REVIEW: Salomon Speedcross 3 Forces

Double Lottchen !? No, not quite. In the picture, a shoe that is well known to some is seen, the Speedcross from Salomon Forces. On the left in its previous civilian form and next to it in beautiful tactical colors. We took a close look at the Speedcross from the tactical line of Salomon, for which Linderhof-Taktik is the representative for Germany, for you.

The Speedcross shoes are particularly popular among dirt and trail runners around the world. So people who like to be wet, muddy, and sweaty. Soldiers are also like that most of the time, which is why these shoes were also commonly used in the field. The only disadvantage: the endlessly bright colors of the civilian Speedcross (presumably so they can be found in the mud). Salomon has heard the calls and launched the Forces series at the beginning of the year. The same shoes, just in tactical colors and without reflectors. By the way, the civilian shoe in the picture is the Speedcross 2 - the previous version - which has already brought us to the finish line in many dirt runs.

A classic image is presented when viewing the tactical Speedcross from the side. The reflectors and the writing have been replaced by gray, and the bright colors by black. The Speedcross 3 Forces offer the same innovative technology and materials as its civilian counterpart.

The popularity of this shoe probably stems from its unbeatable grip in muddy, soft terrain. This is achieved by the special sole, which is designed with V-shaped lugs. A very soft rubber compound was used for this. This is also the downside of the shoe. The lugs unfortunately wear out very quickly on hard ground, as can be seen clearly in the picture. At the beginning of the test, about three months ago, they were all the same height. Due to the lugs, the walking feeling is a bit strange at the beginning on hard ground, as one feels a bit wobbly.

The lacing, as with most Salomon shoes, is done with the patented Quicklace system. Simply tighten and done. To keep the excess laces from dangling, there is a small pocket at the end of the tongue where they can be stowed.

At only 310 g in total, the shoe is a real lightweight. The fit is described as tight and narrow, so buy the shoe one size larger to really enjoy it. Our tester usually wears 42 but needs 43 1/3 at Salomon. The quick-drying Ortholite insole can be easily removed.

Another small disadvantage cannot be seen with the naked eye, but only through night vision goggles. Here, the shoe appears mostly white, which is unfortunate. We hope that this will no longer be the case in future series.

CONCLUSION: A well-known and highly appreciated shoe, not only among dirt runners. It offers unbeatable grip in terrain, and serves its purpose equally well on asphalt and stone. It excels in use. The quality is typical of Salomon, simply very good.

Available at HQG for 125 € excluding shipping in black. Dealer inquiries for the tactical Salomon line to Linderhof-Taktik.