Customer Reviews Salomon S/Lab Ultra 3

I wanted so badly to love these but I don't. I got terrible blisters all over. I never get blisters so this was a first. Also the lace up pocket gets hidden under the laces so it's tricky to tuck the lace in. Not a great design. I like Salomon but don't love these

I picked these up last September with aim of running an ultra the following month, ran a few 20K medium distance runs but I was not all that impressed. I didn't feel comfortable at all. The grip wasn't overly reliable if the trails were even slightly wet so I packed them away until the weather dried the trails out. Start of this year I starting running in these again, only a few short to medium distance runs and they felt okay. I ran an Ultra last weekend and wish I hadn't. Sorely let down by the grip and this was on hard compact trails along coastal paths. Feet were left extremely painful. Only just now getting back to running again. Don't get me wrong, I'm a big fan of Salomon trail running shoes but in this, it may be a good shoe but it's not for me and not over long distance.

The previous version was great. Comfortable from the word go. These, not so much. Toe box is wider. And the change in pocket for the laces is awful - can't really access it after laces are tight. Design on previous version was great

Really comfy shoes, much improved on the S/Lab before them which I already thought was comfy. Only major annoyance is the new design on the laces. It makes it very difficult to get the laces into the pocket as they tie up over the top preventing easy access. Disappointed in this.

Good sole / free footbox (even for a vibram 5 fingers person) / running in water isnt a problem. My issue is with the gaitor that replaces the standard tongue at the top of the shoe. It seems too tight on the top of the foot with no adjustment. Additionally the lacing worsens this pressure on the top of the foot near where it meets your lower leg (instep). The laces slip so its not possible to only tighten the bottom part while leaving the upper looser. I suspect this problem is less bad for smaller shoe sizes? Mine are size 12 / 47. I think the same knit upper is used for people with both short and long feet in the face of anatomical differences. Incidentally the same size in Sens8 are noticably smaller so I returned them and kept my ultra3. I have tried stretching by stuffing with t-shirts and a water bottle. I might cut the material next and then the laces so it misses out the top most eye. I think I'll just run in the wet with them a bit more first to see if it loosens at all. It might be OK but it does seem like unnecessary pressure and an odd sensation.

It's a good shoe, but not a great shoe. Issues:- 1. The lace garage position is annoying, like no one tried it during development annoying! Be prepared to spend 5 minutes putting the shoes on.. 2. The liner makes your foot warm and sweaty quickly. 3. It's heavy for the cushioning / bounce, compared to a Hoka Speedgoat for example. 4. Once you try the S/Lab pulsar midsole it's nearly impossible to put on these shoes again. This shoe is all work and no play! On a positive note the build quality is great, the colourway is fabulous, traction is okay and rock/root protection is good.

I really wanted to like this shoe. Out of the box, they looked like they would be great; they were super light, were made of great material, and were super comfy. However, I was let down pretty soon. First, the lace was nearly impossible to fit in to the tongue, which was combined with the fact that the lace overlaps halfway up the lip of the tongue making it extremely hard to even access the tongue to put the lace in there. Second, the material under the laces is very thin, and since the laces are naturally loose, you're forced to tighten them all the way, causing the laces to cut through the upper material and really indent the top of my foot causing pain and circulation to be cut off.

This continues to be my go-to long distance trail running/racing shoe. The updated lace housing is the worst of any Salomon shoes I have owned. When lacing up tight, I have to hold my finger in the pocket to make the housing usable. The previous version of the shoe where the housing was integrated through the tongue/pocket was perfect. The overall shoe is still my go-to but I did look for some Ultra 2s to keep in my rotation until these are fixed.

overall a good shoe but they definitely missed on the pocket for the laces. Pocket is positioned so the laces cross over the pocket and it's nearly impossible to tuck the laces into the pocket. For a 180 dollar shoe, a huge design flaw. Previous model was much better.

The debris guard around the ankle is horrible, great concept but poor in reality. It makes putting on the shoes a pain, you almost need a shoe horn to get your foot in. To get your foot in somewhat easily, you need thin socks. But when you wear thin socks the anti debris material rubbed off the skin on the back of my ankle.

