Shoe Review: Salomon XR Mission

Sean again!  Have you ever had the feeling that you’ve shown up for something and you are just not prepared for what’s in front of you?  That’s what trail running can feel like when you try to go out wearing the wrong kind of shoe!  I usually run in a very lightweight trainer from New Balance that’s great for running on pavement through the streets of my hometown, but ends up with me slipping and sliding when I’m in the woods.  Therefore, I was pretty excited when Charlotte offered me the Salomon XR Mission shoe to test out.

            This wasn’t my first rodeo with Salomon products.  They produce a wide range of sports equipment, and their ski gear that I’ve used has served me well.  I had high expectations, then, when I put on the XR Mission’s.  After some getting used to, it met those expectations.  I decided to wear them to a group trail run in June that Charles River Running was doing in Adams Farm in Walpole.  It has a different feel than a lot of conventional running shoes commonly used by runners.  With a much wider base and a more even distribution across the foot, it felt heavier and slightly awkward when I put it on and warmed up in the parking lot.  Once I got on the trails though, things were completely different.  It was like all the rocks, branches, mud, and leaves on the ground weren’t there.  The shoe has amazing stability and I found myself able to focus more on the run, rather than avoiding an uneven patch on the ground.  The feeling of clumsiness went away within the first quarter mile, and it was smooth sailing the rest of the way.

            The XR Missions have a couple of great features that add to the solid foundation that they’re (literally) built upon.  The upper part of the shoe is made from a breathable material that never feels tight or harsh on your foot, no matter the kind of sock that you’re using.  Additionally, there are no regular laces on this shoe.  Instead, there’s a simple drawstring that slips back into the shoe when you’re done tightening up.  Nothing bugs me more than stopping to tie my shoe once I’ve hit my groove, so this was a huge relief.  Finally, the color scheme itself just feels right for trail running.  The shoe I tried, and that’s carried in store, is primarily green, with black and yellow trim.  In a time when shoes come in every shade of neon, it’s a refreshing return to normalcy.  Overall, the shoe is a great piece of equipment that’s sure to make a trail runner out of anyone.  Just run with it!

Road testing a new hydration system from Salomon

           

Hi there!  Sean again.  In this post, I want to talk about a product from the store I had the opportunity to test.  When I run, I hate having things with me.  Whether it’s backpacks, belts, you name it:  I usually find it too uncomfortable to run with.  This doesn’t exactly work in my favor, however, when I’m on a long run in hot weather and need to stay hydrated.  Not only does lugging around a Poland Spring or Nalgene bottle look weird, feeling the water sloshing around totally throws me off.

            Therefore, you can imagine I was a little skeptical when I was given Sense Hydro Set by Salomon.  Undaunted, I set out on a 6-mile run on a day that reached into the upper 80s.  It was just what I needed.  The “hydration system” is basically a glove with no fingers and with a strap that a shapeless, airtight water bottle fits.  When full, it holds 250 mL (about 8 and a half fluid ounces for those readers south of the Canadian border…) of water or whatever else you like to hydrate with on a run.  The soft flask is only as big as however much you decide to fill it, and fits the form of your hand, whichever way you naturally position it while you run.  While some of you may be thinking, “Oh great, I get to wear gloves when it’s 90 degrees outside,” it’s important to note that the palm of the glove is made of a very thin non-chafing mesh, and the back of the glove is a soft and breathable cloth fabric.  I pretty much forgot I was wearing it until mile 4 when I realized I was going to need some water to get me through the end of the run.  The cap responds only to pressure, so no worries about unscrewing anything or pulling anything up.  250 mL is also an ideal amount of water for the average runner, because I know if I had had a giant water bottle with me, no matter the amount of self-control I think I have, I would be downing the whole thing to the point of discomfort once I got thirsty.  Since the set comes with two gloves, 150 mL bottles and additional 250 mL bottles are available in stores as well, if you want to double up.

            No product is perfect:  this one currently only comes in one color scheme, and the white back of the glove is not conducive to those who get a little muckier when they run, though it is machine washable.  Aside from this though, Salomon’s Sense Hydro Set is a slam dunk.  It’s the perfect hydration solution for any runner looking for a way to stay at their best.  Follow the link below to watch the system in action.  No, despite what you’re thinking, that is not your faithful blogger in the video (I don’t think I’ve ever driven on my own as far as he races), but it’s a great illustration of just how important it is to remain hydrated at all levels of competition and recreation.  That’s it for now, just run with it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nf2CE0i7ADk