I'm always looking for the next great trail shoe. I like how Salomon fit and that they are not road shoes trying to be trail shoes. Their most recent S Lab shoe looks pretty interesting. Road, Trail, Run has a YouTube video review of them. Recently Salomon has begun to design their shoes such that they do a good job keeping debris out. This Pulsar model seems to have sufficient cushioning but it is quite a bit lighter than the model it replaces and sufficient durability (at least based on tread and upper design) to be used for both racing and training. It costs $180 which is an awful lot but if you were looking for one shoe that is good for both training and racing on trails that is light with a fair amount of cushioning it is worth considering. The reviewer said they would be suitable for road racing although I blow through trail shoes at the heel so fast that this seems like it'd be pretty expensive
Salomon S Lab Pulsar
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Got it in yesterday, looks good, will try on tomorrow morning before my run and report back. Will compare against S/LAB Sense 8 FG and the all-time GOAT S/LAB Sense 3 FG
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Go to DNA athletics in Plainfield and try it out and decide for yourself. Or go to Naperville Running Company, but I would personally recommend DNA.
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thanks for the suggestion. I hadn't realized there was a specialty running store in Plainfield. Do they sell Salomon? NRC does not so local options are REI but they don't sell the S Lab models
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I'm getting some pretty soon...hopefully within two weeks. Getting the Phantasm too but I'm much more excited about the Pulsar.
Hoping it can go 50k...as the s/lab sense 8s I have definitely can not for me. -
Meant to add more...
I'm not thinking these are going to be "daily trainer" trail shoes at 6 ounces...I'd use them for workouts on trails or fast trail runs of under 2 hours but not frequently. basically the trail version of a marathon flat from yesteryear -
reed, just put them on this morning.
First reactions
1> much easier to put on than the S/LAB Sense 8
2> the shoe is BOUNCY.. not sure if they have a new super foam or it's the rubber but this is going to be the best feeling Salomon racer on road/firm dirt trails ever.. just feels so amazingly cushioned. My S/LAB Senses are like running on cardboard they are so firm.
3> so cushioned I almost feel unstable? Definitely rocker sensation like you're landing midfoot immediately, but maybe this breaks in a little. Just super aggressively cut out in arch so if you're not on your forefoot it can feel unstable. However, this is great for keeping you cognizant of form. Going to be great uphill, downhill, better not have any weaknesses.
4> weight is insane for the amount of cushioning. If they can capture this in the next generation of Sense Ride and Ultra they are going to start making massive market share gains on HOKA because they finally have an ultra soft, yet responsive midsole and chassis.
I'm excited. They feel good. My heel feels secure and they feel fast. Bought true to size.
Kudos Salomon, big win. -
Yes, this shoe is amazing. So far I have done a 7 mile run and a 12 mile. Both were in snowy conditions so not ideal for this show with its low lug outsole but it still feels really good. The SLAB Sense shoes are not nearly as enjoyable and tend to really hurt at slower paces, this shoe while it wants to go fast still feels good even when going slower.
I really hope we see a Sense Pro 4 or something similar that is basically this shoe with maybe a wider platform and more relaxed upper for every day use. -
mind if I ask you guys how heavy/tall you are? and maybe a 5k or marathon PB just to see how close we are?
I like what I'm hearing so far. -
This shoe is amazing, but i would save it for racing -I don't think the lugs and foam are going to be durable.
I had insanely high cadence while running in them.
They disappear on your feet, and you only get the sensation like you are running on clouds.
The upper is very snug which limits it's use to below 50 k (for me).
Heel is quite soft (for a trail shoe) and a bit unstable. For instance I feel much more secure on extreme downhills with the Sense SG.
It's not for heel-strikers or pronators.
The forefoot is where the magic happens, and good propulsion from the plate.
Reminds me a bit of the Fuelcell Rebel. -
Mostly agree with this. I might do 1 or 2 more runs in them before I save them for a 50k or something (I think for me 50k would be the limit). Mostly I am worried that the midsole is going to be dead early, it just seems kinda fragile. Hoping that I am wrong but figured I should at least try to PR in them first. Not too worried about the outsole since the trails around here are mostly dirt.
reed - I am 6' around 165lbs and have never run a road marathon or 5k but have run a moderately hilly 50k in 3:52 to give an idea. Theres a spring race here that if it goes ahead and doesnt get canceled I would love to go 3:45 in the 50k in these shoes. But its also going to depend on conditions, being the spring if the trail is super muddy these might not work great. -
I'm 5'7 128lbs
14:20 5000m indoors
1:05 at Mt. Washington
3:20 Trail 50km -
King Tiger, I don't think the Pulsar has a plate. I think you are confusing with TNF Vectiv. I definitely don't notice a "plate" and/or did not purchase because of that feature, but simply because the S/LAB Series is dead, I think and Kilian crushed Sierre Zinal in it.
King Tiger wrote:
The forefoot is where the magic happens, and good propulsion from the plate.
Reminds me a bit of the Fuelcell Rebel. -
seems like I'm about halfway between you guys in speed but closer in build to Standard Setter.
I'm a heel striker but that's never bothered me with low profile shoes, it's the cushion under the forefoot that I need on trails.
Very excited for these. They can't come soon enough! Actually I'm racing a road 50 miler tomorrow morning so I won't really be feeling like going fast for a few weeks I imagine... -
Standard Setter wrote:
King Tiger, I don't think the Pulsar has a plate. I think you are confusing with TNF Vectiv. I definitely don't notice a "plate" and/or did not purchase because of that feature, but simply because the S/LAB Series is dead, I think and Kilian crushed Sierre Zinal in it.
King Tiger wrote:
The forefoot is where the magic happens, and good propulsion from the plate.
Reminds me a bit of the Fuelcell Rebel.
Yes there is a plate, but it's a nylon rock plate and it can't be seen as it's embedded in the foam unlike previous Salomons. But being inside the foam it helps stabilize the foam and provides a bit of propulsion much like the Endorphin Speed. Before carbon plates were mainsteam, I found the S/LAB sense profeel film helped to make the shoes snappy and aid with toe off.
