Do they RUN as good as they LOOK? | SALOMON S/LAB PULSAR 3 | Initial Review | Run4Adventure

Salomon S/Lab Pulsar 3 review - first run and first impressions. Could this be the best looking trail running shoe of 2024? I always get excited when Salomon bring out a new S/Lab product because they tend to use high tech fabrics and materials, and they are normally packed full of new innovations. In this video we break down the construction of the new Salomon S/Lab Pulsar 3 and I lace them up for the first time and take them out for a challenging run around the beautiful Tehidy Woods in Cornwall.
Thanks for watching, we'll see you in the next video and as always - stay safe and keep on running!
0:00 Intro
1:48 Facts & Figures
2:41 Outsole
3:14 Midsole
3:56 Upper
5:53 Test Run
11:56 How the shoes performed
15:18 Conclusion
#salomon #trailrunning #besttrailrunningshoes
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[@user-jz5yq8ms4k]

The original S/Lab Pulsar is pure trail dynamite. The upper is a work of art, and amazing cushion for a 190g shoe. It is the perfect summer trail shoe for faster days.

[@RowOfMushyTiT]

For me the problem was durability, the foam was dying from 100-200 km. I still ran 500 km in them, but they were dead.

[@JaySizz]

I've run in the S/lab Sense 7 & 8 and the Pulsar SG 1, all of which were incredibly narrow. I have at least moderately wide feet, yet absolutely love the narrow fit of all of these Sense/Pulsar models. It isn't so tapered at the extreme end of the toe box to cause true issues; they simply hold you REALLY well for speed. Love the fit of those shoes and I have a feeling these are quite similar.

[@codyrobinson5130]

This will be an interesting comparison if you happen to get the Brooks Agil. I love seeing these fast, low-profile shoes come back to style. Cheers Loyd! Thanks for the review. Nice knowing that the pulsars are still impossible to get on 😂

[@jansommerlund5497]

Black and red 😁 my running career started of in many Salomon shoes and thats without a doubt the reason why I have so much lateral foot pain now. And they are just getting narrower and narrower. So definitely not for me. But I really like your enthusiasm Loyd

[@kgenest100]

I stocked on the original grey SLAB Pulsar and even use them for track work and 10km races. They are lighter than anything else and their 2.5mm lugs don’t get in the way on hard surface. I also have the SLAB Pulsar SG 1st generation but find them unstable for technical terrain due to their narrow platform. The new Brooks Catamount Agil looks like a great SLAB Pulsar alternative with a slightly broader platform.

[@nomiscook0572]

Blimey! £190! Saying that I’ll still have to get a pair. Loved the originals so much! The precise fit and trail feel alongside the cushion from the more modern foam is awesome. Not great for chilled long runs as you just want to run fast every time you put them on😂 although I did do a 50k in my first pair!

[@fecardona]

Great, a good sunday review from Lloyd, Neal’s relative. Love the Purvis family 😊

[@TrailrunnerTroy]

Loyd - You sold me! This is the best trail shoe of the year so far for me. My foot is a bit wide so sized up 1/2 size for a very comfortable fit. Not too narrow! Going to race a desert-Mountain 50 K and not at all worried about going longer in the Pulsars. By comparison, the Brooks Agil has a similar fit and feel (and runs true to size) but lacks the softer cushioning of the Salomon for distances beyond 13.1 or so, and is less protective. I really like the Agil foam for runs of 1 to 2 hours, whereas the Pulsar 3 is preferable for racing any distance including up to 6 to 8 hours here in rocky Colorado.

[@Run4Adventure]

Glad you like them Troy! Happy running and thanks for watching 👍🙂

[@PanosAnas7]

Well done Lloyd, nice video! What about... VS Merrell Agility Peak 5 (!?) 😜😜

[@Run4Adventure]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed the video. The S/Lab Pulsar is a very different shoe compared to the Merrell Agility peak 5. The Merrell is more of a distance shoe, where’s as the Pulsar is built for speed and running quickly over shorter distances 👍 Both great trail shoes though 🙂

[@Fernycool81]

Amo las Salomón porque son estrechos , especiales para mis pies pequeños y angostos 😊

[@おいmizuno]

Al parecer ambos estamos ansiosos por tener esta belleza hahah

[@davebrown1100]

Never been able to have a salamon due to the width. It makes no sense as people's feet swell. You'd think theyd by now offer a wider fit.

