Salomon S/LAB STRATOS Introduction:
Salomon are famous for their trail shoes and are starting to make more of a splash in the road market. The S/LAB STRATOS marks their move to the track. However, with long established brands already producing podium proven shoes, can the French trail masters hope to compete with the best?
It takes their optiFOAM+, pairs it with the full length carbon fibre energyBLADE and strips away anything that’s not needed for speed. All the components are there for a race day rocket, how do they combine on the tartan?
A support that’s almost as sharp as the spikes
Andy: Usually, spikes are snug, narrow and very race focussed. This is an initial point of difference in the S/LAB STRATOS. Here, the toe box is (relatively) wide and the midfoot is more accommodating. While it is by no means a sloppy fit, it is just different to the fit provided by the Dragonfly or the Victory 2. In fact, it has more akin to the adidas Avanti which is another very comfortable choice. That said, it is still probably not going to be a wide foot favourite.
The material itself is fairly soft and definitely breathable. That said, I have had some irritation on my achilles from the rather sharp and plastic feeling reinforcement which starts on the lace eyelets and continues around the ankle and heel area. If you have a larger ankle bone, you may also find some irritation here too. Unfortunately, the small strip of foam around the heel collar doesn’t quite come high enough to balance the sharp edge. There is also some reinforcement in the heel cup but it is by no means substantial, it will still bend with a gentle push.
The only other provider of slight structure in the upper is the Salomon word mark along the lateral side of the shoe. The tongue is as minimal as you would expect. There is a central spine of the same, firmer material as found on the eyelets. This stops the laces pressing into the top of the foot and dissipates the pressure across the top of the foot. Meanwhile, the tongue itself has no gusset but this does not really impact the lockdown.
Overall, the Salomon S/LAB STRATOS offers a more accommodating forefoot, a snug midfoot wrap and a rather sharp reinforcement around the ankle and heel. The laces are the frequently seen toothed affairs and they do hold tight.
A propulsive but not painful ride
Andy: The midsole, which is made of Salomon’s optiFOAM+, offers response and cushion. The feel underfoot is denser than Nike’s ZoomX but it does work alongside a springier track to protect the legs. The ride of the shoe falls somewhere between the adidas Avanti TYO and the Dragonfly 2. The energyBLADE plate is more aggressive than the adidas energy rods but not quite as assistive feeling as the ZoomX and PEBA plate of the Dragonfly 2.
It is definitely a fast shoe and it keeps me on my toes during reps. That said, it is certainly not as explosive feeling as the Victory 2. There is a little bit of flex in the plate which, while making the ride a little more comfortable than some, does reduce my efficiency somewhat. For me, the ride and comfort lends itself to the 5 – 10,000 track distance. It has propulsion, protection and comfort. On the other hand, for me, it does not have the powerful, rigid push of something like the Victory 2 or even the On Cloudspike.
Overall, this is an enjoyable ride. I found that I could run more volume in the S/LAB STRATOS compared to other spikes with less discomfort. The downside of this is that the mechanical advantage I was receiving was less than others offered. If you are new to spikes, the S/LAB STRATOS probably sits alongside the Dragonfly 2 as a good introduction to the world.
Metal spikes and carbon ridges get the job done
Andy: It’s a ridged, carbon plate with 6 metal pins sticking out of it. Grip is pretty good on the track. This section is probably pretty redundant here. The S/LAB Stratos is designed for track use and it does that very well. Were it not for the sharp collar around the ankle, I would probably have given it a go for cross country last season which may have added to the review, but that can wait for next autumn now.
A solid start which maybe isn’t quite there with the best
Andy: Salomon have delivered a competent and comfortable spike. Probably best at home between 5 and 10,000m, it has everything that you would want. It is light, it offers good lockdown and, with the exception of the sharpness of the reinforcement around the heel collar, comfort. At £10 less than the Dragonfly, it is worthy of consideration for someone looking to get into track shoes.
