Snowcross CS... also from Salomon

Die Liebe zum Detail ..... the love or even a sort of obsession for details is my kind of being. I do not have much money, but I spend big amounts of money for things made due to this rule: paid attention to every and smallest detail! Such of things you have it for your life long, if you pay attention and take a little bit of care about them. 

We all know - or should know - that the mass production of products killed the entire originality and specificity of values. When you find a fine product nowadays, don't take it for granted, because real fine things made by human hands are more seldom to be seen.

This jacket is also a good example (click here), this race bike is a different good example and the list doesn't stop here.

Now, these winter trail running shoes from Salomon are made first for my eyes, then for my soul and, finally, for my feet and senses. 

I've ordered and get delivered this very beautiful shoes at the same time with these one and unfortunately I have the same big issue about the right size.

As you can see, the shoes are very beautiful. And very special indeed. 

I had big, big thoughts about if I should risk to buy these shoes. They are pretty expensive, far away from what I can afford at this end of a new pathetic year - financially speaking -.

 The first problem about them it was finding them only as men option. Searching for something affordable for running in very cold and wet weather, I always was linked to this model. Looking to them on internet and reading about the product as a "new wonder for trail runners", I had the image of a big, strong, aggressive shoe for men only. The real stuff is not so "dangerous" as it seems to be. As I was told here in Romania that the model is unisex, I was very surprised. As already described in previous material about the other pair of running shoes, the professional advice in order to buy a pair was missing. 

 The most important dilemma for me, after the price, was the right size. Having the Speedcross 3 in size 6,5 UK and feeling them a little bit too big for my feet, I finally decided to order 6,5 UK. Wrong decision (!!) and here Salomon manufacturer should pay much more attention. Speaking about sizing this model, something is quite strange with it. I can say this after wearing it at the office, with two different type of socks, for 2 days now. They are too tight in the middle vs. the front side of the shoe. I am still so undecided about these shoes: are they just extraordinary as performance and design or not?

I cannot comment now about the performance, as I couldn't test them on trail and I am not decided if I should do it or not. I mean .... if I run with them once, I cannot return them.

 The structure is interesting.

There is an inner shoe and over it a special high protection with zip.

The Snowcross CS is a water-resistant minimum feature, moderate neutral trail shoe designed for racing and daily training in the winter.

CUSHIONING

• Injected EVA runs the length of the shoe for underfoot cushion.
• Molded EVA midsole provides underfoot cushioning.

MIDSOLE

• Injected EVA runs the length of the shoe for underfoot cushion.
• Molded EVA midsole provides underfoot cushioning.
• LT Muscle is a lightweight EVA cushioning compound that helps absorb impact forces.

UPPER

• Quicklace is a lace system made from durable Kevlar fibers for easy shoe entry and exit.

Anti-Debris Mesh is a breathable mesh upper that keeps debris out of the shoe. Sensifit overlays on the upper wrap the foot for a close, secure fit.

• Zip Gaiter keeps rocks, debris, and water out of the shoe.
• ClimaShield is a lightweight, breathable and quick drying waterproof membrane that covers the foot area for added protection.
• Lace Pocket keeps laces tucked up and out of the way.
• 2nd Skin Construction is a seamless upper that delivers ideal comfort.
• OrthoLite Sockliner is composed of anti-bacterial material and is designed to reduce odor and moisture while adding cushion directly underfoot.
• Protective Ankle Pads keep lower legs safe from debris and ice.
• Strategically Placed Overlays help secure the foot in place and provide increased durability.

OUTSOLE

• Mud and Snow Contagrip has an aggressive lug pattern designed to dig in deep on softer ground for excellent traction.
• Includes 9 metal spike pins.

Anyway, the ideal winter trail running shoe seems to be invented and available for everybody could afford it, the price starts from about 160 EURO.
+ points:
very beautiful
incredible light
- points:
problematic by choosing the right size
still don't know  ....
First run with it filled me with full pain. I've run only 9 km on trail, through the forest, on autumn cover of dead leaves. A huge blister and a deep pain inside the right feet just in the middle where never in my life I had a blister - did my run not a pleasant experience, but I could finish the run. So, second impression about these shoes: not a happy choice. 
I will now more when I'll use them on ice and in cold weather, maybe it is a good choice after all. Hopefully. For the time being I am quite disappointed.
Update 12th of December:
Perfect day and perfect ground for this running shoe offered me the chance to test it again. Not on trail path, but in the Capital City, after a long snow fall and frozen temperatures. So, the asphalt was entirely covered by thick ice as I enjoyed in January in Tromso. So, I have run the 7 km from home to the office, in the early morning, than back in the evening. Thicker socks. Great feeling. The shoes seem to be on the right ground and the runner feels more secure. But I maintain what I said about the form. The shoe´s form is not normal. To run with it I have to ignore the laces. I use only the zipp. This is not OK at all. The length of the shoe is good for the feet, but the shoe itself does not offer enough place for the entire foot. It is very strange and .... it is a winter shoe, why should the producer let less space inside the shoe?! I have a real big problem with this. People from Salomon, hey, I hope you read this and have something to say maybe?
Update 23th of December, 2012:
16 km running on icy snow. One hour running, then about 2 hours walking and stopping for taking pictures. So, after almost 3 hours outdoor, at about minus 8 degrees C, cloudy day, I felt some cold to the toes.
No complains today, good shoes :-)
Updated 14.01.2013:

