The French brand Salomon's benchmark status in trail running is well known. At the recently concluded Chongli 168 Trail Race, Salomon claimed victories in the 30km, 70km and 100km categories, becoming the brand with the most wins at this edition. Where Salomon really shines in kit is the fine-grained classification of its flagship racing S/LAB range. It's not about filtering by a single handling threshold, but about matching different products to different distances, preferences and even terrain. First is the S/LAB PULSAR 4, which is better suited to middle and shorter distances. The S/LAB PULSAR line represents Salomon's pursuit of the "pure speed" ideal in the mountains. The PULSAR's forefoot favors a thinner sole, which on one hand gives better control and a more responsive power feel for mid-short distances, enhancing speed; on the other hand it raises the entry barrier for runners with weaker strength base or limited downhill technique. Golden League overall champion and ITRA 938-point athlete Fan Banglin is a loyal fan of this series, and his S/LAB PULSAR 3 seems to have become his icon. Next is the evergreen S/LAB GENESIS for mid-to-long distance racing — a model more widely accepted by serious trail runners, and to some extent it has taken over the off-road racing "crown" from the S/LAB ULTRA line. It continues the base model's stable protective features and the reinforced TPU structure on the outer heel, allowing the core combination of being both fast and "stable" to shine through. High ceiling, low entry barrier. On a high-speed course with mixed terrain like Chongli, the S/LAB GENESIS LTD COURTNEY v2 (not shown) and the new S/LAB GENESIS 2 — which stood on podiums across different categories — are the best ambassadors for the S/LAB GENESIS. The S/LAB ULTRA GLIDE series, positioned as the cushioning option, also delivers rolling propulsion thanks to a certain rigidity, making it a common choice for many long-distance trail newcomers as their "first trail" shoe. Though part of the S/LAB family, its racing attributes are not as pronounced. This year's Chongli was marked by rain, with many muddy sections. Some 30km runners pulled out the once-legendary SPEEDCROSS racing series. Its exaggerated lug depth gives runners the confidence to safely cross muddy climbs and scree. But it resembles the current S/LAB PULSAR series and can even be considered more aggressive. The forefoot has almost no cushioning — only an insole and a rubber outsole — again trading minimal cushioning for extreme control, so it still presents a handling threshold. Salomon's performance triangle of "fast, stable, soft" is, in relative terms, a process of subtraction for runners. You only need to select the pair that best fits the course, your ability and your preferences from the matrix. But in terms of overall balance across all models, the levels may not be completely even — for example, the S/LAB GENESIS is more universally applicable than other S/LAB shoes. This may be an area the brand will consider improving next. (The products shown are some of the models, not the full range.) #Trail Running #Trail Gear #Salomon #Chongli 168 #Trail Running Explosion