REASONS TO BUY
Stable
Durable
Comfortable
Good energy transfer
REASONS TO AVOID
Stiff
Overly rigid on technical trails
Not versatile
Salomon Sense Ride 5 Review
Gravel road runners or those looking for fast times on smoother surfaces should check out this shoe
While Salomon claims best for mixed terrain and city parks we put this shoe through the paces to test consistently across our lineup.
Credit: Matthew Richardson
RELATED: Best Trail Running Shoes of 2023
Our Verdict
The out-of-the-box stiffness of the Salomon Sense Ride 5 feels more suited for the roads than trails. While it did soften up, testing on technical trails left us wanting more. This isn't a huge surprise, with Salomon suggesting that the Sense Ride is best for mixed terrain and city parks. The fit/comfort and cinch laces are what we've come to expect, but we think there are better options out there. This shoe doesn't really excel at anything, and we'd struggle to recommend it over the competition. The one caveat is if you are accustomed to Salomon's fit and are in the market for a gravel/mixed trail shoe.
Editor's Note: This review was updated on May 23, 2023, to offer our thoughts on this newest version in the Sense Ride series.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Salomon Sense Ride 5 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  |  |  | ||
| Price | $140 List $97.49 at REI | $180 List | $129.95 at Backcountry Compare at 2 sellers | $99.95 at Backcountry Compare at 3 sellers | $100 List $79.00 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Pros | Stable, durable, comfortable, good energy transfer | Unbeatable fit, fantastic underfoot protection, doesn’t absorb much water, very stable | Protective upper and midsole, great energy return, lightweight | Ultra-stable platform, stiff and supportive, deep lugs | Affordable, stabile, ample foot protection |
| Cons | Stiff, overly rigid on technical trails, not versatile | Expensive, hard to get on foot, must wear above the ankle height socks, hard to stuff laces into garage | Stiff on advanced technical terrain, lacks sensitivity | Lack of ground feel, relatively heavy | Stiff and rigid in technical terrain, lacks sensitivity |
| Bottom Line | Gravel road runners or those looking for fast times on smoother surfaces should check out this shoe | The finest shoe for technical terrain that gives a feeling of confidence at speed | If you are looking for Hoka that has a more instantaneous response, this is our favorite for long runs on moderate to buffed terrain | A classic shoe with a stiff platform that is firmly rooted in long-distance trail running | Built for beginners, this model is great for those looking for an entry point into trail shoes without spending top-dollar |
| Rating Categories | Salomon Sense Ride 5 | Salomon S/Lab Ultra 3 | HOKA Torrent 3 | Brooks Cascadia 16 | Brooks Divide 3 |
| Foot Protection (25%) | |||||
| Traction (20%) | |||||
| Sensitivity (15%) | |||||
| Stability (15%) | |||||
| Comfort (15%) | |||||
| Weight (10%) | |||||
| Specs | Salomon Sense Ride 5 | Salomon S/Lab Ultra 3 | HOKA Torrent 3 | Brooks Cascadia 16 | Brooks Divide 3 |
| Measured Weight (per pair) | 21.0 oz (size 10) | 20.5 oz (size 9.5) | 19.3 oz (size 10) | 22.5 oz (size 9.5) | 20.8 oz (size 10) |
| Stack Height (Heel, Forefoot) | 29.6mm, 21.3 mm | 26 mm, 18 mm | 23 mm, 18 mm | 29 mm, 21 mm | 20 mm, 12 mm |
| Heel-to-Toe Drop | 8 mm | 8 mm | 5 mm | 8 mm | 8 mm |
| Lug Depth | 3.5 mm | 4 mm | 4 mm | 5 mm | Not Available |
| Upper | Synthetic, Textile | Anti-Debris mesh with sockliner | Mesh | Engineered mesh | Synthetic mesh |
| Midsole | Energy Surge foam | Energy Save PU foam with Profeel Film rock protection | EVA | 2mm Brooks DNA LOFT v2 foam, Ballistic Rock Shield | EVA |
| Outsole | Contagrip rubber | Salomon Contagrip MA | Rubber | Brooks TrailTack rubber | TrailTrack Rubber |
| Rock Plate? | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Lacing Style | Quicklace | Quicklace with garage | Traditional | Traditional | Traditional |
| Wide Version Available? | No | No | No | Yes | No |
| Sizes Available | 7 - 14 US | 4 - 13 US | 7 - 15 US | 7 - 15 US | 7 - 15 US |
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Our Analysis and Test Results
If you are in the market for a trail-inspired shoe that's more suited for gravel paths and around town, this could be the model you've been searching for. Salomon continues the Sense Ride series, offering updates to the outsole and upper. Unfortunately, this iteration lacks versatility, so for users that want an all-around option, we'd look elsewhere. The shoe's overall design is stiff, leading towards great energy transfer, but we think most users will find it too one-dimensional.
