Review: Salomon DRX Defy GRVL running shoe

When it comes to running shoes, I want something that can handle an (my own?) identity crisis. I need comfort for long miles, grip for when the terrain gets questionable, and enough energy return that I don’t feel like I’m dragging my feet through wet cement by kilometre 15. Bonus points if they don’t make my feet feel like they’ve gone 10 rounds with a meat tenderiser.

Several weeks of chalk and gravel tracks, muddy footpaths, even a few stretches of tarmac when I couldn’t be bothered to find a proper trail. The cushioning is generous without feeling mushy, and there’s a reassuring stability underfoot. They grip well on loose surfaces, and while they’re not a full-on mountain shoe, they handle tricky terrain without any unnerving slippage. They even did a respectable job on the road, though the trail pedigree is obvious. No blisters, no hotspots – just a smooth, responsive ride that let me focus on my suboptimal pacing strategy instead of foot pain.