Salomon S/Lab Pulsar 4 Review: Finding a New Pulse

Introduction to the Salomon S/Lab Pulsar 4

TAYLOR: Sniff, sniff. I smell controversy.

There’s no way we’re escaping this one without a fight. In a move that’s bolder than an espresso shot at midnight, Salomon brought a massive update to a beloved line.

Is it really that dramatic, you might ask? Ouí.

In the not-so-distant past, Salomon discontinued its most performance-informed line and debuted the Pulsar series. This innovative move certainly had ripple effects, both positive and negative. Since then, many have longed for that original lightweight and secure performer over technical terrain, while others revel in the rockered speed play of the current model.

Consider the Salomon S/Lab Pulsar 4 as a peace offering. In many ways, it’s a merger of the two performance camps. The specs reflect both in an effort to create a more versatile trail racing option that’s still lightweight, energetic, and more protective than before.

This race day option gains more stack and weight compared to previous versions — a statement that will either get you jumping for joy or piss you off.

Either way, hear me out. Salomon is onto something. The Salomon S/Lab Pulsar 4 has been seen on the feet of athletes who have run VKs all the way to 100 milers. You simply don’t see that type of versatility in many shoes.

What we like about the Salomon S/Lab Pulsar 4

TAYLOR: Everything Salomon produces is based on fit. Yes, that fit has historically been slim. The Salomon S/Lab Pulsar series has had a slightly different fit with each iteration, and version four will feel quite different from its predecessors. It actually has a fit more reminiscent of the Salomon Genesis.

It’s a hard sensation to describe, but somehow, the S/Lab Pulsar 4 feels roomier yet more secure than its predecessors. The gusseted tongue makes it a little tricky to slip on, yet it provides an incredibly comfortable sensation once it’s on.

Both the toebox and heel are slightly broader, while the midfoot is slim. There was enough padding and structure in the heel for it to remain secure. The same goes for the toebox, where an adhered overlay and moderately thick Matryx upper provide structure. It reminded me of the Brooks Catamount Agil’s forefoot, actually. Neither felt as narrow nor as flimsy as past models. Of course, since Matryx was part of the equation, the fit remained consistent, and I had no doubts about the upper’s durability.

Overall, the Matryx upper, classic Quicklace System, and tongue provided a very satisfactory fit that performed best on moderate to technical trails, kind of reminding me of the original S/Lab Sense shoes. There’s a premium sockliner all the way through to the heel for comfort, while the tongue also provides enough padding and breathability to enhance comfort.

As someone who ran in many of those first generations, the Salmon S/Lab Pulsar 4 fit feels both classic (performance) and updated (comfort) at the same time, though I do have some quirks regarding the final fit.

Before I get to those quirks, know that the new layered midsole makes a massive difference for the latest Pulsar. It pairs updated foams with a wider, more stable platform and slightly less aggressive rocker — a switch that makes it more S/Lab Sense-like. The combination created a more confident, comfortable, and controlled underfoot feel on various terrain.

At 31/25 mm of foam, this fell into the more moderate stack range, where we have many other versatile fan favorites. Options like the Saucony Peregrine 15, VJ Maxx 2, The North Face Vectiv Sky 2, and Altra Mont Blanc Speed all have a very similar stack and boast the ability to go far and on a variety of terrain.

The midsole recipe is essentially the same as the Salomon S/Lab Ultra Glide. It puts a top layer of Optimfoam Plus (a Pebax and EVA blend) right next to the foot for a comfortable and mildly responsive feel. Then, a denser Optimfoam bottom layer provides structure and stability for the ride with a great combination of cushion and ground feel.

At the same time, the Profeel Film added a lightweight guard against rocks, roots, and the like. Add in the fact that Salomon kept its S/Lab Pulsar 4 feeling light, and it’s hard not to see the overall changes as positives. I think this one can go farther while traversing even technical terrain. Isn’t that just the dream?

What we don’t like about the Salomon S/Lab Pulsar 4

TAYLOR: As mentioned, the Salomon S/Lab Pulsar 4 fit is quite similar to the Salomon Genesis, albeit more performance-tuned and trimmed up. Overall, that’s a good thing.

There are a couple of aspects that make this a unique fit. Both are more odd-feeling than they are performance-inhibiting. One that is hard to get over, though, is an odd pinch right in the throat of the shoe. While the toebox is slightly accommodating, the junction of the midfoot/toebox is not. The pinch caused a loss of mobility in my forefoot. It also caused the upper to bunch in the vamp area (like with the Salomon S/Lab Ultra Glide), but it was easily remedied by pulling up on the tongue before lacing.

My US M10.5 also ran a little bit long. I would recommend sizing down a half size; however, I think that would only work well for those who have a narrower foot. Otherwise, that forefoot pinch might be a bit too much.

Durability is another concern. Even though this is in the racing category, where durability tends to lack anyway, there were glaring concerns underfoot. After my first two-hour run, there were literal chunks of foam missing from the midsole. Part of that issue was certainly the nature of the technical terrain I was on, but I have rarely had this happen. The pieces of foam only came out of the red Optifoam Plus layer.

Grip was also somewhat disappointing. ContaGrip outsoles have a generally positive track record, but this particular All Terrain ContaGrip wasn’t fitting the bill for mixed conditions. I slipped on pretty much anything with moisture or a top layer of sandy mix. This lug shape was more versatile for smooth and hard-packed terrain, but they lacked digging power on the trail.

As in our Topo Athletic MTN Racer 4 review, I wonder how much of this lack of performance is due to the fact that there are so many other grade-A outsoles available that these “original” rubber compounds and patterns feel vulnerable. This particular outsole wasn’t terrible, but it was noticeably a lesser grade than many others on the market.

Final thoughts on the Salomon S/Lab Pulsar 4

TAYLOR: Salomon just shifted the scale on what the Puslar range is best for. It’s still an exciting and highly versatile race day option. It is less proficient on smoother trails, but the S/Lab Puslar 4 centers its performance on the more technical stuff.

In some ways, if you’ll give it a chance, I think this will be more universally accepted because you can romp among the heights while gaining the ability to go far. The extra protection from the foams, a little extra stability, plus some responsiveness, give this shoe some serious reach — some Salomon athletes even used it for Western States!

At its best, the Salomon S/Lab Pulsar 4 is a racing shoe for moderate to technical trails, ranging from short efforts to 4-6 hour endeavors.

You can pick up the Salomon S/Lab Pulsar 4 for $220 from Running Warehouse (featuring free shipping and 90-day returns) by using the buttons below.