With some multi-sport endurance rates set for the summer, I got myself a pair of the XT Wings 2 to see whether Annency-based Salomon could steer me through the season.

The XT Wings 2 is Salomon’s ‘top of the line’ trail shoe in their ‘expert’ category.  With more cushioning than a dedicated race shoe, the XT Wings are suited to training and racing over longer distances.  The light weight (352g) and mesh construction ensures that they are not a hindrance when crossing water-logged ground.  The grip provided by the patented ‘Contagrip’ is great on gravel and wet rocks but lacks the ultimate cohesion of an aggressive race shoe on muddy descents.

I used this shoe for Scotland Coast to Coast and they provided almost 13 hours of comfort.  The decisive feature of this shoe in a race situation is the ‘quicklace’ system.  This is a kevlar/nylon cord which is pulled tight then locked with a plastic toggle.  The remainder of the lace is then tucked into the tongue pocket, adding to a sleek looking shoe, but more importantly a shoe that will never become loose on your foot or provide a lace to trip over.  The result of this is that I did not touch my feet for 13 hours and the laces remained at optimal tension throughout.

The comfort and comfort and grip of the Salomon XT Wings 2 is good, but the lace technology is the show-stealer that gives you one less thing to consider on race day.

Useful information

• RRP £140
• Men’s and Women’s available from Wiggle.
• Salomon dealer locator
• Available in a variety of colours