Salomon S/Lab Ultra 3 – Long Term Review

Tim’s spent a loving six months reviewing the Salomon S/Lab Ultra 3 trail runners and despite fresh offerings, he keeps coming back.

‘How different can a running shoe be?’ I used to think. ‘They all basically do the same thing.’

But now, as I sit on my porch, three decades behind me, wishing that I owned a rocking chair, I see things differently.

Y’see there are few relationships in the outdoors as intimate as your shoes, they do a lot of work. I’ve run 327km so far in the Salomon S/Lab Ultra 3s – according to an online calculator that’s about 430,000 steps. Two hundred and fifteen thousand footfalls PER LEG. 

Sure, your pack moulds to your hips, and your sleeping bag will never lose your scent, but your shoes? Supporting many times your bodyweight for hours at a time?

Valentines Day is coming up and I’ve gotta say, I know intimacy when I see it.

But enough nonsense. What I really want to say is that this is a damn fine trail running shoe, but as with anything that’s great, there are reasons not to buy it too. My job is to help you make that decision. Let’s begin.

We took these pics fairly early on, now they look like this with more brown

Fit

The first thing you’ll notice about the Salomon S/Lab Ultra 3s is the bootie-like fit. The new tongue is completely connected to the shoe with elastic mesh. Sliding them on is definitely a two-handed affair but once you’re in, the snug factor is high. I actually made the mistake of overtightening them, cranking the kevlar Quicklace system a bit hard. In reality, like a stack of 2×4 in a ute tray, they’re not going anywhere (*slaps shoe*).

I will note that Salomons fit generally on the narrower side, and I do have narrow feet, but it was clear there was enough room to give. To get the benefit of this fit, I’d highly recommend trying and buying your shoes in-store. With a fit like this, it’s important to account for your socks too, if you like thicker running socks you might want to size up.

High socks = nice fit and steezy look (if you take my fashion advice that’s on you)

The Quicklace system is great, requiring less adjustment than previous iterations (I’ve reviewed the original S/Lab Ultra and the Sense Ride 3) once you’ve started running. This is a good thing as the lace storage has got tighter, and is a bit of a fuss. For some reason, recent models allow the laces to tighten over the entrance to the lace pocket. Anyway, I did five-hour runs without touching it once, just make sure you spend the time getting it right before you start trotting!

Take your time to dial the fit before you begin, it’s worth it!

And that’s the thing, this shoe really is just for running. They’re too much of a hassle to put on for the shops and while they’d work for hiking, there are heaps of other great options. Everything about the S/Lab Ultra 3s is about moving through rough terrain fairly quickly, with shoes that are an extension of your feet. Outdoor Gear Lab called the fit ‘unrivalled’. Which brings me to the trail feel.

Comfort

Firm. Or if you’re my mates ‘firm böis’, as opposed to their ‘thicc böis’ which have much more cushion (running long distances makes you weird, don’t ask).

It’s no secret that Salomons are pretty firm, and some of their recent offerings like the Pulsar do good work to expand their offering. But the ‘Slabs’ are firm. The ‘high rebound’ polyurethane midsole isn’t particularly thick, but the ‘ProFeel’ film keeps out anything nasty whilst still letting you feel exactly what you’re pushing off. Importantly, this also makes it very durable and they don’t feel noticeably different from day one.

The polyurethan midsole is durable and shock absorbent, but not particularly squishy

Looking at the heel of the shoe you might question if there’s enough going on. Minimal memory foam only a few millimetres thick and a lack of a hard heel support had me wondering, but safe to say it was never a concern. I think that the supreme fit of the shoe keeps your heel locked, and no rubbing is visible despite the kilometres they’ve done.

Despite all this, the Salomon S/Lab Ultra 3s are definitely made for the trails. I avoided road running in them to preserve their life (and because I grew up and bought road shoes) but also because it just wasn’t their environment. I chose them to race UTA 50 last year, but a last minute course change meant a bunch of road running which eventually tired my arches.

That being said, they were absolutely the best choice for the day.

The S/Lab Ultra 3s give you the confidence for direttissimo! (The direct line)

Performance

I’d hasten to say I’ve never slipped in these shoes. I’ve definitely tripped, but has the grip given way when it shouldn’t have? Don’t reckon. It’s a standard Contragrip outsole, using the same specs as the original and honestly, ‘if it ain’t broke’ applies here.

