Upload / Capture
I’ve been a Salomon person for a long time, and the last couple years have been especially good. So when I saw the first photos of the Salomon S/Lab Phantasm 3, my reaction was not excitement...it was confusion. They changed it so much that it barely resembles the same shoe. Don't get me wrong, it looked interesting but I was like...what happened to one of my favorite racers.
The Salomon S/Lab Phantasm 3 is a carbon-plated road racer meant for speed sessions and race day, from the 5K all the way up to the marathon. It uses a PEBA-based midsole and a full-length carbon plate to keep things efficient and quick, with lightweight cushioning that feels built for pavement.
Salomon is pitching it as a max-cushion carbon racer with a 6 mm drop. If you are looking for a do-it-all daily trainer that can jog, recover, and pretend it’s a workout shoe, this is not that. But if you want something that feels fast the Salomon S/Lab Phantasm 3 is worth paying attention to.
The upper is the first thing you notice, because you literally cannot ignore it. It has an integrated sleeve that wraps around the ankle and covers the laces. It looks sleek but it also looks like the kind of thing that could be irritating at the exact moment you are already irritated. Imagine you are trying to slide your foot into an aerodynamic sock-shoe situation while quickly getting ready for a race.
Underfoot, this is a modern super shoe setup. Salomon’s PEBA-based foam (optiFOAM+) with a full-length carbon plate (energyBLADE). The whole thing feels built around speed, not comfort.
Salomon S/Lab Phantasm 3 Quick Facts
Price: $280
Men’s weight: 7 oz
Stack height: 39 mm heel / 33 mm forefoot
Drop: 6 mm
Use: Road racing and speed work
This upper is the headline. You are not going to slip into this shoe and blend in with the crowd. It wraps around the ankle, covers the laces, and looks engineered to reduce drag more. I went in with a list of concerns because the majority of these sock shoes don't work for mne.
Is it breathable? Yes. It’s been warm in the Mojave Desert, and my feet are picky about airflow. I have not had breathability issues. If a shoe traps heat, I can usually only tolerate it for a short window out here, and that is not happening with this one.
Is it annoying to put on?
Shockingly, no and I expected a struggle Instead, it has been easy to get into, and once it is on, it has not rubbed or irritated anything.
The fit is race-snug, not daily-trainer forgiving. It is built around performance. But it also does not feel insanely narrow. I have wider feet and I have worn far worse.
For sizing, I wear between a women’s 10 and 11 wide, and the 11 worked well for me. I did not go into this with the most open mindset, and I am comfortable admitting I was wrong. The upper is one of the best of these sock shoes.
This is a carbon-plated PEBA super shoe, so the baseline expectation is quick turnover and that rolling, go-fast feeling.
My big question was whether it would feel soft or firm, and whether the aerodynamic story was real or just marketing copy. When I first picked up the box, the weight was the first thing that stood out. It feels absurdly light for how much foam is under there. Salomon added more optiFOAM+ PEBA midsole, yet the Phantasm 3 comes in about 10 percent lighter than the previous version.
The 6 mm drop paired with the energyBLADE plate gives it a more aggressive rocker shape, and it encourages you to move. It just feels faster when you are running fast.
Compared to other carbon plated marathon racers, the Salomon S/Lab Phantasm 3 feels lighter and more aggressive at higher speeds. If you like a shoe that wakes up when you do, this one does.
This is not a daily trainer. It is a race shoe and a workout shoe, and at $280, you should save it for those types of runs. For me, it moved straight to the top of the fast-shoe pile because it makes me feel efficient, not beat up.
My first run in it was an hour workout, and I’ll be honest: the warmup was not the moment. I felt sluggish, and this shoe does not do “sluggish.” It is not built for easy pace cruising. Once I was actually running fast, it felt great. I was pleasantly surprised at how easy everything felt. Since then I've done half a dozen workouts in the shoe with no issues.
Salomon uses contaGRIP here, and traction has been a non-issue. You know my feelings about exposed midsole. I do not love it because it really hinders the durability.
Most super shoes shave rubber to save weight. have run in inclement weather and I have done workouts that drift onto light desert trail sections without any sliding.
Durability-wise, I expect around 150 miles, which is better than a lot of carbon plated racing shoes.
The Salomon S/Lab Phantasm 3 is built around efficiency. The aerodynamic focus is intense, and it makes me wonder if this is where racing shoes are going next, or if this is just Salomon doing Salomon things.
If you want a fast carbon plated road racing shoe and you like the idea of a unique upper, the Salomon S/Lab Phantasm 3 stands out as a serious option.
Who Should Buy the Salomon S/Lab Phantasm 3
Who Should Not Buy the Salomon S/Lab Phantasm 3
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!
