Salomon Sense Pro (Spring 2014)
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The Dirt: Designed for its elite athlete team, Salomon’s S-Lab line of shoes has earned high praise in past reviews, but their $160 to $180 price tags are a limiting factor for many. The Sense Pro is Salomon’s first “S-Lab-inspired” shoe offered at a more competitive price point.
The Sense Pro is also part of Salomon’s City Trail line—a hybrid shoe for both pavement and trails. Its streamlined design hugs the midfoot and heel snugly without being constricting, even for those with a wide forefoot.
A stiff midsole and grippy, low-profile lugs offer great rock protection and traction while maintaining a close-to-ground ride—a “great transition out of my more ‘protective’ shoe for better ground feel,” said one tester.
Best For: The Sense Pro is an all-around performer for any distance—nimble enough for speedy efforts on hardpack or even pavement, yet protective and cushioned enough for rocky, technical ultras.
Traction: Whether you’re cruising dry trails, hopping over roots or plowing through slush, the Sense Pro sports what one tester called “insane grip” on every surface.
Fit: The shoe fits slightly narrow through the midfoot but roomy in the toebox. A few testers also found it to run a tad long.
The Downsides: On rainy days or wet trails, the Sense Pro is slow to shed water.
Tester-Monial: “This shoe would be perfect in a race or run that combines multiple surfaces. It feels light on the roads and sturdy and supportive on slick trails.”
–Jen Burn, Carbondale, CO