Salomon Thundercross Introduction
The Salomon Thundercross is a trail shoe that was made for whatever situation you might find yourself in out on the trail. Its overall design, comfort, and grip are exceptional. I may be biased towards Salomon’s but I haven’t had a pair of their trail shoes I didn’t like and this is the case for these.
It’s made with 5mm lugs that grip all surfaces. I didn’t test them on snowy trails but I would imagine that would perform quite well. They are a maximum cushioned shoe that helps to give smooth support over long distances and varying landscapes.
You’ll pay $140, which is a typical price for a trail shoe and with what it has to offer and its durability, I agree with Salomon’s price point.
They have a 4mm drop which I love in a trail shoe. I personally feel more stable with lower-drop shoes. The forefoot stack height is 27.2mm and the heel stack height is 31mm.
You’ll love how light they feel for how much protection they offer,10.2 oz. (290 g) for a US M9, 9.0 oz. (256 g) for a US W7.5.
They fit true to size and come in various colors that all complement each other.
Salomon Thundercross Impressions
I have been wearing Salomon trail shoes for the past 10 years. They have been my go-to shoes for trail running. I am a die-hard fan.
Obviously, one of the favorite things about Salomon trail shoes is their signature Quicklace system. It’s pure genius.
When you first place your feet into them you will notice right away is, the Energy Foam midsole. Super soft but still gives you a pep to your step. In addition, you’ll notice how perfect the width and upper feel. I could wear my thicker Darn tough socks and not have to worry about my toes feeling smashed in the toe box. Even on longer runs when my feet tend to swell a bit, I had room for my toe to continue to splay and breathe.
My first few runs were on a simple dirt path, where I didn’t get to test them out. Once I got them onto some trails that had mud, pebbles, boulders, uphills, and steep downhills I could see why so many others who have reviewed this shoe enjoy them. My longest run in them was a 10-miler on rough terrain. Not the longest run but I would 100% use them for a longer trail run/race that wasn’t in mud.
The materials used in the upper are synthetic and just aren’t cut out for the super grimey trails but they do work. They are lightweight and fast shoes. If I were running in a trail race tomorrow these would be my choice. I can quickly move my feet through obstacles.
On the downhills, I felt extremely confident keeping my speed up and was able to maneuver over rocky courses.
Another shoe that is from Salomon is the Ultra Glide 2 which will not disappoint. Stepping into them, they feel similar in the midsole. The Ultra Glide’s are a more cushioned shoe I would wear for those marathon/ ultra distances.
The 5 mm multidirectional Contagrip lugs are another area of the shoe that I believe gives it that edge that makes it a winner. They extend to the very edge of the shoe and are spaced out enough that they rarely clog with mud or debris.
I never have a doubt in my mind that they won’t give me proper traction when I’m out on any trail. This outsole is almost identical to the very popular Speedcross 6. When you start looking up the shoe, that’s where you’ll notice the differences between the two shoes.
The Speedcross is firm in the midsole while the Thundercross is soft.
Salomon Thundercross Protection
The protection is good and I have no major riffs but, if I had to pick apart one area I think they lack in would be in the toe bumper. It’s just a little too soft. There is no rock plate. I have stubbed my toe in them on a rock. Not many times but once was enough.
As mentioned, the Salomon Speedcross would be a great choice if you are looking for a more rugged shoe that has a firmer toe bumper and works better for muddy situations.
The doubled-layer upper offers nice protection and is sleek. There are not many areas of the shoe that could snag on a branch or root. The upper is made of a smooth mesh material with rubbery overlays that help to add more protection around the toe box and side of the shoe.
Salomon Thundercross Durability
Durability is a huge concern for most people looking for a new pair of shoes. Especially if most shoes nowadays are at least $100-$200. You want to get your money’s worth.
I have run/hiked well over 70 plus miles and so far there is no visible wear.
This is a shoe that I would wear for an ultra distance and not have to worry about a lack of their durability.
Salomon Thundercross Responsiveness & speed
Out of all my current trail shoes, these would be my choice right now to where for a timed training run or a race. I can easily put these on and have the confidence in knowing I will be able to run my fastest through the woods and know they will be able to get me from start to finish.
Pushing off from different surfaces I didn’t feel any slipping other than when I was in the thick dense mud. In that situation, any shoe would fall short. It’s fall where I live now, so I wasn’t able to test them out in the snow.
I think they would work well in the snow and they do run a little warm so I can’t see why they wouldn’t do well.
Salomon Thundercross Comfort and fit
When it comes to the comfort and fit of the Thundercross, you’ll be happily surprised. I had no issues right out of the box and they didn’t need a break-in period. This can be attributed to the Sensifit constructed upper that gives you a “precise, optimal foothold, and reliable, cushy comfort.” It’s the perfect amount of support where you need it the most.
The Sensifit extends on both sides of the midfoot which includes loops for the trademark Quicklaces. The Quicklace system is very impressive, no matter how many miles you tack on them, they stay secure.
The midsole is exceptionally comfortable due to the large wedge of Energy Foam, producing the stack height I mentioned earlier.
Salomon Thundercross Conclusions
If you are in the market for a shoe that will give you the confidence to take on pretty much any terrain while keeping your feet comfy and cozy? Look no further and get yourself a pair of the Salomon Thubdercross. It’s a balance of feeling sturdy and able to grip anything placed under them. It’s lightweight and is easy to push the pace in them.
It’s not a shoe that offers anything fancy but it is a shoe that is durable and gives you a stable locked-in fit that you can wear for hours on end without discomfort.