When I first laced my feet into Salomon’s Sense Ride trail running shoe, it was in the French Alps, the day before I was to run roughly 10 miles along the ridge opposite Mont Blanc, the tallest mountain in the range. Despite never having run that far in my life at the time, the day was a success, and while that might’ve been due to the postcard or the pre-run cheese and pastries, it was undoubtedly due to the shoes.
Salomon made the Sense Ride as an entry-level trail runner’s shoe, but that just means that it’s well-rounded, not that it’s basic. It isn’t specific to any particular environment or distance; two things seasoned pros look for. It goes everywhere. It’s lightweight, grippy, supportive and comfortable. It has a speed lacing system that tucks into the shoe’s tongue and enough protection around the toe to guard against inevitable stubs.
Right now, the Sense Ride is also 30 percent off at Backcountry, with a price that’s down from $120 to $84. If you aren’t looking for a discount though, Salomon recently revealed the Sense Ride 2, which builds on its predecessor with a more flexible and comfortable upper.