This week we’ve got a guest review of the Salomon S/LAB Phantasm 2 from Ben Moss. Ben is the founder of runfinder.co.uk, a website that aims to list every running event within an hour’s drive of Bristol to make finding your next running event that little bit easier.

Pros

• Comfortable fit
• Less rigid than other carbon plated racing shoes
• Aesthetically pleasing

Cons

• Expensive
• Not quite as propulsive as of other super shoes

Spec

• Drop 9mm
• Weight 219g

Think ‘supershoes’ and it’s unlikely you’d ever think ‘Salomon’. While they have an excellent reputation in the trail running world, road running is not what most people would say is their natural home.

But in 2023, Salomon introduced the S/LAB Phantasm 2 – a carbon plated racer designed (and priced) to compete with the major players of the super shoe scene.

They come with a bold but simple red and white design and early reviews and write ups made promises of a bit more comfort than other marathon distance carbon-plated trainers.

So let’s address the elephant in the room – the price. There’s no getting away from it, at £240 they are very expensive. Up there with the Nike Vaporfly 3 and Adidas Adios Pro 3 (the latter actually retails for £20 less than the Salomon). This is going to be a huge barrier for a lot of people looking at a pair of premium racers.

So why did I get them? Well, I saw one review video that showed the shoe bending and flexing much easier than other carbon-plated shoes. Then, there was the promise that this flexibility and softness would make them more comfortable over longer distances. I have raced in Adidas Adios Pro 3s and Nike Vaporfly 2s previously. While I loved both, I felt real discomfort in my arches when deeper into races, which I think was brought on by the rigidity of the carbon plate.

So, armed with a discount code to knock a few quid off, I made the leap into the unknown and ordered the Salomons.

First up – they are beautiful. Next up – they fit beautifully. The upper is incredibly lightweight, but also very soft. As a result, the step-in comfort is off the charts. I wore them for the 2024 London Marathon and didn’t experience any of the discomfort in my arches that I had felt with other carbon shoes.

In the days after the marathon, I had very few aches and pains other than what I would usually expect. My joints especially felt good which leads me to believe the Salomons are excellent for cushioning impact, especially over long distances.

What I would say, though, is they don’t have the ‘magic feel’ of the other super shoes I’ve tried. Slipping on a pair of Adios Pro 3s or Vaporflys, I immediately feel that bounce, like something special is going to happen. The Salomons do have a little of that, but it’s not as obvious. I’ll admit I’m not the fastest runner in the world (1.36 half, 3.36 marathon) and carbon shoes seem to come alive at quicker paces.

Interestingly, on Salomon’s website they say the Phantasm 2 are suitable for four or more runs a week. That may be so, but these will be my race day shoes only (with a couple of marathon pace training sessions). I wouldn’t want to be replacing them every few months considering the price.

And on that subject, for most people looking at carbon-plated racing shoes, £240 is going to be a little off-putting when they can pick up a pair of the more established brands (think Nike, Adidas, New Balance, Saucony, or Asics) for the same price or even less. And the Salomons have NEVER been discounted ANYWHERE. Trust me, I’ve looked. 

So – should you buy a pair of Salomon S/LAB Phantasm 2? Well, I’m glad I have mine. I really appreciated the extra comfort during the London Marathon and I was genuinely surprised by the difference in feeling in my arches. So if you want something that stands out from the crowd, and you’re willing to possibly sacrifice a little in performance for an improvement in comfort, then the Salomon S/LAB Phantasm 2 could be the shoe for you.

This review of the Salomon S/LAB Phantasm 2 was written by Ben Moss, founder of www.runfinder.co.uk