Salomon X-Scream 3D Launch - Test Review

Before I start this review it is better to start with a disclaimer, the shoes being reviewed is sponsored by Salomon / World of Sports Malaysia following an invitation to participate in the launch that took place at The Apartment, KLCC on 23rd May 2015. It that bothers you on potential bias on my review, please feel free to close this page.

Personally I owned 4 pairs of Salomon shoes and its hydration bag and belt system, I have a personal preference towards it products on trail running. However, the product being reviewed is more on road running or mix road/trail running, thus I remain neutral on it. If you are still with me, the following is my personal opinion on it.

Event started early, we were asked to come between 7:30-8am to pick up and change into not only the shoes (of course) but also the apparels provided (which is something worth mentioning in this review).

A lot of invited runners/bloggers were already there by 7:30am when I arrived, a good sign that event may start on time, :) I immediately sign in and collected the goodies bag containing the shoes, the shirt, the short pant and also a write up on the shoes. To prevent any prejudice on this newly launched product (the X-Scream 3D), I decided not to read about it before the actual testing. To begin with, I rather forget about the brand, lose the write up and let my feet and my run tell me about the shoes.

The moment of truth before opening the box

A hybrid shoes 

Hello there, familiar design of Salomon

The best thing ever happen to shoes, quick release strap, called Quicklace

Box opened, I am delighted to see the Quicklace, which is something I like about Salomon shoes, it helped alot in races when adjusting is required, personally I had used this feature many times in ultra marathons during rain condition when a tighter fit was required to make sure my feet didn't move easily in the shoes under wet condition. Likewise when mud/sand got into the shoes, it was faster to remove the shoes and put it back on after cleaning the inside. With Quicklace comes the Lace pocket to keep the excess lace from moving around like a tail.

A quick check at the sole, something I am new to, probably because the ones that I own are all rugged profiles suitable for trail, this is much flatter and thinner on the colored layers (the red, the green and the black) which usually meant for difference purposes. In other words, these rubbers are harder and they are supposed to withstand multiple surface conditions on the road, or light trail. As a runner, they don't matter to me on how they look, it matters how they feel when I run, then I will try to understand it better later.

On hand it does feel lighter compared to the trail series, quite close to the Lab-sense series, on foot, yes, it felt significantly light and the toes room was just nice, I was able to dance my toes in the shoes. My guess is, the weight reduction is contributed by the thin layer of the hard rubber to handle the surfaces, keeping major part of the support done by the white color EVA. With a single pull of the Quicklace, I was ready to move with it! 

As expected, Salomon shoes provides great wrap around the feet closer to the ankles, it offered the confidence that the shoes become part of the legs, technically it is called the Endofit.

For road run, I wear minimalist, the X-Scream 3D has higher heel drop (23mm/13mm) compared to my usual 4mm drop, so the 10mm difference gave me the feel of a support shoes and my feet tells me this is either a training shoes or an ultra race shoes, may be. So let the legs do the talking later.

Both Sharon and Karsten were also at the launch, in fact Sharon was the one who got me into this launch. As u can see from the photo, guys were given the yellow (some say green, well..) shirt and gals were given the red, I don't really fancy Salomon T-shirts mainly because in the past the size never really fit my skinny body, this one surprisingly fits me well and the dri-fit material is very nice. For the record, it is called "Trail Runner Start Tee", RM 99.90 price tag (and color code is Green/lime). The sexy shorts, called "Trail Runner Short" RM 99.90, feels, of course, very light. I am a compression bottom wearer, this short did make me feel, exposed. :P

 Some views of the launch venue display of shoes and bunting.

Invited runners / Bloggers warming up

Group photo before starting the test run

Panoramic shot on the short briefing before the test run

Hi Sharon

So the run begin

wefie during the test run

You can if someone is serious/season runner by a look at their calves

Attempting to capture video

 So we try to test on as many urban surfaces as we can find in this KLCC park, the organizer planned this well as the park did offer multiple surfaces that the shoes aim to offer its uses.

So I did the grass surface

and a mix of rubberized track and tiled surfaces

Just follow where ever the elites go

 There comes the stairs testing

 Personal test on wet grass with some dirt

 Some uphill attempts

  then back to the hard surface

 Personal venture into tree climbing...kidding, sandy dirt trail trying to simulate some steps over the roots.

 back to joining the group run

Doing a check on how it handled the light muds

and of course some shoefies

Karsten doesn't look so happy with the shoes..or not enough mileage for the test?

 The elites will pose like elites

may be not what it is meant for, but you do can jump with the X-Scream 3D

 Never forget the post-run stretches

This was the actual formal introduction of the new X-Scream 3D, the top Samuel was wearing is the Fast Wing Tee which has 2 pockets at the back to keep items like power gel or keys or maybe an Ipod. Can't comment much since I do not own one, :)

The Salomon Fast Wing Tee

You don't have to be here to know most of the technical presentations, some of the 'know more' of the Salomon series can be viewed from the links below:

ContaGrip Technology - presented 

Salomon X-Scream 3D City Trail - presented
Salomon CITYTRAIL App - Presented
Salomon City Trail - Personal sharing

Salomon S-Lab Sense - Personal sharing

Kudos to Salomon for launching of  the new series of running shoes and a well presented introduction to the Salomon series followed by sharing of the brand ambassadors who are great at their passions. It was a very pleasant experience to be part of this event and to meet great runners and most importantly, to try out the new products. :)

Where to get one of these products should they interest you ? You can find them in the outlets of World of Sports: WOS Outlets

Note: Salomon X-Scream 3D comes in 5 different colors of (in my own definition) Yellow, White, Blue, Red and Light Blue

Additional TESTS:

Additional test on the shoes: Flight test, nope you can't take off with it.

The KLCC Park loops

Photo with Sharon and Karsten, again

I went extra test with it by bringing to the basketball court, as you already seen in earlier photo, it doesn't fly, so slam dunk remain a dream. But moving in constant need to speed and change in directions, not bad. Update: 2nd basketball game, had awesome run in full court games.

Lake Garden-Hartamas route

With the intent to know how does it really do on longer distance, I brought the X-Scream 3D to run at one of the common training ground in KL, the Lake Garden-Hartamas route with a few decent hills. 

The results?

I am a midfoot striker, an additional heel raise does bother me at downhill with early land contact, adjusting the strike enable me to adapt to the shoes. Crossing under the flyover towards Martrade, it handled well on the loose rocks, the thin hard layer does its magic. Coincidentally, the return trip I bumped in a local race going on, the shoes were put into extra test on zig-zag among the slower crowd of runner, it met my expectation. 

The X-Scream 3D does feel abit stiffer on the road overall, not a fair comparison as my road shoes are much softer in nature. This run confirms my feel that it is suitable for longer run especially an ultra distance. I even think going on a travelling trip, it may be a good choice to handle city exploration and some outdoor activities. :)

In my opinion, it will be able to handle light trails in FRIM, may be my next run on trail, this pair of shoes will be brought for further test again.:)