Salomon XT Wings Review

Following the recent post, “the shoes have arrived”, the Salomon XT Wings have been used a carpet slippers for a week or 2 in the roadrunning.net household.

The shoes are a fabulous bright red with black trim. There are reflective safety patches in conspicuous places also.

Elastic laces anchored at the bottom with a funky closing system (not sure what would happen if the elastic snaps – presumably it is made from tungsten composite elastic which can withstand a nuclear blast..)

I found the closing system a slightly tricky to get the shoes exactly how I wanted – the laces are not joined. It felt slightly slobbing and lose and then after adjusting, slightly too tight on one foot.

Every bit of the shoe says – “I am hard” From the aggressive sole to the reinforced toe cap.

These are obviously serious off road training and it’s probably fair to say that they are the trainer equivalent of a top of the range landrover.

But can I run in them?

Roadrunning.net regular readers will know that a couple of years ago, I made the move from heel striking to forefoot striking and the pose method.

Shoes like the XT Wings have a large heel, reinforced forefoot and therefore are not suitable for pose running. I am glad therefore that I picked a non running challenge. (The 3 peaks of Yorkshire will involve some running – probably on the downhill sections only though).

But what can be better than not running?

By using the XT wings as a walking trainer many of my problems may be solved. In early training for the 3 peaks, I did a couple of walks on Kinder Scout in Derbyshire. Many busy sections have been paved to save soil and peat erosion and this is hard work walking with boots on.

A maiden test walk with the XT wings over an 8 mile course gave no problems what so ever. The shoes were comfy and seemed to mould to my feet nicely. After a couple of hours, I had no hot spots or burning feeling in my feet.

So thumbs up from me – maybe they will work for you – just don’t try to run in them..

3 peaks of Yorkshire - How hard can it be?