Discussion: Salomon XT Wings trail running shoe

has anyone tried these? it's a new shoe. My concern is that the heel is just as high as in the Salomon XA Pro 3D XCR, the latter creates instability when running downhill on uneven terrain (think "twisted ankle"). Would prefer a lower center of gravity or wider back sole to avoid twisting an ankle. Will try the new ones at a nearby REI shop.

Hi there, I have the XT wings and I love them. I also wear the XA pro 3D for adventure racing and trail running though because it is one of the only shoes that I find has a low enough centre of gravity and lateral stability and have never rolled an ankle in them. The XT wing has more cushion I find though and is a great fit. I know someone who may be able to comment better on the actual make-up of the shoe though so we'll see if we can get him to pipe up.

I promise I won't shamelessly promote as I'm the Softgoods Manager for Salomon in Canada. I've been adventure racing for years so that's how I learned about Salomon in the first place...I say this as I actually use the stuff everyday.

I'm surprised to hear that you find the XA Pro 3D too high. It's designed to be low to the ground for more stability for the walk/run of AR-type activity. Add in the 3D chassis and I've always found it super supportive on uneven terrain. We made the XT Wings for 'run fast'. So, the heel unit is higher just as a traditional running shoe is. I've used mine for 6 months now and after thinking that they were a little stiff for the first 2 runs, they softened up on the 3rd run and I like the way they feel when training or racing. The chassis we use on the Wings is different than the XA Pro, but the result is the same - super supportive wherever I run.

Have a look at both in the shop and compare the width of the outsole at the heel. You'll find that they're pretty similar.

I've been wearing Salomon shoes for adventure racing for years. As someone with a gimpy ankle and crazy hobbies, I've found them to be among the better shoes I own for keeping me upright. The centre of gravity is low, and I'm not sure of the terminology - maybe this is the "outsole" phatty mentions above - but the back of the shoe flares out to the side to become wider than my heel, which gives me more lateral stability. I wouldn't use them for road running, but I plan to test out the more cushioned XT Wings on pavement - once they finally become available in Canada!

...We made the XT Wings for 'run fast'. So, the heel unit is higher...
I'm not familiar with this design fundamental; could you please explain?

..the back of the shoe flares out to the side to become wider than my heel, which gives me more lateral stability...

Same thing; I would think that a big, wide flared heel would provide more twisting moment when you step on an uneven surface, since the "twist" lever-arm would be slightly longer than in a narrow heel.

I may be wrong, but I've always thought that orienteering shoes were the perfect choice for running on wet, uneven, irregular surfaces: narrow heel, low center of gravity, little cushion and fabric to soak up water. Since you're running on unpaved, soft surfaces, you shouldn't need as much built-in cushioning...right?

I would think that a big, wide flared heel would provide more twisting moment when you step on an uneven surface, since the "twist" lever-arm would be slightly longer than in a narrow heel.

The "righting" lever arm is also bigger if I start to go over onto my ankle, and that's the effect that I've noticed while running. Physics aside, my experience is - annoyingly - that my ankle has tended to turn on relatively flat ground - possibly because I get off-balance a little. I'm more careful as the terrain gets rougher, which undoubtedly helps. (Thankfully, the strengthening exercises seem to have worked, and my ankle hasn't let me down in months.)

I know people who swear by orienteering shoes for orienteering races, but I'd be interested to know if there are people who find them comfortable for longer adventure races, 24-hr rogaines, etc. I find them hard on my feet after a couple of hours.

Maybe younger feet can take the abuse O shoes hand out over long periods of time, but mine can't (and I'm not all THAT old). Anything beyond a Long-O and I'll put on trail shoes. And it's not easy to find comfortable shoes, even trail shoes, for wide feet. It's the bane of my (sporting) existence...