REASONS TO BUY
Directional
Good energy propulsion
Comfortable
REASONS TO AVOID
Lacks traction
Hard to get on
Stiff on technical terrain
Salomon Pulsar Trail Pro 2 Review
We found the Pulsar Trail Pro 2 was most at home on easy to moderate trails and offers great stability and energy transfer
Credit: Matthew Richardson
Our Verdict
If you've been considering the Salomon Pulas Trail Pro 2, we'd recommend you use it most on easy and moderate trails. This model will work great for a variety of speeds and cadences. After our testing, we always felt the model lacked a bit of confidence on loose technical terrain, and its stability made it suffer at cornering or feeling super agile. The internal plate keeps this model feeling rigid and stiff, which leads to a feeling of overkill on some easier runs. If you're after a sensation of plushness, we'd suggest looking elsewhere.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Salomon Pulsar Trail Pro 2 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Overall Trail Running Shoe |  Best Trail Running Shoe with Ultralight Cushioning | Best-Tractioned Trail Runner |  Best Value Trail Runners | |
| Price | $160 List $160.00 at REI | $190 List $189.95 at Backcountry | $195 List $194.95 at Backcountry | $104.99 at Amazon Compare at 4 sellers | $69.57 at Amazon Compare at 2 sellers |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | Combining stability and speed, this model is recommended most for buyers who want to feel fast on easy to moderate trails | A perfectly fitting, comfortable, and very protective shoe that just begs to be worn on long run days | With each step you are picking up less than the competition, and for advanced runners the precision and speed are unmatched | Unrivaled traction makes this a one-stop shop for mountain athletes and off-trail runners | Some more advanced runners may find this shoe overbuilt with stiffness and support, but we love the protection and comfort |
| Rating Categories | Salomon Pulsar Trai... | Salomon S/Lab Ultra 3 | Nnormal Kjerag | Salomon Speedcross 6 | Brooks Divide 4 |
| Foot Protection (25%) | |||||
| Traction (20%) | |||||
| Sensitivity (15%) | |||||
| Stability (15%) | |||||
| Comfort and Fit (15%) | |||||
| Weight (10%) | |||||
| Specs | Salomon Pulsar Trai... | Salomon S/Lab Ultra 3 | Nnormal Kjerag | Salomon Speedcross 6 | Brooks Divide 4 |
| Sizes Available | 7 - 14 US regular |
4 - 13 US regular |
4.5 - 13.5 US regular |
7 - 14 US regular and wide |
7 - 15 US regular |
| Measured Heel Stack Height | 33 mm | 31 mm | 25 mm | 33 mm | 32 mm |
| Measured Heel-to-Toe Drop | 7 mm | 8 mm | 8 mm | 12 mm | 9 mm |
| Rock Plate | TPU | No | No | No | No |
| Measured Lug Depth | 3.2 mm | 3.5 mm | 3.0 mm | 5.5 mm | 2.5 mm |
| Measured Weight | 9.92 oz | 10.64 oz | 8.05 oz | 11.08 oz | 10.82 oz |
| Upper | Synthetic textile | Matryx Jacquard | Matryx Jacquard | Synthetic, textile | Mesh |
| Midsole | Foam + Energy Blade | Energy Save PU foam with Profeel Film rock protection | EExpure midsole | Salomon EnergyCell+ EVA | DNA LOFT |
| Outsole | All-terrain Contagrip rubber | Salomon Contagrip MA | Vibram Litebase | Salomon Mud Contagrip | TrailTack Rubber |
| Heel Tab Type | None | None | None | None | None |
| Claimed Heel-to-Toe Drop | 6 mm | 8 mm | 6 mm | 10 mm | 9 mm |
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Our Analysis and Test Results
The Salomon Pulsar Trail Pro 2 is an energized model that is great for easy-to-moderate trails or running around town. We felt the shoe provided good energy transfer and a comfortable ride. The upper wasn't our favorite, and the knit design put way too much pressure on the top of our feet. This did relax over time, but the first miles we experienced with the shoe weren't our favorite, and we'd go a different route if you feel the same when trying the model on.
Performance Comparison
The Salomon Pulsar Pro Trail 2 is a good model for gravel roads and moderate trail. The Energy Blade inside keeps it feeling springy and agile.
