Salomon S/Lab Ultra 3 - Women's Review

The Salomon S/Lab Ultra 3 is a unisex shoe that offers a protective and amazingly nimble ride. Our favorite features are its specific fit and super sticky outsole that can carry you through technical terrain without slips. With a measured drop of 8mm and 27mm total stack, the newest iteration provides more cushion than versions past, making it an even better choice for all distances.

Performance Comparison

Foot Protection

This shoe is designed to go the distance, providing excellent protection on long, rocky trails, technical terrain, and steep switchbacks. The Energy Save midsole is superiorly responsive, offering just enough protection through the heel and midfoot. We love the tightly knit upper because it is nearly impervious to heavy sand and other pesky particulates.

The S/Lab Ultra 3 provides minimal water protection but dries out quickly after tromping through rivers and puddles. While it's not considered a high-protection shoe, it is protective without being overbuilt or feeling heavy. We tested this shoe on variable terrain, from wet and muddy to rocky and dry. The underfoot cushioning is responsive with just the right amount of squish. It doesn't come with a rock plate, but the midsole does an impeccable job spreading out the impact from sharp rocks and twigs, so you don't feel sharp impacts. While the forefoot has only 19mm of cushioning, it's ample enough to balance sensitivity with protection, a balancing act that we rarely see hit with such precision.

We tested the S/Lab on the sandy beaches of California to learn that the perfect combination of the upper and tapered heel collar doesn't let sand inside. The synthetic materials dry out nicely in wet and muddy weather, and they don't deform when completely saturated, offering more protection than most traditional trail runners.

Often, after submerging a running shoe in a stream or the ocean, we think, “This shoe is never going to be the same.” In the case of the S/Lab Ultra, this is not a concern as it bounces back to its perfectly broken-in shape in no time, even after being thoroughly hosed off.

Traction

Durable, sticky, and ultimately trustworthy, we would gladly choose the S/Lab Ultra 3 for various trails and conditions. In fact, we recommend it for some of the rockiest conditions. The ContraGrip sole hosts a durable rubber that sticks to tricky surfaces like kitty litter over rocks. We measured the lugs at 3.5mm, offering enough depth to stick to muddy trails.

The geometry and placement ensure that your feet stay solidly placed, even when encountering slippery technical surfaces. When facing deep mud, the S/Lab did slide around a little, which all of the other shoes we tested did too, but it still managed to offer enough lateral stability to keep moving forward. Additionally, the sole of the shoe sheds mud exceptionally well.

Of all the shoes we tested, this is the one we most readily recommend for scrambling or adventurous missions. It rides close to your foot with enough space for your toes to spread, giving the body a biomechanically-sound pattern of muscular engagement while rock scrambling. The traction is hard to beat with sticky rubber and grippy treads that so efficiently shed mud.

Sensitivity

This shoe is quite sensitive, with a precise fit and a medium amount of cushioning. It doesn't have a rock plate, so you can feel the undulations and changes of the trail, but the overall shape doesn't allow for sharp rocks to dig in pointedly. It's not as sensitive as those with less cushioning, but it offers just the right amount of intimacy for its level of protection. If you like to feel the trail underfoot, the S/Lab Ultra 3 offers just that without compromising protection.

We ran over rocky conditions to test relative sensitivity. We could feel the rocks when running, but they never actually impacted our feet. As a result, we felt nimble, light, and free on the trail. Very few shoes can hit the balance point between sensitivity and stability, but the S/Lab does so with ease. If you want something with a lot of cushion, this won't be it. But for fantastic sensitivity with just enough cushion, this might be a great pick.

Stability

This shoe is relatively stable with a low-to-the-ground feel, a regular-width toe box, and a geometry that offers excellent lateral support. We felt confident charging over technical rubble when striking with our heel and forefoot. This stability comes from a specific fit and broader base that evenly distributes impact with each step. We tend to view zero-drop shoes as some of the most stable, but the 8mm drop on the S/Lab feels just as stable because of the overall build and weight distribution.

