Weight 400g
Evaluation Salomon’s shoes are a familiar sight at its two-day adventure races, and at longer raids. They have a strong emphasis on protection, and they’re packed with innovation: the kevlar lacing system designed to tighten the upper and lower lacing sections independently, and the asymmetric ankle collar for maximum support are two examples of the innovation; while a polyurethane layer in the midsole, plastic underfoot plates and external heel counters demonstrate the protection. The reality is that if you wanted to place well in a two-day race like the X-Adventure, you’d go for a lighter trail shoe than this. It’s not bad, though – it’s like an old-style, protective trail shoe in the rearfoot, with a flexible, performance-oriented forefoot. Grip is fair, though not perfect if you’ll be cutting across open fells, and our only design niggle with the shoe is that the clever lacing system doesn’t hold the ankle collar as snugly as it could do.
In short The Raid Race is built for protection. It’s fine for multi-day multisport races – especially if you bike with toe clips and straps and want to use the same shoe for running and cycling – but faster teams will want a lighter, more running-oriented shoe.
Try it if you liked North Face Ultra 100 (£80); Montrail Leona Divide (£60); New Balance 804 (£60)
