Salomon Genesis 2 review

In our opinion, the Salomon Genesis 2 is a solid match for:

• Trail runners looking for a durable, dependable shoe that delivers a classic, easy-to-ride experience.
• Runners seeking a reasonably priced trail shoe that handles a wide variety of terrain.
• Fans of MATRYX uppers who want one of the most affordable trail shoes featuring this material.
• Runners who prefer more supportive cushioning over plush foams for their trail adventures.

The Genesis 2 delivers less shock absorption than many runners expect from a modern trail shoe, which could be a dealbreaker for some. If you're looking for better impact protection and stronger energy return from a more advanced foam, we recommend the ASICS Trabuco 14.

We also found that Salomon sticks with its usual tapered toebox, which can be a major issue for runners with wide feet. If you need the opposite, we strongly suggest checking out the Topo Ultraventure 4 or Altra Lone Peak 9 instead, as both offer a much roomier fit.

Impact protection isn't a highlight of the Salomon Genesis 2. We measured 106 SA in the heel and 94 SA in the forefoot, with both results falling below average. There's decent cushioning underfoot, but bigger runners looking for generous impact absorption will find stronger options elsewhere.

It's clear that Salomon's optiFOAM didn't deliver much excitement in our energy return test. We found just 51.9% in the forefoot and 49.5% in the heel. 

Based on this, the foam is not going to be the highlight of this shoe, but we're hoping the upper and outsole can make up for it...

Our cutaway revealed 32.7 mm beneath the heel, slightly less than Salomon's advertised 33.5 mm.

This moderate stack keeps the Genesis 2 away from the towering platforms of maximalist trail shoes. In our view, it's a great middle ground for runners who prefer a more traditional shoe without giving up solid underfoot protection.

At the front, we measured 24.0 mm of stack, including the insole and outsole.

That's less than the official 25.5 mm specification and leaves a relatively modest buffer beneath the forefoot. Forefoot strikers looking for a thick platform under their toes should keep this measurement in mind, especially when choosing a shoe for long outings.

The Genesis 2 takes a classic approach on trail shoe design, and its heel-to-toe drop follows the same pattern. We measured a relatively high 8.7 mm offset, which can work for different footstrikes but, in our view, feels best suited for heel strikers.

The optiFOAM midsole uses an EVA-based compound, and we measured its softness at 40.0 AC. It sits in balanced territory, without the deep, pillowy compression of much softer foams. We think this approach makes more sense for runners who prefer some resistance and classic feel underfoot than for those seeking a plush landing.

After 20 minutes in the freezer, the foam became 14% firmer. That's a relatively small change for an EVA foam and a positive result for keeping its softness more consistent when temperatures drop.

One area where the Genesis 2 moves a bit away from its classic design is the rocker geometry. We found a noticeably curved forefoot that rises toward the toe, while a pronounced heel bevel rounds off the rear of the shoe.

Fans of Salomon's snug-fitting uppers will recognize the approach here.

Our gel mold measured 94.5 mm at its widest point, leaving the Genesis 2 slightly narrower than average across the broadest part of the forefoot.

The fit tightens more noticeably as we move toward the big toe, where we measured 71.6 mm. That's a narrow result and the clearest restriction in the shoe's horizontal fit.

In fact, our sample is 5% narrower here than the original Genesis we tested.

Vertical clearance is limited too. We measured a toebox height of 25.7 mm, giving runners less headroom above the toes than average.

Combined with the tapered outline, this is a fit worth checking carefully if you have a high-volume forefoot.

We tested the contaGRIP outsole on wet concrete and recorded a forefoot friction coefficient of 0.70.

That puts its performance right around average, rather than among the top-performing shoes in our database. Nonetheless, we see this as a positive result that confirms reliable grip in most situations.

The Salomon Genesis 2 is designed to be the most versatile, do-it-all trail shoe in Salomon's lineup. True to its all-around nature, our calipers measured 3.9 mm, almost perfectly matching Salomon's advertised 4 mm.

In our view, this depth strikes a sensible balance for mixed terrain, offering more grip than shallow gravel-focused lugs without the aggressive studs found on dedicated mud shoes.

We also found extensive rubber coverage, including through the midfoot. There are narrow grooves in that central area, but none of the large exposed-foam windows that leave substantial parts of some trail soles uncovered.

