The cushioning underfoot is almost non-existent the shoe lands so hard, but the shoe is heavy enough and doesn’t have much of a snap at toe-off making it appropriate for faster runs either. The knit upper..It is well held overall especially at the mid foot and rear with an excellent but not overdone “cage like” design. The front of the shoe could use a bit more structure for my tastes as the toe bumper is essentially a somewhat denser, less stretchy knit than the rest of the toe box knit. Things got a bit shakier in hold and feel up front at faster paces. I would also like to see slightly firmer rubber for more pop, again at faster paces. I have always presumed Salomon excelled with a trail shoe… hence never venturing near a pair! But when I found out about the Predict 2, I was intrigued to see how they stood up against my more regular road shoes. The midsole in the Salomon Predict Soc 2 also has decoupled grooves through the outsole, matching the grooves on the footbed. You can see them matching up. I was worried this might provide less stability, but you won’t really notice. The decoupled footbed allows for a more natural ride and lets your foot do what you want it to. I love that the shoe moves with your feet. Jeff: Atreyu is the Texas startup base model is all about the basics, lightweight and unstructured upper, straightforward EVA midsole, and low cost. While lighter runners than I have raved about the Atreyu, I’ve enjoyed a number of my runs in it once I adjusted my expectations - yet it feels more cushioned than the Predict 2. The Predict 2 wins in durability (Atreyu has a completely exposed midsole) and fit and finish, but the Atreyu runs smoother, more cushioned, lighter, and literally half the cost.

The welds on top of the toebox limit the amount of vertical flex the toebox allows, which personally I don’t enjoy, but know that many runners with slimmer feet would appreciate the fit. Dark, dark and serious the Predict Soc 2 has a go anywhere conservative vibe. I could easily see taking it for looks and performance as a single shoe on a trip mixing running, business, and leisure. Salomon shoes are renowned for their traction, which they achieve thanks to the company’s proprietary Contagrip rubber outsole. The grips come in five patterns with lugs–small cleat-like protrusions that extend downward from the outsole–that come in different shapes and sizes, many of which are made for specific running conditions.I was pleasantly surprised with how this shoe performed on the roads … imagine gazelle speeding down the high street vibes, with an efficient and elegant stride – although probably not how I looked, it was certainly how I felt! 8-miles later, I took them off, with no sign of muscle fatigue, and I can confirm no post 24-hour DOMS. The Genesis shoes were perfect through the snow and through all the trail sections,” Dauwalter said in a Salomon press release after her record-breaking Western States race.

Here the foam sits somewhere between Saucony’s PWRRUN EVA and PWRRUN+ leaning a bit more towards the EVA. It is not a super bouncy foam such as ASICS Blast or Nike Zoom, but clearly more stable. It is not as springy light as Hyperburst is. While somewhat firmer I prefer this foam to Nike React which has a duller if lighter feel. While I no longer have my Predict RA, from memory the Soc 2’s midsole seems somewhat bouncier and more energetic. As mentioned, I’ve never tried many Salomon running shoes. The Salomon Predict Soc 2 is a decoupled road shoe. The upper was not well received in the first version, so it was completely overhauled. The knit upper worries me. I haven’t been a fan of it in the Brooks Levitate or Ultraboost. Theoretically, it should fit well, but usually, with the knit uppers, it feels tight or stiff. So I was excited to see Salomons take on it. According to Salomon, the updated Predict Soc 2 weighs about an ounce less. I tried this shoe on a brief test run, and I really enjoyed its soft feel and excellent forefoot flexibility—the shoe felt smooth and comfy on pavement and dirt. The generous toe box gave my toes plenty of wiggle room, and its wide footbed left me unconstricted at midfoot. The upper is another highlight: Soft padding around the ankle creates a comfy fit, but it’s stiff enough to provide some support. For runs that involve a mix of pavement and dirt, the Ultra Glide 2 is the model you want on your feet. The midsole design includes anatomical decoupling grooves through the outsole with also matching grooves directly under the foot in the foot bed. You can clearly see the flex grooves in the outsole lining up with those in the midsole side wall in the picture above with the lateral side of the outsole at the bottom of the photo. The decoupling is clearly noticed yet there is plenty of stability especially upfront the decoupling and stability is a unique element of the midsole and ride. Overall while not super soft and bouncy the midsole is engaging in the sense that you really feel your foot working (easily) in concert with the cushion and geometry during the gait cycle. Sadly, this is also the case for the Salomon Predict Soc 2, and if you are running in hot or rainy weather, you will notice the Predict Soc 2 doesn’t breathe and traditional shoes. Right now, it’s fine because the climate is not usually either. Although running through the slush might be another story.

What Other Trail Running Shoes Should You Consider?

In running shoes, I wear between a size 10-11 wide. I found the size 10.5 of the Predict Soc 2 to fit well. Salomon Predict Soc 2 Ride: Comparing this to super shoes rather than similar shoes for the purpose, 4 out of 5 just based on mileage shoes.

Obviously the most important part of a running shoe is the midsole. A midsole is needed to ensure good support and cushion, whilst still providing a great feel, that’s not too heavy. The grooves run down the center of the foot as well as across the foot - there’s a little more structure than the Nike Free series, but only slightly. There are welded overlays going forward from the midfoot that line the toebox, and they all create a very close fitting upper. Sam: I never got along that well with the overly flexible often poorly held Freedoms 1-3. Too much work to keep things moving and the 4mm drop was felt as a low heel when tired. The Predict Soc 2 has some of the same vibe but is more stable, easier to move along, and more fun. The toebox verticality is a slight issue, but the width is adequate. I found I had rubbing issues any time I went longer than four or five miles at a time, but I do have a slightly wider-than-normal foot.Sam: Lighter with a very energetic, considerably bouncier supercritical foam midsole the Rebel is pure fun. This said it is less stable underfoot and doesn’t have the slower paces versatility of the SOC. It shines best at speed. As with others here the SOC upper is fine but doesn’t compare to the hold and performance of the Rebel’s for pure faster running. For years, the prevailing attitude toward supporting the foot with a shoe meant that you needed to add something to the shoes to stop the foot from moving a certain direction," he says. "Anatomic decoupling is very different. The decoupling grooves of the shoe are mapped to align with the major joints of the foot. As the foot transitions from heel to toe, the product team can 'predict' exactly when each joint will engage, what axis the joint will rotate around and where the support needs to be and when it needs to be there." The tongue doesn’t have any additional padding, and the fit is a little awkward. There seems to be a little too much material around the tongue, so when the laces are pulled taut there’s extra tongue that folds in on itself. I honestly don’t know, the shoe “does exactly what it says on the tin”. You get exactly what you expect. Compared to other brands, Salomon is a relative newcomer to the running shoe industry. The French ski outfitter was founded in 1947, but didn’t release its first running shoe, the Raid Race, until 2001.