Upload / Capture
Salomon’s long been dominant on the trails, but their road lineup has taken a bit longer to gain traction. That said, over the last few years, their road shoes have quietly improved and with the S/Lab Phantasm 2, they’re officially stepping into the carbon-plated super shoe space.
The S/Lab Phantasm 2 brings together a responsive PEBAX foam, a full-length carbon plate, and a bold 9mm drop. It’s designed to compete, and I was eager to find out how it stacked up against other carbon plated models.
Quick Facts
Let’s talk sizing first...this shoe runs a little long. If you’re planning to race shorter distances, you might want to size down. But if you're eyeing longer runs or races where your feet swell, sticking with your regular size might work better. Personally, I opted for my usual size, and while it felt roomy at first, I appreciated the space once I hit double-digit mileage.
The upper is made with a stripped-down mesh that focuses on ventilation and speed, not plush comfort. There’s nothing bulky or overbuilt here...it has more of that old-school racing flat feel but with modern materials. For those of us training in high heat, breathability matters, and this upper gets the job done. You can tell how thin the material but durable the material is.
There’s a slim gusseted tongue that doesn’t move around, and the collar is cushioned just enough without adding weight. You won’t find a rigid heel counter, which is great news for anyone with sensitivity issues in that area. The overall fit is secure even though the shoe does run long.
I usually bounce between a 10–11 wide in women’s running shoes. I went with the 10.5 on the S/Lab Phantasm 2. If I were only doing 5Ks, I might size down even further to a 10, but for marathon efforts, the extra room helps.
This is where the shoe really comes to life. The Energy Foam+ midsole (PEBAX-based) makes a massive difference compared to Salomon’s older foams. Previous models always felt a little underwhelming...fine for daily runs, but never fast. The Phantasm 2 changes that. At slower speeds, it’s mellow enough to warm up in, but pick up the pace and the bounce kicks in hard.
It thrives on steady efforts...think tempo work, longer threshold runs, and race pace segments. I don’t think it’s ideal for shorter track work, but if you're doing long intervals or half marathon pace work, it responds well. The carbon plate helps add pop without making the shoe overly stiff, and the toe-off is smooth thanks to the rocker geometry.
Even though it’s got a 9mm drop on paper, it feels lower in action. The compression of the foam makes it feel more like 6–7mm, which kept my stride feeling natural. I’ve dealt with hamstring irritation in some other plated shoes, but so far, this hasn’t caused any issues.
As far as rotation goes, like any carbon plated model, I’m using the Salomon S/Lab Phantasm 2 for hard efforts only. It’s too performance-focused to double as an easy-day trainer, but it really hits its stride for anything from fast long runs to race day. I don’t reach for it on recovery days, but when I have a workout or longer effort, it's a shoe I like to grab.
From the trails, Salomon knows grip, and that experience carries over here. The outsole combines rubber in key areas with exposed foam elsewhere to save weight. It’s clearly designed for the roads, but I’ve taken it on flat, non-technical dirt paths with no problems. The traction surprised me...I’d trust it in wet conditions, which isn’t something I say about most racing shoes.
Like any carbon plated shoe, it breaks down fairly quickly. In the S/Lab Phantasm 2's case, it actually feels like it may last up to 200 miles. At 50 miles in, there’s minimal wear, and it still feels like it did out of the box.
The S/Lab Phantasm 2 is proof that Salomon can make a legit road racing shoe. With modern foam, an efficient plate, and solid grip, it’s finally got the tools to hang with the top-tier options from other brands. I’ve been impressed with every run and honestly wish I’d tried it sooner. This is easily one of my favorite carbon shoes this year.
Who Should Buy the Salomon S/Lab Phantasm 2
Who Should Not Buy the Salomon S/Lab Phantasm 2
I was paid to write an honest shoe review of my choice.
Login to your account to leave a comment.
We Want to Give it to You!
