I’ll admit that I was late getting into the Salomon brand for footwear. A lot of my friends in the industry, Law Enforcement and Military communities have worn them for years and the overall consensus was very positive. I decided to try a pair for myself in 2020 during the Covid Epidemic. I was on the US Elite Gear website and found a pair of Salomon XA Pros on clearance. Once they came in, I started to understand for myself how great they are, almost immediately. This was my first experience with their Quicklace system and I think it’s awesome. The XA Pros took a few days to break in, they are solid and comfortable to wear. I started to wear them for work soon after and they are still my work shoes right now, over two years later. My feet rarely hurt, even after 12-hour shifts with all of my gear on.
US Elite Gear sent me a pair of the latest offering from Salomon Forces, the new Speed Assault 2. They came in this week, and I have been wearing them every day since. The Speed Assault 2’s came in Wolf Grey and Black. Getting them out of the box, I can feel how light they were, they might be some of the lightest if not, the lightest pair of shoes I’ve had so far. They weigh 11.29 ounces per shoe, and the materials used are anti-debris mesh, Lycra, ripstop fabric, single layer mesh and non-reflective materials. They feature Ortholite insoles, Energy Cell high performance EVA foam and the outsole is made of what they call Contragrip rubber compound system in a chevron lug pattern. The lace pocket is positioned at the top of the tongue, which is by far my favorite placement in any shoe to date. To me, they look very aggressively grippy.
The Speed Assault 2 are meant for comfort, speed, agility in warm or wet conditions. The materials feel soft and stretchy overall, which made the break in period almost nonexistent. I took them on a two mile walk immediately after opening the box and I felt that they broke in nicely during the walk. They are very comfortable to walk in or stand on all day, thanks to the Ortholite insoles, Energy Cell foam and the outsoles, I’m sure. The Chevron lugs provide grip, but they also have a noticeable sound with every step I take. It’s not very loud or annoying to me, just something I noticed. With that said, the Speed Assault 2’s are extremely comfortable shoes and provide a good amount of cushion on your feet. They also breathe well, and my feet don’t feel like they’re suffocating in them.
Although I tested them at work, I would not recommend them for serious Law Enforcement Duty use. They are too soft up top to provide any protection. The Speed Assault 2 are perfect for daily wear, walking, hiking, training activities. They have other color options available including Black and Earth Brown; however, the other colors are not quite in stock yet at US Elite Gear and probably will be soon. I like the Wolf Grey as they blend in well as an everyday shoe that doesn’t look too tactical. If you’re looking for a lightweight and grippy shoes, the Salomon Speed Assault 2 will not disappoint!
Check them out at us-elitegear.com.
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