Review: SALOMON XA AMPHIB & CROSSAMPHIBIAN SWIFT These may be the shoes that outdoor enthusiasts would have liked to wear in the summer.

For run, swim, relax

Sandals are very useful in the summer. It's light and easy to put on and take off while bare feet, and dries quickly even when wet. Recently, the sole has become even more robust and highly grip, making it a commonplace outdoor model that doesn't get tired even when walking for long periods of time.

These sandals are great for any active summer scene, such as not only swimming in the beach, swimming in the pool, but also as relaxing shoes for mountain climbing, camping, or BBQ, carrying them on trips, or wearing them in everyday life.However, the new Salomon shoes we're introducing today are, roughly speaking, unique shoes that "we have evolved sandals into the Salomon style."

These running shoes were originally made for a new type of adventure race called "swim run," but after learning about the characteristics of the shoes, I realized that they are easy to wear, run, or swim , and are easy to use in the light outdoors of the summer.

the XA AMPHIB , the standard model among Salomon's sandals and water shoe lineup , and explore the appeal of the two pairs, which have unprecedented features.

General features

XA AMPHIB the S/LAB XA AMPHIB, which was developed and released last year, taking into consideration the performance of the new Swim Run, a sport that aims to reach the goal by repeating trail runs and open water swims in pairs. The lightweight, flexible upper does not interfere with any movement, and provides excellent breathability and excellent quick drying even when wet due to water drainage. You can always stay comfortable and light with activities that travel between underwater and on land. It fits not only for competitions such as trail running by the water and aquathlon, but also for all midsummer activities, such as kayaking, rafting, SUP, camping on the riverbank, and swimming. The lightest model in the same lineup, the CROSSAMPHIBIAN SWIFT packs even more compactly, making it an extremely convenient pair of shoes that are useful not only for outdoor activities in the summer but also for travel.

Recommended points

1. Lightweight and flexible body
2. Upper and insole for comfortable wear while barefoot
3. Excellent drainage system breathable and quick-drying
4. Outsole that allows you to enjoy the feeling of the soles of your feet
5. The ease of use of CROSSAMPHIBIAN SWIFT

Points that interest me

1. Grip power on mud and mossy trails
2. A slightly tight last and shallow heel cup

Main Specifications and OGZ Original Review

Detailed review

Lightweight and flexible body

The official weight is 244g (258g measured at 27cm), which is one of the lightest among the trail running shoes, and when held, it feels clearly "light". What's more distinctive is that it has a fairly thick sole but is also quite flexible. When folded it becomes extremely compact (photo below).

Therefore, of course, these are not high-rebound speed shoes with a stiff shank, but they do not feel uncomfortable when wearing shoes and provide a natural feel, allowing you to wear them in a more barefoot way, like barefoot shoes.

Upper and insole for comfortable wear while barefoot

In addition to this softness, it also includes many highly reliable fit technologies, making it extremely comfortable and fit when worn barefoot. To be honest, I thought it would be better to wear these shoes to relax in the usual way, rather than just for running.

The tongue that wraps around the arch of the foot fits barefoot. It minimizes shaking.

The familiar quick lace is more effective in water, as it makes shoelaces easier to unravel.

Excellent drainage system breathable and quick-drying

The upper material is made of TPU material mesh, which utilizes the technology developed when the tennis manufacturer Wilson jointly developed tennis shoes. While maintaining high mobility and stability, it is lightweight, flexible and highly durable, achieving both water drainage and driving stability.

The visible rough mesh-like holes allow water to fully escape.

And this is the biggest feature of this shoe. The upper, which combines a fine, resin-like surface with draining holes and mesh, allows for excellent ventilation and drainage, and has almost no water retention, so it dries quickly when you go up to land.

Of course, with regular sandals, it doesn't matter if they drain water. However, the sense of security that provides solid protection for the entire upper and the mobility that allows you to run normally are benefits that have not been found in sandals or even in previous water shoes.

While maintaining durability, it has moderate ventilation and drain holes, making the feet comfortable at all times.

We'll actually try dipping the two models from the regular trail running shoes and the current one in water and comparing the weights behind and behind (photo below). The upper shelf is before soaked in water, and the lower shelf is soaked, but the water retention rate is the lowest in the middle , about 1/2 of the SENSE RIDE compared to the comparison This shows how the shoes are shoes that do not absorb water (= highly hydrophobic).

Outsole that allows you to enjoy the feeling of the soles of your feet

The sole is not thick or thin, with a heel of 19mm and a forefoot of 13mm. Combined with the flexibility of the entire sole, you can easily feel the unevenness of the ground directly, giving it a comfortable feeling like barefoot. It's simple to wear and feels great for camping or everyday life. The drop is around 6mm, so while there is a certain amount of heel cushioning, it can be used for natural forefoot running.

The ease of use of CROSSAMPHIBIAN SWIFT

The CROSSAMPHIBIAN SWIFT the younger brother of XA AMPHIB , is an entry model with the same sole, but the upper structure is lighter and the price is lower. If you don't really think about driving, this might be better for ease of use.

The body is closer to water shoes than sandals, and is even lighter, and you can wear it generously by squeezing your heels as shown in the photo below, making it extremely convenient. It can be packed in an incredibly compact way, so you can easily pack it into your bag as a sub-shoe for outdoor use, as well as for travel.

Points that interest me

Grip power on mud and mossy trails

Grip in the water was fine, but when I seriously want to ride the trail I want grip performance that is safe even on tougher terrain (wet). 's about wearing the S/LAB XA AMPHIB, a high-end model in the same lineup and using Premium Wet Traction Contagrip®, which boasts the highest grip

The outsole is a bit slippery in forests mixed with wet rocks and tree roots, and I'd love to see a step away from a full-scale trail run.

A slightly tight last and shallow heel cup

Because the shoes are designed with swim in mind, the entire shoe has a tight fit so that it is difficult to remove underwater, and the heel cups are made to be slightly shallow to make it easier to swim. This may feel strange for some people. However, even if the heel cup is shallow, it is not easy to remove due to the tightening of the instep, but I get the impression that it is not relatively high in terms of stability when running (compared to trail running shoes). However, of course, it is extremely easy to run when you think of it as a sandal, so this may differ from the impression of a runner who has run in a variety of sandals.

Compared to the XA AMPHIB (left), the regular trail running shoe, SENSE RIDE (right), has better heel cushioning and support.

Summary: Recommended for people like this

The XA AMPHIB and CROSSAMPHIBIAN SWIFT combine the mobility and stability of running shoes, the edge performance and ease of sandals , and are versatile shoes that are too much of a waste to use for just a niche activity called swim run. Although its serious performance as a running shoe is modest, it also has a reasonable price, making it ready for any summer scene, from swims and runs to water sports, camping and everyday use.

I really want to stay barefoot in the summer, but I want the style, comfort and security of my shoes, not sandals. There are surprisingly many summer scenes like this. It's true that outdoor sandals these days are good, but there's no denying that they're priced at a reasonable price. Not only are you looking to try water sports as you go into the summer, but also for those looking for useful sandals, why not include it as an option?

For product details and inquiries, please also check the SALOMON official website

XA AMPHIB

SALOMON

12,960 yen

258g (27cm)

CROSSAMPHIBIAN SWIFT

SALOMON

9,720 yen

202g (27cm)