By The RW Takeaway: Thanks to a toothy sole and water-resistant upper, the Wildcross tames trails that are a mess after the winter’s snow melts.
- A thin layer of cushioning meshes well with soft, slippery surfaces.
- An irregular tread pattern improves grip no matter which direction your foot is moving.
- Burly protection around the upper is appreciated, but makes dialing in the fit a little tricky.
Price: $130
Weight: 10.2 oz. (M), 8.9 oz. (W)
Drop: 8mm
Type: Trail
This speedy, adventurous sibling to the classic Speedcross begs you to take a hard turn onto messy, technical terrain. Like that other shoe, the Wildcross has only a thin layer of cushioning underfoot. In fact, runners who typically reach for more minimal shoes such as Inov-8 liked the ground feel this one delivers. The lack of cushioning isn’t really a problem, because you’ll lace up this shoe to conquer loose ground—mud, scree—and soft surfaces that shift as you land, naturally padding your footfalls. That said, it’s still a burly shoe with lots of protection.
Pros
- Excellent traction on slippery trails
- Protective upper fends off rocks and sticks
Cons
- Not much cushioning
- Tricky lacing system
Firm but Protective
Like the Speedcross, you won’t feel much cushioning underfoot, but that’s no problem on soft ground and loose terrain, where you don’t need a ton of cushion. But, you do need protection, which the Wildcross delivers in a big way. The outsole gets a full-length layer of rubber that doesn’t entirely prevent rocks from poking you occasionally, but keeps debris from actually penetrating the shoe.
Up top, a thicker upper around the heel and generous overlays add more defense against rocks and sticks that may bounce up. A mesh layer that wraps under the laces boosts debris prevention by closing up the throat, which often lets in dirt or water, and the upper material is water-repellent for trudging through wet areas like tall grass.
Shoes Similar to the Salomon Wildcross
This muck-loving shoe has extra-long lugs to grip muddy trails.
Mimics barefoot running on the trails, with removable stone-guard insoles.
A super comfy crowd-pleaser that’s well suited to runs over wet and muddy terrain.
Firm cushioning atop a graphene outsole make the Trailroc protective, yet agile, for rocky technical trails.
The responsive Torrent won over longtime Speedgoat fans with its lightness and soft midsole.
Testers appreciated all that protection on our notoriously rugged local trails, but noted it complicate the lacing system, making it more difficult to quickly get the right fit. The lace pocket on the Wildcross follows the top-loading entry of the S/Lab Ultra and Ultra Pro. “I am a perpetual shoelace tension seeker,” said one tester, “I was unable to get that quick, one-pull tighten that I can achieve in the Speedcross. It took a little longer, albeit not long, to achieve the right tightness during the run.” Once they were able to dial in the fit, however, testers found that the shoe felt very secure.
Great Grip
The aggressive lugs on the Wildcross are arranged in a unique tread pattern, which is a bit more irregular than many trail shoes. The goal behind this design is to give the shoe a chance to bite the ground from any angle, something we’ve all wished for when we hit a slick patch of mud. Salomon also placed lugs through the entire outsole, unlike other shoes that leave a gap under the arch, so traction is confident throughout your stride. Testers loved the grip in mud and loose gravel, and the aggressive 6mm lugs are also spaced far enough apart that they won’t trap rocks. One tester found the lugs to be more durable than on the Speedcross 5. “That shoe’s lugs showed wear and breakdown around the outside heel but, so far, it has not been an issue on the Wildcross,” she said after the month-long trail test.
Rejoice In a Roomy Toe Box
If you’ve worn Salomon shoes, you know the fit is on the narrow side. But the Wildcross is more forgiving. Even while the mesh wings securely lock down your foot, the shoe feels wider in the front, which our testers loved. That fit provides a more stable platform when running on uneven terrain. One tester especially liked the ground feedback through each step, “It has a great ground feel where you can feel your big toe pushing off and you can also feel your pinkie toe stabilizing your foot.”
