SALOMON THUNDERCROSS Review: The balance between toughness and agility is too good. The latest all-rounder model that covers all terrain, distance and styles

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Due to the nature of "running" on rough roads, trail running shoes are destined to require both the aspect of "durability (toughness)" like mountaineering boots and the aspect of "agility (ease of running)" like running shoes. It would be quick if both aspects were as good as each other's specialized shoes, but of course, it's not that easy. Fast shoes neglect your defenses, while sturdy will inevitably reduce your agility. In a sense, the quality and badness of trail running shoes is not only the performance of both aspects, but it can also be said that ultimately depends on how cleverly they blend together as a product.

In the midst of all this, Salomon 's new trail running series, THUNDERCROSS, is a new concept of off-road running shoe that captures the best of the "Cross" family, synonymous with tough trail running shoes, and the "Sense" family (or the "Glide" family), which is a modern concept that emphasizes "fast and longer" more. This shoe is sure to be interesting for fans of both series, and this time I'd like to review the hybrid appeal and performance of this new trail running shoe.

Main features of SALOMON THUNDERCROSS

The latest series in Salomon's trail running shoe lineup, Thundercross is a new trail running shoe that combines hybrid features that can be described as a mash-up of the lightweight, all-rounder Sense Ride 5 and the tough, aggressive Speed ​​Cross 6. The tough body and sole provide stable traction on a variety of terrains, from muddy roads and rocks, while protecting your feet from obstacles such as branches and rocks, and a low-drop (4 mm) midsole with a high-cushion Energy Foam that can be worn safely and comfortably over long distances, providing a natural and comfortable ride. The combination of the supple upper material Sensifit™ and Quicklace™ system provides a great fit that will keep you feeling tiring even when you run on tough routes at an up-tempo. In addition to the review model this time, there are also variations of the GORE-TEX model and the women's model.

Recommended points

• Overall comfortable to wear, including SensiFit™, arch support, and thick padding on the tongue and opening.
• A midsole with a low drop that is close to flat and absorbs shocks throughout the entire forefoot, and is also moderately resilient.
• All Terrain Contagrip® outsole with 5mm chevron lugs that provide grip even on soft road surfaces such as mud.
• TPU protection is spread around the area, making it safe for rocks, branches, and roots
• A rocker geometry sole that supports natural and smooth foot movement

Points that interest me

• Not very breathable and drainable
• The deep, wide-spaced lug pattern provides a decent grip on road and smooth rocks, and is quick to reduce.

Main Specifications and ratings

Detailed reviews tried in real field

Appearance and upper (comfort): The exquisite fit and cushion will fit your feet from the moment you put them on. And also good protection

Before we get into the functional aspects of Thundercloth, I would like to confess that I was devastated by the design and coloring of this shoe. The calm color of the base combines the accent with the fluorescent, unsightly highlights, giving it a playful look, and the design is quite playful, which I personally like. Overall, the elegant colors make it stand out not only outdoors, but it can also be used in everyday life.

The calm base colour and high design of accents make it look both off in the field or in the city.

The upper material is generally similar to the Speedcross 6 The front is made of soft, supple, elastic fabric (photo below). It looks like a fine mesh and has a certain degree of breathability, but it is not very high, and it doesn't feel cool when you run (may be good for autumn and winter). This fabric extends to the top of the instep, covering the gussetless tongue, preventing pebbles and branches from entering from the front.

The front of the upper is a supple stretch mesh up to the top of the instep.

From the toes around the toes to the sides and to the heels, the 360-degrees are covered by a TPU material protective plate, protecting your feet from sharp rocks, branches, and tree roots. On the other hand, these protections are carefully calculated, such as keeping the flexion in the shoes in no way prevents unnatural wrinkles from causing stress, so the strength and weakness is lowered, making it easy to avoid feeling cramped when running (photo below).

The TPU protective film that circles the toes, sides, and heels is safe even outdoors.

The toe box has plenty of room to allow for free movement of your toes without feeling oppressive. Meanwhile, both sides of the midfoot, from the arch to the instep, were held tightly envelopingly by Salomon's SensiFit™ construction, and even when the soft, well-padded tongue and opening pads were combined to close the quick lace, the entire shoe-to-foot contact surface was distributed under uniform pressure, resulting in a fairly good fit.

The familiar Sensifit™ structure gently holds your feet around the arch of your feet, wrapping around the instep.

The familiar Quicklace™ racing system will not loosen your shoelaces while running, and if you tuck them in with the excess parts in your shoelaces garage, you won't have to worry about them getting caught on the branches.

When it comes to Salomon running shoes, the stable Quicklace™ system is the most stable.

the speed cloth 6 , is soft and firm, and is made of the same firm ripstop fabric, TPU overlays, and ample padding, and the heel cup, which is made up of the same firm ripstop fabric as the Speed ​​Cross 6, and plenty of padding, has better hold than I expected, and I didn't feel like it was lacking in stability while running.

The upper fabric at the back is made of lightweight, durable ripstop fabric.

Overall, while still based on an exquisite fit and a mellow feel to the skin, the structure focuses on protection rather than performance-oriented as in Sense Ride 5, providing a sense of security that is safe for hiking or off-road running. The comfort that can be worn all day, from everyday use to trail running or hiking is honestly an addictive level of comfort.

