Salomon S/Lab Ultra 3 Trail Running Shoe - 2024

I’ve owned three pairs of Salomon Ultra series shoes: Sense Ultras, Ultra 2’s, and now Ultra 3’s. The 2’s have many of the same features as the 3’s I’m reviewing here, but featured a wider toe box (particularly where the upper meets the insole), longer “laces”, and a more traditional heel collar. Because there are so few changes between the 2ms and 3’s, these features define the overall comfort of the shoe and unfortunately the previous generation were better on all elements. The toe box on the 3’s is quite narrow. A lot of pressure is put on the bottom and sides of the foot near the first joint of the toes which can result in discomfort even on short walks. In concert with the very short “laces” - which are almost half the length of the “laces” on the 2’s - the 3’s can cut off circulation to the top and bottom of the MTJ’s. I don’t believe this is a sizing issue as all three pairs of Salomon’s I’ve owned have been the same size. The heel collar on the 3’s leaves a lot to be desired. Rather than going with a traditional al padded heel collar as previous models have done, the 3’s have an integrated liner without any padding. The intent seems to have been to integrate this sock-like liner to reduce weight and reduce any water/dirt penetration into the interior of the shoe. In that regard it’s a success, but the material selected for the liner is very uncomfortable on the ankle even with good running socks. Additionally, it’s way too tight around the ankle. This causes chafing and irritation around the ankles. Apart from these three features, the 2 and 3 are almost identical in construction. The foam is indistinguishable from the 2’s in terms of bounce and compression while running, and heel drop feels exactly the same between the 2 and 3. The lug patterns are exactly the same. I’m not able to tell if the lug length has been changed as my 2’s are heavily worn, but I believe they are the same. The 2’s had excellent traction on all terrain including heavy snow, and I expect the 3’s will too. The upper material has changed on the 3’a to a lighter material. It feel sturdy even with the reduced thickness. It will likely stand up to small brush, stones, and water wear as well or better than the 2’s did. In this capacity, the 3’s are a significant improvement. My hope is that the 3’s will break in with time and become more comfortable, with less pressure on the MTJ’s as the upper and laces specifically break in. At the moment though, this is a shoe I would recommend in a half size up and with some very high quality running socks to protect the heel from the heel collar material. They are not as nice as my old Ultra 2’s which is somewhat disappointing.