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Manufacturers Details
- 3D Advanced Chassis™ - Controls the shoe's twisting motion. Flexes under the heel to absorb shock and provide stability.
- Sensifit - Actively cradles the foot to deliver a secure and precise fit for maximum stability and comfort.
- Quicklace System - Minimal and robust, this one-pull lace tightening system secures the shoe quickly and provides excellent stability and support.
- Contagrip® Outsole - Utilises a blend of softer, harder and grippier Contagrip® compounds to yield the perfect mix of performance and durability.
- OrthoLite Sockliner - OrthoLite foam and EVA heel cup work in concert to create a cooler, drier, healthier internal environment.
- Feather Construction - Makes the shoe extremely lightweight and breathable.
- Anti-Debris Mesh Upper - Specifically designed for clearing debris and to prevent detritus from entering the shoe.
- Water-Resistant Textile Blend - Keeps the foot dry at all times.
- EVA Injected Midsole - Cushions the foot and attenuates shockwaves superbly, especially on rougher, tougher terrain.
- Lightweight Muscle - A lightweight foam that is more pliable, more absorbent and saves more weight without compromising control and comfort.
- Toe-Box - The toe box area is fortified with a hard-wearing PVC covering that provides extensive protection from aggressive terrain.
- Mud Guard - Surrounds the base of the shoe to protect it from abrasive mud materials.
- Lace Pocket - Prevents laces from snagging on uneven terrain by securing loose ends firmly in place.
- Weight - 310 grams.
How to choose a shoe size
- Use a shoe box or a wall with a 90° angle.
- Find a sheet of paper or a sheet of cardboard, a ruler and a pen.
- Make sure that you are wearing the same socks that you would normally wear with this type of boot.
- Wearing these socks, stand on the sheet of paper and place the outside of your foot against the wall or place your foot in the shoe box with your heel wedged firmly against the back.
- Then use your pen and ruler to draw a line just in front of your big toe.
- Measure the distance between the wall or the side of the shoe box and the line that you have just drawn.
- Find this measurement in Inches in the size chart below.
A great shoe for trail running in very wet and muddy conditions, they bit through the slime and provide amazing traction.
Only drawback is that the soles don’t last very long if they are used in dryer conditions.
Would definately recommend them to anyone serious about trail running
A great shoe for trail running in very wet and muddy conditions, they bit through the slime and provide amazing traction.
Only drawback is that the soles don’t last very long if they are used in dryer conditions.
Would definately recommend them to anyone serious about trail running
Hi
It is indeed a nice shoe.. but from my experience I got some black toenails.
They get real sweaty inside and my when braking downhill my foot starts to slip to the front of the shoe (ouch!).
Maybe some better socks will help me
Hi
Thanks for reading and taking time to comment.
I’ve not experienced sweaty feet in them myself but I’ve only really used them in colder conditions but I can imagine having that problem when it gets warmer.
I use some trail running socks from the local running shop with mine if i’m not using seal skinz.
I have exactly the same problem. did you find it any solution?
Joao, try lacing your shoes like this to stop black toe nails
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CaG_P-eqpE
Hi
It is indeed a nice shoe.. but from my experience I got some black toenails.
They get real sweaty inside and my when braking downhill my foot starts to slip to the front of the shoe (ouch!).
Maybe some better socks will help me
Hi
Thanks for reading and taking time to comment.
I’ve not experienced sweaty feet in them myself but I’ve only really used them in colder conditions but I can imagine having that problem when it gets warmer.
I use some trail running socks from the local running shop with mine if i’m not using seal skinz.
I have exactly the same problem. did you find it any solution?
Joao, try lacing your shoes like this to stop black toe nails
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CaG_P-eqpE
What shoes do you prefer – speedcross or fellraiers?
Personally I prefer the Fellraisers over Speedcross, but I do have wide feet and the Speedcross are a bit too narrow for me. If you have narrow feet you may well prefer the Speedcross but I think it depends on what you want the shoe for.
Speedcross are more of a winter shoe with a decent amount of cushioning so more suitable for longer runs whereas the Fellraisers don’t have much cushioning so can get uncomfortable on longer runs.
I think the Fellraisers definitely have the best grip. The lugs are harder wearing so dig in better. I found Speedcross can wear down quickly if you run on harder surfaces.
At the end of the day it depends on your needs and how the shoe fits you. Best thing to do is go try some on
What shoes do you prefer – speedcross or fellraiers?
Personally I prefer the Fellraisers over Speedcross, but I do have wide feet and the Speedcross are a bit too narrow for me. If you have narrow feet you may well prefer the Speedcross but I think it depends on what you want the shoe for.
Speedcross are more of a winter shoe with a decent amount of cushioning so more suitable for longer runs whereas the Fellraisers don’t have much cushioning so can get uncomfortable on longer runs.
I think the Fellraisers definitely have the best grip. The lugs are harder wearing so dig in better. I found Speedcross can wear down quickly if you run on harder surfaces.
At the end of the day it depends on your needs and how the shoe fits you. Best thing to do is go try some on
Great shoe but the rubber is very, very soft. They have worn out more quickly then any other shoe that I’ve had.
Going to try the fellraiser next as apparently it’s a harder compound rubber, cheaper too!
Hi KEv
Yes the rubber is very soft and wears out quickly. The Fellraiser is a good shoe and harder wearing but it’s not for long distances as it has very little cushioning. I do love the Fellraiser for shorter runs though
If you are looking for a similar shoe to the Speedcross but a little more hard wearing have a look at the Scott Kinabalu Supertrac. Great cushioing and lots of grip plus I got 600ish miles out of mine so they are much hard wearing
Great shoe but the rubber is very, very soft. They have worn out more quickly then any other shoe that I’ve had.
Going to try the fellraiser next as apparently it’s a harder compound rubber, cheaper too!
Hi KEv
Yes the rubber is very soft and wears out quickly. The Fellraiser is a good shoe and harder wearing but it’s not for long distances as it has very little cushioning. I do love the Fellraiser for shorter runs though
If you are looking for a similar shoe to the Speedcross but a little more hard wearing have a look at the Scott Kinabalu Supertrac. Great cushioing and lots of grip plus I got 600ish miles out of mine so they are much hard wearing