Salomon XR Mission Men's Trail Running Shoes - Lightweight & Durable for Hiking, Jogging & Outdoor Adventures

Initial impression: Very well made shoe. Even though this shoe is considered a lighter trail shoe, it still has reinforcement where it counts. The two pairs of Salomons I own have impressed me with construction quality when compared to other shoes. The toe and heal have a sturdier structure than a normal lightweight shoe and the foam used in the sole is much firmer than the foam found on a strict lightweight road shoe (think Nike Fly series). The rubber tread is well made and durable. My Nike Fly shoes fell apart after 1 year without good reason, so I vowed to switch manufacturers. I was looking for a sturdy lightweight shoe that I could use on road and easy trails. I have only run in these babies a couple times, but they are definitely a comfortable shoe. They are heavier than the lightweight Nike Flys, but as said before, will hold up to much more abuse. Additionally, they aren't as cushioned as a road shoe, but I wouldn't expect them to be due to increased durability. I am 6'2" and weigh 210 lbs., so I am picky about my shoes. I don't feel like the foam compresses as much as my Nike's but it feel more stable and supportive of my weight.Size comparison: Salomon XA Pro 3Ds 11.5, Nike 12, The North Face 12, Merrell 11.5. The Mission XRs were more in line with Nike and North Face shoe sizing. I bought size 12 and they seem to fit perfectly.Fit: Feels more like a neutral shoe as advertised. I have slight pronation issues, but these still feel very stable and haven't caused foot or knee pain. The toe box is very large. I don't know why they made it so big. I think the shoe could be improved with a slightly smaller toe box. It hasn't caused any problems, so it is more of a personal preference. After the first hour I had these on, I felt like they were more comfortable when I initially tried them on. Due to the more rigid nature of the materials, I expect the break-in period to be slightly longer than my Nike Flys.Buy these shoes if you are looking for a sturdier replacement to a pair of lightweight running shoes and want to hit some trails in them as well.Don't buy these shoes if you are looking for a floating on air feeling that you would experience from a strict road shoe with crazy cushioning.I ordered these shoes together with the Asics Fuji Gel to see which fit better since they are not sold in any stores where I live. I'm 6'0, 185 and typically run a 10.5 or 11 depending on make and model. The shoes look awesome and feel great. High quality build in your hand. I gave it 4 stars, would have even given it 3.5 for the following:I was really excited for these sneakers, but than I tried them on and my smile went away. I'm not technical with shoe lingo, but the "toe box" made me feel as if I were wearing slippers. I have a sprint, football background and I'm an avid hiker and like to mt bike and trail run. I run on my toes like an athlete should, and these shoes provide no support in that area. They are way too wide. Why, I don't know. Salomon makes great gear. I grew up skiing with their equipment. The rest of the shoe fits fantastic, even-though they are not very stream line. The sole is a bit large and prosthetic looking, the front of the sneaker is way to wide for anyone who runs properly and is light on their feet. Aside from this total design fail, they look awesome with a pair of jeans if you plan to wear them as kick-it around sneakers on relaxing weekend that does not involve a workout. My big toe wouldn't last an hour on a trail run with these shoes since my foot slides right down to the tip. I don't have narrow feet either, so the fit of this shoe puzzles me. Maybe they are meant for flat footed folks who are learning how to run or those who like speed walking. I would give it a 2 or 3 star as a dedicated trail runner for those who like fitted shoes with out going the lame route of minimalist ninja wannabe shoes. I'm not sure if I'll keep them or not as my chill shoes because they are very comfortable.I already own the Salomon Quest 4d light hikers, and I bought those because they were one of the few shoes out there that fit my foot type. My foot is wide in the toe box, thin in the forefoot, and thin in the heel. Also, my foot is thin in girth - think ducks foot but not yellow! If your toe box is wide AND squared, these Mission XR's MIGHT be a problem as there is narrowing at the top of the shoe. My type of foot is hard to fit, and finding shoes is always tough. If your foot is like mine, read on!If you have a thick arch, or thick forefoot, these shoes may be an issue as other reviewers may have noted. Also note that these shoes are not ideal for putting inserts in, you will probably have to live with the stock footbed. Again, like the Quest 4d's, there is not much "wiggle" room for adding inserts without changing the fit. YMMV, especially if you have thin inserts... but that is my experience, take it for what it is worth!!Because the Quest 4d fit so well, over the last couple of years I have been periodically trying on other Salomon shoes hoping for the same cut / last, but to no avail - many of the Salomon trail runners were just too narrow in the toe box. Then I came upon the XR Mission - and the fit / shape was similar to the Quest 4d! Alas, a trail runner that was conducive to my foot type! I tried them on at REI, and then bought them here on Amazon due to the great price!It seems like a well made shoe, I have always been happy with Salomon products - but time will tell how this particular shoe holds up. This is the first experience I have had with these thin / pull up laces, I am curious to see how durable these are as well.Overall, I like the shoe, seems well made and the fact it is cut to my foot type only makes it better! Five stars!I hope this review helps, and that describing my foot type will give you an idea of how these fit.Happy reading!I love these trainers. I'm a big fan of Salomon footwear, and all my hiking shoes and boots in recent years have come from them. I've found their products to be extremely resilient and I'm a big fan of their quick lace system - if you have any doubts then don't worry, the Kevlar laces tighten evenly and stay in place. I've just finished my first run in these trainers and I am pretty excited. Why? Because these trainers fit so well! I initially thought they would be way too narrow to accommodate my feet, but they were snug around the heel and roomy enough around the toes to let me spread them, even after swelling late into the run. The sensifit system holds the trainer to your foot around the instep and this means that your heels aren't driven into the back of the trainer on the uphill with your toes being mashed into the front on the way back down. I've had problems with foot numbness because of this in other trainers, no matter how tightly or loosely I laced them. The grip on these trainers is great. I ran on some pavement, road, grass, dry mud and they really gripped the ground. The sole is pretty thick if you are used to road running trainers but that's so you can run on rocks on the trail. I haven't really gone off road in them yet but the sole is made from the same kind of sticky rubber they put in their hiking shoes so I've every confidence in their grip and durability (I've got a pair of X Ultra GTXs which made numerous mountain ascents and still show no signs of wear). I would have thought most types of runner could get on with this shoe as it's fairly neutral. Personally, I found that it really improved my form because I can forefoot strike properly and confidently now I can spread my toes out comfortably and grip the ground.So yeah, buy them. Also, sorry but I can't be bothered to paragraph this properly. Or actually even check it. It's late, okay?Bought to replace an old pair of adidas trainers and they are a massive upgrade. Much more comfortable when running over gravel and loose surfaces with good grip, and much more stable when running on pavements. The front of the shoe is wide meaning plenty of toe room, and the contact with the ground feels very natural because of it.excellent product, not exactly the choice of colour i would normally go for but cant fault them as a robust, comfortable wide fitting trainer, will most likley purchase another pair soonWow what can I say.... I ordered these Trail shoes and they arrived in 4 days with standard delivery option. These running shoes are excellent value and offer superior comfort when Trail running. You will not be disappointed when you purchase these.Six months and still using these trainers- quality product would definitely recommend these to anyone wanting a comfortable running shoe. Use them on road and scrambling with no problem