It’s simple to take a look at the Sense Experience 5 and surprise what’s so particular about it. In comparison with path sneakers which have been modernized with quite a lot of plates, rockers, tremendous foams, and high-tech minimal uppers, this on a regular basis Salomon appears extremely easy. Even with the newest updates, the fifth model nonetheless carefully resembles the unique. However as quickly as you lace it up and hit the paths, that simplicity shortly turns into the spotlight.
Salomon Sense Experience 5 Salomon Sense Experience 5 $130 at Zappos Professionals
Cons
Key Specs Kind Path Weight 10.3 oz (M), 8.9 oz (W) Heel Stack 29 mm Forefoot Stack 21 mm Drop 8 mm Lug Top 3.5 mm
Who It’s For: Runners in search of a sturdy, moderately-cushioned every day coach with sufficient grip and dexterity for technical trails
Runners in search of a sturdy, moderately-cushioned every day coach with sufficient grip and dexterity for technical trails Preceded By: Salomon Sense Experience, Sense Experience 2, Sense Experience 3, Sense Experience 4
Salomon Sense Experience, Sense Experience 2, Sense Experience 3, Sense Experience 4 For Runners Who Like: Hoka Torrent 3, Saucony Peregrine 13, Inov-8 Parkclaw 260
Hoka Torrent 3, Saucony Peregrine 13, Inov-8 Parkclaw 260 Key Options: All Terrain Contagrip rubber outsole, multidirectional 3.5 mm lugs, Quicklace system
All Terrain Contagrip rubber outsole, multidirectional 3.5 mm lugs, Quicklace system Midsole Foam: Reformulated Power Foam, a softer iteration of Salomon’s EVA and Olefin Block Copolymer (OBC) compound
Salomon Sense Experience 5 Overview
As I’m testing new sneakers, at any time when I’m going again to the Sense Experience 5, I typically have a second in the midst of my run once I notice simply how little I’ve thought in regards to the shoe being on my foot. As runners, we’re continuously on a quest to search out these sneakers we are able to simply pull on and go, and never have to fret whether or not we’ve made the correct selection. The Sense Experience 5 strikes a pleasant steadiness of sunshine really feel, safety, and sturdiness, making it a terrific possibility for dealing with the vast majority of my path miles.
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Our males’s check pairs had been in Salomon’s “Wet Day/ Scorching Sauce/ Freesia” colorway. Thomas Hengge
Cushioning and Safety
Essentially the most noticeable factor about this shoe is that it’s nonetheless comparatively agency. As an alternative of chasing high-stack Hoka-like cushioning or pursuing the “tremendous shoe for the path” with new foams and plates, Salomon stored a thinner EVA midsole for the Sense Experience 5. With a stack top of 29mm within the heel and 21mm within the forefoot for a males’s measurement 9, it’s just like the shoe’s earliest variations—with solely minor variations on the 8mm drops as we measured them within the lab. The fifth version will get some reduction, although. The newest iteration of Salomon’s midsole materials, referred to as Power Foam, is a contact softer, most noticeably within the heel.
After I return to the Sense Experience, I notice simply how little I’ve thought in regards to the shoe on my foot.
Whereas that firmness can normally defend towards rocks and roots poking by from beneath, the forefoot continues to be skinny. Most of our testers agreed that they might have appreciated a bit extra safety, particularly underneath the forefoot.
“In comparison with the forefoot, the heel cushioning feels nearly squishy. The forefoot cushioning is way firmer. The softer heel does assist whereas operating downhill, particularly on roads,” mentioned tester Ben Hatt, who has additionally examined and loved earlier variations of the Salomon Sense Experience.
The brand new Power Foam midsole feels barely extra responsive. Thomas Hengge
“The forefoot has much less cushion, however continues to be fairly good for 10- to 15-milers. Each time I received previous 15-ish miles on a run, I wished extra cushion. This shoe is my go-to for coaching and even tempo runs, however it doesn’t really feel quick sufficient for actual racing—until the race is a hilly extremely.” Hatt runs with a impartial gait and has a midfoot strike. He at present logs about 50 miles per week at a mean 8:30 per mile tempo.
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Stability and Floor Really feel
Earlier than you knock it for not being within the operating for softest shoe in the marketplace, the Sense Experience 5 has dependable stability that many sneakers with extra cushioning lack. After we run on roads, our strides are rather more linear, and the forces are extra predictable, so it’s simpler for manufacturers to engineer max-cushioned midsoles and tremendous shoe foams to react to a runner’s stride.
On the path, nonetheless, our steps have much more eccentric motions as we navigate variable terrain. While you land on a super-soft shoe, it cushions the impression, however there’s typically additionally some further shifting when you land. That may make the shoe really feel tippy, and even trigger an surprising roll as you hop throughout rocks. What the Sense Experience 5 lacks in softness it makes up for in stability. It feels planted, and I’ve confidence to place power into every step and never fear about what the shoe may do beneath me.
ProFeel movie helps defend the forefoot, whereas nonetheless letting you gauge the path floor. Thomas Hengge
Match and Consolation
The match additionally components into that stability. It makes use of Salomon’s signature quick-lace system, which our testers have robust preferences on—partially as a result of getting the strain proper might be troublesome, as a result of single tightening toggle. Nonetheless, as soon as it’s cinched down and the surplus string is tucked into the lace pocket on the tongue, the shoe supplied a safe lockdown, eliminating any further motion. The Sense Experience 5 has a cosy match, however nonetheless a good quantity of toe area.
The leftover fast lacing shops inside a pocket on the tongue. Thomas Hengge
“There was plenty of further lacing after I had the shoe tied snugly—a lot that I needed to weave the additional lace again by the shoe a number of occasions. This drove me loopy, and likewise made the sneakers a ache to take off after a run. However as for the precise match, it was completely advantageous,” mentioned tester Connor Orr, who has an average-width foot and an arch top.
“I used to be carrying the shoe to attempt to PR a few of my favourite Strava segments, one in all which is an nearly half-mile descent down 200 ft of elevation on unfastened rock, gravel, and filth. Bombing down the steep bottom of a mountain at full pace, I felt assured and agile,” Orr added. “In truth, I may even make some extra athletic side-to-side maneuvers {that a} extra conventional path shoe might need prevented.”
The Sense Experience 5’s lugs are half a millimeter shorter than these on the Sense Experience 4. Thomas Hengge
Traction and Sturdiness
Traction on the Sense Experience 5 is sweet sufficient for almost all the pieces. The three.5mm lugs have sufficient chew to grip most filth and rocks, however nonetheless really feel comfy on pavement sections. And whereas the outsole isn’t the stickiest you’ll discover, it performs effectively nearly in all places; the exceptions are moist rocks and snowy trails. The total-coverage rubber can also be extremely sturdy. I’ve usually hit the 400-mile mark in every model of the Sense Experience with out a lot seen put on to the lugs.
