French sports-shoe specialist Salomon has just released a new range of outdoor wear for autumn 2020, with a big emphasis being placed on all-terrain, any-conditions kit that will allow runners to tackle trails whatever the elements dish out.
In the absence of organised events to take part in, and with remote trails increasingly appearing a lot more attractive than busy urban streets, people are emerging from lockdown with a thirst for getting out into the wilds and cutting loose on some dirt tracks and backcountry paths.
And the Salomon Wild Cross ($130 US /£120 UK) should be the perfect vehicles for doing exactly that.
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This shoe is armed with an aggressive fang-filled full-rubber Contagrip outsole, which promises to chomp down on technical terrain and cling to trails like a French bulldog feasting on a filet mignon. The multi-dimensional lugs on the sole are designed to grip the path on climbs and provide superlative control on steep descents.
With an 8mm drop between heel and toe, the ‘EnergyCell’ high-rebound midsole of the Wild Cross should put a big bounce in your step, and there’s a generous amount of cushioning where the cuff meets the ankle. A rugged upper features Gore-Tex elements, cloaked by ‘Sensifit Wings’ and a water-repellent TPU mesh, all secured snuggly to the foot by a quicklace system (pull tight, lock the toggle and you’re good to hit the trails, with no chance of your laces coming undone and tripping you up).
There’s also more room in the toe box than Salomon typically build into their technical footwear, not only making this a running shoe you can wear with thicker socks in colder months, but also recommending it for those with wider feet.
Advnture.com are trail testing a pair of the Wild Cross right now, so watch this space for a full review of how the shoe lives up to its promises.
Also released this month from the Salomon design centre, situated just south of Geneva in the foothills of the French Alps, are the Supercross Blast GTX (all terrain capability) and the AlphaCross Blast GTX (everyday training, from park to hill), which come with a full Gore-Tex lining and a sleeker, more traditional Salomon look.
From where we’re sitting, the Blast brothers look like the brand’s fancier new go-faster shoes, while the Wild Cross is the go-harder option – the special forces of footwear. (We’ll let you know when we’ve been into battle with them a few times.)
Beyond shoes, Salomon has launched a new jacket, hoodie and hydration pack for autumn 2020. The lightweight Bonatti Pro Waterproof jacket (£190) supplies a featherlight protective layer (complete with hood, and smart extra breathable bits around your pits) when the heavens open, and then magically disappears into its own chest pocket when you don’t need it.
The very classy looking Agile FZ Hoodie (£70) is a training jacket for light protection when you’re out running in cooler conditions, and the Active Skin 8 (£115) is a hydration pack made from dry wicking material and designed to allow free movement while you’re running. It comes complete with 500ml soft flasks, and a plenty of pocket space and webbing for stashing everything from energy gels to extra layers.
Visit the Salomon website for more.