I like earlier versions of this shoe. The past 2 have been a moss for me. I had. A normal arch, low volume, narrow foot. Forefoot strike. The tongue and upper cut into the top of my feet and the treads performed poorly in mud and snow. Pity they're so expensive and inourhcased 2 pairs.

I purchased these after I've had a long break from running & my old s/lab x-series my favourite shoe ever finally gave up. I though i would go for the ultra as similar shoe but a bit more cushioned for longer runs. I've had the shoe for a few months, i purchased it in size 12 same as my other Salomon it felt good just walking around & they look great. Unfortunately out on a run i quickly realised a lot of discomfort. They felt over sized, stiff, heavy & soon i had pain in my feet. I'm unable to manage many miles in them. Wish they would make the x-series again that was such a great shoe.

I was in love with Salomon S Lab Ultra 2 and own 3 pairs and desperately trying to find more online as the 3 is so tight it blocks blood circulation and just after 10K my feet are numbing. It absolutely does not serve the ultra purpose it's made for, especially as feet are getting swollen on the long run and would need more space. Putting an extra 5 on the price is even worse! Go back to the designing table and take that sock-like thing away. I'm so very disappointed as I have a very expensive pair of shoes now - on the shelf! Please, don't tell me how much you are sorry, just re-design the shoe to the needs of your customers!

Comparing to S/lab Sense 8 SG (my all time favorite shoe) they fit about half size bigger lengthwise while slightly less roomy in the forefoot (not annoyingly but nevertheless strangely for an "ultra" shoe) and both the heel cup and the midfoot portions feel a little more voluminous. Again, not too bad but the heel retention/stability feels to be reduced. The quick lace pocket is hard to access even compared to my other Salomon shoes. It does not sit on top of the tongue material as usual but more like under the tongue's top material. As if it had an upper and a lower lip (if it makes any sense). The final appearance looks very streamlined but functionally the design is inferior to the simple pocket of other Salomon shoes. I've had bad experience with the lace retaining webbing loops in Sense Pro shoes and my S/lab Cross seem to be going the same way, however, it looks like Salomon has possibly found an answer to this problem by adding some kind of a fuzzy material to the inner side of the webbing loops. As a result the shoelaces glide through them extremely smoothly which hopefully will prevent any premature or excessive wear. The often mentioned tightness of the sock type liner is not an issue for me. Yes, they are somewhat more difficult to put on than your average sneakers and the ankle high "gaiters" of S/lab Sense 8 or Cross are more manageable IMO, but obviously those may be more of an issue in hot weather (theoretically, not that I personally noticed). My 50+ years old ankles aren't in their best shape anymore and I was a little worried about stability of these shoes due to their stated stack height being somewhat higher than I generally prefer but it does not appear to be an issue as far as I can judge, although I've used them only for two runs so far. Nothing to write home about up to this point but generally OK. Unfortunately though the bad part is coming. The outer sole material of these shoes is EXTREMELY soft. I'm not sure whether it was chosen to make them grippy on smooth rocky surfaces or if it is a case of "planned obsolescence" that really got out of hand but the sole has durability of a pencil eraser! See images. I've run, I kid you not, exactly 39.8k in my S/lab Ultra 3's, about 8-10k of those on paved road (not that it should matter but still trying to stay on the soft shoulder) and the external/lateral lugs on the left heel (pic. #2) are completely gone, as if sanded away, while the same lugs of the right heel (pic. #3) are in a rough shape and on their way into oblivion. I'm not sure what was the thinking behind choosing this sole material or, even more frightening, if there was any thinking at all. In conclusion, I was very excited to find these shoes to be available online after reading and listening to all those raving reviews. I'm a little disappointed by their fit, I must say, but I recognise that this is highly subjective. It is also possible that my expectations were a little too high to start with. However, the durability issues are an objective fact and make me unable to recommend this product.