[@kozepz]

Hoping for a comeback of trail shoes similar to the old Salomon Sense 4 Pro, featuring less thick soles for a better sensation of the ground. I've found the trend toward increasingly thicker soles a bit frustrating, leading me to switch to Vivobarefoots (yeah I know, another extreme ;). While this change presents its own set of challenges, it has been beneficial for my feet. What are your thoughts on this trend toward thicker soles? Beyond the potential speed benefits thicker soles might offer, how do you view their overall impact on your body from a holistic view?

[@jimcotton5005]

I don't need these shoes but fuuuuuuggg me do I want them. Great review Loyd!

[@Run4Adventure]

I totally understand Jim, it’s a great looking running shoe 😍

[@damienchaduiron3106]

Hello, it s true to size in Salomon. You have The same size between genesis and the Slab pulsar 3 ? You test the Brooks catamount agil for the difference between these shoes? 'thanks 3:04

[@ActiveIdeas]

Nice video Loyd! Definitely my favourite shoes for a while 🔥 I got that same excitement from when putting on my first pair of Vaporflys 🙈

[@Run4Adventure]

I totally agree, it was very similar to when I put my Vapourflys on for the first time 👍🙂

[@kevinlemanquais2006]

To narrow has been my story on most Salomon shoes I've tried. I have the Sense Ride 5, there wider, but I can't get a lockdown with the boalo lacing system. As soon as I get to a downhill, my foot smashes into the front of the shoe. Does anyone else have this issue?

[@patricksmit8887]

Absolutely, I actually cut out the quicklacing in some shoes and replaced them wit regular laces for best lockdown, quick lacing is simply inferior to traditional laces using u surgeons knot.

[@Manuel-901]

Good. Excellent information, Loyd. Like to Run4adventure. Have a great monday.

[@Run4Adventure]

Thanks Manuel, glad you enjoyed the video and thanks for watching 🙏🙂

[@threatened2024]

Those socks are cool!

[@Run4Adventure]

Cheers, they’re Stance socks 👍🙂

[@maximuscentus]

I’m currently training in pulsar trail pro first edition they’ve been brilliant I done just under 1000 miles with them and they still holding strong in terms of the upper midsole falls apart😢 I can get another pair for just under £80 instead of £190 s/lab 3. Thanks for review Loyd.

There is quite a big difference between pulsar pro & slab pulsar. Slab is more flexible, lower to the ground and has narrower sole. Weight difference is also pretty remarkable. I would be totally happy with pro upper material mated with narrow non plated midsole without removable insole. That combination would probably make the shoe even more affordable than current pro version. I wouldn't mind 20 extra grams for better midsole durability for slab pulsar. The matrix upper could probably go twice the mileage compared to the midsole.

[@ozenfant_ozn]

oh my they are so pretty!

[@Run4Adventure]

It’s a great looking shoe Ozenfant 😍

[@craigbarth7474]

They fit me like a sock & I agree they feel exciting. Yes I have a low volume foot - if anything these have slightly too much material in the mid foot :-D 1 aspect I'm not 100% sure about is stability on technical rocky mountain trails, forefoot feels great, the soft narrow heel feels like it could potentially cause some ankle rolling issues in a technical rocky environment.... does anyone have any experience with them? I'm considering these for an up to 50km mtn trail race shoe. For reference I'm 69kg & other shoes I run in are Peregrine 12&13 (my favourites when I want to feel faster), Scarpa Spin Ultra (all around reliable workhorse for everything), Salomon Ultra 3 (function but not exciting), Puma Deviate Nitro 2 (road & light trail), all of which I know will be more stable/durable etc but the S/lab Pulsar 3s are way lighter...

