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    Salomon XT Wings Trail Running Shoes Review

    31
    By Jason Mitchell on November 10, 2008 Gear Reviews, Outdoors, Trail Running

    Trail running becomes an addiction to me during the shoulder seasons–Spring and Fall. During the summer, all I can think about is mountain biking. While in singletrack riding mode, the only reasonable use of a trail is on two wheels, not two feet. But, once Fall hits, I’m pre-programmed to switch gears and take things a little slower.

    Not only does it slow things down in preparation for skiing, it also burns every last bit of extra fat I’ve failed to drop during the summer months. That way I can at least go into winter at my svelte fighting weight in preparation for the inevitable onslaught of winter poundage. Recently, I’ve been flogging the Salomon XT Wings trail running shoe in what may be the last shoe review of the season. If so, these shoes deliver a pretty worthy sendoff.

    About the Salomon XT Wings Trail Runners

    Per Salomon, the XT Wings are described as having the “perfectly balanced combination between cushioning and agility”. This is achieved by building the shoe with two integral parts: Agile Chassis (AC) Skeleton and Muscle. Construction is such that this shoe is built with both asphalt and trail in mind–something that’s not always the case with trail runners.

    The AC Skeleton is built of structural plastic composite that’s been molded specifically for light weight and stability by controlling fore/aft and side/side movements. This 3/4-length chassis system is built to provide a wide platform for the AC Muscle and outsole. On top of that, it complements the pronation control system to provide excellent support for flat-footers.

    The AC Muscle is built to maximize comfort and responsiveness with twice the durability of the average EVA foam.

    Capping the solid construction of the XT Wings is the asymmetrical Quicklace system, stylish uppers with a good mix of water-resistant and breathable materials and a Contragrip outsole.

    More details of the Salomon XT Wings:

    • Quicklace system for one-pull fit
    • Stability, cushioning and responsiveness provided by AC Skeleton and AC Muscle system
    • Mixture of synthetic and nylon mesh uppers with toe-cap construction
    • Contragrip outsole
    • Weight: 13 oz. (Men’s 9)
    • MSRP: $120

    Salomon XT Wings Trail Running Shoes Review

    As I’m writing this, Alta Ski Resort is reporting 40-inches of new snow from the latest storm that dropped 4-inches on my lawn. Well, what a great pair of shoes with which to end the Fall running season… lots of positives to bring up, so lets get on with it.

    Lets talk about my feet. I’ve got very flat feet, so the AC Skeleton and built-in pronation support is welcome for my feet. Not only is the shoe built with extra stability, but it also has excellent cushioning via the AC Muscle system. In fact, these are by far the most comfortable trail shoes I’ve worn. With many trail shoes, the overbuilt outsole tends to reduce the overall comfort and on-road feel… not so with these.

    The built-in Ortholite footbeds offer some of the most comfort and support out-of-the-box of any insoles on the market today. I typically will automatically swap out the insoles for a SOLE footbed, but I kept the Ortholites in while walking around town without problems. On the trail, I swapped them out for a pair of SOLE Dean Karnazes orthotics and found them to just add to the already glove-like fit.

    On the trail, these shoes fly while providing a stellar amount of cushioning and stability. You can really feel the shoes staying put with very little lateral motion. The only downside of the AC Muscle is that the forefoot cushioning and relatively-thin Contragrip outsole combine to allow for a little more trail feel than other shoes in this category. A couple of times, sharp rocks were very apparent on the trail.

    I also found the outsole to be slightly lacking in uphill traction on dry and loose terrain. Some of the other shoes tested this Fall were better. On downhill sections, however, everything felt just dandy.

    A huge bonus with the XT Wings is the stellar on-road performance. As I’ve found, not all trail runners can be comfortable both on and off-road, but the XT Wings are just that. I loved the cushioning provided overall and wouldn’t hesitate pounding the pavement with them.

    NOTE: I’m 5’11 and 170 lbs. with pancake-flat, normal-width feet.

    Good XT Wings

    • Very comfortable
    • Excellent cushioning
    • Stable feel–especially for flat-footers like me
    • Torsional rigidity (AC Skeleton)
    • Breathes very well
    • Lightweight feel
    • Lacing system is easy to use
    • Capable on-road performer

    Bad XT Wings

    • Forefoot protection isn’t the best… sharp rocks can be too close for comfort
    • Uphill traction leaves something to be desired

    The Bottom Line on the Salomon XT Wings

    It’s been a few years since I’ve run extensively in a pair of Salomon trail shoes. What a better way to get back into a pair than with the XT Wings. The AC Chassis and Muscle system offers excellent support and cushioning for both on and off-road conditions. In fact, I’d say these are some of the most supportive and comfortable trail shoes on the market. I’ve heard of folks using these for marathons and loving them. The XT Wings are as versatile and comfortable as they come as a do-it-all trail shoe.

