The Salomon Speedcross 3 has been a highly popular running shoe model for years. With its bold colors and wonderfully ergonomic design, runners and hikers from all over the world have been raving about this shoe.
Since the Salomon Speedcross 4 has been released, people have been asking what the difference is between the new version and the old version. In response to this, we have created the Salomon Speedcross 3 vs 4 review.
Interested in Salomon shoe technology? Learn more on our Salomon Climashield vs Gore-Tex review.
Salomon Speedcross 3 vs 4
What is Great About the Salomon Speedcross Shoes
As a hiker or runner, do you tend to go through wet and muddy terrain? The Salomon Speedcross shoes, both version 3 and version 4 are specially designed to provide traction under those conditions. They have large lugs at the soles that offer a lot of friction. These help you when you are going uphill and downhill, and they keep you from sliding.
The outside lining of the shoe helps keep your feet protected against nature. For example, as you are hiking through the woods you may encounter some sharp rocks or thorny bushes. The rubber helps keep all of this outside of the shoe.
These shoes have plenty of cushioning, which appeals to many people who may have sensitive feet. It is pretty clear that Salomon has taken it upon themselves to not be stingy in that area. In addition to that, both of these shoes have a Sensifit Technology to create the best fit for every size of foot.
And if the utility of these shoes did not make it great enough, the magnificent blend of colors definitely makes people take a second look. There are many color combinations, and we have yet to see any that do not appeal to us.
But if the Salomon Speedcross 3 is so great, why did they need to create the Speedcross 4?
Salomon Speedcross 4 Features
As with any product, there is always room for improvement. Salomon is constantly improving upon its design in order to please its customers. This is why they bring you the Speedcross 4, complete with a few design changes that make the Speedcross even better.
Here, we will list all of the features that Salomon has updated with the coming of the Speedcross 4.
Increased traction:
With the Speedcross 4 comes 22% more lug surface area. Lugs are the elevated parts of the undersole that provide traction against the ground. With this increase surface area, Speedcross 4 is now more versatile. And it will allow you to go through all types of terrain more comfortably.
Keep in mind that the Speedcross 4 is still optimal for wet and muddy terrain. This will help you prevent yourself from slipping when going up hills and down hills, or even just when you are running on a flat surface. There will be less risk of slippage in any condition.
Lowered cuff:
The cuff around the ankles has been lowered and opened up. This exposes more of the ankle for a more comfortable fit. Some people have bony ankles, which tend to hurt and bruise when rubbing up against the cuff.
If doing plenty of going up and down hills, the foot can easily slide within a shoe and cause abrasion. Without the cuff rubbing against the ankle bones, there is no need to worry about the abrasion or having to wear a bandaid after a long run.
Lowered Drop:
The heel drop has been lowered by 1 millimeter down to 10 millimeters. According to Salomon, this should make the shoe more comfortable. The heel drop is the angle between the position of the heel and the position of the ball of the feet.
Updated Color Options:
The Speedcross 4 comes in different color options from the Speedcross 3. While the Speedcross 3 involves a lot of color blocking, the Speedcross 4 color options are more contiguous. Color blocking is when a product includes more than one color that may be complementary but provides a bold contrast.
While the Speedcross 4 still has bold colors, there is not as much of contrast because the colors tend to be paired with other colors that are on the same spectrum. Some may feel that this gives it a more modern look. We would tend to agree, although there are people who might prefer to have contrasting colors.
Salomon Speedcross 3 vs 4: Pricing
Because the Salomon Speedcross 3 is an older model, it may be a bit less expensive than a Speedcross 4. To see current prices for these, please follow the links below:
The Verdict
As you can see from the above, the Speedcross 4 is simply an improved version of the Speedcross 3. Improvements are based on Salomon’s research into what customers want to see the most. They include improvements in performance, safety, and comfort. If you have already owned the Speedcross 3, the Speedcross 4 is a natural progression. Overall, both Speedcross versions are excellent shoes and well worth the cost.
