Salomon
XA Pro 3D V9 GTX (men's 11 wide US)
Purchased at: SteepandCheep.com (deep discounted price; current model)
Reviewer: Bret Nelson; Orem Utah
Frequent Terrain: Rock Canyon in Provo, UT
These are probably my new faves for casual hiking with faster descents. I'm just breaking these in, but there's instantly some things to like more than Salomon's Speedcross, my former Salomon investment. I like the stiffer ride but still letting me pick up some speed. I'll update this after 100 miles...
LIKES:
Solid platform, but with a bit softer mid-sole so I'm not collapsing my arches. I probably won't try an orthotic insert in these because I don't have a lot of depth for my heel to stay fully in without feeling just a little lift-out, and I just don't feel that I'm going to need them. Maybe I'll change my mind after 150 - 200 miles?
I do like the quick lace and these offer a better around-the-whole-foot support better than older models.
Sole is hardened enough that I fully expect to get a LOT more miles out of these than I ever got out of two pairs of SpeedCrosses I've worn. But the sole is soft enough that I get good traction, including on boulders. Do these turn my peds into gecko feet like Hoka SpeedGoats? No, but after the Hoka, I'm liking these best on the downhill return.
Here's what I like better than my SpeedGoats: The entire outer sole is protective, unlike the foam suction cup right under my heel on the SpeedGoats which cause a lot of bruising on my heel when I'm on my typical terrain. These soles keep me from feeling the rocks under my feet in a painful way, but are soft enough to keep my feet fully informed of what's under them. I think Salomon has found the right balance between gecko and stiff ride.
Further, my toes are well enough protected (w/o being a steel-toed work boot) that I don't care when I stub my toes on the rocks; and I don't feel like I'm going to fall over this benefit. What I do find is that I can spend more time (on my slow descents) looking around me at nature and not having to watch my feet every step. If you're going to pick up speed, you've got to watch the rocks, but at a casual pace, I can be more carefree.
The stiff platform does help prevent my sciatica and other lower back pains from returning. These offer a good forward rocking for speed, probably some pronation correction (though I didn't research that), and an overall healthy gait. We'll see if that breaks down as the mid-sole wears and how fast as I update this review.
WISHES & RECOMMENDATIONS:
With the slightly hardened Vibram sole, I'm expecting more milage while still enjoying a pretty soft ride immediately under my arches and heel, but I admit I'm skeptical about whether I'll get 300+ miles out of these. If so, I've found a winner!
I've tried running the downhill & flats in these during my break-in early miles and so far, so good, but again, these aren't Hoka SpeedGoats and similar. Because I'm not a serious endurance runner, nor do I pick up to speeds under 7-minute miles even on the downhill, these are suitable for my pace and terrain. But if you like to open up in your quest for PR's, this platform and shape is probably not for setting land-speed-records. These are not a road shoe, so put them away for your 10K's.
WHAT'S NEXT?
I'll be taking glamour shots of these boots and the soles every 100 miles to show when they start to break in and then break down. How the mid-sole is wearing at 100 - 200 miles is what I'm going to be watching for. If I've still got a stiffer ride with protection, but also have good cushion for my arches and heels, I'm going to be a happy camper. I'll report back at 100 miles...
VALUE:
I got these at right about $100 (about 40% off) when BackCountry's SteepandCheap.com had only a few pairs left and put those on sale for a few days and I was lucky they had my size. So, I paid for these with just two plasma donations, but I'm not ready to declare what I would be willing to pay until I know if I'm definitely getting over 300 miles out of them. I'm cheap, but I like to get two seasons out of my shoes, and I learned the hard way that wearing a shoe long after the mid-sole has broken down is hard on your peds & legs all the way up into your piriformis, hips, and spine. I've got to learn to throw away my shoes sooner for my health's sake. If these mid-soles stay supportive and cushioned for shock-absorption for 300 miles, then I'd be willing to pay north of $150 for them. I'll update as I move in on that odometer reading.
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