Salomon Sense Ride 3 Review
The Do-It-All Trail Shoe
Likes
- Stable Ride
- Responsive Cushioning
- Fantastic Grip
- Accommodating Upper
Dislikes
- Tongue Bunches
- Slightly Heavy
What's New
Completely redesigned for added comfort, the Salomon Sense Ride 3 now features the brand's new Optivibe midsole technology found in the Sonic line of road shoes. The midsole combines a dampening foam with a more propulsive foam to help reduce muscle vibration and limit fatigue while maintaining a responsive ride. Profeel film protects the feet from rocks and debris underfoot, and the Contragrip MA outsole features deeper lugs for aggressive traction on all types of terrain. Finally, the new mesh upper delivers better durability and the same generous fit of the previous version while the Sensifit design helps to keep the foot secure in the shoe.
The Bottom Line
Although very different from the Sense Ride 2, the Salomon Sense Ride 3 offers a blend of comfort, stability, and performance that makes it versatile enough for almost any trail run. The Optivibe midsole provides wonderful protection from both the trail and the road making it a great option for anything from road-to-trail runs to ultramarathons on technical terrain. Despite the higher level of cushioning, the shoe's slightly firmer ride does a great job of keeping the runner moving forward throughout their stride. Meanwhile the new upper adds durability while maintaining a secure and comfortable fit.
The Sense Ride 3 offers a wonderful balance of cushioning, durability, and nimbleness, but its weight is on the heavier range for a performance trail running shoe. Fans of the Sense Ride 2 will find that this is a slightly heftier and more cushioned option than before. Although this may limit its use of faster runs, many will appreciate the added comfort and durability of the Salomon Sense Ride 3.
Shoe Performance
Softness i
Ride/Energy Return i
Underfoot Protection i
Flexibility i
Upper Support i
Specifications & Fit
How It Fits
| Toe Box | Width: Medium | Height: Low | |
| Midfoot Volume | Medium to Low | |
| Heel Width | Medium to Narrow | |
| Arch Height | Medium to High |
Shoe Specs
| Weight | Men's: 10.5 oz (size 9) | Women's: 10.0 oz (size 8) | |
| Stack Height | 25mm (Heel), 17mm (Forefoot) | 8mm heel-toe offset | |
| Terrain | Trail | |
| Stability | Neutral | |
| Sizing | True to Size |
Our In-Depth Look
Shoe Softness i
Bronte: "When I first put the Sense Ride 3s on, I noticed that the cushioning was firmer than the HOKA trail shoes that I am used to, but I grew to like it the more miles I put on them. It was comfortable without taking away a nimble feeling on the trail."
Ride/Energy Return i
Bronte: "Although these didn't have a noticeable bounce, I never felt like I was dragging my feet. The midsole did a great job of maintaining my forward momentum on the trail."
Underfoot Protection i
Bronte: "Although the cushioning was on the firm side, I felt like there was plenty of protection from the trail. The Opti-Vibe foam did a good job of absorbing shock, and I never noticed sharp rocks underfoot."
Underfoot Flexibility i
Bronte: "The protective midsole doesn't bend much, but I didn't notice the lack of flexibility affecting my runs. The shoes had a smooth and comfortable ride."
Upper Feel i
Bronte: "I really liked the thin mesh upper on these. It felt light and airy which helped keep the shoe feeling hot or weighed down. I had a little issue with the tongue sliding down, but overall, the fit was secure and comfortable."
Individual Thoughts
I really liked the Salomon Sense Ride 3's responsiveness on the trail. They balanced protective cushioning, support, and traction while maintaining a nimble feel. The grip was fantastic, and I felt that I could really go for it and not worry about sliding or twisting my ankle on the trail.
The fit of the shoes was snug enough to keep my foot in place without feeling narrow or restrictive, and the shoe provided enough arch support that I did not need to wear my inserts with them. My only issue with the upper was that the tongue would slide down and bunch no matter how tight I kept the laces. It didn’t affect my run at all and didn’t cause pain, but it was distracting.
Although these aren't the lightest trail running shoes, I never felt like they held me back on any type of terrain, and I enjoyed the comfort they provided on my regular trail runs.