Midsole and outsole (running comfort): Aggressive driving and comfortable ride, both of which offer a balanced feel, and the depth of your body is irresistible

A sharp and luxurious midsole based on Sense Ride 5

If you look at the midsole of the Thundercloth, first, you will notice that it is a relatively rare construction for Salomon, with a heel of 31mm and a forefoot of 27.2mm (4mm drop). This means that not only the heels but also the forefoots are covered in plenty of thick cushions.

The feeling when you actually stand on your feet is a bit surprising, and you will be impressed by the high cushioning of the forefoot, especially compared to usual, and the generous arch support at the arch is sure to be impressed. the ULTRA GLIDE 2 is a high cushioned version of Salomon, has a forefoot height of 26mm, so from this point it can be seen that it has a pretty bold stack height.

The true nature of this generous midsole is a lightweight material made from an EVA-based material called "EnergyFoam™" and olefin [OBC].

The midsole is packed with energy foam with high cushioning and rebound, which has been featured in many Salomon performance shoes in recent years.

This midsole combines soft, high shock absorption and bouncy reactivity, and is almost the same as that used in Sense Ride 5 (photo below), and aims to be effective in any situation, from speedy races to tough long runs.

The new trail running shoes, which are reasonably light and combine a low drop of 4mm with plenty of energy foam, don't require any break-in or break-in, and have a great ride from the first run when you take it out of the box.

First, I found out that the 4mm low drop is the most "natural" shoe that allows for strides of all the Salomon trail running shoes I've worn so far. It has a moderate sense of ground contact, and gives the impression that you can move your feet more quickly and more steadily than a speed cross with a drop of 10mm, and the highly operable on uneven road surfaces is pleasant. Despite being a relatively thick-soled shoe, you do not feel any height or unstable, and yet the cushion is sufficient and durable enough to prevent fatigue from accumulating even when driving off-road for long periods of time.

Above all, this energy foam's "fun cushioning and stable grounding balance" is amazing. I am impressed by the amazing balance of cushioning and energy returns. The moderate resilience of Energy Foam supports lightness in running, and is highly performance that can be considered a race shoe that requires a certain amount of speed.

Thanks to this thick forefoot, Thundercloth absorbs unevenness in the ground even if it does not have the "ProfFeel" lock plate that is installed in the Sense Ride series. You can take the plunge and place your feet on hard rocks or gravel trails. By the way, please note that stability and protection of the soles of the feet are discussed during trail running, and this does not apply to hiking where the luggage is too heavy.

The rocker geometry shape, which has been polished by being used in the Sense Ride series, is also still in good condition, with a slightly curved curve from the heel to the toe, which increases the forward propulsion.

A rocker geometry-shaped sole that rises back and forth like the bottom of the boat, making it easier to move from landing to stepping on.

All Terrain Contagrip® compound and deep lug pattern that allow aggressive driving even on muddy and scuffed terrain

It is immediately clear that the outsole of the Thundercloth is based on the Speedcross in that it is a large chevron stud that can grip even on loose roads. This shows that it is effective on technical terrain such as muddy and gravel steep slopes, but it is not the same as it is, and fine adjustments further enhance the hybrid appeal.

For example, the base is resistant to rough roads, with the use of All Terrain Contagrip® rubber, which provides high durability and stability in all conditions, and fits a wider range of conditions from roads to rough roads, and by increasing the number of points each lug is smaller to increase the number of points, the base is resistant to rough roads, but the impression is that it is less extreme than a speed crossing, making it possible to ride stably and comfortably on more "normal" trails and roads (photo below).

This subtle adjustable sander cloth provided grip that doesn't bother you, whether the road surface is dry, wet, hard or loose. The only thing I needed to be careful about wet, smooth rocks and asphalt.

I tried it on all terrain, from the steep Stupid Ridge of Tanzawa to the rocky Mt. Nasu to loose trails, but the deep, small, rugs often attach to easily even on loose soil or muddy slopes, and even when you go on the road, it doesn't bother you with the strange unevenness.

However, you must be prepared for this compound and shape to be less durable (easy to wear) than a typical outsole.

Summary: My encounter with Thunder Cross made me realize once again that "running in the mountains is fun."

Based on the "Speed ​​Cross", which boasts absolute strength on off-road, this attempt to make it easier to run and gentle on your feet by blending softer and more energetic cushions from the Sense and Glide series. Anyway, I enjoy running trails with Thundercross right now.

It is not particularly flashy, cutting edge features, and is not particularly light at 290g, but I strongly felt that Salomon's new debut series is a shoe that can be recommended for everyone, with a variety of features that allow anyone to experience the fun of trail running.

These shoes can go anywhere regardless of terrain, making them fun to run and comfortable for long periods of time. If you're a Speedcross fan and are looking for something more versatile and foot-friendly, Thundercross is definitely a notable option. If you're looking for shoes that will allow you to challenge uneven terrain with confidence and keep you comfortable and tireless all day long, why not pick up a Thundercloth?

Details and purchase of "SALOMON THUNDERCROSS"

For information on the latest models' arrival information and product details, please check the official online store