The fit is obviously a massive factor in the performance of the S/Lab Ultra 3s and it plays into the sure-footed feeling that you can rely on when you’re performing at your limit. Easy long runs in training saw me try looser, more heavily cushioned trail runners (which was mostly unsatisfying), but part of that was me trying to save the mountain goat vibes for when they were most needed.

Mud actually shed very well out of the lug pattern, which is basically unchanged

The relatively standard 8mm drop from heel-to-toe probably feels flatter in the Slabs and they’re generally a very stable shoe. I’m not sure which aspect to thank for this – I have trail shoes that are wider and have more structure, but I’ve rolled my ankle the least in these. I think it’s something to do with not being overbuilt, the shoe has good torsional flex, so when you do land badly (and feel it immediately as the sole is so responsive) you can also flex your foot without tipping the whole shebang over. Good things.

At 305g per shoe (mine are US 9.5) they’re pretty normal in terms of weight, which in my opinion is all you really need to be if you’re nailing everything else.

Durability

I ran all through the back half of Sydney’s wettest-ever year in these shoes. Every half hour of trail would leave them coated in abrasive, sandy mud and sopping wet.

Embrace the swamp vibes

Despite this, the upper has no obvious signs of wear. It’s actually incredible. The new anti-debris mesh that forms the upper of the shoe is supremely tough and has fended off some sharp sticks (enough to injure the foot beneath) without leaving a mark. Yet it breathes and drains really well, thanks in part to the minimal heat-moulding that offers large patches of mesh.

I’m gonna ramble on about this because it’s fantastic. The heat-moulding has not given way at all. It’s stitched in places to add support, but whatever glue they’re using is top-notch. Likewise, the toe cap is burly and has saved at least three broken toes when I kicked sketchy rocks that deserved it.

It’s nice to have shoes that don’t look trashed after 50km

The sole is wearing nicely, down to 1mm on a few lugs but mostly more like 2mm from an initial 4. As I said before, I’d recommend keeping them for the trails if you want to extend their life. Given the durability of the upper, I’m hoping for at least 600km from these guys – before I turn them into a straight fashun shoe.

Aesthetics

Along with the update to the upper comes a lightweight integrated gaiter. It’s pretty neat, with a soft high ankle that tends inward, minimising the space between shoe and leg. I recommend a mid-calf sock with a bit of thickness for the best results here, and resulting steeze.

Seriously, they’re pretty gorgeous. The deep purple and red, along with subtle Salomon logos makes the S/Lab Ultra 3 a head turner on the trail, and it’s prettier than its predecessor.

It also works with a lot of different sock colours, which is actually important until shoe manufacturers start making socks in matching colourways. Please? Anybody? You can have my IP!

I particularly love the look once the laces are tucked away nicely. More shoes should have this feature.

Price

Retail price on these bad boys was $290. Which is a lot of money. Granted, they’re clearly lasting well, which is more than can be said for a lot of shoes in this price bracket.

Also, you’ll probably pick them up for more like $200 these days, which is honestly a steal. Not many trail running shoes could hold up to abuse like this, so consistently, for that kind of money.

That being said, if you’re not racing or sending it on trails, run a lot of mixed terrain, or think the last 1400 words were a chaotic indulgence, you might not need what these shoes are offering.

Final Thoughts on the Salomon S/Lab Ultra 3

When Goldilocks found the porridge that was just right, how did she know? Do you reckon grizzled surfers will catch a wave one day and think ‘oh yeah that was the one, I’m good now’.

As far as I’ve tried in my six years of trail running, the Salomon S/Lab Ultra 3 is the best shoe I’ve ever run in. I’m considering stockpiling them so I can run trails if there’s a nuclear winter. They’re not for everyone and I do highly recommend you try the fit if you’re new to Salomons, but I reckon a big kudos is in order to the brand for creating a trail runner that does the most important thing of all:

Letting you forget you’re wearing them, so you can focus on running.*

‘Strava title ideas: Made a Frond, The Holy Trail, Cheeky Arvo trail, hmmm, decisions’

Tim was provided the Salomon S/Lab Ultra 3s free of charge for the purposes of testing them out. He was free to say whatever he liked in this review. We Are Explorers Gear Reviews cannot be bought by any brand and you can read about our selection process in Our Editorial Standards. 

*And heart rate, hydration, cadence, not getting lost, chafing, nutrition, and seeing god on a hill climb.

All photos by @mattwisemanmedia