We tested the S/Lab Ultra 3 over rocky and technical terrain. With every step on uneven, immovable obstacles, we noticed the midsole wrapping itself around objects and distributing force evenly. The lateral stability is helped by the well-thought-out TPU skeleton that anchors at the lacing system to provide stability across the top of the foot. This shoe is unlike those advertised for stability. It doesn't incorporate shanks and isn't sunk down with a rigid or heavily cushioned sole. Instead, it is light and flexible, with a wide base that provides a flatter ride. It allows space and flexibility for the muscles in your feet and toes to fire at their maximal capacities, allowing your body to create even more stability on its own.

Comfort and Fit

The S/Lab Ultra 3 is comfortable but still has a specific fit. The shoe is neutral-fitting with a regular-width toe box that breaks in with use. It is worth noting that our two main testers have completely differently shaped and sized feet, yet they unanimously agree on the comfort and fit of this shoe. The upper is incredibly light and breathable, making it an excellent choice for warm weather. Overall, we love the precise fit of this shoe, even when running downhill. We experienced no extraneous movement, even on technical terrain.

On long runs, especially in the mountains, a specific fit with a bit of extra room for foot swell or thick socks is unparalleled in importance. This shoe is a nice choice for those that like a little extra wiggle room in length and just enough width to spread the toes. It doesn't offer additional arch support, but the extra height on the heel provides a little extra cushion for longer runs. Its heel-to-toe drop sits at 8mm, offering nice cushioning for the heel or forefoot striker. It's also a good choice for those that have both narrow and wider feet, as it molds to fit your unique anatomy.

When putting the Ultra 3 on, one of the biggest annoyances is its tighter collar and near useless “pocket” for the laces. While the single pull laces are easy to use, you can't re-lace them to get a better fit. This ultimately means a bit of extra time fiddling around with them before getting moving on your run. The single pull also gets gummed up with dust and dirt and isn't as smooth over time. Instead of using the pocket, we tucked the excess cordage under the lacing lattice, which worked well for getting the shoes on quickly. In the future, we'd love to see this Salomon hallmark feature be omitted or improved, as we don't think the design is very user-friendly.

Weight

In the world of trail runners, this shoe is, comparatively, mid-weight. However, many trail runners these days are slimming down on heavy or clunky components, setting the norm to be a lightweight ride. The S/Lab Ultra 3 sits right at the 'normal' mark, weighing a modest 8.05 ounces per shoe for a size 6.5 US.

Underfoot, the weight is distributed evenly. There is no abnormally heavy sole, and the upper is super light — the shoe feels just like an extension of your body, thanks in part to the sock-like fit of the heel collar. It embodies the sensation of “fitting like a glove” and is a good choice for training, races, or long-distance missions into the backcountry.

Should You Buy the Salomon S/Lab Ultra 3?

The S/Lab Ultra 3 is one of our main testers' favorite shoes. Unlike most Salomon brand options, it offers a wider relative fit, a comfortable and stable ride, and an outsole that seemingly sticks to everything. It also has a more versatile profile, meaning it can be worn on fire roads and technical trails alike, though we recommend it predominately for the latter. This product offers a great balance across our metrics — if the fit works, we do not hesitate to recommend this shoe to anyone looking for a reliable trail runner.

What Other Trail Running Shoes Should You Consider?

There's no denying that the price tag on this shoe, and many others, will take a dent out of your wallet. The durability is middle of the road as well. We've seen these shoes last upwards of 600 miles (with friends that use them year after year), but we've also seen the uppers get slashed after encountering a sharp rock. However, if you can swallow the price and are looking for a shoe that earns high marks for performance across the board, you will likely see the value. If budget is your main restriction, the Salomon Speedcross 6 is a good alternative that provides epic traction and a beefier shoe overall. While still in the mid-range in terms of price, it is significantly less expensive than the S/Lab and may be more accessible for some. The Brooks Divide 4 is one of the most affordable shoes we tested, but keep in mind you will lose some significant performance features with this price cut.