Walking 115 km In The Salomon XT-Wings 2 Mindful [Sneaker Review]

The Salomon XT-Wings 2 Mindful

Overview

"Proven on the most challenging trails, we've revisited the original Wings in an array of colors. The chassis and upper are designed to hold your foot and inspire confidence, wherever you are." -Salomon

Testing Areas

This seven-day journey starts in Valença, Portugal and ends in Santiago de Compostela, Spain; hiking El Camino Portugués. This hike takes you through towns big and small, forests, tiny agricultural villages and other rural areas so you'll need footwear that can hold up after countless miles on varying terrain.

Benefits

These are some of the advertised benefits of the XT-Wings 2 Mindful:

Comfortable Foothold. "This shoe comfortably locks your foot in place for effortless walking all day long." - Salomon

Enhanced Stability. "Advanced technologies from heel-to-toe ensure maximum stability on any surface." - Salomon

Stable Protection. "The redesigned Agile Chassis makes this shoe really stable, while resistant TPU film protects your foot from sharp objects." - Salomon

Features

Agile Chassis™ System: ACS provides stability and dampening and works in concert with the EnergyCell midsole.

Quicklace™: Minimalistic and strong lace for one-pull tightening. Easy-on, easy-off.

Profeel Film: Profeel Film helps filter out rocks and sharp surfaces, for more comfort and stability.

Abrasion-resistant TPU material: Durable material that effectively resists environmental factors to limit wear over time.

EndoFit™: An internal fit sleeve designed to hug the foot in exactly the right places and provide a precise fit.

SensiFit™: SensiFit™ cradles the foot from the midsole to the lacing system, providing a secure, snug, and virtually customized fit all around the foot.

3D Mesh: 3D open Mesh provides maximum breathability.

All Terrain Contagrip®: Our All Terrain Contagrip® is built for the widest variety of surfaces. It delivers durability & confidence on wet, dry, hard or loose surfaces.

Synthetic upper: Synthetic upper material provide great durability and protection for outdoor activities.

Textile lining: A soft, breathable lining for extreme comfort.

Lace pocket: Provides easy storage for the Quicklace™ lacing system.

Molded OrthoLite® sockliner: Molded to match the contours of your foot, this OrthoLite® insole provides superior cushioning, breathability and durability, to upgrade the comfort and performance of your shoe.

Price Point

The Salomon XT-Wings 2 Mindful retails for £120.00, however, if you are a student, and have a Unidays account, you can save up to 20% off with JD Sports which stocks this style for both men and women and this is how I managed to buy my pair for just £96.00.

My Opinions

Positives:

+ The lacing system is extremely convenient: Instead of having to tie your shoelaces the traditional way, the Salomon Quicklace™ technology allows you to lock your foot into the sneaker with a quick pull. Even your own two feet are not identical, so this lacing system allows users to quickly and effectively lace up to their unique preferences.

+ Profeel Film: When spending your day walking on loose terrain, it’s very likely that small stones are going to get stuck in between lugs and gaps of your outsole but the Profeel Film featured on this sneaker’s outsole does a great job at keeping out any rocks or other small sharp pieces on the ground.

+ Very lightweight: The synthetic upper materials and breathable 3D mesh provide for a very lightweight walking experience; a must for these kinds of journeys.

Negatives:

- Not waterproof: I knew going into this purchase that these aren’t shoes to take on rainy trips so I had no problem with the lack of waterproofness but if you’re planning on hiking somewhere a little less sunny than Spain, and you are certain it will be raining, you are better off with the Salomon X ULTRA 4 GORE-TEX or CROSS HIKE 2 GORE-TEX.

Conclusion

The XT-Wings 2 Mindful is a great all-rounder. I had little to no complaints to make about these Salomon sneakers while walking, on average, around 16.4 km daily. I love how they look and, thanks to the Quicklace™ system, they're extremely easy to put on and take off so I never had issues with laces untying or even loosening at any point throughout the hike. Their breathability was perfect for a walking trip in Spain where the heat reached up to 32°C so knowing what I know after having walked over 100 km in them, I would definitely buy another pair and recommend them to others. If you are in need of stylish and lightweight hiking footwear or perhaps a pair of everyday sneakers, the XT-Wings 2 or the XT-Wings 2 Mindful are the perfect choices.