Salomon Pulsar Trail Pro 2 review
More and more carbon-plated running shoes are coming to market now, but does the Salomon Pulsar Trail Pro 2 hit the mark? Trail running coach Jude Palmer finds out...
The Pulsar Trail Pro 2 is good looking and one of Salomon’s most responsive trail running shoes.
Packed with many of the features Salomon wearers know and love, what sets the Pro 2 apart is the carbon foot plate and the anti-debris collar.
There’s a great combination of features, especially for keeping the run training on track through the winter months.
First impressions
Responsive and fun, the Pro2 is a great shoe for those who enjoy pushing their performance and would prefer to avoid the more technical trails.
The anti-debris collar wraps around the ankle, rides higher than the more standard heel and features a padded tongue area, but does work well at keeping dirt out.
On first go, I found the Pro2 tricky to put on as the foot entry is narrower than on more traditional shoes and, while there is a loop at the front to grab, there was nothing similar at the heel.
I had to settle on a technique of getting the foot in as far you can, wiggle it in further and then pull up the back.
I did get better with each run, but a heel loop would be a welcome addition.
How does the Salomon Pulsar Trail Pro 2 feel?
Once on, the shoe felt snug and refreshingly simple, which makes a change from some trail shoes.
Even without doing the laces up, it felt like the Pro 2 was fairly secure on my feet. The standard Salomon Quicklace lacing system makes lacing quick and easy and allows for adjustment as feet swell during a run and for fast undoing.
The anti-debris collar design means the lace garage is located higher up than on other Salomon shoes making it easier to use.
Salomon is known for making shoes that have a relatively narrow last and so it was good to see the Pro 2 has a wider fit at the toe box end allowing feet to have more wriggle room.
I found that the Pro 2 came up longer in length than other Salomon shoes so, like with any shoe, getting to try before you buy could be useful in getting the right size for you.
What’s the ride like?
The Pulsar Trail Pro 2 feels dynamic to run in and makes you feel like a great runner, especially on harder packed trails where you can go for speed.
The plush Energy Surge foam in the sole makes each step feel bouncy, with a soft landing and the Energy Blade plate aids forward propulsion.
Add this to the rocker profile of the Pro 2 and you get fast transitions and good forefoot planting.
The trade-off for the fast footing from the more rigid sole is less flexibility around the forefoot, but on less rugged trails that need isn’t as important.
Is it comfortable?
Stack height is 33mm at the heel and 27mm at the forefoot, with a 6mm drop, which provides good levels of comfort on longer runs but could mean a loss of trail feel and confidence over more technical ground.
The upper mesh of the Pro 2 has been updated and is comfortable, but I found it too stretchy to keep the foot feeling stable and in position when descending and on rockier trails requiring side to side movement.
Combined with the relatively high stack height, I felt at times my confidence in foot placement was reduced.
In particular, one of our testers found that heel lift was a problem, especially downhill, and while tightening the lace stopped this, it then produced a hot spot-on top of the foot.
But like all trail shoe brands, it can take time to find the size that fits the best.
What’s the traction like?
The Pro 2 boasts the Salomon Contragrip MA Sole with 3.5mm lug depth, which provided good grip on drier, flatter trails and it has a good level of protection around the toe box.
All in all, the Salomon Pulsar Trail Pro 2 is a great shoe for running fast on less technical terrain.
Verdict: A great option for running fast on less technical terrain, but not one for technical trails.
Score: 70%
220 Triathlon Team
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