Salomon S/LAB Cross 2 First Run: A Trail Racing Shoe That Feels Dialed In

Introduction

The Salomon S/LAB Cross 2 looks like it has arrived from another planet, and that is largely the point. It is a high-performance soft-ground trail running shoe built to run fast on technical, wet, muddy and boggy trails, which makes it a strong candidate for UK winter conditions. The S/LAB range is where Salomon puts its most technically advanced products, and the Cross 2 continues that tradition with input from Norwegian trail athlete Steven Angerman. The iridescent high-vis overlays on the upper are meant to represent the aurora borealis from his native Norway.

Key Specs at a Glance

The shoe retails for £165 in the UK and weighs about 250 grams in a men’s UK 10. It runs on a 4mm heel offset, with a 12.5mm stack height under the forefoot and 16.5mm under the heel. The outsole carries a deep, aggressive 6.5mm lug pattern clad in Salomon’s sticky Contagrip rubber.

Those numbers tell only part of the story. This is a shoe designed around ground connection rather than plush cushioning, which shapes almost everything about how it runs.

What the S/LAB Cross 2 Is Built For

This is emphatically a performance shoe. It is not designed for an easy plod along the trails; it is a race-day shoe for attacking technical routes as quickly as possible. The midsole compound is fairly firm, and the design deliberately prioritises ultimate ground feel and stability when running quick over rough terrain.

That also means it rewards a midfoot or forefoot strike. The heel is notably narrow, among the narrowest heel profiles seen on a trail shoe, and heel-dominant runners would likely find it unstable on technical ground. Runners who land on the midfoot will feel immediately at home.

Upper and Fit: The Ankle Gaiter Design

The standout feature is the ankle-gaiter concept on the upper, designed to give a precise fit around the foot while offering maximum protection in challenging conditions. Salomon uses a matrix fabric for breathability and durability, with overlays worked down from the heel around the midfoot and lace eyelets for extra reinforcement.

The iridescent high-vis overlays are not just for show. They catch headlights nicely and improve visibility when running at night. Lacing comes via Salomon’s quicklace cord system: pull the cord tight, slide the plastic housing down, and you are locked in, with a pocket in the tongue to stow the lace so nothing snags on the trail.

One honest caveat: the gated upper makes the shoe genuinely difficult to get into. You have to fight your way in. Once you are in, though, you are definitely in, and the upper becomes an extension of your foot.

Grip and Traction on the Trails

The first run took place on wet, muddy, root-covered woodland trails with rocky and off-camber sections, loose gravel, greasy wooden boardwalks and a stretch of wet tarmac. The deep lug pattern performed well in boggy mud and loose ground, but it was the rubber compound that impressed most. On a rain-soaked, leaf-strewn technical ridgeline about as slippery as conditions get, there was not a single slip.

Even the greasy wet wooden bridge sections, normally a nightmare for trail shoes, were handled confidently thanks to the tacky Contagrip compound. On every surface tested, from roots and rocks to wet leaves and tarmac, the shoe felt connected and planted.

Ride, Fit and Where It Fits in Your Rotation

The ride was a pleasant surprise. It is firmer and more aggressive than a cushioned everyday trainer, but less harsh than expected, and there is enough midsole cushioning to stay comfortable over distance. The realistic ceiling is somewhere around half marathon to 20-mile efforts, possibly further for the brave.

The best use case is short, fast racing: 10Ks, 10-milers and half marathons on challenging technical trails, where the locked-in fit, ground connection and aggressive lug pattern genuinely pay off. Expect some calf tightness after faster runs, since the profile pulls you up onto the forefoot.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The gated upper is a struggle to get in and out of, and the narrow heel profile makes this a poor match for heel-strikers. It is also a firm, aggressive shoe rather than a comfortable all-rounder, so it works best as a race-day or fast-training option rather than an everyday trainer. Past Salomon rubber compounds have been inconsistent on wet rock in some testers’ experience, and wet rock was not tested on this first run, so that remains worth checking for yourself.

Buying Advice

If you race on soft, technical, muddy trails and run with a midfoot or forefoot strike, the S/LAB Cross 2 makes a compelling case. The combination of the ankle-gaiter upper, the sticky Contagrip outsole and the connected, responsive ride is hard to beat in its niche. If you are after a plush, cushioned cruiser for easy miles, look elsewhere.

Conclusion

The Salomon S/LAB Cross 2 runs as good as it looks. The outsole grip was outstanding in genuinely foul conditions, the upper delivers a secure, protective and genuinely addictive fit, and the firm-but-not-harsh ride suits fast running on technical ground. It is a specialist tool, and within that specialty it is a very good one.