Salomon XT Whisper 2 Running Shoe Review

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Here at Active Gear Review, we typically test out trail running shoes or road running shoes. The outdoor industry has begun to produce shoes to meet the needs of runners that want a hybrid shoe, a trainer that can be worn comfortably on road and trail. This year, Salomon released the XT Whisper, a women’s specific running shoe in an attempt to bridge the gap between shoe offerings. We tested the updated model, the XT Whisper 2 this spring out in Colorado. The first time we pulled them on, we were impressed with how light they felt on our feet; they weigh 9.3 oz/pair, hence the name! The shoes come with Salomon’s patented QuickLace system, which quickly provides a tight fit for most wearers with feet of average width. The XT Whisper 2’s are also highly breathable thanks to quick drying mesh for hot runs. We don’t recommend wearing these shoes on wet/muddy trails because the mesh offers a nice point of entry for water and they don’t dry out all that quickly.

The XT Whisper 2 has a modest toe bumper and a dual density medial posting to provide more protection from rocks and ruts that you may encounter on the trail. With that said, if you plan on tackling gnarly trails on regular basis, the XT Whisper is not for you. We found these shoes were best suited to gentle-well worn dirt trails and were comfy for around town running as well. We were given the white color and they immediately turned red-brown on our first trail run (they have yet to get back to white). We understand the need to appeal to the road and trail runner, but white is not a great color for a shoe that will be used on a trail. Thankfully, they are available in other colors, which is not usually an issue for our testers. The Salomon XT Whisper 2 are true to most Salomon shoes, they run large, so size down at least a ½ size and try before you buy. Overall, the XT Whisper 2 is a comfy-light-weight shoe for those that like to challenge themselves on the trail occasionally, but do most of their running on the road. For more information on the XT Whisper 2 and other Salomon footwear, please visit www.salomon.com or www.amazon.com/salomon.