One Path Shoe to Rule Them All?

I’ll begin with a confession. I’m biased to dislike the Sense Journey 5. Years in the past, a barely confrontational and overly pretentious working retailer worker within the Roaring Fork Valley instructed me the Sense Journey was the shoe — none different would do.

I had blown out a pair of trusty Brooks the week earlier than and was simply on the lookout for a 1-to-1 alternative of my beloved Ghosts. On the time, I wasn’t even doing a lot path working, as a substitute I used to be coaching for some native sprint-distance triathlons. Nonetheless, I succumbed to shoe salesman/peer strain and acquired the Sense Rides.

I hated the shoe. It match unusually, rubbed at my toes, and I couldn’t determine the Quicklace system. Sadly, I used to be on trip once I purchased the pair and was again dwelling earlier than I made a decision it wasn’t simply a clumsy break-in interval, however the shoe itself. Even with the value of trainers nowadays, a airplane ticket nonetheless edged them out budget-wise (although it’s getting shut).

So, I had low expectations once I unboxed the Sense Journey 5, decided to provide them the ol’ faculty attempt to retire them to the “already examined” shelf in my dwelling gear closet. To my shock, they turned my highest mileage shoe of 2023 and into 2024 — persistently my go-to once I may solely deliver one shoe on a visit.

Not only for path working both; they’ve turn out to be a default bikepacking shoe for me, particularly once I know there’s loads of mountaineering and biking forward of me.

In brief: The Salomon Sense Journey 5s ($140) are a flexible, all-trail shoe that may deal with a wide range of terrain and working kinds. With a combo of efficiency and magnificence, they will be the solely shoe you run on this season.

• Weight
  293 g per shoe
• Drop
  8mm

• 
  Snug, all-around efficiency
• 
  Cheesy grip handles scree and steep paths, however isn’t overbuilt
• 
  Quicklace System gives all-day safety

• 
  Permits mud and particles
• 
  Quicklace system laborious on these with large ft

Salomon Sense Journey 5 Footwear Overview

Model Background

Salomon has been making path trainers since earlier than path working was cool. And positive, now Rhianna’s carrying the French shoe model throughout halftime reveals they usually’re exhibiting up in streetwear roundups — however that hasn’t modified the model’s dedication to mountain working.

The remainder of the world has simply caught up with what’s been working within the Alps for many years. Which is only a zeitgeist-y mix of cool colours and tech-focused sneakers. Severely, my Sense Rides obtained compliments in every single place I wore them, together with my hard-to-impress native butcher.

Sense Journey 5 Efficiency

Consolation & Match

In a world of max consolation sneakers, like HOKA’s Speedgoat and New Steadiness’s Recent Foam, it’s robust to explain any recurrently padded shoe as supremely snug. However the Sense Journey is a snug shoe, in a method that feels well-earned.

Like all shoe, there’s a slight break-in interval and the Quicklace system takes a bit to get used to. However as soon as you discover the fitting stability, the Sense Rides have that on a regular basis consolation {that a} pair of broken-in denims does: reliable and sturdy.

The light-weight 3D mesh higher is the heavy lifter right here. Sufficient stretch and breathability to regulate as your foot swells throughout longer efforts, however sufficient abrasion resistance to tackle rocks and brambles. Its one weak point appears to be mud.

Bigger bits of particles are successfully deterred by the gusseted tongue, positive filth and sand slip by means of and may construct up throughout a run. Whereas utilizing a small path working gaiter helps, I typically select a special shoe when working in these situations.

The Quicklace system may be polarizing. Runners with large ft complain in regards to the constraints and tightness of the default lace setting. However for the knot-challenged (myself included — significantly, I should have realized to tie my sneakers incorrectly, as I’m always stopping to retie on runs), the Quicklace is a simple system that received’t shift throughout your outing.

Journey & Sturdiness

Salomon payments its midsole materials as an “Power Foam” that balances cushion and power return. That is completely different from its “Power Blade” know-how, which is the sort of propulsive tech turning into normal in speed-focused highway trainers.

The Power Foam is a snug, hardworking EVA-based midsole. Flubber it isn’t — you received’t leap to the summit in a single certain. Nor did I discover any important further bounce to my step on the path. But it surely did stay snug, mile in and mile out, with out shedding cushion or assist.

The three.5mm lug depth is a good all-terrain performer. There have been some runs, like on a number of shale scrambles on trails round Golden, Colo., the place I needed for some extra grip. However generally, the Contagrip outsole dealt with most terrain with aplomb.

And, crucially, it wasn’t so luggy that working on pavement felt like a chore. That is particularly useful for any blended terrain working, or once you hire an Airbnb a half mile from the trailhead.

Path runners can have a notoriously small shelf life. They’re uncovered to extra adversarial situations than highway sneakers — you’re unlikely to aim a stream crossing in a suburban setting.

I’ve adopted the Sense Journey as my shoe de rigueur on each path working adventures and normal out of doors pursuits: something from bikepacking by means of the decrease Appalachians in January to a multiday float journey on Utah’s Inexperienced River. The sneakers have been as much as the problem. Just a little dirtier than the day I unboxed them, however what do you count on from a path runner?

Essentially the most technical and finicky facet of the shoe is the lacing system. I’ve but to run into an issue. And within the uncommon case the Quicklace breaks down, Salomon sells a fairly priced restore equipment ($10).

Salomon Sense Journey 5 Footwear: Closing Ideas

Salomon’s Sense Journey 5 is a real workhorse mountain shoe. All terrain, all situations, all distances. And whereas it’s a jack of all trades, it’s not a grasp of none. It excels in brief to midrange runs with blended terrain, however nonetheless has the efficiency capabilities for lengthy days within the mountains.

Whereas the Quicklace system will not be for everybody, those that like it’s going to love the shoe. Seems that the working retailer salesman was proper: that is the shoe.