[@ConnorStefPhoto]

I was told by Salomon that the S-Lab shoes are all technically women's shoes. They're all built on a women's last, which is why they're all marked as unisex. The S-Lab Genesis is an outlier, as it's quite wide.

[@Run4Adventure]

That wouldn’t surprise me Connor, they are narrow! The Genesis definitely has a bit more width in the toe box 👍 Thanks for watching 🙏

[@RowOfMushyTiT]

Any comparison to the Kjerag considering the durability of energy foam is not that good.

[@toddboucher3302]

Always love the SL shoes. My only problem for me. I guess I’m not in whatever is my max is a marathon to 50 K maybe I could never go fast farther than a 50 K in them because my feet they’re just too narrow. I heard rumors that they were going to wing these up just a little bit but apparently they didn’t.

[@Run4Adventure]

I’ve run in lots of different pairs of S/Lab shoes over the year and these are the narrowest to date Todd 👍

I always wanted to use S/Lab models for trail running, but every time I tried them, they were too narrow for me. Maybe this new model will be okay for me, but I don't expect it, haha. I'm still using my Pulsar Trail Pro 2, but the time to change them is coming ... and idk what to take next if these Pulsar 3 are not ok for me

[@Run4Adventure]

This is the narrowest S/Lab shoe I’ve ever run in, like I said in the video! If previous S/Lab shoes were to narrow for you I’d be surprised if these work for you 🤔

[@nikoscoulson]

They look like cycling shoes to me! I’m not a fan of the laces to be honest but I’m a Luddite old school lace fanboy

[@Run4Adventure]

You’re right, they do look like cycling shoes, especially how narrow they are! Thanks for watching 🙏

[@marky59]

Another great vid and sexy looking shoes but why oh why do Salomon keep producing shoes for slim feet, they would have sold out in weeks if they offered wider fit. :(

[@titanvision.studio413]

Would you say they are better than the Salomon Speedcross 6 for a 150-kilometer race in the Alps?

[@Run4Adventure]

I got to be honest, I’m really not a fan of the Speedcross 6 and I’d never wear them for a long ultra in the mountains. However the S/Lab Pulsar 3 isn’t really set up for that kind of distance, I’d happily run them up to marathon distance but I’d want more shoe for 150k 👍 Hope this helps 🙏

[@TimGrose]

As somebody with long narrow feet these look promising especially as my main use case would be for relatively short and "up tempo" trail runs and nice in a UK 13 (well if they do one) to have something that isn't a brick like say the Ultrafly or Zegama is for me. That said I did try the standard short lugged first version of these and were kind of something and for me. In the summer felt could have worn road shoes but when hit a slightly muddy patch it stained the mesh upper "forever" and was sliding just as much as would have been in anything. Maybe the deeper lugs would indeed give this a more specific use case. Did you try them on any road? It's rare for me to go on a run that is 100% trail. I recall the first version were "OK" on the road and felt bit like an old school racing flat so would not want to do much on it.

[@Run4Adventure]

I did try them on short sections of tarmac Tim and they felt fine under foot. I think if you ran regular longer sections of road you’d probably wear the lugs down a lot quicker. If you’ve got a narrow foot you’d definitely enjoy the fit but I’m sure Salomon only produce a uk12.5 or 13.5 and not a uk13? 🤷‍♂️ To be fair they do size a bit short so a uk13.5 might be ok, thanks for watching 👍

[@TimGrose]

@@Run4Adventure thanks. As I recall Salomon are like say Hoka or adidas or New Balance and their UK sizes are 0.5 less than US ones (as opposed to Nike & Saucony who have a full size difference) so "really" I am always a US 14 which seems more universal. Now I think about it I did have a UK 13.5 in the original version and was fine for length.

[@craigtsmith6957]

I am looking for a shoe for the zermatt half marathon not sure if you have run it - its a combination of road for the first 5 km then hard pack fire roads and single track and one boulder field. Many use normal trainers. I do have the pink endorphin trail shoes and I was thinking the new Tom Evans Western -states Adidas Adios Trail shoe with the rods. I have no idea really . Would the Pulsar work well?

