Salomon S/Lab Phantasm 2 and the 2023 Super Shoe Field: What to Buy and What to Pair It With

Introduction

2023 looks like the year many running brands finally got their racing shoes right, and Salomon is now part of that conversation. With the S/Lab Phantasm 2, the brand brings PEBA foam and a carbon fiber plate into a running shoe for what appears to be the first time, and the result is a genuinely fun, fast shoe. In this guide we break down the Phantasm 2 itself, the Salomon and ASICS models that make good rotation partners, and the main competition from Hoka and On.

The Main Event: Salomon S/Lab Phantasm 2

The Phantasm 2 is built on a 37 mm stack height with a 9 mm drop, giving 28 mm in the forefoot. The headline features are PEBA foam, reportedly a first for Salomon in a running shoe, combined with a carbon fiber plate. The outsole uses a thin application of rubber, mostly at the forefoot, with a few color-matched strips at the rear and Contagrip compound. One note on traction: the rubber is so grippy that it actually felt slippery the first time out on wet roads, and needed a little scuffing before it delivered the reliable grip usually associated with Salomon shoes.

The upper leans retro. A translucent ripstop-type material with a minimal, striking use of color recalls racing designs from around 2017 to 2019. The tongue is incredibly thin and floppy, almost sheer, with just a touch of padding to ease lace pressure; it takes some finesse to position but then disappears on the foot. The heel cup has a small amount of low-profile structure and a bumper pad for a snug fit at the ankle. Total weight is a light 8.5 oz, or 210 g.

On the run, this is a legitimate super shoe. The feel is Vaporfly-adjacent, though slightly denser in the forefoot, largely because of the low plate position. A lower plate brings more stability and a well-planted landing, but a touch less pop, so the PEBA reads as slightly firm. The bulk of the shoe’s width sits where the pads of the foot land, which suits forefoot strikers who can load the cushion and roll forward off the plate into the next foot strike.

Faster is more fun in this shoe. Across low threshold, high threshold, and VO2 max sessions, the firmer foam rewarded harder efforts with more bounce, while slower low-threshold running made that firmness more apparent. At threshold and VO2 max pace it was at its best. Depending on foot strike and preference for density, this can work as a marathon racer, but it is arguably better viewed the way many now see the Vaporfly Next%: a half marathon or even 10K racer first, and a great workout shoe either way.

Everyday Miles: Salomon Aero Glide

If the Phantasm 2 is your race day shoe, the Salomon Aero Glide is a natural everyday partner, keeping everything in the family. It uses Salomon’s energy foam, is among the softest shoes the brand makes, and is believed to be the tallest stack height Salomon has ever put in a road shoe. It is a comfortable choice for easy runs, long slow distance, and general mileage, though it is still a touch on the firm side, as most Salomon foams are.

Workout Partner: ASICS Magic Speed 3

For runners who want to save the Phantasm 2 for race day only, the ASICS Magic Speed 3 makes a strong workout alternative. The two shoes share a very similar plate position and the same overall sensation: bouncy foam with a slightly firm edge, sitting low and planted to the ground. If you enjoy the Phantasm 2 on race day, chances are good you will enjoy the Magic Speed 3 for training sessions.

Competition: Hoka Rocket X 2

Hoka’s Rocket X 2 is also a first PEBA outing paired with a carbon plate at a similarly low position, and the two shoes feel almost identical on foot. Both use a translucent ripstop-style upper, minimal heel bumper pads, and very lightweight upper materials. The Rocket X 2 feels slightly denser and heavier, particularly in the heel and in the overall weight of the upper materials, which puts it just behind the Salomon in this comparison. At $250 it undercuts the Phantasm 2, which softens the gap somewhat.

Competition: On Cloudboom Echo 3

The On Cloudboom Echo 3 is another brand bringing PEBA foam and a carbon fiber plate into a road racing shoe for the first time, wrapped in a nice lightweight upper. Its dynamics are very similar to the Phantasm 2, and like the Salomon it shines more at the half marathon distance than as a full marathon racer. It is firmer in both the forefoot and the heel, heavier than the Phantasm 2 but lighter than the Rocket X 2, and a genuinely fun shoe to run in. At $290 it is the most expensive of the group, $15 more than the Phantasm 2, and priced on the high side.

Buying Advice

The Phantasm 2 costs $275, making it one of the more expensive racing shoes available. For some preferences, that price is hard to fully justify as a marathon racer, especially when the Rocket X 2 lands at $250 and feels close to identical. If the Salomon were priced at $250 it would be much easier to recommend outright. Even so, for runners who favor a planted, stable ride with a firmer PEBA feel and want a shoe that comes alive at threshold and VO2 max paces, it delivers a genuinely enjoyable fast experience. Build your rotation around it with a softer daily trainer like the Aero Glide, or a similar-feeling workout shoe like the Magic Speed 3, and you have a well-balanced set-up for race day and training alike.

Conclusion

Salomon has nailed its first PEBA-and-carbon racing shoe with the S/Lab Phantasm 2: light at 210 g, stable thanks to its low plate position, and at its best in fast workouts and half marathon-style racing. The Hoka Rocket X 2 offers a near-identical feel for $25 less, the On Cloudboom Echo 3 is a firmer but pricier alternative, and the Aero Glide and Magic Speed 3 round out a smart rotation. If a stable, firm, fast ride matches your stride, the Phantasm 2 deserves a spot on your shortlist.