Salomon has unveiled its latest super shoe, and in doing so, is deviating from the usual script on energy return.
The Salomon S/Lab Phantasm 3 stands out for its “cache-coeur” upper, which employs an unusual gaiter to cover both the ankle and the laces. Swiss Side, a company that specializes in aerodynamic cycling wheels, worked with Salomon to develop to streamline the shoe, leading to an increase in size for the front of the Contagrip outsole and midsole made as round as possible.
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“We have been working on this concept for over two years, as we knew that this was an unexplored area in road running footwear,” Gatien Airiau, Salomon performance footwear product marketing manager, said in a press release.
“The foot of a runner can go up to twice the speed of said runner,” he added before going on to explain that the fastest marathon runners can hit 40km per hour on their feet. Over the course of a full marathon, Salomon calculated the Phantasm 3 can shave up to 18 seconds from a pace of 2 hours and 6 minutes.
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Total weight for the S/Lab Phantasm 3 comes in at 7 ounces for a men’s size 9.5, which is 10 percent lighter than its direct predecessor. More optiFOAM+ PEBA foam is used for the midsole, which comes with an updated rocker shape, taller stack height (39mm) and lower drop (6mm). An energyBlade carbon fiber plate then sits within a spoon shape.
To test the S/Lab Phantasm 3, Salomon brought three athletes from its road running team to Swiss Side’s facility in Germany. They ran in both the S/Lab Phantasm 2 and 3 with and without wind, and additional testing found they used less oxygen while running in the newer model.
The Salomon S/Lab Phantasm 3 will release Jan. 16 through Salomon’s website and select third-party retailers. Pricing is set at $280.
