I've been running in these shoes for about a month now and am quite happy with them. I live in Alaska where we have snow a good five months out of the year, so I'm always looking for a way to gain traction in slippery/snowy conditions. The tread pattern and metal spikes work perfectly on ice and snow that has been compacted. I'm able to give a strong kickoff and get some speed work in very effectively. Because the traction is built into the shoe the sole stays nice and flat there is no deformation of the sole like I've experienced wearing pull-on traction systems.
I wouldn't necessarily get as excited about these as winter trail shoes. While they are very warm (they have done great in -20f for 2 hours) and quite stable, they don't offer much improvement in traction on trails over other Salomon trail shoes when snow is loose or loosely compacted. I'm not sure expecting super traction on thee sorts of trails is realistic anyway. The bottom line with these shoes is that the more compact the trail surface, the more traction you will get, and it will be more traction than most running shoes can offer.
I'd recommend these to a friend as they are great shoes, sturdy, warm, and stable.
There are a couple of areas their design can be improved.
1. The fastener for the speed-laces has a tendency to loosen if you are wearing snow gaiters and climbing steeper trails.
2. There is no accommodation at the front of the shoe for gaiters to hook into.
3. I'd love for the metal studs to be replaceable. These shoes are well made, and running in the snow won't wear the rubber very quickly. I can see the studs might be the fastest thing to wear, especially when running on icy/snowy roads that have been graveled.
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This shoe, the Salomon Spikecross 3 CS is identical to the Salomon Speedcross 3 CS except for the addition of 9 tungsten carbide spikes embedded in 9 of the rubber lugs on each sole. Both are billed as cool season trail running shoes. The primary benefit of the Spikecross variant is that you can expect a dramatic improvement in traction on ice. Both provide great traction on earthen trails. Both shed mud and dirt very well as the rubber traction lugs are widely spaced.
I own both Speedcross 3 and Spikecross 3 CS shoes, recently having purchased the Spikecross on Jan. 31, 2013. Since then I've hiked and run a little over 62 miles on the new Spikecross shoes. I'm 60 years old and trying to get back into running this summer. These shoes promised to keep me out on the trails in spite of icy conditions resulting from recent freezing rain and snow here in Minnesota. The times these Spikecross shoes have been on the trails they have seen about 40% ice, 50% packed snow, and 10% or less dry pavement. So here are the Pros and Cons from my experience with these shoes:
Pros:
Traction is excellent on ice. Better than any of the strap on traction assist devices I've tried. And I've tried most of them. You can walk/run with confidence, even on glare ice. These carbide studs dig in and stick.
These shoes are warm. I wore them on one 6 mile hike with a pair of medium weight Darn Tough brand ski socks with the air temperature at 1°F and some wind. My toes remained comfortably warm for the entire hike. I couldn't believe it. Today's hike was at 37°F and the shoes felt about the same. Neither hike left my feet sweaty either. Good-bye boots!
This shoe feels very much like a good running shoe, with a flexible sole, and a fit that wraps snugly around your foot while leaving ample room for toes to have some wiggle room. The interior finish is very well crafted with no annoying seams or bumps to bother your feet. The heel cup is somewhat narrow which prevents your heel from sliding around too much. I've never felt any hot spots in this shoe so I don't think blisters will ever be an issue. But, this is pretty subjective as everyone's feet are unique and what works for me may not work for you.
The OrthoLite insole offers moderate cushioning and significant arch support. I have a moderate arch and like the feel. But if you have more of a flat foot, I suspect you'll be changing insoles. High arch should be OK.
The fit is true to size. (I have an average width foot with no unusual features). If you have a wide foot, this shoe probably isn't for you. If you plan on wearing a winter weight sock in this shoe, order a shoe a half size larger than you normally would. I originally purchased the same size as my Speedcross and ended up returning them for a half size larger.
The speed lacing system is awesome. Just pull on the permanently installed laces and slide the stopper down to the tongue until it feels right. There's a pocket in the top of the tongue for stowing the extra lace and stopper. So there's nothing hanging out to get caught up in anything. I love this feature. And, by the way, replacement specialty laces are available from Salomon if you eventually break one.
The CS (Climate Shield) feature claims to provide protection from extreme climates. Near as I can tell, it must consist of a layer of something like Goretex laminated in the uppers. I can't visually discern any difference between between my non-CS Speedcross and the CS Spikecross shoes. There's no apparent additional thickness or bulk, so, it doesn't seem to involve extra insulation. I put this in the 'pro' column because I suppose it's nice if they are indeed water resistant, but for my application, the water is mostly frozen solid when I wear them so it hasn't been a big deal.
Cons:
The traction comes at a price. These shoes will seriously damage hardwood floors, or any kind of laminate. Also, be careful on running boards and door sills on your car of you are fussy about such things. The carbide inserts can dig into and scratch almost anything you walk on. So, if you're going shopping after your run or visiting a friend's house, bring an extra pair of shoes.
Another side effect of the carbide studs is that if you do walk on an exceptionally hard surface, like ceramic tiles or smooth granite rock, they won't dig in and actually skid across the hard surface. You'll have much LESS traction than you would wearing the Speedcross shoe without the studs. So be careful if you're planning on rock hopping. It will be interesting to try them on algae slicked soft rock like limestone or sandstone. They may work there. But watch out for granite.
Another possible limitation is dry pavement. While you can walk on dry pavement, you get kind of a grinding sensation when you toe-off as the sole flexes and the studs on the forefoot move a little farther away from each other and grind the pavement. It's a little noisy and a bit disconcerting. The other issue might be wear to the studs themselves. They will obviously wear faster walking on concrete or asphalt paved surfaces than on ice. And the studs don't appear to be replaceable. That said, after 62 miles mine look almost as good as new. But I did plan my routes to avoid dry pavement when wearing these shoes. In fact, I actually prefer walking on the ice!
The last issue is price. This is a fine shoe, very well made, and if you use it like it's intended, you'll be very satisfied with its performance. But, what these things cost is considerably more than most top-of-the-line running shoes. And you'll want something else on your feet when the ice melts.
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I have had 3 pairs of these and just so you know that with average use the upper Goretex where your toes flex on the outer sides wears out in about 6 months. That of course makes them no longer waterproof. Just sayin'!
Honest reviews on Salomon Men's Spikecross 3 CS Trail Running Shoe
As a Wisconsin runner, winter running can sometimes be a challenge. These shoes are warm and provide excellent traction on icy and packed snow covered paths. They fit snug so maybe go up a size from your normal running shoes especially if you use thicker socks in the winter.
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I bought these shoes for orienteering events, which involve off-trail running. They are excellent for this purpose, and they fit my feet perfectly. The metal spikes are helpful when traversing steep, slippery hillsides.
Although Salomon markets these shoes as being very aggressive trail running shoes, I know that an increasing number of people are using them for off-trail running as well. Buying these shoes through Amazon is SO much easier and more convenient than ordering a pair of specialized orienteering shoes from Scandinavia!