The Genesis 2 took 17.8N to bend through 30 degrees in our stiffness test, showing more resistance to longitudinal bending than average. That's 41% more force than the original Genesis required in the same test.

At 10.1 oz (286g) in our men's US 9 sample, the Genesis 2 lands almost exactly at the average weight for a trail shoe and also very close to its predecessor.

We don't see lightness as a major selling point, but it isn't especially heavy either given its solid outsole coverage and structured MATRYX upper.

Salomon builds support into this shoe through the activeCHASSIS, raised midsole sidewalls, and the endoFit sleeve around the midfoot. We found a particularly structured rearfoot, with the lateral chassis piece clearly visible beside the heel.

However, we found that the platform itself isn't particularly wide, so the Genesis 2 relies more on its supportive construction than on the heavily flared base found in many modern running shoes. That said, we still found the Genesis 2 more stable than most of its rivals, making it a solid option for runners with mild overpronation.

Our torsion test produced a result of 16.6 Nm, showing moderate resistance to twisting. This gives the shoe a more restrained amount of rotational freedom than a very flexible, unstructured design.

The heel counter is one of the more substantial support features. We squeezed it from the sides and pushed from behind, arriving at a stiffness rating of 4/5.

Salomon advertises a wider midsole platform, but our forefoot measurement tells a different story. We measured 109.5 mm, which is narrower than both the average and the original Genesis we tested.

We see a relatively slim footprint for placing the foot on narrow trails and keeping an agile feel. The trade-off is less platform extending beyond the foot to provide a broad landing base.

The heel base measured 89.7 mm, keeping its width fairly conventional and being another reason why we feel that this shoe feels so familiar.

MATRYX has a strong reputation for durability, but we found that the tested area of the upper earned a fairly average 3/5 in our abrasion test. That's still a solid result for a trail shoe, although we understand why some runners might expect more from this highly-regarded material.

The heel lining put up a stronger fight against our Dremel, earning 4/5. We were pleased with its resistance in an area that sees regular rubbing when putting the shoe on, taking it off, and moving inside the collar on twisty trails.

The outsole was the star of our abrasion tests. After applying the Dremel, we measured a dent of just 0.4 mm in the contaGRIP rubber, an excellent result that outperforms almost every competitor.

Salomon doesn't use a thick rubber base beneath the lugs. We measured just 1.4 mm, making it 30% thinner than the original Genesis we tested.

That leaves less material to wear through, but the strong abrasion result is reassuring. We wouldn't judge its durability from thickness alone, and this measurement excludes the additional height of the lugs.

MATRYX uppers can be tricky to judge without lab testing, as their appearance doesn't always reveal how breathable they really are. They often feature ultra-thin sections designed to improve airflow, but without large ventilation holes, it's difficult to predict how much air can actually pass through the material.

Fortunately, the Salomon Genesis 2 earned an impressive 4/5 in our breathability test. We found that this strong result comes mainly from the tiny openings we discovered under our digital microscope. Yes, microscopic openings under a microscope, forgive the repetition!

We found Salomon's familiar Quicklace system: a thin, round cord runs through textile loops and reinforced upper eyelets, then tightens with a sliding lock. The loops connect to the overlay structure, while the tongue pocket stores the excess cord. It's fast to adjust, although it offers fewer lacing options than conventional eyelets.

Tongue padding measured 6.7 mm, offering solid cushioning between the cord and the instep.

Pulling the tongue aside revealed full attachments on both sides as part of the endoFit construction that keeps the foot wrapped.

The insole measured 3.9 mm thick, giving the Genesis 2 a fairly slim insole.

We could remove the insole easily, which is useful for cleaning it or replacing it with another insert. However, the relatively snug interior deserves attention if you use custom orthotics.

There's no dedicated heel tab or finger loop on this version. We found a tall, backward-curving heel collar instead, leaving the collar itself as the obvious place to grip when pulling the shoe on.

Our dark-room inspection revealed no reflective elements.

Salomon keeps the Genesis 2 at the same price as its predecessor, which is great news. We really appreciate this decision, especially in a market where prices seem to keep climbing.

In our view, the value is strongest for runners who prioritize the structured construction and durable outsole.