Performance Comparison
Best for roads to moderate trails the Sense Ride 5 is a stiff shoe that provides excellent energy return.
Credit: Matthew Richardson
Foot Protection
This shoe is stiff, and that stiffness allows for minimal ground feel but a whole lot of protection. Most of this protection comes from the natural rigidity of the shoe since there is no carbon plate. Thick, dense foam offers maximum ground protection, with the upper being surprisingly minimal. This is another reminder to us that the Sense Ride 5 excels with energy transfer on more moderate terrain like gravel roads and green trails. While it scores high in this category, we think it almost does a disservice, feeling overly restrictive and non-compliant. We normally train on mountain trails, so you may have to look past our judgment if you are located and train on less technical terrain.
The Salomon Sense Ride 5 has dense cushioning, you will feel little underfoot. This is fine on consistent surfaces but can be difficult in more technical terrain.
Credit: Matthew Richardson
Traction
The Sense Ride has a slightly higher stack and less sensitivity, so it's not as confidence-inspiring in steep or loose terrain. However, using this shoe as intended, the traction is more than adequate. Buffed trails and gravel roads are where this traction design is at home when combined with the foam style. More consistent ground contact on these surfaces reduces the need for lugs and extensive outsoles. This stiff design produces more surface area contact on these surfaces, making this one of the best shoes in our lineup for fast running on non-technical surfaces.
This traction design is almost identical to the S/Lab Ultra 3. We found it provided less traction, however, most likely due to the higher stack and stiffness.
Credit: Matthew Richardson
Sensitivity
It's no surprise that sensitivity is largely non-existent. Thick, dense foam and a rigid, dense outsole offer a vague feeling on technical terrain. While this isn't a deal breaker for fast running, it feels harsh and overbuilt when at a more relaxed pace. On technical terrain, there is less feedback for foot placement, leading to potential missteps and tweaks. On our ridgeline running test, we found this shoe to require slow placement, and it was less intrinsic than other models in our lineup. While we test all of the shoes the same, this was not our favorite when it came to tackling technical miles.
Lacking almost any sensitivity we'd recommend sticking on easy trails and gravel roads with this model.
Credit: Matthew Richardson
Stability
The dense foam gives the Sense Ride 5 a stable platform even with the higher stack height. We found this shoe amply supportive on easy to moderate trails, but on technical terrain, there was almost too much stability — we often felt locked into certain foot positions. This shoe prefers consistency, and the stability confirms that. If you have pronation problems, consider checking out this model since there is a lot of rigidity through the heel, which translates up the knees and hips. Users with a more neutral form should find this model equally as supportive.
Dense foam on the Salomon Sense Ride 5 provides good stability and protection, this is enhanced with a great upper that solidly locks the foot down.
Credit: Matthew Richardson
Comfort
The upper fits well in the forefoot, but we found the sides initially quite stiff. Once they broke in, they were more comfortable due to their increased flexibility. The cinch laces are great, but stowing them is more difficult since there are more laces covering the storage pocket. The ground feel and impact of the Sense Ride decrease the comfort score substantially, and we could never get psyched to run in this shoe. Expect this model to take some time to break in before it comes alive.
For all-day usage, some users will find this model harsh. We'd recommend a softer shoe if you plan to use this for all-purpose running and adventures.
Credit: Matthew Richardson
Weight
The Sense Ride 5 sits in the middle ground of our lineup, weighing 23.5 ounces for the pair (size 10 US). The shoe never really felt heavy or light and offers a fairly muted experience unless you are really digging into the trail looking for maximum energy return. Over time it becomes more lively, but the extensive break-in time wasn't worth it to us when other shoes feel great out of the box and still last just as long. Luckily the durable outsole rubber is firm and should last for hundreds of miles. The upper is well made, and we experienced no noticeable issues during our testing.
In technical terrain, some may wish for a lighter model but the Salomon Sense Ride 5 is average when compared to other shoes in our lineup.
Credit: Matthew Richardson
Should You Buy the Salomon Sense Ride 5?
If you are looking to run on gravel and mixed surfaces and prefer a bit more traction over a road shoe, we'd recommend this model. You may prefer something else if you will be focusing on more technical terrain. While this shoe isn't our favorite, we think there is a use case where it could work for you. We hope we've made your decision easier!
If you're running on consistent surfaces like the one pictured we think you'll appreciate the Sense Ride 5.
Credit: Matthew Richardson
What Other Trail Running Shoes Should You Consider?
For a shoe that is great on roads, gravel, and moderate trail, we'd recommend the HOKA Torrent 3. Unless you are accustomed to the slimmer Salomon fit, it will likely perform better for all users. The Sense Ride 5 is a more snug-fitting model, with the Torrent 3 being more relaxed in the upper. The Torrent also has a slightly larger platform underneath the foot, leading to a more neutral feeling.
—
Matthew Richardson
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