Mountain shoes
Product 2018
Man
The new Ultra Pro Salomon is the little sister to the S/Lab Ultra that we tested: https://www.test4outside.com/produit/salomon-slab-ultra/.
You have the same sensations as the Ultra, the shoe that was designed in collaboration with François D’Haene. Both these shoes are designed for long distance running.
What are the differences between these two models, and how do you choose?
The Ultra Pro costs 150 euros, compared to 180 for the S/Lab Ultra. What is surprising is the difference in weight – the Pro weighs in at 305g compared to the S/Lab Ultra which is 285g for size 42 2/3. This is surprising as we assumed as they were more flexible they would be lighter.
These Ultra Pro are very good shoes that are more than just an ultra shoe. You can use them on any terrain. They are flexible, especially up front and in torsional twist, so you can adapt to any terrain. Very pleasant to run in. They do not feel inert or heavy (do not compare them to the S/Lab Sense range). The foot strike is fluid and stable. The 8mm drop is coherent with their usage. You are never far from the terrain and so precision is noticeable. You can feel that the outer sole is supple and grips the terrain. This works when the terrain is not too technical but with increased speed over sharp stony ground you can feel the uneven ground up through the sole of the shoes.
The grip is good with well-designed lugs. We really liked the grip under the forefoot: efficient, powerful and very reassuring in steep slopes. Mud doesn’t stay lodged in between the lugs and so you don’t take on any extra weight. We only noticed that very small stones can stay stuck in the heel, but nothing worrying.
The heel has plenty of cushioning, but don’t expect armchair comfort like a Hoka. The Ultra Pro doesn’t have to be run with expertise: you can relax into a heel strike when fatigue takes its toll. Mid-foot runners are also at ease.
The Quicklace® is powerful as always, and you need to take care when tightening. The storage pocket is perfect: nothing seeps out and it is a clean and aesthetic design!
Foothold is good with the spreading system that we have already discovered on the S/Lab Ultra. Four wide “straps” that come up from the base of the shoe to the laces to envelop the foot. The design is all a question of personal taste but the foot hold is without question superb.
The heel zone is well designed with well-balanced foam padding. The rest of the foot is in direct contact with the shoe structure. It isn’t that bad as Salomon provide a structure that is practically seamless. Even the reinforcements, stone guards are integrated without stitching. So there is zero rubbing, no pressure points. As always at Salomon we have an excellent stone guard, lightweight, supple yet protective. The durability of the shoe needs to be seen with long-term use, especially the mesh around the toes.
The Ultra Pro are an excellent trail running shoes. Less expensive than the S/Lab Ultra, more flexible, for a wider market, with great grip, comfort and foot hold.
8 mm 
We used this equipment over a long period of time
These are our thoughts after intensive use:
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