Trail runners for Australian conditions

[oyster_07]

I have been using Salomon's XA Pro 3D Ultra for a few years and am looking at other options for walking. Id like something with less flaring and something lighter.

My daily mileage is typically 30km or more, and I am looking at a south-to-north AAWT later in the year.

I would appreciate your thoughts on the overall suitability, the breathability, and the drainage of:
* Salomon S-Lab Wings (soft & hard ground)
* Salomon XT6
* La Sportiva Helios

[Mark F]

I have been using Salomon Synapse, the low cut and non goretex model with good results - French Alps and Pyrenees, South Coast Track, WoJ, OLT, Kosciuszko etc. A bit lighter than the XA's but not an open mesh type shoe which I find let in lots of sand and grit to the detriment of my feet.

For me they are like a comfy pair of slippers, I don't now carry camp shoes, plus they breathe and drain well.

[slparker]

I wear salomon xt and salomon synapse for most of my walking these days. I've used the XT wings for running and walking since around 2008 and the XA pro for around hte same time so i have several points of comparison

XT Wings
There are various iterations of this shoe, I've always had the xt wings which are a robust trail runner. There is also a 's-lab softground' which is a lighter racing shoe with deeper lugs, but the s-lab are more flimsy looking.
The XT wings is my favourite walking shoe. The fit is slightly narrower and lower volume than the xa pro for the equivalent size and they also lighter. The stability and the anti pronation features, are fantastic and that, coupled with the rand and wide flat heel make for fantastically surefooted step in all sorts of rough slopey terrain. I find that my foot slips less in these shoes than in the xa pro, I think that the heelcup is lower volume and the fit seems closer - i can't get a blister in these shoes. The rear of the shoe does not have a shank but is stiff for a runner.

The toe cap is great, durability is great, grip is great except in mud - The sole does need more aggressive toe lugs for deep mud - but the rubber is thick on the main wear points. Grip on rock is usually very good even when wet but the sole can lose lugs when twisting on rock. That said my shoes generally last me a couple of years before they are relegated to walking with the dog. I've ran 25 km days in these shoes and walked with a 23kg pack without having any (unexpected) foot problems. I've worn them on the sw coast of tassy where they were brilliant in the wet conditions, on Mt kinabalu in malaysia and on various overnight and day walks.
The only time that I have seen their limitations was on slippery rock on the upper faces of MT kinabalu (grittier granite further down was fine) and in deep mud, where a sole with more lugs might have been better. they are trail runners not specifically walking shoes, which explains some of their limitations. You can wear gaiters with these shoes as they have a heel.

Salomon synapse
I have an old model ankle high boot which is not available now, but the shoes are pretty much the same.the synapse is lighter than the XA pro, has a similarly low volume heel but has a fairly large heel and heel to toe drop. These are walking shoes - not trail runners.

Unusually for salomon it has a wide forefoot and toe and is, as usual, pretty robust - I've worn them in conditions in tassy (rockhopping on dolerite boulder fields) that have deeply scored my old leather boots - my salomons fared better. They are so well ventilated that i can feel a breeze coming through the upper - which might not suit you in winter.

the plastic rand thing around the foot means that there is no appreciable sliding of the foot in the shoe when edging across rocks or steep slopes. The sole is stiffer than most runners but does not have a stiff shank - torsional resistance is fine for me but some people prefer stiffer soles.The xa pro has a plastic shank resulting in a stiffer sole, i feel.
The grip is very good even in mud - grip is far better than the XA pro which has severe limitations in my experience.
They are completely and utterly not waterproof but dry quickly if you remove the crappy salomon footbed. They don't take a gaitor due to the sole design, unless it is a wire bottomed gaiter.

Other salomon shoes that might work are the speedcross which is very narrow in the forefoot but has a similar but beefier sole than the xt.I've never owned a pair.
The fellraiser, which has deep lugs for mud. Not as comfortable or as stable feeling as the other shoes I've described, I sold mine as they were tight in the forefoot.

They sell various walking boots and shoes as well but most of them are goretex.

depending on what walking you are doing i would recommend the XT wings, i feel the lower heel and close fit has some advantages. Grip is better on the synapse but the heel is somewhat chunky.

i don't wear my xa pro much anymore as the don't fit me as well and the grip is poor. I have a goretex pair which is good just for general casual wear and light walking in winter.

[slparker]

I have been using Salomon Synapse...with good results - ... (on the) South Coast Track, ...

For me they are like a comfy pair of slippers, I don't now carry camp shoes, plus they breathe and drain well.

if I ever walk the South Coast track again i would wear salomon synapse shoes. i can't think of a better shoe for those conditions.

[Xplora]

Eljimberino is currently walking the AAWT and picked up a pair of Salamon speedcross in Thredbo. He should be able to report on their suitability in a couple of weeks when he is finished. We bought them for a canyon or wading shoe and have found them good draining and light but my partner's have had the toe part of the sole unstick and is now flappy. Traction is good an they are comfortable. We got ours on Ebay for $50 and they came packaged through customs labelled as women's underwear.

[Watertank]

I've been wearing Innov 8 for a few years now - I love them but the hiking rather than stripped down running versions are hard to see instore in Australia - they can be bought online at Barefoot Inc in Sydney - they often seem to have specials.

[oyster_07]

I've been wearing Innov 8 for a few years now - I love them but the hiking rather than stripped down running versions are hard to see instore in Australia - the can be bought online at Barefoot Inc in Sydnet - they often seem to have specials.

Or http://www.paceathletic.com online or in Mosman.

[climberman]

I have been using Salomon Synapse, the low cut and non goretex model with good results - French Alps and Pyrenees, South Coast Track, WoJ, OLT, Kosciuszko etc. A bit lighter than the XA's but not an open mesh type shoe which I find let in lots of sand and grit to the detriment of my feet.

For me they are like a comfy pair of slippers, I don't now carry camp shoes, plus they breathe and drain well.

I hadn't come across these, thanks for the heads up!

[Mountain Rocket]

I hadn't come across these, thanks for the heads up!

x2