The Salomon Sonic 4 Balance is an excellent choice for anybody seeking a mid-weight daily trainer capable of handling long distances and medium-speed activity. Even though it is not as soft as some of its competitors, it covers up for it in speed and ground feel. Altogether, it is a reliable driver on a daily basis.
The Sonic 4 Balance is a solid high-mileage partner for runners who like a hard, stiff daily trainer that doesn’t compromise on cushioning.
Also, if you are looking for running shoes and can’t decide what is the best running shoe, then please check out our 5 Best Salomon Shoes Review.
Review of Salomon Sonic 4 Balance
Features:
- SensiFit design cradles the foot from the midsoles to the lacing system, offering a secure, tight, and fully personalized fit.
- Optivibe is a one-of-a-kind foam mix. One is used to absorb impact, while the other is used to push. It helps reduce vibration on foot contact, which helps to lessen fatigue without compromising the overall ride.
- Every time you push off the ground, the responsive ride gives you a bouncy feel.
- Laterally aligned Geometric Decoupling axes provide a smooth, smooth transition from touch to movement.
Pros
- Cushioning is strong but not harsh, similar to Salomon’s trail shoes.
- Good grip is provided by the durable ContaGrip blown rubber outsole.
- Very lighteweight and jumping feel make you want to run more.
Cons
- Outsole grooves can become clogged with rocks and debris.
- Upper mesh memory foam can get a little flaten up after using for a long time.
Sonic 3 vs Sonic 4 (Improvement):
| Specifications | Salomon Sonic 3 Balance | Salomon Sonic 4 Balance |
|---|---|---|
| Cushioning | Two-layer cushioning system | Two-layer cushioning system |
| Vibration Dampening | Midsole OPTIVIBE | Midsole & Rear Foot OPTIVIBE |
| Upper Mesh | Sensifit upper | Redesigned Softer Mesh with memory foam |
| Outsole | Rubber | ContaGrip Blown Rubber |
Midsole
Salomon’s OptiVibe cushioning is used in the midsole heel, which is a two-layer design that absorbs stress on contact and then returns part of that energy to your movement.
To do this, the midsole blends a minty green puck of denser EVA with a white bottom layer of full-length Olefin Block Copolymer foam created by Salomon in collaboration with Dow Chemical. At faster speeds, it’s light and sensitive, but it still rides pretty stiffly and hard, similar to the cushioning in Salomon’s trail shoes.
Outsole
This outsole is just a bit updated from the sonic 3 but the fact that this outsole can give you a very bouncy feel every time you touch the ground is very powerful and effective in case of running. With this Contagrip Blown Rubber Outsole, the Salomon Sonic 4 Balance will have the perfect balance for your short to medium running routine and medium sports activities.
Experts Review
Based on my experience, I appreciated the support the Sonic provided despite its small weight. It’s ideal for shorter distances (between 3 and 6 miles) and provides adequate support while allowing for my larger foot. It gave me space while not allowing my foot to slip around. For shorter runs, the cushioning was enough. I’ve put around 250 miles on these shoes, and the outsole has handled the road effectively in both wet and dry weather, and it’s still going strong.
The only two things I faced were that the Contagrip Blown outsole can get dirty and carry small rocks or particles due to its lightweight air design, although it’s easy to clean. And the second thing was that as I was using it for quite a while, the feel it gave at the beginning of the gripping that hold my feet and felt like the shoe was designed to my feet only, that memory foam on upper mesh gotten a little flat in my case I think. Although I’ve used it so many times that it would not matter now because I can just wear it and run without thinking about anything.
Worth An Upgrade?
Sonic 4 Balance features the same OPTIVIBE vibration dampening technology and an overall comparable ride as the Sonic 3 Balance. The fit and components used in the upper have undergone improvements. A softer mesh provides a royal step-in vibe, and a completely new integrated inner booty cradles the foot while you rack up the miles.
Except if you plan on doing a lot of jogging this summer, or if you have smaller feet that will benefit from a tighter, more supporting wrap over the arch, you may be better off picking up the older Sonic 3 Balance at a discounted price.
Technical Information:
| Best Use | Running |
| Gender | Men |
| Weight (Per pair) | 1 lb. 1.6 oz. |
| Midsole | Optivibe |
| Outsole | ContaGrip Rubber |
| Upper | Textile/ Synthetic Sensifit Mesh |
| Lining | Textile |
| Heel To Toe Drop (Measurement in mm) | 8 |
| Footwear Height | Ankle |
| Footwear Closure | Lace-up |
| Running Shoe Cushioning | Moderate Cushion |
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