 After 56 km running with these shoes I can say that I run on a path to ... happiness :-)) I report after a longer run. The longest was for only 16 km, pretty OK, could be better.

Updated 31.01.2018: 

I finally live and run in a place where these shoes deserve to be active! Real winter, high snow and frozen roads or paths are the best friends of these shoes. I still appreciate them at being the best model for cold winters and even my pair is still almost new due to lack of proper opportunities to run it out, I think about buying the 2nd pair in size 7 UK, of course (left foot 25,5 cm long, right foot 25 cm long. UK Size 6,5 ist a bit small).

S-Lab Sense 

S LAB SENSE from Salomon

To be very honest ..... I still don't know what to think about this beautiful trail running shoe .... ordering and paying and getting it delivered in Bucharest was a long adventure indeed. 
It took me two calls in Germany and Austria, about 4 E-Mails to Germany, USA and Austria, a Facebook correspondence with Salomon in France, a lot of written correspondence to the Romanian sales representative. I will not complain now about the sale refuse first (sort of "we do not sell this model, it is too complicated, we order our products one year before, so we cannot import now the models you wish" and such of incrredible stuff), then about the too poor product advice I've got in Romania before ordering the both pairs of shoes, or about other things I had to experience during delivery and after delivery ... this is Romania and I still live here and I cannot change anything around me. But I can mention that finally they imported the products for me - I wanted 3 models, but we couldn't agree the final price (discounted) and I couldn't afford the difference of about 200 RON more -, they delivered about one month earlier without previous communication, I had to return the package as it was an aberration to pay cash the huge amount (no money in the pocket, I mean it!), I had to obtain the money and they send the package again, getting delivered today!

So, back to the product itself:

+ points:

It is very light indeed! 

It is very beautiful, if you like red and white.

- points:

It seems to be unexpected tight/narrow.

Surprised to have sweaty socks at the end, as I normally do not have with other running shoes.

It seems that size 6,5 UK (40 EUR) feels like 6 UK (39,5 EUR), which is a problem. 

Buying shoes on internet is always risky. 

But I already have a Salomon experience:

 These one are 6,5 UK and are a little bit too big for me, I always have a thicker sock inside, for stability and security. I normally wear 39 EUR, also 40 for hiking boots, for winter boots and so on. So, having these, I tried to get some professional advice from the Romanian seller, but his reply was everything else but not a professional one. So, I ordered the same size, 6,5 UK. And I am not very happy with it. A size 7 UK would have been probably much better.

The difference in the middle is quite obvious ... the red one is much tighter, right? I really wonder why, as both models are for trail running. The yellow one is for cold time, winter and so on .... is this the reason?

But I said OK, have some patience, go running with it, take thin socks, even there are about +5 degrees C outside, take the risk! 

How they feel running with?

Unexpected, but I've run 16 km this evening, 1h33'. Because these shoes .... are so light! I felt very clear that my experience running in VFF helped a lot! No joke!

This is VFF, for people do not know what I mean:

I am not an expert, but I have to say it again: running with S Lab Sense it means a different way of running. You should be familiar with the barefoot running, for sure, this is my clear feeling. Otherwise you could get damaged entering directly into S Lab Sense, especially on a trail. I run tonight in the park, in the city, also not directly on the trail, where they probably belong to. 

I felt good, this is for sure, otherwise I wouldn't run so long.

They are good for summer, not for cold days. 
Updated summer 2013:
These shoes are really strange. Unfortunately, the first feeling was the right one. I cannot use them, are much too tight. I should have probably order 41 size, which I never wear! Lost money.

 Read this, it sounds as it is so, but myself I did not tested it on the mountains yet:

how it began - about SENSE shoes 
Read here about the SNOWCROSS model