Credit: Matthew Richardson
Foot Protection
With the Energy Blade propulsion plate, ample stack, and a higher heel drop, this is one of the more protective models in our lineup. This protection will provide long-run comfort, and trail debris is less likely to be noticeable over the technical terrain. We didn't love running this shoe in technical terrain as it feels a bit vague, and we prefer a bit more feedback. This stiffness does lend itself very well to easy and moderate trails.
The combination of stack and the energy plate provide good foot protection from all day abuse on trail. This a protective model that won't let you down on a variety of trail types.
Credit: Matthew Richardson
Traction
The directional tread pattern is great for easy and moderate trails but suffers when cornering or in loose/dry dirt. The softer rubber does provide good traction in wet conditions, but we were never left feeling overly inspired by the traction. This felt like another indicator that it's best for gravel paths, buffed out trails, and moderate tech.
The Pulsar Pro Trail 2 operates best in a straight line and the directional lugs are a good indication of that, we found cornering in loose dry conditions to give us some pause. For technical terrain you may opt for a more aggressive lug pattern.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Sensitivity
There isn't a ton of sensitivity to write about after testing the Pulsar Pro 2. If you're really after sensitivity in technical terrain or that connected ground, we feel this isn't the model for you. The lack of sensitivity isn't something to be too concerned about if you aren't tackling technical terrain. The smooth ride and evenness of the platform make running fast on easy terrain comfortable and fluid.
Minimal sensitivity is found on the Pulsar Pro Trail 2. We didn't love it on technical terrain but for gravel roads it offers smooth ground feel.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Stability
This shoe feels planted and solid, providing support to your ankles, knees, and hips. This was great for long runs when our legs started to fatigue in the last few miles. This stability is most noticeable on solid ground when running in a straight line. We found this stability to be a bit unwieldy on more technical terrain, and small bumps could easily send your ankles to fly; this is in part due to the combination of stack, dense foam, and rigidity. However, for easier trails, as we've mentioned, this stiffness is appreciated. If you desire stability features but don't want to sacrifice performance or weight, you should consider this model.
Due to the rigidity of the propulsion plate the Pulsar Pro Trail 2 is fairly stiff, one benefit of this is it provides good stability. This does create a downside that toque on off camber trails is more noticeable.
Credit: Matthew Richardson
Comfort and Fit
The cushioning on this model is great, offering a smooth, comfortable ride when jogging or running fast. Our main complaint with this model is the upper; it's just not that comfortable. Knit uppers can be good, but this wasn't our experience here. A majority of the lockdown tension was applied to the top part of the foot, with the sides feeling loose. A knit upper needs to wrap around the foot, but that wasn't the case here. If you have a wider foot, you might consider this model. We never felt like this was something we could ignore, even after many miles in the shoe. The snugness does feel fine when running fast, but it often feels overkill when running slower. If this upper feels comfortable to you, then odds are you'll find this model works quite well for you.
The tight knit upper does a good job of blending breathability and protection against trail debris.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Weight
At 9.92oz per shoe, this is one of the most feature-rich models at pretty low weight. Offering great cushioning, energy transfer, and stability, there are other models that are much heavier that offer less. This model does lack some versatility across terrain types, but that doesn't discount it from being a great all-around model for people who want extra traction in city parks or trails. We'd also recommend this model for races if it's comfortable for you due to its lightweight design. This shoe feels smooth and light through the footstrike and never feels overbearing or dull.
At 9.90 oz per shoe size 10.50 this is one of the lighter models in our review group this keeps the shoe feeling lively and agile.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Should You Buy the Salomon Pulsar Trail Pro 2?
We'd recommend trying the upper on this model before committing, so buy at a place you can return if needed. This shoe is best on moderate trails, nature paths, and gravel roads. If you've been looking for a fast model in these types of conditions, give this model a look. For people tackling technical terrain we'd opt for something that's a bit softer and less directional.
We found the upper on the Pulsar Trail Pro 2 to be uncomfortable, this could be due to our foot volume. So if you try it on and like it we imagine the other features will work well for you.
Credit: Matthew Richardson
What Other Men's Trail Running Shoes Should You Consider?
If you are a fan of the Salomon Sense Ride 5 but want something with a little more energy, give this a serious look. For brands other than Salomon, you could also consider the La Sportiva Prodigio or Hoka Tecton X 2. All of these models excel on similar terrain, but we find their uppers more comfortable.
When tackling easier trails and wanting a sensation of speed consider the Pulsar Trail Pro 2. Just make sure the upper feels comfortable to you before committing to the model.
Credit: Matthew Richardson
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Matthew Richardson
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