When on cement, it will not be the jarring ride that the Pro gives, while still giving you the grip desired for most surfaces. After speaking with other users, I learned that the bungee pull could be frustrating with cold hands and slippy conditions—fairly typical after a trail run. I have to say, it makes sense, and I do like the lacing option of the Vario 2.

Also, the tongue position could be a little uncomfortable if it rolled around the right side. In reality, these are minimal intrusions, and once I was running, they settled fine and didn’t bother me. In terms of sizing, these shoes are pretty true to size. I take a size 10 and have slightly wider feet. I find them a little snug width and lengthwise in the toe box compared to some of my road shoes, but not to an uncomfortable level. Comfortable fit These have made my rotation, even while in the city, as I can transition in them from cement to gravel/crushed limestone and feel great grip and stability the entire way. As a mostly city runner, who lives far away from mountains or forests that require constant high-level grip, these shoes fit my daily needs more than do the Pros.

Traction

Lacing up and first run, the shoes were excellent. They felt reasonably light, not much heavier than a road shoe. This ability to deliver performance on harder surfaces was a key performance aim of the Vario 2. And while you wouldn’t go too far because of the firm insole, they will carry you well on hard, firm surfaces as well as on trails. They were up for the challenge of an 8-mile mountain trek, and also a 12-mile crushed gravel/dirt run, while keeping my feet mostly pain free. However, the firmness of the cushioning made the longer runs a bit painful on the foot. Salomon SpeedCross Vario General Info Unboxing the Speedcross Vario 2’s, I found them sturdy but not too heavy. They feel rigid but not overly unwieldy and not noticeably heavier than a well-cushioned pair of road shoes.

Interestingly, these Vario 2 versions of the popular Speedcross come with laces while the standard versions have a bungee pull. The most important thing to know about this sole unit is that the cushioning is quite firm. Most most runs, I personally enjoy that, and when I took the shoe on an 8-mile mountainous route, and felt great the whole time. A trail shoe is a different proposition to a regular road shoe. You want to be reassured in its sturdiness and durability, but you don’t want to feel like you’re running around in clogs—tough gig!The traditional lacing system has worked well for some people allowing them to keep the shoes snug and secure. This shoe has traction to spare on most trails, although on the most technical ones I tried to take it slipped from time to time after going through wet areas. However, this was just a little concern. The big thing with trails shoes is the extent of the compromise to comfort and speed resulting from the adaptation to perform on slippery terrain. The Vario 2’s have minimal cushioning, so these feel quite hard, particularly on firm ground.

When it has been cold and wet, these shoes protected my feet well. I did feel them getting a bit damp, but that was later on in a wet cross country race, so it’s hardly surprising. The sole unit of this shoe uses Salomon’s Molded Eva, Lightweight Muscle and Injected Eva cushioning to make sure your feet are padded throughout the run. The sole itself uses Salomon’s Constagrip technology.It also includes my favorite part of the upper from the Pro, the tongue cover. Although a simple thing, and a small detail, it is something like this that gives you confidence in a company. The cushioning in the sole has a very conditional 11mm (20mm-9mm) heel-toe drop. This makes for a familiar and comfortable ride for most runners. This is where the Vario 2 derives its character. A lighter, smoother’ more friction-based sole’ is what connects you to the ground in these. One reviewer noted, if you are a biker who doesn't like to be clipped in, these shoes are a good option. However, if you are in a forested or mountainous area and hit the trails often, the Pros will offer that extra grip, easier lacing, water shedding and a slightly softer ride that holds up to higher mileage.

The midsole is injected EVA foam and relatively thin compared to some more cushioned runners. It is ready for muddy stuff The first run I did in them was on a cement/gravel trail, going 5 miles and feeling good the whole time. Salomon SpeedCross Vario Sole InfoI’d bought them for a cross country race that day, so I had no time to break them in. I’ve since competed in several other events and run in them socially, and they sit well with me. Pronounced lugs and a hard-wearing Contagrip sole make the shoe look rugged and ready for muddy stuff. Performance of the Speedcross Vario 2