Select BITR Apparel On Sale. Shop Now

Salming Speed 6 Performance Review

The Good

Thomas: Sometimes no update is a good thing. The midsole and the outsole of the Speed 6 are identical to the Speed 5. Now if you didn’t get a chance to run in the Speed 5, here is what you missed. The Salming Speed 6 has a near perfect midsole for my preferences. It is soft and flexible on landing, but firm enough that it doesn’t lose energy when your foot is pushing off in your stride. The stack height feels low to the ground with 23mm heel and 17mm forefoot giving the Speed 6 a 6mm drop. The drop provides the shoe with a little lean forward without feeling unnatural.The outsole rubber on the Salming Running shoes used to be overly generous. They tried to slap more rubber on for durability. It weighed the shoes down and made transitions feel clunky. Since then, Salming has slimmed down the rubber, and it doesn’t seem to make that much of a difference in the durability. It makes a big difference in weight and the way the shoe connects with the pavement. This shoe transitions smoothly and has enough grip to give you confidence during toe-off.

The outsole rubber on the Salming Running shoes used to be overly generous. They tried to slap more rubber on for durability. It weighed the shoes down and made transitions feel clunky. Since then, Salming has slimmed down the rubber, and it doesn’t seem to make that much of a difference in the durability. It is a big difference in weight and the way the shoe connects with the pavement. This shoe transitions smoothly and has enough grip to give you confidence during toe-off.

Let’s talk about the upper. Shout out to Salming; I see what you are doing. There is a reason the amount of time between releasing the Speed 5 and Speed 6 was so fast. This shoe is the Speed 5 midsole/outsole paired with the Race 5 upper. It works out amazingly well. This upper is the best upper on any Salming running shoe to date. It is also crazy looking and unlike anything else out there. At first, I thought it was ugly, but like a song you don’t like when you initially hear it and then it becomes a favorite over time, every run the shoe started looking cooler and more rad. The geometric pattern serves two functions; They act as overlays to create the structure of the upper. The second feature of the design is totally disco. The shapes appear to be dark grey, that is until the light hits them. They are insanely reflective. If you are running in low light areas with traffic, these will keep you safe and provide a fantastic show for the drivers. The upper fits my foot shape better than previous models and gives the toe down silhouette I like in a running shoe. The tongue isn’t too puffy and stays low. The padded collar and a heel counter cups your foot nicely into the shoe. The laces and footbed are standard and not worth mentioning as they don’t stand out or detract from the shoe.

The Salming Speed 6 runs true to size, stick with your regular running shoe size. The weight is 8.10 oz for a size 10.5 which is mindboggling for a shoe that provides enough underfoot protection for a daily trainer. The Speed 6 can take you from training runs to race day with ease.

Meaghan: Based on looks and weight (5.95 oz for a W7.5), you would assume the Speed 6 falls into the racing flat category.  The running industry (and other jack wagons) call it an “uptempo” shoe. It’s essentially a neutral trainer.

My first run in the Speed 6 was a 10 mile workout and the shoes felt great. The upper is a 2 layer mesh with reflective overlays. They’re perfect for the early morning or evening runs. I LOVE that they removed the horrible plastic exoskeleton they had in previous models. They kept the general design, but removed the excess material. The toebox is especially wide, which I love. The midsole is designed with the same light foam called Recoil™. It feels great underfoot and has a nice snap to it. The minimal rubber placement on the outsole help keep the shoes light, but adds a touch of durability.

Salming Speed 6

The Bad

Thomas: The upper on the Speed 6 isn’t open mesh, and that can make it less breathable. My feet don’t run hot, and I ran in these in moderate temperatures, so it didn’t bother me. If you are super sensitive, you may want to try them before you buy them.

Meaghan: While Salming fixed most of my upper complaints, I still don’t love how the laces/tongue feel on the top of my foot. It’s not as comfortable as I would expect.

Salming Speed 6

Salming Speed 6 Conclusion

Thomas: I am confident recommending these trainers. I started running in the Salming Speed 6 when I was on the mend from a hamstring strain. My first runs were slower and shorter. The shoe felt good and gave me the courage to extend the mileage and increase the pace. I packed two pairs of running shoes for a trip to Europe; I ended up doing 90% of my runs in the Salming Speed 6. When it was time to run, I just wanted to run in the Speed. Get your own pair here.

Meaghan: The Salming Speed 6 is a great shoe. I love the lightweight design and I really enjoyed these shoes for speed workouts. The reflective upper was especially helpful for the early morning runs.

 

4
Comments

Have something to say? Leave a Comment

  1. Brad Landry says:

    Thanks for the review. In search of my next marathon shoe. How would you compare the Speed 6 to the Zoom Elite 9? They seem to be pretty similarly spec’d. I find the upper and forefoot of the ZE9 to be better than good, but short of “the perfect shoe.” How does the upper/forefoot and ride of the Speed 9 compare to the ZE9? Thanks!

    1. Hi Brad, The ride of the two shoes is pretty different. The Speed 6 is a smidge firmer. The elite 9 has the zoom air unit in the forefoot that adds a nice bounce on toe off while giving a little extra cushion under the ball of your foot (which you know). The forefoot of the Speed 6 will be enough for any distance. This is a tough call because both shoes are so good. If you try the Speed go with your regular shoe size, I had to go a half size up in the Elite. My advice would be to go to Running Warehouse and order the Speed 6, they have free shipping both ways and no hassle returns. You can try it and see what you think.

  2. Andy Dublin says:

    Thomas,

    What’s differences do you see between the Speed 6 and the Distance 5? I just ordered the D5, but now I’m wondering if I ordered the wrong shoe. I want a versatile shoe that can handle easy runs and longer interval workouts.

    1. Both are good trainers, the D5 is a little less shoe underfoot, but still is sufficiently cushioned. See if you like the D5, if not exchange for the Speed 6.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Previous Post
Next Post
Previous Post
Read Article
Next Post
Read Article