When you rework your entire road collection, you’ll also need a great racing shoe for the longer runs. With the new s/lab Phantasm CF, Salomon really shows what they are capable of.
Video
Play
Salomon s/lab Phantasm CF - Modernizing it
Salomon has lately made strides in making its entire lineup more modern and the catalyst for this change is the emergence of the Energy Surge midsole.
But the main difference between the old Phantasm to the new Phantasm CF is the addition of a composite plate called Energy Blade to control the energy that a bigger and more lively midsole gives. And this has made the Salomon Phantasm CF into a blazingly fast and fun racing shoe that will surprise you greatly.
Salomon s/lab Phantasm CF - Bursting with energy
The midsole consists of three parts. A softer top foam with a lot of spring and bounce, and firmer bottom to ensure a great rocker motion and durability, and a composite plate (made from both plastic and carbon fiber) to just make the shoe more energetic and responsive.
At first glance and feel, this combination will make you think it’s more of a firmer short-distance race shoe, but that perception quickly changes when you start running.
There is a very noticeable bounce and kick to the Salomon s/lab Phantasm CF that rivals the top shoes, making it feel effortless when keeping a higher pace on longer runs.
I wouldn’t compare it directly to the softest race shoes that are hitting the market now, but the Phantasm CF gives more than enough comfort for it to be a very good option for anything from 10k to a full marathon.
There is a bit more weight to this shoe compared to the lightest racing shoes on the market, mainly because the foam is made to last longer. The Energy Surge foam keeps its bounce for a long time and really makes this shoe a perfect shoe for those who want to train more in their race day shoe.
Salomon s/lab Phantasm CF - Enter the Matryx
Whether you’ll take the red or blue pill, you’ll have to enter the Matryx upper to run in the Salomon Phantasm CF.
Matryx is a Kevlar-enforced material, which is incredibly light and durable. Continuing in the minimal approach, Salomon has stripped down as much as possible for this upper to save weight, which means very high breathability and less padding around the heel.
There are some positives and negatives to an upper like this. The Matryx uppers tend to be more rigid and don’t adapt to the foot as well as a stretchier upper tend to do. But you also get an upper that will give both more support and a firmer hold around your foot, if it fits well.
To be frank, I didn’t like the upper on my first run. But like with many shoes, my opinion of it changed when I learned to tighten it the right way and found some more appropriate socks.
A stiffer material like this also needs some breaking in, and I think I have gotten a much better-fitting shoe after about 30k. The upper has softened a bit, and I have learned ins and outs of how to tie this shoe.
Salomon s/lab Phantasm CF - Have your cake and eat it too
Many of these racing shoes are made to be as light as possible and this doesn’t always take durability into consideration. Salomon lets you have your cake and eat it too, with a shoe that is made to be durable enough to be used for both training and racing.
The Kevlar-enforced upper is mostly used in high-end trail shoes and will withstand a beating. So will the new midsole, which is so energetic and comfortable while still being durable.
So, if you are looking for a racing shoe with more uses than just on race day, then the Salomon s/lab Phantasm CF is the perfect choice for you.
Didn't you find your favorite?
See our entire collection of running shoes here:
