Durable ContaGrip blown rubber outsole provides excellent traction
Rocks and gravel can become lodged in outsole grooves
The midsole heel uses Salomon’s OptiVibe cushioning, a two-layer construction that soaks up shock on impact and then returns some of that energy back to your stride. To do it, the midsole combines a minty green puck of denser EVA with a white bottom layer of full-length OBC (Olefin Block Copolymer) foam that Salomon developed alongside Dow Chemical. It’s light and responsive at faster paces, but like the cushioning of Salomon’s trail shoes, still rides fairly stiff and firm. The biggest changes, however, are largely unseen from the outside, as our testers most appreciated the new internal fit sleeve and a softer upper mesh. “I was surprised by this shoe,” one said. “The Sonic fit like it was custom-made for me and the lacing system kept my midfoot cradled and secure.”