Ok so the cat’s out of the bag, we are incredibly excited to be welcoming Salomon as one of our latest brands to arrive at Up & Running! Celebrating their 75th birthday in 2022, Salomon has been a leading name in the trail running and outdoor lifestyle sector for many years.
To get to know this brand a little bit better we sent along Dougie to the Salomon Festival this past weekend, to test out some of the latest products over a 21km trail race, learn more about the brand and meet some of their incredible athletes. Keep reading to find out how he got on...
About Salomon the brand.
Salomon is a brand many, many people have probably come across at some point, if you spend time in the great outdoors, running, hiking or skiing you’ll have probably passed someone wearing the product! Founded back in 1947 by Georges Salomon in the beautiful alpine village of Annecy, France. Speaking to members of the Salomon team over the weekend it’s refreshing to see their purpose remains the same today as it did from day one! They have always been driven by a passion for providing the best products for active adventurers in a range of different disciplines. This sole aim has led Salomon to be market leaders and the go-to choice for a variety of people in many different outdoor pursuits. Their products have stood atop podiums of trail and ultra-distance races across the globe, with athletes and ambassadors like Killian Jornet, Courtney Dauwalter, and Ricky Lightfoot
Salomon products.
So, what are the products like? Well over the weekend, we got a first-hand look at one of the newest shoes to the range and very long anticipated updated Salomon Speedcross 6. Undoubtedly the most recognisable silhouette from Salomon the Speedcross 6 offers that perfect grip in any condition, with ample space between for lugs for even faster mud evacuation (meaning your shoes won’t get clogged up with mud). All in a lightweight yet incredibly durable package.
All of these points you could feel immediately when you got going, it wasn’t the wettest of days, but as ever with running across fields and trail in the UK, you can’t avoid the mud. In some of the deeper rutted areas, I felt surprisingly springy and agile, no doubt thanks to the Speedcross 6 doing its thing and being an unsung hero on the trails.
Alongside the legendary Speedcross 6, we have the Ultraglide which caters for those more compact trails, canal towpaths and with the bountiful cushioning the longer distances. For that urban - trail crossover run there isn’t much that competes with it. Soft enough in the midsole to give you a smooth feeling on the pavement and durable enough with the outsole to not wear down with the abrasion against the road.
Salomon is just a trail running brand.
Absolutely, not the case Salomon caters for all runners and the range we have selected at Up & Running reflects that from the Speedcross for deep mud through to the Glidemax which gives you effortless comfort for the urban environment.
Salomon Festival, TRAIL, RACE, HIKE, DANCE.
As the slogan suggests there was the perfect mix of running, racing and relaxing over the weekend. Offering suitable distances, paces, and an inclusive atmosphere for all abilities, plus if running or hiking isn’t your thing then the various classes of Tai Chi and Yoga will fill up your cup for the weekend.
One theme that you couldn’t get away from all weekend was Inspiration! Everywhere you looked, and at every talk you attended there were inspirational people talking through their challenges and overcoming adversities.
Joined by collective groups and individuals like the Midnight Runners, Your Friendly Running Club, Camino Ultra, Lucy Bartholomew and Tom Wake.
Overall, the weekend was a brilliant celebration of the great outdoors and connecting with the wonderful trail running community. It’s a great event not to be missed in 2023!
