Salomon S/Lab Genesis – Test & Review

Designed as a mountain running shoe, the Salomon Genesis is curated as a hard-wearing durability option to tackle tricky terrains with dynamite precision. Salomon shoes are chosen amongst some of the world’s elite, including Courtney Dauwalter, Marianne Hogan and Francois D’Haene.

First Impressions

When I opened the box, I was immediately pleased with the look of the shoes; the colours are an appealing mix of practical black with a dash of bright lilac and an interesting yellow weave on the top. I could also tell by the thickness and sponginess of the sole that these would be a comfortable ride.

Being new to Salomon shoes, I was slightly perplexed by the quick lace system, especially after tightening my shoe and was left with a long lace dangling down. What should I do with this? Tie it in a knot? But then, to my delight, I discovered the little pocket in the tongue to tuck it neatly away. So, if you, too, are new to Salomon and haven’t realised this yet – you’re welcome!

The Feel

I have heard that Salomon trainers can be a bit on the narrow side, which is not ideal for me as I have bunions so I usually go for a wider shoe. However when I put these on the width didn’t feel too bad, just a bit tight on my slightly bigger foot.

So possibly going up half a size would resolve that. I’m a size 6½ on my larger foot and usually wear size 7 running shoes. Although interestingly the tightness felt more on the outside of my foot than the inside where the bunions are. However they did feel as cushioned and springy as they look so I couldn’t wait to get started on my run.

The Ride

Immediately when I set off on my run I could feel the cushioning and the thickness of the sole stopped me feeling any small stones through the shoe. The shoes also feel really light, which in turn gave a lightness and energy to my run. The back collar of the shoe is quite high which gives a secure and snug fit. Although I need to get to better grips with the quicklace system to get the best balance between being a secure fit and not too tight.

With all the rain we’ve been having my chosen route was very muddy in places. But I was really impressed with the grip of the tread as I ran through these muddy sections, no sliding around at all. They also kept my feet dry, which is probably due to a combination of the thickness of the sole and the coating of the upper.

By the end of the run I did notice a bit of rubbing around my bunion in my larger foot which leaves me to feel that going another half size up would definitely be beneficial for these shoes.

Quick Look

One of the plus points I note about these trail shoes is that they are made with 34% recycled materials, which is a bonus if you want to be more eco-responsible.

Weight: 242g
Lug Depth: 4.5mm
Drop: 8mm

Overall

Pros: good looking shoes, cushioning, grip, quick lace system that you can neatly tuck away

Cons: Narrow fit – you will probably need to size up

Review by Claire Gwyer

Salomon
S/Lab Genesis
Unisex
£190

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