Salomon Sense Ride 4 Impressions

I’m not calling this post a review as I’ve only done 120 miles.

I would typically retire a shoe after approximately 400 miles depending on the wear and tear but I’ve decided to stop running in the Sense Ride 4.

First Impressions

I was initially surprised at how stiff they felt so I wore them around the house for a few weeks.

The Salomon “Quicklace” system really impressed me. Some reviewers had complained that the storage pocket in the tongue is badly designed and I agree to a point.

It’s a bit fiddly to stow the laces away but after a couple of times you get used to it and they stay safely tucked in.

I really like the ability to finely adjust the tightness and the shoes feel slick without a bunch of laces flopping about. I would happily have these on all trail shoes.

Bedding in

One reviewer mentioned that the Sense Ride 4 took around 50 miles to bed in and I agree. For the first few runs I really didn’t like how they felt. I could feel them getting better and they definitely changed significantly after that distance.

The Sense Ride 4 have the biggest stack height and drop of any shoe I’ve bought so far. I was expecting to feel a plush midsole as a result of this design but they felt surprisingly flat.

Now I’ve run in the HOKA Challenger ATR 6, I know what a more padded midsole feels like and I’ve enjoyed the extra comport on road sections.

I was left confused by the purpose of the Sense Rides. The specs suggest a comfy long distance shoe but they feel responsive and fast.

There’s the Rub

Despite my initial reservations, I really like the Salomon Sense Ride 4.

Then I noticed an issue. Just as they were starting to feel better, they started to rub.

I don’t have particularly narrow or wide feet so I’m lucky most models fit me without issues. Another reviewer mentioned the width of the shoe so I guess these are on the narrow side.

I was tempted to persevere and see if they softened up more but I didn’t want to worry about causing more discomfort.

After cleaning them up they’ve now replaced my aging Salomon walking shoes.

I hear the Sense Ride 5s are good…