The Salomon Genesis 2 is according to Salomon The trail shoe for long distances and technical terrain. But is this really the most versatile trail shoe in the collection? We tested the Genesis 2 on different surfaces and distances to answer the most important question: for whom is this shoe a good choice – and for whom is it not?
Lasts a very long time
Very affordable
Dear
Table of contents
Our verdict
The
We recommend this shoe for
✅ Technical trails
✅ Mountainous terrain
✅ Long distances
✅
Less suitable for
❌ Beginners who mainly run on flat terrain (then take the Aero Glide GRVL)
❌ Runners looking for a very soft shoe (then take the
❌ Pure competitive runners (then take the
Practical test
Tested by: Dirk
Period: Summer
Distance: 100+ kilometers
Number of runs: More than 10
Longest run: 60 kilometers
Terrain:
- To put away
- Gravel
- Sand
- Rock
- Hard road
- Elevation gain: +1.000
Weather conditions: Is called
Fit & Upper
The upper is the
Our experience
The shoe fits well. There is sufficient material at the heel for a comfortable feel, and the shoe does not slide. I also have the
During both a run in the School dunes and the ultra in Italy, an above-average amount of sand ended up around my toes. The Matryx upper seems to be breathable enough that it isn't very dense. So it breathes well and water drains out quickly, but personally, I found that too much sand got in.
Pros
Quicklace easy to hide- Good protection for your feet
- Breathes well, didn't get hot feet at 30+ degrees.
Cons
- On dusty trails, a lot of sand comes through the mesh.
Midsole
The midsole takes care of the
Our experience
The shoe fits well. There is sufficient material at the heel for a comfortable feel, and the shoe does not slide. I also have the
During both a run in the School dunes and the ultra in Italy, an above-average amount of sand ended up around my toes. The Matryx upper seems to be breathable enough that it isn't very dense. So it breathes well and water drains out quickly, but personally, I found that too much sand got in.
The new
Pros
Quicklace easy to hide- Good protection for your feet
- Breathes well, didn't get hot feet at 30+ degrees.
Cons
- On dusty trails, a lot of sand comes through the mesh.
- Slightly less rebound than the S/Lab variant.
Outsole
"The
Our experience
This
The shoe has become slightly wider in the middle, giving you the feeling that it is a bit more stable.
It
Pros
- Improved
Lugs cartridge - Sufficient grip on most trails
Cons
- All Terrain Contragrip is not yet perfect on wet surfaces.
What caught our attention
We could go on and on about how
The shoe feels wide and planted under the midfoot. On technical terrain and when fatigue starts to set in during a long run, that inspires confidence.
At temperatures above 30 degrees, the shoe remained comfortable. However, on dusty trails and in the dunes, clearly more fine sand got inside than we had expected. For us, that is a more important practical point than just the claim that Matryx is “breathable and durable”.
The
Salomon Genesis 2 vs the competition
The
Outside
Hoka Speedgoat 6La Sportiva Prodigio ProNNormal Tomir 2.0Norda 001A
Specs
Curious about the specs?
- Stack: 37/29 mm
- Drop: 8 mm (relatively high for a trail shoe)
- Length
Lugs : 4.5 mm (good for most terrains) - Weight: 281 grams (average)
Outsole : All-TerrainContagrip - Midsole: optiFOAM (EVA)
- Upper: Matryx
Final verdict
The
During our test, the combination of stability, protection, and versatility stood out most. On technical terrain, the shoe inspires confidence, while remaining comfortable enough during a 60-kilometer ultra-trail. The upper held the foot securely and remained pleasant in high temperatures, although more sand came through on dusty trails than we found comfortable.
The
Dirk
Founder of trrail.com. Has run a lot. From all kinds of mud runs to ultratrails, and from the well-known road marathons to hour runs. Tests a lot of shoes and other gear.
