Salomon Speedcross 6 - Women's Review

With a more comfortable, redesigned upper, the improved Salomon Speedcross 6 is a shoe we love for mountain running. It has grippy lugs that extend up to the toe cap and a heel cup that is plush and narrow. Featuring a one-pull lacing system and a measured drop of 13mm, the Speedcross 6 is the most rugged shoe in our roundup.

Performance Comparison

Foot Protection

The Speedcross 6 has a firm toe bumper, one of the more notable protective features we look for in a trail running shoe. The bumper even has a few sticky lugs on the underside, which adds extra protection and helps give this shoe its rugged appearance.

The Speedcross 6 is advertised as a 10mm drop shoe, however, when we measured this aspect, we got 13mm. When assessing the protective prowess of a trail running shoe, we often consider how plush the midsole is since this is a major line of defense when it comes to protecting the soles of your feet. The heel of this shoe sits at 34mm, which is quite high, with the toe measuring in at 21mm, significantly lower. It is worth noting that Salomon claims the stack heigh is 32mm in the heel and 22mm at the toe. These measurements aren't standardized, which explains why our in-house findings differ.

If you are a heel striker, you will love the plush heel of the Speedcross. If you are a midfoot striker, you will likely notice that the more flexible design provides far less protection from sharp rocks than many cushier trail runners. Much like its predecessor, this version of the Speedcross has a welded overlay bumper that runs the width of the shoe. We love this for the protection it provides, not just from wet terrain but also from rogue sticks, thorns, and anything else you might encounter at ground level on the trail.

Because of how tight the upper weaving is, we never had any trouble with sand getting in through the exterior of this shoe. The synthetic material is designed to keep sand and particulate matter out, and its performance shows this. When we purposefully tried to kick sand up into the heel of the shoe, we succeeded — but only barely. Because the heel cup is snug and well-padded, there isn't a ton of space for sand to infiltrate in that location.

The Speedcross 6 does a great job of deflecting the elements when needed, but it certainly isn't waterproof. This trail running shoe is a showstopper for wet, sloppy weather, so as you can imagine, our feet got wet while we tested. If a muddy run with some raindrops is in your future, you can count on the Speedcross to keep you upright and dry. Though expected because of its textile, we were pretty stoked about how quickly the upper nylon mesh dried after getting saturated.

Traction

The Speedcross 6 shines when it comes to traction, which is obvious at first glance. The aggressive lugs make the shoe look like a baby crampon, and while we won't be climbing any icy faces in these shoes any time soon, the traction they provide is next level.

The ContraGrip rubber and bi-directional lug pattern make for a shoe that bites into the trail, even when the trail feels soft underfoot. The lugs are pretty widely spaced, which seems to provide a better grip than some shoes that feature a more crowded lug pattern. The main downfall in this arena is that the lugs on the Speedcross wear down pretty quickly when running on paved surfaces. We would never recommend this trail shoe as a crossover shoe anyway, but it is a bummer to see a rugged running shoe losing steam after running a few miles to the trailhead through the neighborhood.

Sensitivity

Much like prior versions, the Speedcross 6 is somewhat of an anomaly. It provides a tall heel stack that dampens the sensation of whatever is underfoot, but since it has a 13mm drop, the forefoot side of the shoe is surprisingly sensitive. The Speedcross offers plenty of sensitivity and magically combines this with comfort and protection. When it comes to trail shoes, this is not the most likely combination since so many focus on one element or the other.

The Speedcross won't be the shoe you reach for if you want to get super intimate with the trail beneath your feet. But if you want a shoe that provides enough information to keep your body adjusting on a dime, this is an excellent shoe. The Speedcross didn't earn the highest sensitivity marks due to its well-cushioned heel, but if you like an ultra well-tractioned shoe with some sensitivity, you have met your match.

Stability

With recent updates, the Speedcross has become noticeably more stable. The forefoot is a bit more spacious, with a slightly larger landing platform. The heel cup cradles the ankle in such a way as to keep it from slipping or sliding around, even if that is what you are doing across a snowfield.

The stability of the Speedcross 6 is good, but not great. It is better than it used to be, but we hesitate to recommend this trail runner to anyone with a history of ankle-rolling injuries. The 13mm drop makes it less stable than a shoe with a lower heel-to-toe differential and a slightly wider base of support. The side walls are high and inflexible, which helps aid in this stability. We definitely noticed a difference running in these shoes when compared to some of our more-stable choices, but we also found that the benefits of the Speedcross far outweighed its average stability. But take that statement with a grain of salt since we never once rolled an ankle while testing this shoe.

Comfort and Fit

The Speedcross 6 didn't earn the highest marks for this category because it is not for everyone. Runners whose feet fit comfortably in this shoe will adore its snug sensation, but the fit is certainly not universal.

Even more so than on previous versions, the Speedcross 6 feels narrow and has a narrow midfoot. Our main tester has average width feet and found it fantastic amid sloppy terrain. We hesitate to recommend the Speedcross to runners who have wide feet or who just prefer a bit more space to let their feet squirm. Despite its narrower-than-average midfoot, the toe box provides adequate space for toes to splay, flex, and adjust while running.

The plush tongue and heel collar are wonderfully comfortable. We love that Salomon kept some cushion and didn't strip down these comfortable and protective elements in this version. The Speedcross features a Quicklace, one-pull lace system, which has historically been a style we criticize. To be clear, we still don't love it, but the well-cushioned tongue prevents the thin laces from digging into the top of your foot. The lace pocket has been redesigned, but it still is not particularly functional. The back of the padded heel collar rises a bit high on the Achilles and might not suit the anatomies of all runners' ankles, but we love how the collar dips down to accommodate protruding ankle bones.

Our main gripe with the Speedcross 6 is that it doesn't breathe. This is not surprising considering how well the upper deflects sand and fine particles. We never had any serious troubles with our feet heating up, but we also did most of our testing in the early mornings and late evenings in coastal California. This will be our go-to winter trail running shoe because of its capabilities, but we will have to pause before recommending the Speedcross to runners who reside in steamier climates.

Weight

The Speedcross 6 weighs in slightly better than the average trail shoe, but not by much. Each women's size 6.5 shoe is 8.54 ounces, which is about what we would expect from a trail running shoe.

The kicker with the Speedcross is that it is so well-featured that, of course, it weighs more. Just looking at the lugs and ankle padding gives you an idea about why this shoe weighs more. That said, the weight is well-distributed, which makes it feel lighter while running. If you want an ultra-light shoe, this might not be it. But if you want a shoe that can handle the grittiest of trail adventures, make peace with the extra ounce and utilize all that the Speedcross has to offer.

Should You Buy the Salomon Speedcross 6?

The Speedcross 6 is a reliable steed that shows up to work. It is a fantastic shoe if your runs are littered with scree, snow, puddles, and steep, unending climbs. If you are a new trail runner seeking a shoe to suit your needs, this one might be too much. And if your runs occasionally take you down warm, paved paths, we recommend steering clear of the Speedcross. But if dirty mountainous terrain are your jam, this is a shoe to seriously consider.

What Other Trail Running Shoes Should You Consider?