Salomon Pulsar Trail Review

Upper

Connor: "The Pulsar Trail's upper fits true to size, and I quickly found a comfortable lockdown. The upper has a breathable mesh with eyelets that attach to the midsole to support each side of the foot. I was confident running on steep terrain knowing that my foot would not slide around. I also felt that the toe box was wider in the Pulsar than other Salomon shoes, so my toes had plenty of room to spread out."

Kaitlin: "The shoe's upper has a nice semi-structured wrap that feels very forgiving. The wrap is thick with a secure gusset that is comfortable on foot, but it felt pretty warm to me, and the Pulsar wouldn't be my first choice in hot conditions. The wider forefoot platform offers a generous amount of space, which I appreciated throughout the testing period. That said, some runners may find it a bit wide."

Midsole

Connor: "Compared to other trail shoes, the Pulsar Trail has more cushion underfoot, which feels great when running on hard-packed sections of the trail. The Pulsar Trail also provides a connected-to-the-ground feeling when on soft trail segments, and these versatile shoes are even a good road-to-trail option when I need to connect different trail segments.

The Energy Blade TPU plate is not as noticeable as other plated shoes, but on longer runs, the Energy Blade feels like it is helping me along, and I don't have to work quite as hard. Furthermore, the embedded nylon plate almost functions as a rock plate, adding to the Pulsar Trail's protective quality. The shoe offers solid protection but still allows the contours and features of the trail to come through. The midsole is not overly stacked, but it provides a well-balanced ride that is protective without zapping energy."

Kaitlin: "The Pulsar Trail's midsole offers a touch of softness, providing enough protection to keep me comfortable on the trails and the roads. That said, the Pulsar Trail remains very nimble, and it still allows me to feel connected to the ground.

The Pulsar Trail is great for technical trails or piling up mileage on fire roads, and the combination of the rockered midsole, balanced foam, and Energy Blade plate create a smooth and springy ride that was enjoyable to run in."

Outsole

Connor: "The Contagrip MA outsole provided excellent grip, and I was surprised how well the shoe transitioned from the pavement to packed trails to soft terrain. The flex grooves along the outsole added a nice level of flexibility that helped keep the ride smooth and efficient. The cutouts in the midsole and outsole helped reduce the weight of the Pulsar Trail, but they did collect some debris in soft, wet conditions, which was not ideal but ultimately not a big issue."

Kaitlin: "The outsole provides adequate protection from the trail, although there is still a good amount of ground feel. The toe bumper wards off injury from the accidental kick of rocks or roots, while the plate prevents stone bruising. Traction from the outsole is not aggressive, but it provides excellent grip on wet, technical terrain. The shoe is fairly durable overall, but I imagine that the outsole will probably outlive the resilience of the cushioning. "

Comparable Models

Connor: "Compared to the Pulsar Trail Pro, the Pulsar Trail has a roomier fit and is much more dialed-in for everyday use. I frequently found myself reaching for the Trail instead of the Pro for my weekly trail runs. The Pulsar Trail does not deliver the same level of responsiveness as the Pro, but I enjoyed the balanced ride and versatility of the Pulsar Trail. For super technical trails, I would prefer the Salomon Sense Ride for its firmer midsole and more agile overall experience in the shoe. For all other runs, the Pulsar Trail is a better shoe.  

Finally, the HOKA Tecton X has a similar underfoot feel to the Pulsar, but the Tecton has more cushioning underfoot and is not as agile on technical terrain. The Pulsar Trail upper also fit me better, especially through the midfoot and toe box, but overall, both shoes are great for faster runs and bridging pavement sections between the trails. " 

Kaitlin: "This shoe is very energetic and could be used as a daily trainer or even a trail racing shoe. What makes this shoe unique is its ability to provide protection while remaining very nimble on technical terrain. The most similar models, in my opinion, are the Saucony Peregrine and New Balance Hierro v7. All three shoes provide a springy ride with trustworthy traction. That said, the Hierro feels more comfortable on the roads compared to the other two."