Hardwear
Product 2021
Woman, Man

Salomon S/Lab Pulsar

FIRST

Even though we may not be in agreement with the direct character of the Salomon Sense (nit much cushioning), we must say straight away we loved these new Salomon S/Lab Pulsar.

 

Where should we start? There is a lot to say. This is the shoe that Kilian Jornet used for his record at Sierre Zinal in 2019. But it isn’t because Kilian beats a record, or not, that means that the product is good. Salomon have done some beautiful design work and material assemblies. The shoe is wonderfully fluid; simple, you can see one single stitching at the rear of the Pulsar. All the rest is one piece, like a sleek slipper, a second skin. You are reminded of the ME:sh, which sowed the seed  of innovation.

 

They are clearly inspired by meticulous minimalism: every gram has been chased away, every detail has been scrupulously thought out (note the absence of eyelets for the lacing. Even if this is the general trend in top-end shoes (the Salomon S/Lab Pulsar costs 180 euros), Salomon scores points compared to some Hoka One One in terms of finishes. Let’s face it, despite the use of Matryx mesh made from Kevlar fibers, we doubt that this Salomon S/Lab Pulsar will have a significant lifespan. You must take into account though they were created for low technical profiles and high speed but overall they aren’t reinforced.

 

We can’t have everything: the Salomon S/Lab Pulsar in size 42 2/3 weighed on our scales 175g! Curiously and for your information, the road model, the ultra-light Salomon S / Lab Phantasm weighs 200g. However, the latter is not mechanized with a plate, only the density of EVA plays a role.

 

So, what are they like once this Salomon S/Lab Pulsar are on? Exactly! They aren’t easy to put on, we are looking for something to grab hold of to pull them on. But with a bit of practice and without having a high instep, the foot sneaks in. The Quicklace is very effective, you just need gynecologist’s fingers to fit the excess lace into the tiny pocket on the top of the upper (there is no tongue). But once you put your shoes on, you (really) feel like you’re wearing slippers: a second skin.

 

There is also the question of socks, which will obviously have to be very thin or even absent for those who have the good idea to use the Salomon S/Lab Pulsar on certain triathlon courses requiring grip (Xterra for example).

 

The Salomon S/Lab Pulsar is like a bicycle: quite unstable when stationary but very balanced once moving. Let’s explain, Salomon continues to offer ultra-thin rears (barely wider than the foot) that create instability if we consistently heel-strike. On the other hand, if you have a mid-range or forefoot strike, you benefit from good ground support in front and a dynamic effect which eliminates the lateral roll.

 

The other surprising thing is the presence of cushioning! It’s almost a revolution after the Sense series that needed to be run spot on (and on the forefoot).

Here, with the Salomon S / Lab Pulsar, you can run heel strike, make positioning mistakes: they don’t bang, they’re comfortable, they filter but without losing energy. We are therefore using a product that is not necessarily exclusive. We even did several road sessions with this shoe, which led us to write that for some triathlons it is quite recommendable.

 

We really liked the dynamic side, these shoes have peps, which makes you want to develop an aerial stride, accelerate and ultimately surpass yourself. We also appreciated the 6mm drop (20.5 in the heel and 14.5 in the metatarsals), a very consistent rating for this type of product.

While the Salomon S/Lab Pulsar may seem like an extreme shoe, reserved for the elite, it isn’t. You can run at almost any pace and without any particular skills.

 

Despite the lack of foam padding, we didn’t notice any overheating or discomfort. Good breathability, it was curiously noted that perspiration appeared at the level of the two mini (internal) comfort padding around the ankles.

 

Look out, those who are thinking of using the dynamic qualities of this Salomon S/Lab Pulsar on technical terrain are mistaken: the stone guard is not very tough, and the sole offers the same grip, so don’t get carried away with the grip. Torsional stiffness also has its limits.

 

We really liked the ankle envelopment, this is it, Salomon has mastered the subject.

We saw shoes from this brand or the Novan SL of Arc’Teryx (brand belonging to the same group, the Amer group) let sand or foreign bodies enter this area because the material did not press up against the foot: with the Salomon S / Lab Pulsar, this is no longer the case, the fit is consistent.

 

Without being categorical and asserting that the Salomon S/Lab Pulsar is a radically disruptive product, one can imagine that there will be a before “Pulsar” and an after. This is the type of novelty that makes other shoes age by its intrinsic (and original) qualities in stride and its design.

 

The Salomon S/Lab Pulsar’s list of qualities is long. Designed to go (very) fast on less technical terrain, this shoe boasts assertive cushioning, great precision, exceptional fit, exhilarating dynamism, superb minimalist construction. Its weaknesses? Its (relative) fragility, its lightweight stone guard, and difficulty putting them on. You had to be daring to launch this product onto the market: Salomon did it. The Test4outside team awards them the FIRST Award.

 

"The Salomon S/Lab Pulsar’s list of qualities is long. Designed to go (very) fast on less technical terrain, this shoe boasts assertive cushioning, great precision, exceptional fit, exhilarating dynamism, superb minimalist construction. Its weaknesses? Its (relative) fragility, its lightweight stone guard, and difficulty putting them on. You had to be daring to launch this product onto the market: Salomon did it. The Test4outside team awards them the FIRST Award."

Rating

  • 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
  • Foothold
    8
  • Cushioning
    8
  • Grip
    6
  • Foot strike
    7
  • Stone guard
    5

Price : 180

Weight

175
20.5 mm 14.5 mm6 mm

Base width

M

TYPE OF FEET

Pronator Universal Supinator

Overall Rating

6.80

LONG TERM TEST

We used this equipment over a long period of time
These are our thoughts after intensive use:

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