Revision as of 13:01, 20 February 2016

The Salming Race R21 is a firm, but light weight shoe. If you're looking for a light weight shoe that got a comfortable upper and is reasonably hard wearing, but without too much cushioning then this is well worth considering. Ironically given its name, I would recommend using the Race for everyday training and not racing, as it's got similar levels of cushioning to the New Balance RC5000, Asics Piranha SP, or Saucony Endorphin‏‎ which are all much lighter. The Race has a surprisingly comfortable upper, though the shape is not designed to fit a human foot, a problem that all too common with modern shoes. Overall, I consider the Race as "Worth Considering." (I use The Science of Running Shoes as the basis of how I test running shoes and what you should look for in a running shoe.)

Salming Race top	Salming Race outside
Salming Race bottom	Salming Race inside

1 Characteristics

• Cushioning . The Race best described as a firm shoe to say the least. It's probably not firm enough to attract a minimalist/barefoot runner, but it's not a cushy shoe by any means.
• Drop. The Race has only 3mm of drop, which is low enough for me not to really notice or complain.
• Structure. The Race has a single density of foam, so there is no medial post to mess with your biomechanics. There's also only the slightest rise under your arch so it shouldn't cause too much irritation of the plantar fascia. There is what looks like a carbon fiber plate under the midfoot, but it's hard to see how far that extends. That might be part of the reason for the firmness.
• Flexibility. The Race is reasonably flexible, though perhaps a little less flexible than you might expect in a shoe this light. Like many shoe makers, Salming claim to have a "Torsion Guide System." The approach Salming takes claims to make the shoe flex under the heads of the metatarsals (the ball of the foot and the similar joints for the other toes.) I can't say I noticed this even when I was trying to detect it.
• Outsole. The Race has durable rubber outsole on the vast majority of the contact patches, leaving only part of the midfoot is exposed foam.
• Shape. The shoe is designed to look like a running shoe, not to fit the human foot, so the toe box needs to be cut open. (I recommend cutting open the toe box of virtually all running shoes, with the exception of a few shoes like some Altra shoes. When you have some worn out shoes, you should try cutting open the toe box. I've found that it's a big improvement, allowing my toes to move naturally and engage for toe off, as well as reducing the possibility of blisters.)
  
  

  The Race is more likely to fit someone with the mutant foot that has the big toe in the middle than a the typical human foot.
• Upper. The front of the upper is seamless, with the rear of the shoe having a transition to where there's some extra padding. There is an array of overlays, but the upper is inflexible enough that they shouldn't cause any issues. Given the position of the overlays, they are probably placed to look good rather than be functional. There's more padding around the rear of the shoe and the ankle opening than you'd expect in such a light shoe. Overall I was pleased with the comfort of the upper.
• Tongue. The Race has a traditional tongue with a tab for the laces which stayed in place without a problem. The tongue is nicely padded and soft.
• Lacing. The laces are thin and round, but to my surprise they stayed tied without any problem.
• Heel Counter. The Heel Counter is quite firm, but it's external and quite low, so it's unlikely to have any impact.

Please support this site This review was made possible by readers like you buying products via my links. I buy all the products I review through normal retail channels, which allows me to create unbiased reviews free from the influence of reciprocity, or the need to keep vendors happy. It also ensures I don't get "reviewer specials" that are better than the retail versions. Buy Salming Race at Zappos Buy Salming Race at Road Runner Sports Buy Salming Race at Kelly's Running Warehouse Buy Salming Race at Charlotte Ultra Running Company

2 Cushioning and Shoes

It's intuitively obvious that the cushioning in a shoe will reduce the impact on your body when running. However, The Science of Running Shoes indicates that the reality is rather more complex. While slight cushioning may reduce the effort needed to run by improving your Running Economy, most scientific research indicates that more cushioning does further improve Running Economy. In addition, cushioning does not generally reduce impact and may actually increase it. This is counterintuitive, but is likely to be due to the way a runners mind and body adapts to softer cushioning. Unfortunately, the scientific evidence is far from complete and it's hard to give clear recommendations. I believe that some runners will prefer more cushioning, while others prefer less, and typically those running further have a fondness for greater cushioning. I also believe that a shoe should be as light as possible, and a shoe should justify its weight with the cushioning it provides. My advice is to decide what level of cushioning you're looking for, and then find the lightest shoes that also fit well and are comfortable.

3 Visualizing the Attributes of the Salming Race

How Salming Race compares showing rearfoot cushioning against the performance penalty of its weight. Upper right is better.	How Salming Race compares showing forefoot cushioning against the performance penalty of its weight. Upper right is better.
How Salming Race compares showing the price against the benefit (cushioning/performance penalty). Upper left is better.	How Salming Race compares showing the loaded drop against the benefit (cushioning/performance penalty). Upper left is better.

4 A Comparison with other Recommended Shoes

If you're looking for "the best of the best" running shoe, here are my top picks. Of course, the answer will depend a little on what you're looking for, so I have recommendations for various categories. Best All Round Shoe. The Altra Escalante is my current all-round favorite. It has plenty of cushioning for its weight, it has a very springy midsole, it lasts well, and it has a shape that's closer to the shape of a human foot than most shoes. It's a great shoe for any runner, including those Starting to run. It's also a fairly easy shoe to find due to its popularity. Best Maximalist Shoe: If you want something massively cushioned, then I'd recommend the Saucony Kinvara 8. It's remarkably light and remarkably cushioned, beating Hoka at their own game. Best Optimal Shoe: For those looking to trade cushioning for speed, the Nike Zoom Streak LT 3 was my top pick, but the latest version (LT 4) falls short of it's predecessor. There are lots of great optimal running shoes, which provide just enough cushioning with light weight and minimal frills, but all have their weak spots. Probably the best option at the moment is the Altra Vanish-R, which offers great cushioning for just over 5oz/150g. Fastest Shoe: If you really want speed, then check out the Nike Vaporfly 4%. It's light, massively cushioned, and has a carbon fiber plate. Nothing comes close, not even the now defunct New Balance RC5000‏‎ or New Balance RC5000v2‏‎. There are a number of caveats; it's really expensive, it's really hard to find, and there's a significant injury risk. Best Minimalist Shoe: Merrell Trail Glove. I recommend the trail glove for road running in spite of the 'trail' moniker. It's not a fast shoe by any means, but it's comfortable and will last well. All Terrain Shoe. For trail running, I've become a fan of Altra, and I think their best shoe is the the Altra Timp, though the Altra Lone Peak is really close. Honorable Mention: It's not really a running shoe, but the Vivobarefoot Ra is comfortable, minimalist and can more or less pass as a dress shoe. I've worn mine to weddings with a suit and they've not looked out of place. You can run in the Ra, but the leather means it doesn't breathe well.

For a more detailed on running shoes see the Recommendations for Best Running Shoes. This table lists the key attributes of What to Look for in Running Shoes. For more detailed information, on the shoes see detailed shoe comparison.

It's not a running shoe, but I love the Hoka Tor Ultra hiking boot and I've tested the Altra Lone Peak Boot, the Hoka Tor Speed 2, and the Inov-8 Roclite 325 hiking boots
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