I bought these shoes thee and a half months ago , on the positive they are very very comfortable over a long distance, I've done two ultras at 50 miles each and 50 miles in Snowdon, not really trained that much in them as I use them for the big stuff . The negative , Sorry to say but they have developed two holes in the sides of the shoes , odd place for that to happen , I had the original ultras and had them for over 4years trained and raced in them and they were amazing and I even sold them on when I updated to these shoes , unfortunately I should of kept them . I would expect a brand like Salomon to last longer as I've used their clothing and shoes for years . I don't normally do reviews but felt I should this time as I'm disappointed to say the least .

I'm not a fan of the sock design. It's difficult to get your feet in and out. Plus, I got a blister on my achilles. It doesn't make sense to have the sleeve facing the laces, it makes it difficult to stick the excess in there. For a 180 price tag, there shouldn't be this many issues.

I own almost every running shoe Saloon has to offer. I really liked the ultra 2, they were amazing shoes and I ran them to the ground! I was excited for this one, since there seemed to be some good upgrades. I love the new upper, very breathable, and durable! I agree with other reviews that it is snug to put the foot inside, but once in, they are very comfortable in how roomy they are. I do not know if they changed anything with the materials but they feel more cushion-y and responsive! I love the ankle in the SLAB sense8, so I thought these would be great. Unfortunately this shoe sits a little higher and the sock type collar rubs the back of the ankle really aggressively. I ran in them for an hour and it bothered me but it was ok. The next day I used them for 6 hours and the back of my ankle, above the heel, was open raw... even when wearing socks! I do not know if these will break in over time but definitely would not use them for "ultra" running, nothing over 2 hours I would say unless you are taping the back of your ankle for protection.

The S/Lab Ultra 2 was a superior shoe. The integrated sock in the Ultra 3 makes the rest of the shoe hard to fit snuggly. My foot would shift around in the shoe which made for feeling, and being, really insecure on technical terrain. Additionally, they changed the way the quick lace tucks into the tongue. It no longer has a strip for you to pull up and stuff the laces into. It makes my fingers raw to fiddle around getting the laces into the compartment. Overall, disappointed in the engineering of these shoes. S/Labs were always my go to. Sad that I feel like the reliable shoes I had in the past are no more.

Guys, when are you planning to get these in wide versions? Or at least WIDER... It's been years now where I see other brands offering wide options... It's a shame I can't enjoy your great quality shoes because of fit...can we pls address the market needs and start offering wider version of your S/Lab line? I get the precision fit needs...and fresh in the morning I'm able to wear it...but after 60 miles your foot will swell and it is uncomfortable if you have slightly wide / wide feet. Thanks for listening.

This is a great shoe for trail running - light and form-fitting enough that your foot doesn't role around in them. Only complaint is that the lugs wear down relatively quickly (maybe 6mo - especially if you include some road in your runs). I'm a loyal customer of these shoes after having gone through many pairs.

I purchased these shoes as a gift for my husband in June. Within a few months, he said they had gotten smaller to the point where he can hardly get his feet into them. Salomon denied the warranty claim stating the damages were due to storage after I advised they were "stored" in the hallway amongst our other shoes. I don't know how preciously the shoes need to be kept? But they are trail running shoesand they do not seem to be hardier than a pair of canvas Keds. He enjoyed the shoes while they lasted, but I don't think they are worth repurchasing. There are plenty of trail shoes out there that don't need to be handled like a silk blouse.

I had to buy a claw-hook shoe horn just to get them on. Once I've got them on, they fit just fine, but these shoes don't have a tongue and are more like a thick sock stitched to rubber than a traditional shoe. Also not water resistant like Solomon 's other shoes. Poor design.

I've owned several pairs of Solomon xc running shoes, and these are the only ones I've taken issue with. After one run, I could feel the insoles slipping. During the second run I had to stop to put them back into place and after three runs they wouldn't stay still at all. It hasn't mattered how tight I have the lacing system or how loose. It seems like a pretty obvious design flaw. I've since replaced the insoles, but now the shoes don't really fit properly. Quite disappointed.

I bought these as had generally heard good things, and whilst they are reasonably comfy, the tread has heavily worn on one side in around 250km of mixed terrain (fire roads, grassy hills, woodland single track, plus short tarmac sections). Which no other shoes I've had (including previous Speedcross) have done in much longer distances. Salomon responded advising they are for competition use only and not to be used for training.