    Buy Now: Find Salomon XT Wings at REI

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    Jason Mitchell
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    A native of the Pacific Northwest, Jason quickly developed a love for the outdoors and a thing for mountains. That infatuation continues as he founded this site in 1999 -- sharing his love of road biking, mountain biking, trail running and skiing. That passion is channeled into every article or gear review he writes. Utah's Wasatch Mountains are his playground.

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    31 Comments

    1. Dirk on January 6, 2009 11:33 pm

      Thanks for the info.
      I saw these shoes yesterday discounted, so I quickly Googled for a review. And after reading yours, I’m convinced and by a pair this evening after work.
      Dirk

      Reply
    2. Jason Mitchell on January 7, 2009 12:37 pm

      Great! You’ll enjoy them for sure. Aside from the minor traction issues, they fit extremely well and will be very comfortable overall.

      Reply
    3. Carlos on February 11, 2009 2:16 pm

      Would you say I could use this shoes for road running only? I run triathlons and I need a shoe with great stability and comfort/support.
      Cheers!

      Reply
      • Jason Mitchell on February 11, 2009 2:26 pm

        Hey Carlos… I think you could definitely use these for Tri’s. I recall reading a review by someone who used them for marathons for that reason (stability and cushion). I think you’d be good.

        Reply
    4. Mike on May 21, 2009 8:55 am

      Jason,
      How is the sizing. I normally wear Asics and wear a mens 10.5. I have read some reviews saying Salomons run small and others that say they run big. Most of these i’ll attribute to people not knowing their true shoe size, but it does make me wonder. Thanks.
      Mike

      Reply
    5. Jason Mitchell on May 21, 2009 10:05 am

      I felt the size 10 was perfectly-sized. I’m a 10 in most shoes, but sometimes have to bump up to 10.5. The Solly’s are great with thin socks. If you like to wear midweight socks, you could go up one size.

      XT’s are a great shoe… still one of the best trail shoes on the market.

      Reply
    6. Mike on May 23, 2009 9:02 am

      Thanks for the quick response, I just got some of the XTs ($45 finshline.com). They’re a little heavier, but the added protection is well worth the extra weight. In your opinion, what are the top 5 trail runner shoes on the market right now, regardless of price?

      Mike

      Reply
    7. Jason Mitchell on May 23, 2009 9:10 am

      Shoes are a hard one to pick because the fit is so personal, but here are my personal favorites from over the last year or so:

      Salomon XT Wings
      Oboz Burn (amazing traction)
      La Sportiva Wildcat
      Vasque Blur SL

      Reply
    8. a strange on July 14, 2009 2:15 pm

      great shoes I run these in the summer and the gore-tex in the winter when I lived in Colorado. I’m in the Army so I ran 3-5 times a week plus hiking and biking on weekends. I moved to Louisiana and still run in them of course no need for gore-tex anymore but they still perform with the best results of any shoes I have owed including Adidas, nike, asics and New Balance. Only complaint I have is I have completely worn them out and have to buy more, but they lasted me about 8 months and probly over 100 miles of abuse

      Reply
    9. Eric on October 17, 2009 1:22 pm

      It looks like the newest version of this model just came out but I have a question: how good would this shoe be for a suppinator like me? You mention that it has great protection for people with “flat feet” but doesn’t that mean that it’s a poor fit for people with “high arches”? It’s a shame if this is so because everything else about it sounds just great–especially for the upcoming late fall and winter.

      Reply
    10. Jason Mitchell on October 17, 2009 8:27 pm

      Support-wise, I think you’d be fine as the AC Skeleton will do for supinators what it does for pronators. However, since I overpronate, I can’t really speak to how they do for those with extremely high arches.

      The only concern I might have would be exactly where the laces hit on the top of your foot. The pressure might be in odd places, but other than that, I can’t see why they wouldn’t be good for your foot type also.

      Reply
    11. Pingback: Salomon XA Pro 3D ULTRA Trail Running Shoes Review - FeedTheHabit.com

    12. JUNE on December 13, 2009 3:47 pm

      HI MUM OF FOUR BOYS EVERY DAY IS A MARATHON SALOMON XTRAILS A MUST

      Reply
    13. António on February 25, 2010 4:15 am

      I bought a pair of those shoes. I´ve got to say that they are the best pair of on/off road running shoes i´ve ever owned. Great stability, fenomenal grip and awesome confort! If only they were lighter!

      Reply
    14. Steve on April 28, 2010 5:10 am

      Hi

      Are they for neutral runners?

