Anyone have experience with these trail runners?

No chance of losing your feet in those, huh?

I figure they at least make me look faster!

What's up with the bizarre coloring of shoes these days? I hate most of them.

The colors on the first pair make me wish Salomons fit my feet. Then I saw they were goretex…

I think you really have to ask yourself what you're looking for a pair of shoes and try them all on.

Crossmax is brand new for 2011, I've only tried it on in the store. Feels similar to the Wings in my opinion, but doesn't seem to role onto the toe quite as well as the Wings. It claims to weigh about the same as the S-Lab but in the store the front half felt a bit stiffer than my S-Labs. Stiffness was more similar to the heavier Wings. Have not tried them on the trail though.
Speedcross is a shoe many like for racing but does not fit my style of movement.

Salomon S-Lab 3
I own several models of shoes but the S-Lab is my main shoe. I have at least 2000 miles in it. I use it for running ultras (50 & 100 milers). also use to train. I have taken them on a couple fastpacking trips in the Sierra also. I like the S-Lab a lot. I generally get around 500 miles per pair. I am on my 5th pair.

My size 9.5 weighs 635grams for the pair (11.2 oz per shoe)

The S-lab is simply an ultra light version of the Salomon Wings. You need to like the Wings in order to like the S-Lab. It is a very supportive shoe with a beafy heal (for heal strikers) and a strong medial post for alignment. The cushion under the ball of the foot is a bit less on the S-Lab than on the wings. It does not seem to have a rock plate up front. You Will feel the trail in the front part of the shoe. But I actually like this. The built in scree gator under the laces keeps small rocks out very well. This is not a "flat" shoe like the new wave of minimalist shoes. It has a 25mm to 13mm heal to toe drop..
This is a pretty expensive shoe. $160 at full price.

Current model is the S-Lab 3
they are coming out with the S-Lab 4 this spring (May I think).
you may be able to find S-Lab 3 on sale soon, and after the S-Lab 4 release.

Salomon would have to be paying me to wear those…

They would clash with my dirty girl gaiters

For the same price, you could buy 3 (or 4, good gravy!) pairs of Rockridges or Sabinos with the recent STP deals:

http://www.sierratradingpost.com/p/,3390N_Montrail-Rockridge-Trail-Running-Shoes-For-Men.html
http://www.sierratradingpost.com/p/,3390T_Montrail-Sabino-Trail-Running-Shoes-For-Men.html

the 30% coupon code: TUW7228W

Ive currently been using Mountain Masocists and like them very much, its just time for a change. I have worn the Wings and S-Labs in the store but have never had access to the other two. I work for a retailer so I can get all of them for ridiculously cheap on 3point5, between 50 and 60 bucks for any pair, so i may end up getting 2 pair. In the past I had always liked the Earthtones, but I started liking the bright colors when i started wearing the Red/Black VFF Sprints, and now its moving on to other shoes too. I figure life can be quite dull at times so i might as well brighten it up :)

I have used both the Salomon XR Crossmax Neutral and Speed Cross 2s (non-GTX versions — in a stylish black) over the last two years and found that the Salomon XR Crossmax Neutral's I tried earlier this year destroyed my heels, something no shoe on the trail has ever done before. I went back to Speed Cross 2s, but caution that while the fit and feel is great, the soles are particularly prone to slipping on wet rock and they are not meant to last more than 750 trail miles without coming apart and wearing down the lugs. (I'm currently rotating between inov8 X-Talons and the Speed Cross 2s).

Evan – How does the fit of the Speedcross compare to the wings or S-Lab?

I haven't tried the S-Labs outside of a store but I thought the fit was pretty close to the Salomon trail runners standard (which I like). There was something about the Crossmax Neutrals (the neutral part?) that was the problem. But then again, feet are pretty subjective.

I find the Speed Cross 2s very comfortable and have kept my feet pretty blister free, even over multiple 20 mile trail days in a row.

Thanks Evan, looks like im ordering the Speedcross, along with a pair of Merrel Barefoot trail glove shoes to try out. Thanks for the info.

I can't find the solomans in my size but don have a pair of the new merrils. I guess I am gettingnpretty close to 50 miles on them now and think they are a keeper for me. The lack of a heel and the almost none existent padding under my forefoot took som gettingnuse to but I am coming around.

Keep in mind all my use has been on a sidewalk or treadmill. I am worried about rocky trails. If it ever stops snowing here I will give them a try but am going to carry my normal trailmrunners with me just in case