Advnture Verdict
A heavy-duty grippy shoe, best suited to running muddy trails in challenging conditions.
Pros
- +
Waterproof upper
- +
Well cushioned
- +
Quick lacing
Cons
- -
Relatively heavy
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Salomon Supercross Blast GTX: first impressions
Out of the box, the standout features of the Salomon Supercross Blast GTX include the waterproof chassis, the lacing system, the design of the outsole and the toe protection supplied by the design.
The Gore-Tex membrane upper is designed to keep your feet dry in wet conditions, while still allowing them to breathe during hot runs.
The Quicklace system means no more struggling to undo muddy laces; a quick pull on the tab and they come loose and adjusting tightness mid run is quick and easy too.
Chevron lugs (see: Anatomy of a trail running shoe and how to choose trail running shoes) cut into mud to give multi-directional grip and a wide, well-cushioned sole provides plenty of comfort. A sturdy toe bumper offers protection at the front of the shoe.
This is not the lightest of shoes, and having more heel-to-forefoot drop than some others we feel the Supercross Blast are more suited to steady paced runs rather than fast racing. If you're looking for something a little more nimble, you'll find plenty of worthy option on our list of the best trail running shoes.
• RRP: $130 (US) / £120 (UK)
• Weight (per shoe): 340g/12oz
• Drop: 10mm
• Tread depth: 6mm
• Upper material: Ripstop nylon with Gore-Tex lining
• Colors: Ebony black/Balsam green/Lunar rock
• Compatibility: Good grip, ideal for wet conditions
Salomon Supercross Blast GTX: on the trails
The Supercross Blast GTX were tested on the muddy trails of the Peak District and on the Pennine Way in Northumberland.
Having previously worn Salomon’s popular Speedcross model and found them a little snug I went half a size up for the Supercross Blast, which proved a good decision.
The familiar chevron lugs on the sole give the impression of a shoe with a good grip and the Supercross didn’t disappoint, even on the notoriously boggy terrain of Kinder Scout.
I tested the Gore-Tex version of the shoe and found that there are both pros and cons of having a waterproof shoe. On the plus side my feet stayed largely dry for the majority of the test runs. However on a couple of occasions I found myself ‘in too deep’ and water actually came over the top and into the shoe. If you can be certain that you can keep water from going over the top, however, then they perform well at keeping your feet dry.
The quick-lace system means that the Supercross are quick to get on and off and can be easily adjusted mid run. It also means that you don’t have to struggle to untie clogged up laces after a muddy run (see: how to clean trail running shoes) - simply pull the slider to release the tension. Despite initial concerns that the quick-lace system would clog up with mud this didn’t occur. On previous Salomon models the ends of the laces could be tucked away into a little pocket on the tongue, however the Supercross don’t have this, you simply tuck the lace under a little elastic loop. This isn’t as tidy as having the pocket and there is more likelihood that you will snag the laces if running through vegetation – although this hasn’t happened to me yet.
While you don’t want cold feet on a run, I found that the black version of the shoe (other colours are available) with the Gore-Tex membrane were quite warm. These are definitely winter shoes, wearing them in warm weather would result in hot, sweaty feet.
