The Salomon Sonic RA 2 is the update to Salomon’s primary road specific shoe. An updated upper with a new mesh provides additional room for a spacious toe box. The fit has changed to a more medium fit, provide enough room for most foot types. Those with narrower feet may need to tighten the laces to get the snug fit they want. The sole remains the same utilizing Vibe technology with an Opal insert to provide shock attenuation and stability. The ride is stable and smooth, working well for longer and mild up-tempo efforts. With a wider base and specific geometric decoupled axes, the Salomon RA 2 provides stability more naturally with posting or even being a stability shoe. For those looking for speed, this is not the fastest shoe. However, the lighter weight and stable ride make it a great shoe for logging high miles. The outsole design provides fantastic traction on a variety of surfaces. For those that jump between road, trail, and tracks, the Salomon Sonic RA 2 will give you a stable and secure ride wherever you go.
Fit
The major update to the Salomon Sonic RA 2 is in the upper. A new mesh replaces the stiffer prior material the breathes and stretches well with the foot. The lateral and medial forefoot are reinforced with a plastic-like material that caused some initial irritation for testers but resolved within a few miles. The fit is on the medium side with increased room in the forefoot due to the new mesh. Some testers wished for a snugger fit, particularly at the heel and midfoot but noted no slipping.
Testers loved the new flexibility of the upper that conformed well to the foot while still being supportive. The heel collar is smoother and softer than before. The foot is held very well by the reinforced heel and testers noted no issues with slipping. Testers noted that as long as they wore socks, they had no trouble with the lack of an Achilles notch.
Comfort
Testers reported a stiff initial ride that took a few runs for the Salomon Sonic RA 2 to break in. After the initial stiffness, all reported a very comfortable ride. The Salomon RA 2 has a decent amount of padding throughout the upper that provides a comfortable fit free of hot spots. The laces are thick and stretchy, provide a comfortable wrap around the foot once tightened.
On the run, testers noted the shoe shape provided good stability and disappeared during long efforts. Testers loved the Salomon Sonic RA 2 for recovery and longer efforts due to the smooth and comfortable ride. The cushioning is just right and provides good protection over a variety of surfaces.
Responsiveness
The Salomon Sonic RA 2 has a moderately responsive ride, however, testers noted it performed better for longer efforts than faster ones. The Vibe technology provides fantastic shock absorption and keeps the legs fresh over long efforts. Testers reported feeling very protected during longer miles but did not feel as comfortable picking up the pace. This is due to the Vibe not providing as springy of a ride during faster efforts. Despite the deep flex grooves throughout the shoe, the testers reported the forefoot is stiff initially. This creates a more stable than responsive ride in the Salomon Sonic RA 2.
Speed
Due to the moderate responsiveness, the Salomon Sonic RA 2 would work well during mild up-tempo to marathon pace efforts. When it came to Half marathon and faster efforts, testers noticed the midsole did not have the spring or speed they would have hoped for. The Salomon Sonic RA 2 feels light enough to turn the legs over, however, does not pop off the ground well enough to be considered speedy. Several testers noted they would have liked more forefoot flexibility to help roll off the toes faster. As a more protective shoe, testers reported that they were able to pick up the pace better after longer miles. For those athletes looking to be able to keep their legs fresh enough to do workouts towards the end of their long runs, the Salomon Sonic RA 2 is a shoe worth considering.
Ride Quality
Testers were impressed with the stability and comfort of the Salomon Sonic RA 2. Despite no stability elements, testers noted feeling stable and protected over long miles. The slightly thicker and broader midsole also added to the stability, efficiency, and control of the ride. The firmer midsole of the Salomon Sonic RA 2 provides good ground feel while still being protective. The lugs in the outsole provided great traction on all wet and dry surfaces. Testers felt like the Salomon Sonica RA 2, while designed as a road shoe, worked equally well on the trail. For more technical trails however it is suggested to use a trail-specific shoe.
The Verdict
The Salomon Sonic RA 2 is a protective lightweight trainer best for long training miles and mild up-tempo work on a variety of surfaces. For those looking for a lightweight comfortable fit combined with a stable ride without traditional stability methods, this may be a shoe worth considering.