      Thanks.

      Reply
      • Jason Mitchell on April 28, 2010 12:15 pm

        I would say they should be superb. They are not built up for pronators, per se. I’d say they should be solid for you.

        Reply
    15. Steve on April 29, 2010 5:14 am

      Thanks Jason!

      Reply
    16. Anonymous on May 3, 2010 5:53 pm

      Would you say these were suitable for ultralight backpacking?

      Reply
    17. Jason Mitchell on May 3, 2010 10:02 pm

      As far as their ability to perform well for ultralight backpacking, I’m not so sure. I suppose it all depends on what you mean by ultralight backpacking, really. They could work, but what are you looking for exactly in an ultralight backpacking shoe?

      Reply
    18. arman on May 7, 2010 12:39 am

      Hi
      i cant decide between these and the new Wings 2 version. i heard that the new version has more flexibility (without sacrificing durability) but it doesn’t have GORE-TEX technology that i want. what are other improvements in the new version? finally, which one i should buy? thank you

      Reply
    19. Jason Mitchell on May 7, 2010 7:22 am

      Arman… hard to say, my friend. I have yet to try the Wings 2 version, so I really can’t tell you. However, I really dig these and would guess Salomon wouldn’t do much to muck with a good thing.

      Gore-Tex is great if you do run in gloopy sloppy conditions, but unnecessary for most uses.

      Reply
    20. arman on May 7, 2010 12:26 pm

      thank you Jason!

      Reply
    21. Muratbek on May 8, 2010 8:30 am

      Hi!
      Can i also use these shoes for my work and just everyday walking in the city? Or should they(and any trail running shoes) be used for trail running only? thanks

      Reply
    22. Jason Mitchell on May 8, 2010 7:43 pm

      Muratbek

      You can definitely use these for around-town duty if you want. The low-profile treads won’t feel clunky in any way and the all-day comfort will be just fine. Go ahead!

      Reply
    23. Joshua on July 8, 2010 9:46 am

      Grabbed a pair on sale at DSW for ~$77.00. Can’t wait to hit the trails.

      Reply
    24. Lem on August 6, 2010 7:35 am

      I’m flat footer as well (my road shoes are the Asics Evolution motion control). I can’t decide between the XT wings and the XA Pro Ultra. I stay on trail, only. My longest distances are 13+ miles. I’m curious which one you would recommend. I was previously running on Salomon’s Speedcross 2 which had great traction and some pronation control, but I wanted to try a more stable shoe to see if it would help with longer distances.

      Reply
    25. Jason Mitchell on August 9, 2010 12:01 am

      Lem

      I’m now testing the XT Wings 2 trail runners and I like them much the same as the originals. However, in the time since I tested these, many great trail shoes have come online that I like a lot. I’ve had great luck with my Somnio Pacemaker road shoes, but their trail program needs a little work before I can recommend them.

      The XA Pro is much more efficient than the XT2’s, but may not provide quite as much cushioning. Some alternatives include: The North Face Single Track and La Sportiva Crosslite.

      I run with Sole footbeds and rely on them for my foot support instead of getting a motion control-type shoe. Good luck in your search!!!

      Reply
    26. Pingback: Salomon XT Wings 2 Trail Running Shoes Review - FeedTheHabit.com

    27. Jennifer Hewitt on January 7, 2011 7:50 am

      LACE WARNING: These are great shoes, but please remember to use the lace pocket in the tongue to tuck in excess lace (pics above do not reflect this!). I learned the hard way–the sole of my right foot caught the lace of my left foot. I fell knee first and dislocated and broke my hip (July 2009). I had major emergency surgery to repair the hip. One year later, I developed Avascular Necrosis as a result of the trauma injury, and was forced to have a total hip replacement four weeks ago. I can’t run anymore. All of this because I was not aware of the lace pocket until after I broke my hip. My shoes arrived with no instructions or indication of a lace pocket; it’s something that one has to figure out on their own.

      Reply
      • Jason Mitchell on January 11, 2011 1:49 pm

        Jennifer… so sorry to hear about your experience. WOW… very sorry. I’m surprised that the instructions don’t mention the lace garage at all. I found it naturally as I was wondering “now what do I do with the floppy laces?” Here’s to a speedy recovery and proper lace garage use everyone! Thanks for the warning.

        Reply
        • Jenn on January 13, 2011 12:31 pm

          Thanks Jason. I wish I had been as curious about where to put the excess laces. I certainly felt like there was a lot of extra lace, but it didn’t occur to me to look for a pocket! This is a very popular shoe where I live, and I have never seen anybody with the laces tucked in. I can assure you, I’m spreading the word.

          Reply

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