[@Run4Adventure]

I haven’t run the Zermatt half unfortunately but I’m sure it will be a great race Craig! Have you run in the mountains before? I would just go with a shoe you’re comfortable in, the race has 1300m of elevation so you’ll be hiking most of it I should imagine. I really wouldn’t waste your money on the carbon adidas shoes, they’re designed more for longer distances and I’m not sure how stable it would feel under foot if you’re not use to them! What trail shoes do you normally run in? 👍

[@craigtsmith6957]

@@Run4Adventure the trail shies I have used before have been the Walsh Fell runners and Innov 8 Talon 210 and the salomen speed cross 4

[@Run4Adventure]

@@craigtsmith6957 So pretty firm, stripped back trail shoes then. I would definitely keep well clear of the adidas shoe then, you’d feel like you’re running on bouncy castles with zero ground feel. Based on the trail shoes you’ve ran in before I think you’d like the S/Lab Pulsar 3 but I think you’d also like the previous versions that you could pick up a lot cheaper now 👍🙂

[@craigtsmith6957]

@Run4Adventure thank you I do have the Saucony Endorphin Edge but not run in it. How would that work the majority of the track is normal road gravel and single track with one small single track through boulders. Many run the race in their normal trainers - but the last time I ran the full marathon it was 2013 so shoes like the Ronin and Musha were popular - lightweight and firm. Not sure what the folks are running in now.

[@Run4Adventure]

@@craigtsmith6957 Shoe technology has moved on a lot since 2013, they all tend to be a lot softer in the midsole. The Saucony Edge could handy the route it just depends on how stable you feel having a lot of soft, bouncy cushioning under your feet? 👍

[@m3phist0]

🥇

[@alanwetherelt7155]

Looks like they could do with a pull loop on the heel .

No need for that. I have managed to wear 6 different salomons with anti debris collar without any problems. Sure they are a bit harder to get into compared to normal shoes but easy lacing, fit and protection against trail debris totally makes it up.

[@Run4Adventure]

I think that would help Alan 👍🙂

[@nrosko]

Too bad they didn't do a standard width because i love these otherwise.

[@namename1]

Goat leg 1st used by nike i think right ?

[@Run4Adventure]

Goat leg? 🤷‍♂️

[@namename1]

A goat hooves = back side of the shoe double or a horse shoe 🧲 reebok fury 1994

[@Run4Adventure]

@@namename1 I have no idea what you are talking about 🤷‍♂️🤔

[@dimitriosfrydas1474]

Looks like the old S lab sense

[@Run4Adventure]

It does doesn’t it, I loved the original S/Lab sense 👍

[@dimitriosfrydas1474]

Legendary shoes!

[@robertlynn9667]

how do these compare to the Hoka Zinal 2 as they seem comparable?

These are probably better in every way 😅

[@Run4Adventure]

I’d say they are quite similar shoes Robert, both really good run to run in but I’d say the S/Lab Pulsar just takes it 👍 Hope this helps and thanks for watching 🙏

[@trailsandbeers]

no chance I could get my feet into those, does anyone really have toes that narrow?

[@kroby4688]

How do they compare to the kjerag?

[@Run4Adventure]

I haven’t run in the Kjerag so I can’t really say? 🤔

[@diederiklegrange7248]

Is it noteably narrower than the previous sl pulsars?

[@Run4Adventure]

Unfortunately I didn’t run in the previous model so it’s hard to say? The new one is narrow though 👍

[@marek199]

👍🏻👍🏻

[@Run4Adventure]

Thanks 😁

[@merkyw4187]

Terrible looking smudgy finish line underneath the sole ! Sorry I'm a perfectionist and that's not quality checked :) ...Great review as always Loyd... foot hugging means less material :) more profit, i think ! M ☘️

[@mtimbroims]

Worst fitting shoes ever for anyone that has human feet. Their whole lineup.

[@Run4Adventure]

I’ve got human feet, well I’m pretty sure I have and they fit me really well 👍 Obviously if you have some width to your foot shape then they’re not going to work for you! 🙂