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As a person who has spent thousands of dollars on trail running shoes, I often have the conundrum of running on the paved road to get to my trail. Wanting to preserve the soft, precious lugs on my trail shoes, I will jump ditches, run on the rough shoulder or altogether skip the pavement and drive to the trailhead. They’re too expensive to ruin on pavement! Salomon has solved the problem with their Drx Defy Grvl Running Shoes. This shoe is designed with flat surface lugs for even footing while on the road coupled with chevron, multi-directional lugs that are great in the dirt and mud.
If you have ever read any of my other running shoe reviews, you already know that I am a huge fan of Salomon. As I’m writing this review, I have trail shoes (quite a few!), road shoes, and winter boots all made by Salomon. They keep my feet protected, cushioned and warm (when needed) through all four seasons. I ordered these shoes specifically for the Tunnel Hill Trail 100 which I knew was a flat, chipped-limestone rail-trail.
An Innovative Design of the Drx Defy Grvl
Salomon designed the Drx Defy Grvl shoes for the dual purpose of going from road to dirt and back to road with one shoe that performs on both surfaces. To explain it simply, it is a running shoe with the comfort and cushion of a road shoe but the traction and lightweight feel of a trail shoe. Starting at the upper, Salomon designed the gravel shoe with a lightweight mesh. Invisible from the outside of the shoe, there is also an ultra-thin lining on the inside that prevents the cheese-grater effect that you may get with other mesh uppers. I loved that the tongue of these shoes was well padded and the mesh detail kept it from sliding around under the laces.
Salomon used the Ortholite insole that they use in most of their running shoes. It stays in place well but is removable to shake out sand and water when needed. The mid-sole is made of energyFOAM which is a springy, lightweight foam that provides great cushion and comfort. The outer sole is really what makes this shoe unique and versatile.
The bottom of the shoe has a large void with a “water-chute.” The Chevron lugs are low profile but in line with what I would expect from Salomon’s traction. They are multi-directional with sharp aggressive edges that keep you from sliding around on the mud. The flat, low profile of lugs gives me the feel of running in road shoes when the surface is flat.
The Fit of the Salomon Drx Defy Grvl
I ordered the gravel shoes in a size 10.5. This is 1/2 size larger than I normally wear in street shoes since I like extra space in the toe area for my running shoes. The fit was very true-to-size. I would call them medium in width. They had plenty of room in the toe box but were not ridiculously wide for my narrow feet.
The heel was a little wider than I was used to in Salomon’s running shoes but they have a well formed heel cup. This prevents any heel slippage. Despite being a little wider in the heel than I was used to, they didn’t move around. The Drx Defy Grvl has Salomon’s signature Sensi-Fit lacing and material and the shoes really hugs your feet in the right area. Speaking of lacing, Salomon opted for the flat laces on this shoe. This really balanced out the pressure points on the top of my foot. Overall, the shoes were comfortable and durable and I have no complaints.
Technical Specs from Salomon’s Website
- Best for Stable, Everyday run
- Cushioning: Moderate
- Weight: 203 grams
- Drop: 8 mm
- Chevron lugs: Lug design with deep penetration and multi-directional grip, improving traction on soft surfaces like mud or loose dirt.
- energyFOAM midsole: Lightweight & cushioned EVA foam for a performance usage.
- activeCHASSIS™: A chassis for increased guidance, uncompromised agility and fluid freedom of movement.
- 3D Mesh upper: 3D open Mesh provides maximum breathability with a soft textile lining for extreme comfort. SensiFit™ cradles the foot from the midsole to the lacing system, providing a secure, snug, and virtually customized fit all around the foot.
- OrthoLite® diecut sockliner
- Recycled material: Materials made from recycled products such as PET bottles or material waste
My Journey at the Tunnel Hill 100
Selecting the right shoes for a 100 mile effort is a very personal thing. While some runners like to wear the same shoe for the whole race, I prefer to switch it up mid-race to change the pressure points and put some fresh cushions under my tired legs. After a month of training with the Drx Defy Grvl Shoes, I knew they were going to my race “finishers”. Unlike my other trail shoes, I knew they would provide extra cushion in this ultra-flat race.
I started the race in Salomon’s AeroGlide 2 which I reviewed earlier this year (click here for that review). They were a great starter for the race. I felt fast but after about 40 miles, I found what they were lacking: traction. The rain started coming at about mile 40 and the limestone gravel turned into “slime-stone.” Heading into the dark, it was time to change my shoes.
Drx Defy Grvl at Mile 50
At mile 50, I quickly changed into my Drx Defy Grvl shoes and headed on down the trail. I knew that the gravel shoes had better traction and found they were a complete game changer. I was running and walking intermittently at this point but I wasn’t sliding around AT ALL! My pacer, in her road shoes, had to struggle to keep her footing. Not me! We joked about how I was now pacing her since she could hardly keep up. My tired legs felt refreshed and my sore feet were happy for a change. The rain continued and my shoes were wet but they didn’t rub or blister my feet. I attribute this to the silky smooth lining of this shoe.
Finishing out the Race
I’m not going to lie here, my last 25 miles were not fast. At this point, I was walking more than running but my feet were comfortable. I was super happy with the performance of the gravel shoes regarding the traction, cushion and smooth feel. The only issue came around mile 80. Whether due to a change in my gait (I was tired!) or something else I can’t define, the right shoe began to rub on my Achilles tendon area. It almost felt like the back of the shoe was too tall. It was minor and only on my right foot so I didn’t bother fiddling with my shoes or changing them out.
In the end, I finished the race and took home my Tunnel Hill 100 mile buckle. Thanks to Salomon, I went home with healthy legs and zero blisters on my feet. The Achilles area did have a minor chafe but nothing significant. I thought that was pretty incredible, especially when I heard other runners complaining of their blisters from the overnight rainy conditions. Runners joked about how they had been slipping and sliding on the wet trail. I couldn’t relate and this, once again, confirmed why I love Salomon and their running shoes.
Ready for Something Different?
Salomon designed something very unique in the Drx Defy Grvl running shoe. They combined the comfort and cushion of a road shoe, but gave it the stability and traction of a trail shoe. It is what many of us runner’s have been waiting for. I can now easily transition through my local state park trails, part pavement and part rugged trail, without changing shoes. I will no longer destroy the lugs on my trail shoes by running on pavement. The stability on the pavement is unlike any trail shoe I have ever worn.
I highly recommend you try these out for yourself. They come in both men’s (half sizes from 7-13, and 14) and women’s sizes (half sizes from 5-11) in some very stylish colors. You can check them all out at salomon.com