Salomon Pulsar Trail Pro Review
Published: July 25, 2022
Fast and Protective Trail Racer
Likes
- Comfortable and protective cushioning
- Smooth, fast-feeling ride
- Secure fit with accommodating toebox
- Super grippy traction
- Energy surge foam is light and responsive
Dislikes
- Booty upper is very hard to get on
- Small collar opening can be restricting
What's New
The Salomon Pulsar Trail Pro brings responsive plates and high-energy foams to the trails. The shoe features an Energy Blade TPU plate, Energy Surge foam, and an all-terrain Contagrip outsole for confidence and speed during off-road adventures. The Energy Surge foam is a blend of EVA and Olefin foams and is responsive, bouncy, and durable. This combines with the plate and a rockered midsole geometry that encourage forward propulsion while being stable on uneven terrain.
For a secure and race-ready fit, the Pulsar Trail Pro features a thin mesh upper and Salomon's Quicklace design, which provides a secure hold with an accommodating toe box. A soft collar construction and anti-debris fabric finish off the upper to provide added protection from material entering the shoe. Overall, the Salomon Pulsar Trail Pro is a performance trail shoe that provides plenty of protection for mid-distance trail runs and races.
The Bottom Line
Our testers found the Salomon Pulsar Trail Pro to be a speedy and capable shoe. Throughout testing, the Pulsar Trail Pro provided high levels of protection on technical and rocky trails allowing our testers to use the shoe on a wide variety of terrain. The outsole provided excellent grip and did not ruin the shoe's feel when running on roads to connect or access trails.
The Energy surge midsole foam is lightweight and responsive, and our testers appreciated the combination of the foam with the Energy Blade plate. This duo provided excellent energy return and stability on varied terrain. As for the upper, our testers found a comfortable and accommodating toebox, but they had issues with the heel fit and tightness of the collar when putting on or taking off the shoe. Despite the difficulties when putting the shoe on, the collar did an excellent job of keeping dirt and debris out of the shoe, and the upper had an excellent lockdown.
Overall, the Pulsar Trail Pro is a nimble trail shoe with a confidence-inspiring ride that provides plenty of protection for all trail runs. Runners looking for a fast shoe that blends underfoot protection with a lightweight and agile feel will love the Salomon Pulsar Trail Pro for their next trail run or race.
Specifications & Fit
Shoe Specs
| Weight | Men's (size 9) 9.5 oz | 270 grams |
| Stack Height | 33 mm (Heel), 27 mm (Forefoot) | 6 mm Drop |
| Terrain | Trail |
| Sizing | Runs Long |
Our In-Depth Look
Shoe Softnessi
Liz: "The Salomon Pulsar Trail Pro does not have the sink-in softness of trail running shoes like the HOKA Speedgoat or Altra Lone Peak, but I really enjoyed the cushioning. It has a comfortable amount of softness that doesn't feel plush but still eliminates any harshness of running on rough trails or on the roads while heading to the trailhead."
Connor F: "The Pulsar Trail Pro was very firm at first, but after a few runs, the midsole started to break in and feel softer. The foam is not super soft, but it absorbs the initial impact."
Ride/Energy Returni
Liz: "The Pulsar Trail Pro has snappy responsiveness instead of a bouncy feel. But that said, it still feels fast and nimble on any surface. There is a slight rockered shape to the midsole that helps keep me easily moving forward through my stride. Additionally, the midsole plate helps to add an extra spring of propulsion."
Connor F: "This shoe makes me want to run at a quicker pace. I didn't feel like the shoe was making me leap forward, but it did have a smooth transition from landing to toe-off. This is in part thanks to the rocker and the Energy Surge foam. It is a nice pairing that was aggressive without feeling unstable, which was great for the trails."
Underfoot Protectioni
Liz: "I was surprised by how protective these shoes feel. They offer a nimble, connected-to-the-ground experience, but they also do a wonderful job of protecting my feet from sharp rocks and debris underfoot. I think the key to this balance is the bottom-loaded Energy Blade plate. It helps to smooth out the feel of rough terrain underfoot, while a large amount of foam between the foot and the plate provides a soft, impact-dampening feel that keeps my feet and joints feeling good even at the end of long trail runs."
Connor F: "This shoe has good underfoot protection. It has a fairly high stack height, and the plate acts like a rock plate. I did not have any rock strikes or feel any stones when running technical trails. However, with runs over an hour, I was starting to get sore feet and feel more impact through my body."
Flexibilityi
Liz: "The Energy Blade plate makes the Pulsar Trail Pro very rigid. This provides the shoe with a snappy toe-off and a stable feel on uneven terrain. Despite the rigid design, the rocker geometry helps to give the shoe a very smooth ride at any pace."
Connor F: "The Pulsar Trail Pro is not a flexible shoe. The underfoot rocker and Energy foam keep the shoe rigid, though I did not feel that this inhibited my running in any way. When compared to other plated shoes, the Pulsar Trail Pro does have a slight flex that makes it feel less like a race-only shoe and more comfortable for daily runs."
Upper Supporti
Liz: "The upper of the Pulsar Trail Pro has a very structured feel that might be its main turnoff for some runners. I found the booty construction to be very difficult to get on, but once the shoe was on, I actually enjoyed the fit. It does lean on the snugger side, but I found the toe box to be comfortable even for my wide feet, while the structured midfoot and heel design provided an extremely locked-down fit. This felt shoe felt very stable and gave me confidence on uneven terrain, but some runners may feel that it is too restrictive for their tastes."
Connor F: "I have mixed feelings about the Pulsar Trail Pro's upper. The shoe fit long, and I could have used a size down. This led me to dislike the collar's fit because I felt that it held my foot too far back. However, I didn't notice the collar stopping my natural gait or making me uncomfortable. The rest of the upper I enjoyed. It uses a very light material that fits around the foot well and provides solid support for the uneven terrain encountered on any trail I could find."
Men's Salomon Pulsar
Women's Salomon Pulsar
Individual Thoughts
LizOverall Score: 9/10
This is the kind of trail running shoe that I love! The Pulsar Trail Pro perfectly balances a fast and nimble experience without feeling harsh underfoot or too unstable for long trail runs. I took this shoe on everything from paved roads to smooth singletrack to very rocky trails, and I felt that it performed well in every environment. My feet and knees always felt protected from the impact of running, and the stability provided by the underfoot plate and structured upper gave me confidence on steep, uneven terrain. One very noticeable aspect of the shoe was the grippy traction from the Contagrip rubber outsole. While the lugs are not very deep, I felt that these shoes just stuck to the trail underfoot and inspired confidence on loose or rocky terrain. My one complaint about this shoe is the booty construction of the upper. It is very difficult to get on and leans on the snugger side. Despite this, I found the toebox to be very accommodating and had no issues with rubbing or blisters. Those who are concerned about the upper fit should consider the regular Pulsar Trail as an option with a more traditional design but a similar underfoot feel.
Shoe Softness
FirmSoftRide/Energy Return
Less SpringyMore SpringyUnderfoot Protection
LowHighFlexibility
RigidElasticUpper Support
StructuredAdaptable
Connor F. Overall Score: 7.5/10
I enjoyed running in the Salomon Pulsar Trail Pro. I think the plate and the Energy Surge foam are a great combination for a fast trail shoe, and together they give me the confidence to press the pace. The fit of the upper and superior outsole grip add to that confidence. This shoe uses Salomon's Quicklace system and lace garage, which kept everything neat and tidy. I think the Pulsar Trail Pro is an exceptional option for the trail runner looking for a fast and reliable shoe for any distance where speed is paramount.
