Salomon Sense Ride 5 GTX Review
I purchased Salomon Sense Ride 5 GTX trail runners in November last year and have since been regularly wearing them for trail running, hiking and everyday use. The Sense Ride shoes have become a valuable addition to my collection of sports footwear, which includes Asics Gel-Kayano running shoes and Lowa Renegade hiking shoes. When I bought the Sense Ride 5 GTX shoes I was searching for a pair of shoes for various activities and conditions. I planned to use the new shoes for trail-running, lightweight hiking and everyday activities in rainy weather. Therefore, it was crucial that they are waterproof. Since I also wanted to use the new shoes for everyday activities, they had to be available in a somewhat discreet color. And you won’t believe how hard it is to find sports shoes in a discreet color. After thorough research I decided to go with Salomon Sense Ride 5 GTX trail runners. Not only did they have good reviews, but they were also available in non-flashy black color. Furthermore, they were heavily discounted for Black Friday. I immediately purchased them and five months later I’m writing this review.
Table of Contents:
The Basics
Salomon Sense Ride on a hike
The Salomon Sense Ride 5 GTX shoes are designed for trail running. When I unwrapped them, I was surprised how light they felt. I found myself thinking, “they are not much heavier than my Asics Gel-Kayano shoes”. After checking online my assumption was confirmed. The Sense Ride 5 GTX shoes are with the weight of 308 grams only 15 grams heavier than the Asics Gel-Kayano running shoes.
The more I investigated the Sense Ride shoes, the more I realized that they are a kind of hybrid between running shoes and trail runners. The fabric is stronger than on regular running shoes and the outsole has deeper lugs. But that’s pretty much it in terms of suitability for rough terrain. The shoes are very light, soft and flexible.
The shoes have Salomon Quicklace System. I was a bit sceptic about this system at first, but I must admit it’s really good. You simply pull the lace by sliding the buckle towards your foot and then tuck the excess laces and buckle into the pocket on the tongue of the shoe. Simple and reliable.
The shoes feature Contagrip outsole for good traction
Rubber rand for better durability
The Sense Ride Shoes feature Salomon QuickLace System
Comfort and Support
The Sense Ride shoes are highly cushioned
When I took the shoes for my first run, the cushioning surprised me. The shoes are highly cushioned. I would actually prefer them to be slightly less cushioned. Nevertheless, I got used to it quite quickly. The shoes are also very flexible so when you’re running it’s really hard to notice the difference between them and regular running shoes. One thing that did bother me a bit, though, is the lack of padding on the inside. Compared to my running shoes, they’re quite hard on the inside. I wouldn’t say they chafed me, but I did quickly notice that they’re not as comfortable as my Asics running shoes. So, in terms of comfort the shoes are okay but there are certainly more comfortable trail runners out there.
Now, when it comes to support and stability, they more closely resemble regular running shoes than trail runners. The support and stability were not impressive, especially on demanding trails and when I wore them for hiking. The shoes are in my opinion too soft for hiking on rocky paths or carrying a heavy backpack. Nevertheless, they performed well on easy trails.
Traction
Contagrip Outsole
The shoe comes with All-Terrain Contagrip outsole which has 3.5 millimeters deep multidirectional lugs. The traction is good both on muddy paths and on rocky terrain. I was surprised that the shoes provided good traction on rocky terrain even in wet conditions. Nevertheless, if you’re planning to use these shoes for hiking it’s important to note that they do not provide as good traction as hiking shoes. Both my Lowa Renegade and Lowa Innox hiking shoes provide significantly better traction.
Breathability and Waterproofness
Gore-Tex lining makes them somewhat waterproof
The Salomon Sense Ride 5 GTX shoes feature Gore-Tex lining and are thus waterproof. Note that these shoes are also available without Gore-Tex lining. If you don’t need waterproof shoes go for the model without GTX in the name. Non-waterproof shoes typically provide better breathability.
Now, it’s really hard for me to assess these shoes in terms of breathability because I haven’t worn them in warm weather yet. Nevertheless, I didn’t have any issues with my feet sweating excessively so far. So, I can certainly say that they provide good enough breathability for moderate temperatures. They’re also not warm. I mentioned above that they don’t have much cushioning on the inside. Well, that means also that they don’t have much insulation. I had a few runs in subzero temperatures with them and my feet were actually quite cold. But that’s also because I wasn’t wearing warm socks.
In terms of waterproofness, I was very happy with these shoes. They’re of course not 100% waterproof but I never came home with wet feet. I wore them several times in rainy and snowy weather. I also often wore them on wet terrain such muddy paths and damp grass. So, I have no complaints about waterproofness.
Sizing
I bought the shoes in size 431/3 (UK: 9: US: 9.5). I was recommended this size because my Asics running shoes have always been size 44 (UK: 9.5: US: 10.5) and apparently Salomon sizes are a bit bigger. However, I disagree. The size 43⅓ is on the small side for me. If I were to buy the shoes again, I’d opt for size 44 to allow a bit of extra room for my feet swelling during long runs. If you’re an Asics fan like me, I recommend purchasing the Salomon shoes in the same size as your Asics shoes.
Gallery
Loops enable to you quickly put them on or off
Robust insoles
Salomon Sense Ride 5 from the front
Verdict
All in all, I’m happy with the Salomon Sense Ride 5 GTX shoes. They’re lightweight, soft and flexible. Therefore, they feel more like running shoes than robust trail runners. I’m also really happy with the waterproofness and breathability of these shoes. The thing that bothered me is that they’re not padded enough on the inside. That makes them less comfortable compared to other sports shoes I have. Due to their lightweight design the shoes also don’t provide that good support and stability. So, in my opinion they’re kind of hybrid between trail runners and running shoes.
If you have any questions about Salomon Sense Ride 5 GTX shoes, drop me a line in the comments below.
Rating
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| Functionality | |
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| Comfort | |
We field tested this product. The rating shows its overall performance.About Rating
Pros:
- Lightweight
- Flexible
- Waterproof
- Breathability
- They feel more like running shoes than trail runners
Cons:
- Lack of padding on the inside makes them not as comfortable as some other products
- Not the best option for difficult trails – less stability and support than many other trail runners
Where to buy? Salomon Men's SENSE RIDE 5 Trail Running Shoes for Men, Black / Laurel Wreath / Green Gecko, 7 Also available at: 
