Treeline Review has published a field test of the Salomon Genesis 2, a trail running shoe the outlet describes as lightweight, comfortable and unusually hard-wearing for its price. The review, published on 20 October 2026, is based on roughly three months of running, hiking, backpacking and scrambling across Colorado and Utah. Treeline Review names the shoe its Best Trail Running Shoe for Beginners in its men's trail running guide, while arguing it offers more than the budget label suggests.
Why it matters
Trail shoes that hold up to rock and scree often carry a premium, and Treeline Review says the Genesis 2 performs close to models costing up to $35 more. For newer runners building a first kit, or for anyone replacing worn shoes on a tight budget, that combination of durability and price is the central claim of the review. The outlet also positions the Genesis as a successor of sorts to the Salomon Sense Ride, which shares its outsole, lug layout and lacing system.
What the tester put the shoe through
The reviewer ran in the Genesis 2 on high-elevation trails around Leadville, Buena Vista and Salida, and on routes in the La Garita Mountains of southern Colorado, according to Treeline Review. Terrain ranged from smooth dirt paths and singletrack to rocky desert doubletrack, sand and bare rock. The tester also scrambled granite ridges, crossed scree fields and summited mountains, and used the shoes for hiking and backpacking as well as running.
Conditions were mostly hot and clear, though the tester encountered rain during a wet monsoon period in southern Utah. Temperatures during testing ran from about 40 degrees Fahrenheit to nearly 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The Genesis 2 was worn alongside other shoes from the outlet's men's trail running guide.
Upper, outsole and midsole
The headline feature, per Treeline Review, is the Matryx upper. The material is a textile woven from individually coated, high-strength Kevlar and technical yarns. The outlet says it has tested several shoes built with Matryx and has never seen the fabric rip or develop holes, and that after three months on technical trails the Genesis 2 upper showed no tears.
Underneath, the shoe uses Salomon's contaGRIP outsole, which the reviewer found held traction on rock, dirt and mixed ground in both wet and dry weather. The midsole is made from Salomon's optiFOAM, which Treeline Review places on the firmer end of the spectrum. Stack heights are 33.5 mm at the heel and 25.5 mm at the forefoot, a higher heel-to-toe drop that the outlet says suits newer runners and anyone who likes extra cushioning under the heel.
Cushioning overall is described as about average for trail and road shoes — less than the HOKA Speedgoat, but close to the La Sportiva Prodigio 2. The reviewer characterises the ride as firm but springy: soft enough to take the sting out of each landing, firm enough to push back on toe-off. An activeCHASSIS insert in the midsole is said to roll the foot forward from heel strike to forefoot, which the tester found efficient and stable on uneven ground.
The shoe also uses Salomon's quickLACE system, a pull-cord design the reviewer reports never came loose. The tongue is anchored to stretch fabric on both sides that connects to the midsole, holding the midfoot in place, and a padded ankle collar and heel cup keep the heel seated.
Fit is the main caveat
Treeline Review is direct about the shoe's weak point: Salomon builds narrower than several rival brands, including Altra and HOKA. The tester, who has wider-than-average feet, found the Genesis 2 acceptable but says it would not be the first pick for a run beyond 20 miles.
The review offers some fit comparisons for buyers. The Genesis 2 runs true to size — the tester's usual men's 9.5 fitted — and matches other Salomon models. Its toe box is roomier than some Salomon shoes and roughly comparable to the Salomon Speedcross or La Sportiva Bushido III, though nowhere near as wide as the Altra Lone Peak or Olympus. Treeline Review suggests the Genesis 2 as a candidate for runners who find the Lone Peak too roomy, and says it should suit feet that fit the HOKA Speedgoat, with a tighter midfoot.
One structural note: because of the quickLACE design, there are no extra eyelets near the ankle for heel-lock lacing. The reviewer never needed an alternative lacing pattern, but points out the option is not available.
Comfort out of the box drew no complaints. The tester reports wearing the shoes for numerous runs and hikes of three to four hours without issues.
What to watch
Treeline Review's testing is a single reviewer's experience over one season, and the outlet discloses that its reviews are reader-supported and may include affiliate links. Runners with wide feet should try the Genesis 2 on before buying; everyone else can treat it as a durable, lower-cost option worth shortlisting.
