Salomon GCS XCR Trail Running Shoe - Men's - 2006 BCS

I bought the GCS Pros two years ago and ran them into the ground. Hiking, running, and when they wore down a bit, they became my river shoes. Bought the XCRs two months ago and love them. They feel like they have more support than the originals. Keep pumping out great shoes Salomon.

I am a big Salomon fan, I did my last Half Ironman in a pair of the blue ones from two years ago. Best shoes I ever ran in, and that is a lot of shoes. For the money though, I expected more cushioning from these, but nope, they seem to have the same ride as the lower priced models. The toe box seems narrower as well and I had to size up to keep my toenails pink. All in all though, it’s a great shoe from a seasoned manufacturer. I would buy them again as I will their other products, they are hands down the best bang for you buck. I'd recommend them to anyone who was looking to jump brands. Five stars for the build quality, three for value.

These shoes performed way beyond my expectations on a recent outing to the Pecos Wilderness, NM. On a two-day trip, logging about 18 miles under a 30-pound pack, I was singing the GCS XCR's praises. I stayed mostly on trail, using trekking poles, with an occasional rumble over scree. My feet were blister-free the entire time, and the balls and heels of my feet weren't screaming for me to sit down. The Gore-Tex liner kept stream water and snow at bay. My hiking partner wore the GCS (no XCR) and had equally positive things to say (except that he was soaked at the end of day one).

I love these shoes! Very light and fast! I'm using them for backpacking on the Pacific Crest Trail. They don't slide on sandy surfaces. Best for lightweight backpacking.

I don't worry about dry weight. I use them mostly on rocky, root-filled new england hills hiking trails . They are very stable and predictable. They stick well but 'release' when I need them to. The gore-tex is a bonus given the plethora of rain lately. The more I trust them, the more impressed I become.