Salomon S/LAB XA Alpine 2

This is quite a mouthful of a name… “Salomon S/Lab XA Alpine 2”. It is an interesting blend between trail running shoe and light mountaineering boot.

The boot weights about 370gr in size EU 42. The most obvious characteristic is the black gaiter enclosing the inner shoe. Underneath this gaiter one can find a Salomon S/Lab type of trail running shoe. It is a bit tricky to get into the shoe at first but feels wonderfully comfortable and snug once inside. The zipper is easy to close and the gaiter does not restrict your movement.

Opened gaiter with revealed trail running shoe…

Typical S/LAB type of trail running shoe with Salomon’s lacing system aka Quicklace. It is very easy to get a good and snug fit, the heel is locked into place.

The gaiter is water resistant and to some degree breathable. You can also fully or partially open the zipper during your run to improve evaporation. The closure on top is elastic and well sized so that it closes snug without feeling restrictive.

Salomon designed this shoe for all terrain, but it definitively feels most comfortable in an alpine or winterly environment. For warm weather running the setup is too heavy and not breathable enough.

Outer sole with climbing zone…

A good and sticky sole. Quite hard and not bendy allowing for a secure footing in more difficult terrain.

I would have liked somewhat deeper lugs for even more grip, especially on very muddy or snowy terrain.

To my liking the sole does not provide a lot of traction on icy slopes - but I guess this is difficult for all rubber types.

The sizing seems about right, I usually wear a size EU45 in my running shoes and did size up half a size for these. That should also allow me to wear a bit thicker socks if temperatures should require more warmth. So far my normal running socks were warm enough (up to 90’ runs) and the sizing seems to match.

I covered around 100km in these shoes so far (all in wintertime). Most was easy trail running in snow covered ground. Also going into the deeper snow worked well and keeping my feet dry. The climate in the shoe is warm but not sweaty. For longer runs the sole might be a tick too rigid and the shoe is on the heavier side.

I personally did buy the boots as a lightweight hiking boot. I will start using the boot in springtime for speedy mountain hikes. So far I’m convinced they will work very well but time will tell. I’ll keep you posted with an update in a couple of months. So far I can highly recommend the Salomon S/LAB XA Alpine 2.

For details on the specs also visit Salomon’s website.