Salomon Men's Calzado Bajo Predict Soc Running Shoes

Product Information

The knit upper..It is well held overall especially at the mid foot and rear with an excellent but not overdone “cage like” design. The front of the shoe could use a bit more structure for my tastes as the toe bumper is essentially a somewhat denser, less stretchy knit than the rest of the toe box knit. Things got a bit shakier in hold and feel up front at faster paces. I would also like to see slightly firmer rubber for more pop, again at faster paces. Flexible, foot biomechanics conforming. A more natural smooth ride that is a break from rigid and plated. Sam Sadly, this is also the case for the Salomon Predict Soc 2, and if you are running in hot or rainy weather, you will notice the Predict Soc 2 doesn’t breathe and traditional shoes. Right now, it’s fine because the climate is not usually either. Although running through the slush might be another story.

My sample is at my true to size US 8.5. Given the soft, stretchy and pliable knit front, If I could, I might try a half size down to see if the toes rose less and there was side to side motion at faster paces. It is not a huge issue but as with all stretch knit uppers toe boxes can be comfortable but not always as secure as I would like. The tongue doesn’t have any additional padding, and the fit is a little awkward. There seems to be a little too much material around the tongue, so when the laces are pulled taut there’s extra tongue that folds in on itself. Sportsshoes athlete Jenny Nesbitt has also been putting the Salomon Predict 2 Road shoes to the test. Here’s what she has to say; Obviously the most important part of a running shoe is the midsole. A midsole is needed to ensure good support and cushion, whilst still providing a great feel, that’s not too heavy. And whew, it is Firm, with a capital F. There just isn’t much give, regardless of if you land on the heel, midfoot, or forefoot. I can appreciate a firm shoe, but considering that the shoe’s marketing claims that Infiniride will give you a plush ride, it really feels like they missed the mark.I’ll continue wearing this shoe on a weekly basis for my easy runs. As someone who runs upwards of 80-100 miles a week, I will be combining this shoe with the highly rated Asics Nova blast, which shares some similar qualities to the Predict 2. I have always presumed Salomon excelled with a trail shoe… hence never venturing near a pair! But when I found out about the Predict 2, I was intrigued to see how they stood up against my more regular road shoes.

As mentioned, I’ve never tried many Salomon running shoes. The Salomon Predict Soc 2 is a decoupled road shoe. The upper was not well received in the first version, so it was completely overhauled. The knit upper worries me. I haven’t been a fan of it in the Brooks Levitate or Ultraboost. Theoretically, it should fit well, but usually, with the knit uppers, it feels tight or stiff. So I was excited to see Salomons take on it. According to Salomon, the updated Predict Soc 2 weighs about an ounce less. The welds on top of the toebox limit the amount of vertical flex the toebox allows, which personally I don’t enjoy, but know that many runners with slimmer feet would appreciate the fit. Jeff: The updated midsole was the element I was mostly excited for, and found it a little disappointing. Infiniride is a nitrogen-infused TPU midsole that is literally hollowed out in areas to encourage flexibility as you run. Overall, I wouldn’t replace any of my daily mileage shoes with the Salomon Predict 2, but I would add it to my collection for those runs where I want a firm grounding and a fast return of the ground, for distances ranging from 3 to 8 miles. Fast forward some and we now have the Predict 2, and while a lot has changed, the design principle of allowing the shoe to flex with the foot has not gone anywhere.

Performance Comparison

Energy Cell+ foam here is decent but a bit dense in feel . The new Salomon Energy Surge foam with its airier bounce would easily have the shoe (with a non knit upper) challenging shoes such as Rebel v2. People who enjoy running on the road, who are looking to stretch the distances and be comfortable whilst doing it. Although, I noticed the shoes versatility to handle some faster paces. It’s well suited to the standard “mileage pace”, which usually covers 75% of an average runner\'s training. The shoe itself did feel stable due to the flex grooves and firmness of she shoe. It also felt like the midsole is built up slightly on the lateral aspects of the shoe to have a bit of a cradling effect. Compared to other brands, Salomon is a relative newcomer to the running shoe industry. The French ski outfitter was founded in 1947, but didn’t release its first running shoe, the Raid Race, until 2001.

There are welded overlays going forward from the midfoot that line the toebox, and they all create a very close fitting upper. At last a functional knit upper with well secured mid and rear of foot and adequately secured toe box Sam The heal collar is made from comfortably padded cushioning. It’s rigid, and it just feels good. The tongue is just an extension of the knit shoe. I find the best shoes disappear off the foot, and the Salomon Predict Soc 2 does just that. I don’t feel anything blistering and chafing. I’ve actually never had a knit upper shoe successfully do that.

The toebox verticality is a slight issue, but the width is adequate. I found I had rubbing issues any time I went longer than four or five miles at a time, but I do have a slightly wider-than-normal foot. Dark, dark and serious the Predict Soc 2 has a go anywhere conservative vibe. I could easily see taking it for looks and performance as a single shoe on a trip mixing running, business, and leisure. As mentioned, I was worried about the tight-knit stretch upper. I haven’t found a brand that has successfully made a knit upper that fits and feels well, so I was excited to see the Salomon take. The stretch knit upper doesn’t feel overly snug, and my feet have plenty of room to move. It has no overlays, so if you have any bunions or a wider foot, you should feel fine with no irritation. I tried this shoe on a brief test run, and I really enjoyed its soft feel and excellent forefoot flexibility—the shoe felt smooth and comfy on pavement and dirt. The generous toe box gave my toes plenty of wiggle room, and its wide footbed left me unconstricted at midfoot. The upper is another highlight: Soft padding around the ankle creates a comfy fit, but it’s stiff enough to provide some support. For runs that involve a mix of pavement and dirt, the Ultra Glide 2 is the model you want on your feet.