Salomon Supercross Blast - Women's Review

The Salomon Supercross Blast is an affordable technical trail shoe with an oversized fit. It features large chevron-shaped lugs built for sloppy terrain and soft surfaces. This isn't our first choice for road running but has applicability on almost any other type of terrain. Just be sure to size down a half size if you're on the fence as it runs very large.

Performance Comparison

Foot Protection

Built with continuous nylon upper and reinforced areas for common contact, we'd say this shoe is pretty darn protective. Not only is there ample cushioning behind the heel (if you're a heel striker), but the EVA foam through the midsole is responsive and protects well from underfoot hazards.

We tested this shoe while running in the Grand Canyon, on mountain trails, and across high rocky ridges. In all cases, even after 20+ miles, our feet still felt quite fresh and ready for more action. It features ample underfoot cushioning that provides just the right amount of protection while balancing sensitivity.

The continuous upper isn't waterproof, but it does wick away water well and keeps out small particulates. The collar fits nicely with an enlarged tongue protruding from the Achilles area to ensure debris doesn't get inside. The tongue of the shoe also comes up high enough to provide further protection. When running over sand, some particulates got inside, but not nearly as much as other shoes without these specific features.

When running through rivers, the Supercross Blast did get soaked and took a little longer to dry than others with a mesh design. It doesn't have drainage holes, meaning that water will slosh. However, as we kept running, our feet pushed out the water from the porous nylon ripstop construction and eventually felt dry after about a half-hour of running in the heat.

For all these reasons, this high-value trail treader is recommended for all types of terrain. It'll keep your feet protected from sharp rocks, tangled roots, and dusty trails, especially as your mileage builds over time. It has a medium level of cushioning that's built to take on mountains, forests, and desert environments.

Traction

This shoe has burly traction designed to tackle all types of trails, including soft and slippery to dry and rocky. It features 5mm chevron-shaped lugs that bite down on the trail, keeping you upright and safe, even when a strong rain starts to come down. The ability to shed mud is medium to high — it will eventually shed mud that builds up, just not with every single step.

We tested the Blast while running over high mountain ridges, muddy country roads, and dusty desert trails. On dry terrain, it proved to stick to everything. Steep, sandy, kitty-litter-strewn trails that would normally have us slipping and sliding in any other shoe feel good and solid when wearing this one.

The ContraGrip TD rubber used on the outsole is soft and moldable, which flexes under pressure to grab onto rocky surfaces well. The lugs are mounted to a smooth face under the sole that helps to shed mud made from most soils. The only time we had “mud shoes” was on a Fall day when the trail was frozen on our jaunt out but softened up into a clay mud trap during the day. We felt mud glomping to the bottom and eventually shedding after a few strides. However, after about a half-hour of running in these conditions, traction decreased as the mud was stuck between the lugs. Eventually, as they dried out, the mud was shed, but it didn't prove to totally crush it in these conditions. However, in comparison to other shoes subjected to the same terrain, the Supercross Blast has much better performance.

Sensitivity

If you're a forefoot striker, you'll recognize that this shoe has a medium to high level of sensitivity. The heel is stacked with a well-cushioned midsole, so you won't feel the ground if you're striking with the heel first, but the thinner level of cushioning towards the front will definitely have you feeling the trail.

As a medium cushioned shoe, it's far from being the most sensitive. You can't feel every rock or root underfoot, but the forefoot of this shoe allows you to feel the trail just enough to know how to adjust your balance for every step.

This is a shoe we commonly chose for all distances, including long ones, when we needed a little more protection for the long haul. Salomon does an excellent job of balancing protection and sensitivity, which we appreciate as trail runners that live in the mountains.

Stability

When we first pulled this shoe out of the package, we weren't sure if this would be a stable shoe. The heel looks huge after all. However, when we put it on, we were pleasantly surprised. The forefoot is notably wide for a Salomon shoe, with a platform that offers great balance for forefoot strikers. The heel is also wide and cushioned, which makes it quite stable for heel-strikers. On the trail, the performance proved to be stellar.

Running the unstable and rocky ridges of the Red Mountain in Ouray, Colorado, was a good test to evaluate stability as we traipsed across loose rocks for miles. We were pleasantly surprised that with a 10mm drop, the Blast was quite stable. The shoe is large and distributes impact well, allowing a nice balance on the go.

We could tip-toe over rocks and roots easily and without any instability in this shoe. This is largely attributed to the thinner level of cushioning in the forefoot and the wider overall platform. The upper also wraps the foot for a specific fit that doesn't move when going up or down hills, adding to the overall stability.

When running the Red Mountain ridges, we felt confident to go fast, flying down the downhill sections and charging up. We didn't feel the need to put on the brakes out of fear of rolling an ankle, which is surprising for the stack height on this kick.

Comfort and Fit

Now when it comes to comfort, the softer collar, flexible upper, and medium cushioning is an excellent recipe for all-day wear and comfort. Our main tester has a size 9 foot with a wider forefoot and typically prefers a medium to wide width shoe. This runner offers more toe-box space than any other Salomon shoe she has tested, which affords room for foot swell after long runs on the trail. That said, the sizing is ridiculously huge!

The sizing is probably the most unique feature of this shoe. The Blast offers a little arch support and nice heel support as well. The heel cup feels tight and in place. In comparison to other trail runners, though, the sizing runs very large. If you prefer a tight fit, we'd recommend sizing down a half or even whole size. If you don't mind a little extra room in the toe or heel, stay with your current size.

While this is a little odd in the world of trail runners, we think it has its benefits. For example, if steep terrain and hills are your primary go-to, the extra space near the tapered toe completely avoids the possibility of “toe bump” as your run downhill. The profile around the arch and heel still hugs the foot while the lacing system wraps everything up like a burrito.

If you can handle a larger fit and feel, this is a great option. But if you prefer a more “claustrophobic” or tight fit, you're going to need to size down. Be sure to try it on first before committing, as the fit is far from traditional. However, after we tried it out for over 60 miles, we found ourselves loving it. It is now the shoe we reach for in muddy conditions where long miles are on the menu.

Weight

This is not a lightweight shoe in comparison to other contenders out there. It feels large and a little bulky. For a size 9, one shoe weighs in at 10.5 ounces. Still light enough for ultradistances, but if you're used to an ultralight shoe, you'll notice the difference.

Value

This favorite is an incredible performer for its price and does especially well on technical terrain. The continuous upper proved to be quite durable after what we put it through. While it's not the most versatile trail runner (we don't recommend it for road running), it'll go most places with excellent performance. As a top scorer, the price is absolutely worth it, making it a higher value than most.

Conclusion

If you're looking for a solid trail running shoe with excellent tread for technical trails at a great price, this is our top recommendation. While the Salomon Supercross Blast does amazing work on softer surfaces, rocky trails, and more, it's not our top recommendation for roads or smooth surfaces as the lugs are long and wear down easily. This shoe is best for budget-minded folks that like to tackle long distances or technical terrain.