Salomon Sense Ride Review
Overview of the Salomon Sense Ride:
The Salomon Sense Ride is a new model from Salomon that is a bit of a do-everything kind of trail running shoe. Folks who like an 8mm drop trail running shoe that can do it all will be hard-pressed to find a better trail running shoe on the market these days when combining the comfort, ride, protection, and grip at a solid value. With a lot of carry-over from the S-Lab line of premium trail running shoes from Salomon there is a lot to love about this new model from Salomon with very little to dislike.
Specs:
- Weight: 230g / 8.1oz (US women’s 8.0); 275g / 9.7oz (US men’s 9.0)
- Drop: 8mm, 27mm heel/19mm forefoot
- Upper: mesh with welded overlays, quicklaces with lace pocket, Endofit (i.e., internal bootie), OrthoLite sockliner
- Midsole: Compressed EVA w/ softer inserts (Opal) along the full-length to disperse shock vibrations; rockplate using a thin TPU film (ProFeel Film)
- Outsole: Salomon’s Premium Wet Traction Contagrip – quite simply, a really solid outsole for nearly every type of terrain
Presenting the Salomon Sense Ride. This shoe has a nice combination of being cushioned yet responsive, protective, and grippy at a good value.
Now for more details. In this review, we’ll break things down in to six areas:
- What’s good: the new, differentiating, or simply well designed or built features or aspects of the shoe.
- What could be improved: tweaks or improvements that could be made to make the shoe better.
- When to use it: the situations or scenarios where the shoe excels.
- How it compares: my current go-to shoes and how this shoe compares.
- Should you purchase? My overall recommendation on whether to purchase this shoe or not.
- Purchasing Information: where to go to purchase this shoe.
I’ll try to be as succinct as possible. After all, you’ve probably got more running you can do today!
What’s good?
- The value. At $120 you get S-lab quality with a non S-lab price. The Salomon Sense Ride steals just about every key feature and the manufacturing quality from its comparable S-lab brethren and puts it in a package that costs $60 less.
Salomon S-lab quality for a lot less $$ – sweet!
- Does it all. The shoe can handle just about anything you can throw at it due to how well it pulls everything together. It’s cushioned yet responsive. It is protective without being too bulky or stiff. It has great traction without lugs that get in the way on tamer trails or even pavement. This shoe can do it all.
The Salomon Sense Ride is aimed at the everyday trail-runner looking to go long.
- Did you know Salomon tests their shoes both dry and wet? I just learned that and it doesn’t surprise me as they are about the fastest drying shoes out there I believe. The Sense Ride is no exception as it drains well and dries about as fast as possible when fully submerged or soaked.
The Salomon Sense Ride does not hold water and dries quickly.
- This is probably the thing I love most about S-lab shoes and we see it here too with the Sense Ride – after a few miles in them you learn to trust them knowing that wherever you place your foot your shoe won’t get in the way. It’s a confidence-inspiring combination of fit, protection, and grip that is perhaps unmatched in the industry.
The Salomon Sense Ride uses Salomon’s Premium Wet Traction Contagrip outsole. It’s one of the best outsoles available for most trail situations.
- We don’t see anything superfluous with this shoe. No extra fabric where there shouldn’t be to weigh things down. No unnecessary foam in the heel collar. Lugs that grip without getting in the way of the ride.
What could be improved?
- Additional forefoot cushioning. I’d love to see 3-4 additional millimeters of forefoot cushioning in this shoe. I think just a bit more forefoot cushioning would allow most people to opt for this shoe for longer ultras as well as everyday runs. This would also reduce the heel-to-toe drop to make it in the 4-6mm range which I personally believe is the sweet spot.
- A touch wider heel platform. If the overall platform was a little wider I think it would be more stable and ride just a bit better which would be appreciated.
When to use it?
- Everyday trail runs in all conditions.
- Trail races up to 50km in all conditions except for overly muddy trails where deeper lugs would be ideal. I think some folks can certainly use it for 50 miles as well but there is not quite enough forefoot cushioning for me to reach for this shoe over a more cushioned option.
The Salomon Sense Ride is a solid everyday trail runner or race shoe in nearly all conditions.
Similar shoes to compare with:
- Salomon Sense Pro 2: The Sense Ride is basically an updated Sense Pro 2. It has a similar fit but just a touch more cushion. Plus, you get a better outsole and, if you believe it works, the benefits of the Opal insert to dampen shock vibrations. The Sense Ride is also $10 less expensive. The Sense Ride wins here.
- Salomon S-lab Sense Ultra (review here): Very similar in a lot of ways. I prefer the fit of the S-lab Sense Ultra as the toe box fits my foot better, and the upper material is softer and more comfortable, but it’s not worth the $60 premium I feel. The Sense Ride wins again.
- Salomon Sense Pro Max (review here): The Sense Pro Max is more cushioned than the Sense Ride, wider through the midfoot, and thus a bit more forgiving. But it’s not as ready to pick up the pace as the Sense Ride. Tough call but I like the plush ride of the Sense Pro Max despite its $30 premium. Sense Pro Max wins for me.
Should you purchase?
So, the $120 question – should you purchase the Salomon Sense Ride?
In a word, yes. It’s a great everyday trail runner that serves double-duty as a trail race shoe up to 50k in most situations.
Questions, comments, or feedback on this shoe? Please share! And thanks for reading!
Purchasing Information
If you’re interested in purchasing this shoe, please first check availability at your local, independently owned running specialty store. They need your business and are a great resource for the community.
If that’s not an option, please consider using this affiliate link for the men’s shoe or this affiliate link for the women’s shoe for Amazon. The return policy is great, and it’ll drop a few nickels into URP bucket if you decide to keep it. Thank You!